Chapter 158: Kakashi Is About to Join the Team
On Friday morning, Mugetsu headed to the Ninja Academy.
Today was grade-release day—he needed to hand out test papers and attend a few meetings.
He was in a good mood; not long after waking, his exam rewards had arrived.
["Disciple Uchiha Shisui diligently train and achieved a perfect academic score. Rewards: Chakra +300, Skill Proficiency Scroll."]
["Disciple Uchiha Obito diligently cultivated and achieved an excellent academic score. Reward: Chakra +250."]
["Disciple Might Guy diligently cultivated and achieved a good academic score. Reward: Chakra +200."]
A total of +750 Chakra nudged him closer to his short-term goal of fifty thousand.
[Name: Hayate Mugetsu]
[Chakra: 30,500]
At present, Mugetsu's Chakra had reached 30,500.
He was satisfied. Obito and Guy's training tasks hadn't even settled yet, and this surge was largely thanks to Shisui's rapid growth after awakening the Sharingan.
This semester's improvement was immense. From the end of summer training until now, his Chakra had jumped nearly 15,000. By comparison, last semester's growth—from day one to the end of special training—had been around 10,000. Even with a shorter timeline, the increase was far greater now.
There were several reasons: converting classroom rewards from ninjutsu to Chakra, his body's natural Chakra growth accelerating, and his disciples entering their own growth curves.
He felt this pace could hold for the entire term. Even as Shisui's growth normalized from the initial spike, it was still faster than pre-Sharingan levels, and both Obito and Guy were steadily improving. They should hit their targets before graduation.
If this trajectory continued, Mugetsu hoped to reach fifty thousand by Obito's graduation. Even if he fell short, he wouldn't be far.
"Teacher Mugetsu, I made huge progress this time—eighty-three! Do I get a reward?" Anko burst in as soon as she entered the classroom.
"A five-point jump counts as 'huge progress,' does it?" Mugetsu tapped her lightly on the head.
"Hehe, it's my best theory score ever," Anko said, grinning.
"Here, have this." He handed her a skewer of dango.
The first meeting was a summary conference, followed by awards for outstanding teachers.
Mugetsu's "excellent teacher" status was unshakable; Class 1, Year 1 had already been dubbed a "divine class" by the staff.
After the general assembly came a smaller meeting for key instructors. The agenda covered future coursework, summer special training, the intern program, and the large-class pilot.
"In this final exam, the four classes led by Teacher Kono saw their theory average rise by three points. For theory subjects, large and small classes perform almost the same," one teacher reported after the data review.
There were eight first-year classes total; Mugetsu led four, and Kono led four. Because Mugetsu's personal ability skewed results, his classes weren't used as control.
They agreed to extend the large-class model to other grades.
Afterward, as Mugetsu prepared to leave, he learned the Third Hokage had summoned him. He went to the Principal's Office.
Though often vacant, it was kept spotless. Inside, everything looked as neat as on his first visit.
The Third Hokage wasn't at the desk, but seated at a low tea table near the door.
"Mugetsu, you're here. Sit," Hiruzen said with a chuckle, removing his pipe.
"Third Hokage-sama." Mugetsu donned a polite smile and took the indicated seat.
"I hoped you'd be as outstanding this semester as your first," Hiruzen said, "but you've surpassed my expectations again. Your Class 1, Year 1 made significant breakthroughs in combat performance. Their strength far exceeds their peers."
He smiled. "At this rate, your class won't be compared to the same year—it'll be compared to upper years."
"It's mainly because the students cooperate," Mugetsu replied modestly.
Excess humility could weaken one's image, but his results spoke for themselves. Modesty only made him seem measured.
"Mugetsu, is there any ninjutsu you want to learn? Any elemental art—or a sealing technique," Hiruzen offered, stroking his beard.
Mugetsu's position couldn't be raised for now; Hiruzen already planned to promote him to Vice Head of the Teacher Corps next term. Any further step would mean replacing the current Head, a veteran from the Academy's first graduating class with merits from the Second Shinobi War. Mugetsu's present achievements weren't enough to supplant him.
Since rank couldn't move, ninjutsu would. Hiruzen let him choose.
"I'd like to learn Sealing Techniques," Mugetsu decided after a moment.
He hadn't obtained any through the system yet; if the Hokage was willing, it was the best choice.
"No problem. I'll have them delivered to your home in a few days," Hiruzen nodded. That answer he'd expected; sealing required more effort than ordinary arts.
"Kakashi's matter—I'll trouble you to put in more effort," Hiruzen added at last. He couldn't bear to watch a prodigy sink further.
"I'll do my best," Mugetsu said seriously.
With an S-potential talent presented to him, he had to secure Kakashi. He'd kept his fourth disciple slot unspent for exactly such an opportunity.
There were many geniuses in the shinobi world, but according to his system, the earlier the apprenticeship, the better. Those who had already "grown" couldn't maximize returns.
Eight-year-old Kakashi was ideal. Shisui had actually been a bit young; without the Sharingan, Mugetsu would have had to wait far longer for dividends.
---
On Monday, as Kakashi debated whether to wander the village or read at home, he suddenly remembered—the Hokage had assigned him to a new team.
"Training Ground 22," he murmured, recalling the details as he headed out.
"New team…" The memory of his former instructor's expression in the Hokage's Office surfaced. This time, he hoped the instructor—and the teammates—would be more mature.
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