Chapter 219: Another A-Rank Mission
It was noon when Mugetsu and his students finally returned to Konoha.
"I'll handle the mission report," Mugetsu said with a gentle smile. "You've all worked very hard this time. Take the rest of the day off and get a full night's rest."
This time, he didn't suggest that they train if they couldn't sit still. The mission had been grueling enough for all three of them.
"I'm really tired," Obito said as he stretched, his entire body aching from exhaustion.
After an intense battle, sleeping rough, and rushing all the way back, both his body and mind were worn out. Still, he planned to sleep for a while before bragging to Rin Nohara about his heroic victory over a Jonin.
Since it was still early in the day, even if he slept all afternoon, he could meet Rin in the evening.
"But it was definitely worth it!" Might Guy said, smiling brightly as he gave a big thumbs-up, his teeth gleaming.
Kakashi nodded silently. The mission had indeed been exhausting and dangerous, but they had gained a lot from it.
After parting ways, Obito and Kakashi went straight home to rest. Guy still had the energy to train, but Mugetsu forbade him from doing so, forcing him to go home and recover.
Once his students were gone, Mugetsu headed for the Hokage Building.
This time, he didn't bother explaining the situation to the mission registration ninja. Instead, he went directly to the Hokage's Office. Bringing back the corpse of a Jonin was the kind of achievement that could subtly increase Hiruzen Sarutobi's perception of his strength.
Knock, knock.
Mugetsu knocked on the office door.
"Come in," came the Third Hokage's calm voice from inside.
"Third Hokage-sama," Mugetsu greeted respectfully, stepping forward.
"The squad under my leadership encountered an unexpected situation during our last mission. We came across a Kumogakure Jonin in the Land of Rivers," Mugetsu reported directly.
"The Land of Rivers, hm?" Hiruzen said, stroking his beard. "Sunagakure and Kumogakure are currently at war, so it's not surprising that Cloud Nin would appear there. Still, the situation is troublesome."
He exhaled a puff of smoke before continuing. "Although the Third Kazekage is missing, Sunagakure remains one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—it won't be an easy opponent. My guess is that Sunagakure is consolidating its forces to drive Kumogakure out of the Land of Wind. If that's the case, the conflict will escalate even further."
Sunagakure would avoid fighting on its own soil at all costs. The few oases that sustained life in the Land of Wind were vital, and if war destroyed them, it would be catastrophic.
But since Kumogakure had initiated the war, they wouldn't back down easily either. If Sunagakure intensified their counterattack, the Cloud Village would surely respond in kind.
"One Jonin and one Chunin, correct?" Hiruzen asked. "Then I'll raise this to an A-Rank Mission. In addition to the standard commission, the village will award a bonus of 350,000 ryo."
The generous reward wasn't merely because there were fewer Chunin this time—it was due to the valuable intelligence Mugetsu had provided as well.
Mugetsu nodded. The base commission for the mission had been 50,000 ryo, so with the bonus, that brought the total to 400,000 ryo. Divided among the four of them, each would receive over 100,000 ryo—a respectable sum.
"Mugetsu, you've brought me three monster students," Hiruzen said with a half-smile, puffing on his pipe. "Two A-Rank Missions and one B-Rank Mission—before even graduating. Do you realize how absurd that is?"
It was true. Such a record would be impressive even for Genin who had been active for several years. Normally, A-Rank Missions were far beyond the reach of newly graduated ninja.
"Their hard work and strength are what earned them those results," Mugetsu said seriously. "They contributed greatly during the mission."
"They certainly did," Hiruzen agreed, recalling Might Guy and Obito's performance during the summer's special training. "Still, even with the students' progress, your own improvement far outpaces theirs. I've heard the students say the gap between them and their teacher is insurmountable. If every academy instructor were like you, Mugetsu, I'd have nothing to worry about."
He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"For the first school break of the new term, I'll take charge of the special training again," Mugetsu said after a brief pause.
Though his strength continued to grow, he had no intention of abandoning the academy. The Ninja School provided him with an endless supply of techniques to refine. Even duplicate skills increased his proficiency—and with enough Chakra, he could continue to strengthen himself at remarkable speed.
After finishing his report, Mugetsu left the Hokage Building and headed toward the southern border forest. Shisui and Rin Nohara were still training there with his Shadow Clones.
[Disciple Might Guy diligently completed the commissioned mission. Growth reward: Chakra +460. Additional reward for direct teacher supervision: Chakra +230.]
[Disciple Uchiha Obito diligently completed the commissioned mission. Growth reward: Chakra +460. Additional reward for direct teacher supervision: Chakra +230.]
[Disciple Kakashi diligently completed the commissioned mission. Growth reward: Chakra +460. Additional reward for direct teacher supervision: Chakra +230.]
Mugetsu paused for a moment as the notifications echoed in his mind. The rewards were better than he expected. He had thought this mission would yield only a modest gain, but the results were far more generous.
Previously, they had encountered enemies during a mission and defeated them.
This time, however, the mission had already been completed before the battle began—they had taken the disciples to see the desert, and only afterward did they run into enemy ninjas. Strictly speaking, the mission had been finished at that point.
"Is it because the time between completing the mission and encountering the enemy was too short? Or does it still count as long as the mission hasn't been handed in?" Mugetsu wondered.
If it was the latter, he thought with amusement, he could just take a C-Rank Mission and go hunting for enemy ninja afterward.
The total Chakra gain from his three disciples' missions was 2,070 points—seventy more than what Obito had gained when he awakened his Sharingan.
Mugetsu opened his panel.
[Name: Hayate Mugetsu]
[Chakra: 43,000]
The accumulated rewards from his disciples' training and completed missions had pushed his Chakra total to an impressive forty-three thousand.
That number brought a deep sense of security. Nearly ten months had passed since his transmigration into the Naruto world. With 43,000 Chakra and a collection of perfect and master-level techniques, as long as he remained cautious, Mugetsu was confident his life was well-protected.
"Mugetsu, good afternoon! Back from a mission?"
A lively, familiar voice called out from behind him.
Turning around, Mugetsu saw Kushina waving cheerfully, a bright smile on her face.
"Yes," Mugetsu replied, smiling back. "I just finished submitting the report. Are you out shopping?"
"Yeah," Kushina sighed. "I've been so bored lately. Minato isn't around, and I can't even eat your cooking anymore."
These days, she spent most of her time in confinement—a secluded residence with a spiral staircase and powerful sealing arrays. She was allowed to walk around, but only within the limits of a large barrier that suppressed her Tailed Beast Chakra.
At first, Kushina's mood had been good. Minato visited daily, trained sealing techniques with her, and always brought the food Mugetsu had prepared. But now, with Minato away on a mission and Mugetsu occasionally leaving the village as well, her days had become monotonous and lonely.
"How about this," Mugetsu suggested after a moment's thought, "I'll rent a kitchen and cook something for you right now. I haven't eaten yet either."
He didn't invite her to his house—if Kushina could casually go there for meals, Minato wouldn't have needed to deliver them in the first place.
"Haha, Mugetsu, can you read minds? I was just thinking about your cooking!" Kushina said with a mischievous grin.
"Then I'll trouble you," she added immediately, accepting his offer with her usual straightforwardness.
Mugetsu soon found a small restaurant that seemed to have no customers and rented its kitchen.
The owner was reluctant at first. Even with no business, his pride as a cook made him hesitate—what kind of restaurant lends its kitchen to customers?
But when Kushina offered an absurd amount of money—and when the owner noticed the shinobi headbands on their foreheads—he finally agreed.
As Mugetsu began to cook, the savory aroma quickly filled the restaurant. The owner swallowed hard, trying to convince himself that it only smelled good but probably tasted ordinary.
That illusion vanished when he saw Kushina devouring the food enthusiastically.
"Esteemed Ninja-sama, could you stir-fry a dish for me too? I'll pay five hundred ryo," the owner finally said, unable to resist.
Mugetsu shook his head. His cooking was not for sale.
"Then how about this—the kitchen is yours to use for free next time," the owner offered, tempted beyond reason as Kushina ate with delight.
Perhaps because it had been so long since she'd tasted his cooking—or maybe just because her appetite was unusually good—Kushina quickly finished most of the four dishes Mugetsu had made.
"You don't have to waive the fee," Mugetsu replied. "Just lend me the kitchen again when it's not busy."
Seeing her appetite, he decided to make a bit more—enough for both Kushina and the owner.
"Deal!" the owner said immediately, his curiosity about the food stronger than ever.
Mugetsu prepared a few simple home-style dishes and offered a plate to the owner.
The man took a bite—and froze. In that instant, he realized he was utterly unworthy of running a restaurant. By the time he regained his senses, the plate was already clean.
Money had motivated him before, but now he only wanted Mugetsu to return again—just for another meal.
"Mmm, I'm alive again!" Kushina said happily, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied grin.
"When I wasn't around," she asked suddenly, lowering her voice, "did any other girls visit Minato's house?"
"I don't think so," Mugetsu said after recalling carefully.
Kushina sighed in relief and muttered, "Minato's just too popular. There's always a crowd of kunoichi around him."
"Kushina, you should have more confidence," Mugetsu said with a reassuring smile. "Before Minato left on his mission, he even reminded me not to forget your meals."
"Ah, doesn't that make me sound like I only know how to eat?" Kushina pouted, though a smile tugged at her lips.
They chatted casually for a while before Kushina asked about Mugetsu's sealing technique training.
"How's your progress lately?" she asked curiously.
"I've mastered the Five Fingers Seal and the Contract Seal," Mugetsu replied. "As for the Five Elements Seal, I'm close—probably another month before I can complete it."
"Oh? That's faster than I expected! Looks like you've been training hard," Kushina said, impressed.
"I wouldn't dare disappoint Kushina-sensei's teachings," Mugetsu replied playfully.
"In that case," Kushina said proudly, puffing out her chest, "Konoha's strongest sealing master, Kushina-sensei, will now teach you a super powerful technique—one even stronger than the Five Elements Seal!"
"Stronger than the Five Elements Seal?" Mugetsu asked with genuine curiosity.
"Yes!" Kushina said with a confident smile. "This is the Uzumaki Clan's top-tier sealing technique—the Four Symbols Seal!"
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