Mokgetsu had anticipated that there would be quite a few people in this special training, as the batch of Genin graduating this year knew his teaching level and would be quite keen to participate. Moreover, Mokgetsu had been featured in the Konoha Newspaper, making him somewhat famous in Konoha.
Although the content was placed towards the back, the Konoha Newspaper is the only official newspaper of Konoha, and very few copies are issued, so it still holds significant value.
However, when the teacher responsible for recording the number of applicants came to him, Mokgetsu was still a bit surprised.
In the fourth grade, it was assumed that the whole grade would participate without any issues. As for other grades, it was the same as before with eight people from each grade, but the number of Genin applying had increased to a total of three hundred and fifty.
What kind of concept was this? Previously, the total number of people in Mokgetsu's special training did not even reach this amount. The number of Genin applying for this special training was even more than the students of the Ninja School.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, what shall we do? Should the regulations be changed because the number of people participating in the special training is too high?" the recording teacher asked Mokgetsu.
This special training initially had no requirements for Genin; anyone who registered could join. But the number was too exaggerated, even more than the current students. He felt Mokgetsu would be overwhelmed.
"A special training session with a total of six hundred and ninety-four people..." Mokgetsu showed a thoughtful expression.
If it were the previous Mokgetsu, he would have had to find a way to remove some people. After all, it's nearly seven hundred people, and they aren't ordinary people. A typical Ninja Squad is only about this number.
But now it's different. Mokgetsu's current strength compared to the special training held the previous year was worlds apart. Not only has his chakra greatly increased, but his physical strength and Ninjutsu knowledge far exceed before.
"Let me try first. Although the number is slightly more, it should not be too much of a problem," Mokgetsu thought and said.
With an unprecedented number of people, Mokgetsu felt this was a good opportunity. Previously, when over three hundred people attended class, it became a major class reward. Now with nearly seven hundred people, would the rewards change?
Mokgetsu changed the special training plan this time to strive for better rewards. Now that the opportunity was given to him, he certainly would not let it slip away.
Mokgetsu glanced at the list of Genin who registered. He saw familiar names, many of whom were Genin who had just graduated this year and had gone through his first special training. As Mokgetsu anticipated, both Ebisu and Shiranui Genma came.
There were also Genin from other classes, such as Asuma, who, hearing that Mokgetsu was going to teach Nature Transformation, came with his teammates.
Mokgetsu was slightly surprised to see Inuzuka Midori and Nara Shiomizu on the list. Members of Nara Shiomizu's squad had pretty good strength and might have successfully advanced had it been a normal Chunin Examination.
"Okay, Teacher Mokgetsu, then let's confirm that all these people will join the special training," the registration teacher said when he saw that Mokgetsu had no issues.
He had some admiration for Mokgetsu. With so many people, it's hard enough to manage them, let alone teach. But Mokgetsu believed he could teach.
However, the registration teacher thought, Mokgetsu was not just an ordinary Chunin. Mokgetsu's strength was recognized by Konoha's authorities, so it was normal to have confidence.
Mokgetsu nodded, finalizing the special training matters.
...
On Monday, all registered ninja or Ninja School students promptly went to the training ground designated by Mokgetsu.
"Shiomizu, why join this special training when there are only nine days left until the Chunin Examination, and your strength can't improve much?" Inuzuka Midori asked with a face full of confusion.
A ninja's strength does not improve overnight. It requires long-term training, except for suddenly awakening a Kekkei Genkai; normally, it's hard to have noticeable improvement in such a short time.
"The person in charge of this special training, Habu Mokgetsu, is the chief examiner for the second exam. Judging from the situation in the Forest of Death, he's also Nohara Rin's teacher. If Nohara Rin participates in this special training, I can gather more intelligence," Nara Shiomizu explained.
Having fought alongside Nohara Rin in the Forest of Death, he knew two points of intelligence about her: one was that she could burst out very strong power, and the second was that she knew Medical Ninjutsu.
But after training together for a few days, Nara Shiomizu was confident he could figure out a lot of Nohara Rin's battle habits, which could come in handy at a crucial moment.
"According to my investigation, Habu Mokgetsu is a very strong Jonin, and teaching is his specialty. Even if Nohara Rin doesn't come, we should still be able to learn something," Nara Shiomizu continued.
He had heard about Mokgetsu's strength from his Jonin father, and as for Mokgetsu's strong teaching ability, he found out after discovering there was a summer special training last year and asking recently graduated Genin.
"So many people! Midori feels like she went to the wrong training ground," Inuzuka Midori was bewildered as she looked at the massive crowd on the training ground.
She glanced over and felt like there must have been five or six hundred people. Surely it wasn't possible for so many people to train together, right?
"It shouldn't be the wrong place," Nara Shiomizu said with a slight frown.
Indeed, there were many people here, and if it weren't for their youthful looks and the fact that quite a few people didn't even have headbands, Nara Shiomizu might have thought it was a ninja squad gathering for a mission.
"Big brother Ebisu, long time no see! You really came!" Hagane Kotetsu, who had arrived at the training ground early, had been looking for Ebisu's presence among the many Genin.
Heaven rewards the diligent. After searching for five minutes, he finally saw that familiar face with sunglasses.
Upon hearing Kotetsu's words, Kamizuki Izumo also jogged over, saying, "Finally, we meet again. We've really missed the time spent creating Ninjutsu together with you, big brother Ebisu."
Ebisu's mouth twitched. He didn't miss it at all, which caused him to become someone girls avoided and left him with a bad impression in front of the Third Hokage.
"Yo, isn't it Kotetsu and Izumo? Long time no see," Shiranui Genma greeted with a smile, biting on a senbon.
He was now quite familiar with these two little fans of Ebisu.
Since Shiranui Genma had already greeted, Ebisu couldn't continue pretending to be dead and responded lightly, "Yes, long time no see, good morning."
Looking at the headbands on Ebisu and Shiranui Genma's heads, Hagane Kotetsu jealously said:
"Genma, after you graduated, have you been doing big tasks every day, defeating strong enemies from rival Ninja Villages, and then rescuing the daughter of a noble, being highly praised..."
"Hahaha," Shiranui Genma was amused by Kotetsu's words. "Kotetsu, you should read fewer novels. Genin don't have such a rich experience. Newly graduated Genin can't even take on missions outside the village. Most of the time is spent in cultivation."
Their team configurations were far inferior to Obito's team, plus, they didn't have someone outgoing enough to directly ask the Hokage for high-level missions. Even with Teacher Chen and Might Guy, they had honestly stuck to D-Class missions.
"But there were some interesting things, like the Deception Jutsu you all developed. Even Konoha's strongest Taijutsu user fell for it," Shiranui Genma mentioned the bell-stealing event.
Thinking back on it, Shiranui Genma couldn't help but laugh. Despite racking their brains, they ended up being overpowered, whereas Ebisu used the Deception Jutsu flawlessly to snatch the bell.
Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu were in awe. Although it was only Taijutsu, being called the strongest wasn't simple at all, and this esteemed person fell for the Deception Jutsu too.
Being one of the developers of the Deception Jutsu, Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu couldn't help but feel a sense of pride so strong that they couldn't hide their grins.
"Big brother Ebisu, I think the Deception Jutsu has even more potential. Why don't we further develop it?" Kamizuki Izumo invited Ebisu.
"I think it's pretty good as it is now, no need for more alterations," Ebisu declined politely. He was there to learn Nature Transformation, not to be a smear campaign subject.
"What a pity, I recently discovered a really nice picture book. I was hoping to share it with you, big brother Ebisu," Kamizuki Izumo said with a regretful face.
"Well, if there's time, discussing it wouldn't be a problem," Ebisu relented, not wanting to see his little fans disappointed.
"Are you talking about discussing Ninjutsu?" Shiranui Genma teased.
As time passed, more people gathered at the training ground, making it noisier.
"I didn't expect everyone to come. It's just like gathering together when we were in school,"
"After all, it's Teacher Mokgetsu's special training. Initially, when I said I wanted to receive a month's training guidance, my teacher was a bit unhappy. But when they heard it was Teacher Mokgetsu, they agreed readily."
"Long time no see, how's ninja life treating you?"
"About the same as the internship, still not allowed to take C-Class missions."
The students and ninja formed groups chatting, as most of them weren't too different and there were quite a few familiar faces among them.
"Everyone, please be quiet," Mokgetsu emerged once it hit 8 o'clock, signaling for silence.
Mokgetsu didn't use a loud voice, but as most present were students or newly graduated ninja, his 1.8-meter height made him stand out.
Some people who didn't hear Mokgetsu's voice saw that familiar blonde figure and noticed that the students near Mokgetsu became quiet. This silence quickly spread to all students, and the whole training ground quieted down. The students looked silently at Mokgetsu.
"Many of you here are old friends; it's not your first time in my class. I appreciate everyone's trust. However, with the crowd being large, I hope you can keep quiet until I finish speaking," Mokgetsu continued.
For normal small classes, Mokgetsu was quite lenient with students talking. After all, apart from answering questions, not saying a word during a class could be dull. But now, there were nearly seven hundred students on the training ground. If one-seventh of them spoke, that would mean a hundred people talking.
"The main projects of this special training are Chakra Control, Taijutsu, Basic Ninjutsu, and Chakra Nature Changes!"