Chapter 21: The Third Hokage
"Please proceed to the Principal's Office as soon as possible."
"The Principal?" Aya exclaimed softly.
There weren't many powerful teachers at the Ninja Academy—most were just ordinary Chunin. But the Principal was a different story.
In the history of the Academy, there had only been two Principals: the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and the current Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even though he was the Principal, it wasn't easy for teachers to meet Hiruzen. Aside from giving a speech at the start of the school year, Hiruzen rarely appeared on campus, usually handling matters at the Hokage Building.
That's why Aya was so surprised. Hiruzen Sarutobi was actually at the Principal's Office—and even summoned a teacher individually. It was far too rare.
"Understood, I'll head over right away." Mugetsu nodded, then turned to the teachers in the office and said politely,
"Everyone, I'll have to excuse myself. Let's continue our discussion later after I return."
"No need to apologize, Sensei. You should go quickly—don't keep Lord Third waiting," Ikeya said, his face filled with undisguised envy, eyes practically turning into lemons.
He had been teaching for several years and had never experienced this. Forget personal summons—he hadn't even set foot inside the Principal's Office.
But after thinking about Mugetsu's teaching and the quality of his students, his envy faded.
The average score for most Grade 1 classes was around forty to fifty points. Mugetsu's class had skyrocketed past seventy, leaving everyone else in the dust.
Their practical scores were also far higher, and the top two students in the grade came from his class—especially Shisui, widely acknowledged as a genius.
Ikeya asked himself honestly: could he teach a class like that? The answer was clear—he couldn't.
Mugetsu said nothing more and headed straight for the Principal's Office.
The office was located on the top floor—the fifth floor of the teaching building—while his own small office was on the second.
Standing before the door marked Principal's Office, Mugetsu knocked.
"Come in," a dignified voice responded from inside.
Mugetsu pushed the door open and stepped in.
The office was simple. Bookshelves lined the walls, a desk stood by the window, and a set of chairs and a low table sat near the entrance.
Hiruzen looked younger than how he appeared in the anime. His hair and beard were still mostly black, with only faint signs of age. His face had few wrinkles, and his calm gaze carried natural authority—he didn't need anger to intimidate.
Since this was the Academy, he wasn't wearing the Hokage hat.
"You must be Teacher Mugetsu. Please, have a seat," Hiruzen said with a polite smile, standing up and gesturing toward the seats by the door.
"Lord Third Hokage," Mugetsu greeted respectfully, keeping his tone calm as he sat down.
In his previous life, Hiruzen's reputation was complicated—many believed he had hidden schemes behind his actions.
As for the real person before him, Mugetsu couldn't tell. Still, as a teacher of the Academy, his demeanor had to be impeccable. Even if his heart held doubts, his face remained calm and respectful.
"Mugetsu, you have a talent for teaching," Hiruzen said with a light chuckle.
"I've heard about your class's results. The average theoretical score is twenty to thirty points higher than the other classes. In practical combat, your students claimed the top two spots."
"The examiners also said your students displayed better mastery of basic Ninjutsu—Transformation and Clone Techniques—than the other classes."
Mugetsu thought for a moment, then replied humbly,
"It's mostly due to the students' diligence. I simply did my best to guide them—their results are the fruit of their hard work."
His tone remained modest but not overly so.
He credited the students first while also subtly highlighting his own dedication.
"Doing your best to teach—well said." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction, his tone full of praise.
"If the Ninja Academy had more teachers like you, Mugetsu, who put their full effort into nurturing students, we wouldn't need to worry about the future generation of shinobi."
Mugetsu didn't respond to the statement, keeping a polite, attentive expression.
If he agreed, it would imply that the other teachers were incompetent. If he disagreed, it would seem like he was criticizing their dedication. Staying silent was the smartest option.
"Based on the performance of Class 1, Grade 1 this semester, I've decided to name you the Outstanding Teacher," Hiruzen said with a light laugh.
Mugetsu showed a surprised expression, then nodded respectfully, offering his gratitude.
"However, Lord Third Hokage," Mugetsu said after a pause, a hint of concern in his tone, "wouldn't this be a bit much? It's only been a month… I'm afraid it might damage your reputation if word gets out."
"The Outstanding Teacher award is given to those who perform exceptionally well. If other teachers can guide their classes to similar success, I will award them the same." Hiruzen's tone was firm, leaving no room for dispute.
Then, with a smile, he continued,
"If you can maintain this level of excellence for the next year, I'll recommend you for Special Jonin and appoint you as Vice Class Leader of the Academy's Teacher Division."
"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Third Hokage. However, as a teacher, my duty is to educate my students well, and I will always hold that responsibility in my heart," Mugetsu replied, his expression sincere.
Internally, Mugetsu couldn't help but compare Hiruzen and Danzo—they were both taught by the same master, and their methods showed it. Promises of promotion were always their first move.
But to Mugetsu, titles like Special Jonin were far less appealing than seeing his students improve. Progress meant greater rewards from the system—and that meant wealth.
Hiruzen, a man who had seen countless people in his lifetime, looked at Mugetsu's sincere expression and felt even more admiration. To him, this was a true, dedicated teacher.
"Mugetsu, I'd like to discuss a personal matter with you, if you're willing to listen," Hiruzen said after a moment.
Mugetsu nodded slightly, wondering what the Hokage was planning.
"I have a young son, Asuma, who graduated this year and became a Genin," Hiruzen began. "But he's still immature in many ways, which has been a constant headache for me. I'd like to ask you to be his private tutor and guide him."
With Mugetsu's demonstrated teaching skill, Hiruzen believed there wouldn't be any problem with him training a fresh Genin like Asuma.
This was also a test. If Mugetsu could handle this well, Hiruzen would be willing to discuss his future with Danzo.
The Outstanding Teacher award, the Special Jonin promotion—these were all tokens to build goodwill for what was to come. For Hiruzen, they were trivial to grant, but served a greater purpose.
"Lord Third Hokage, I'll need to think this through," Mugetsu replied after some thought, not immediately accepting.
Hiruzen was caught a little off guard, surprised Mugetsu didn't agree right away.
"Because I have classes during the week, my schedule from Monday to Friday is already full," Mugetsu explained calmly. "Even on weekends, I need to prepare lessons for the following week."
"I can only accept if I can guarantee quality teaching for both sides. I ask for some time to consider it carefully."
Hiruzen stared for a moment, then broke into hearty laughter, praising Mugetsu once again as an exemplary teacher.
With nothing else to discuss, Hiruzen dismissed him.
Mugetsu stood, gave a final polite nod, and after a subtle appraisal of the Third Hokage, turned and left.
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