Protected by Mokgetsu's Water Release, Asuma instantly felt like he was really a jerk before, for taking out his dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage on Mokgetsu and never having a good attitude.
Meanwhile, Mokgetsu, as a teacher, was very responsible, even though Asuma had always been uncooperative and resistant to training, Mokgetsu cleverly got him to complete the necessary training.
Even though the process was a bit annoying, it was all for his own good, to help him complete the training.
"Shisui, you can go back first." Seeing Asuma looking downcast, Mokgetsu knew it was his turn.
Shisui nodded, said nothing more, and turned to continue with his cultivation.
Mokgetsu walked up to Asuma, patted the dust off him, and helped tidy up his somewhat messy clothes.
Finally, Mokgetsu squatted down on the ground, maintaining eye level with Asuma, and looked into his eyes.
The two looked at each other, and Asuma quickly lowered his head, then said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, teacher."
"Why don't you tell me how you're sorry?" Mokgetsu asked with a smile.
"I shouldn't have taken out my anger towards others on you, shouldn't have always opposed you and refused to cooperate," Asuma said, not daring to look at Mokgetsu.
"You didn't wrong me, you wronged yourself." Mokgetsu said, his expression gradually becoming serious.
Mokgetsu asked:
"Does it affect me if you don't train?"
Without waiting for Asuma's answer, Mokgetsu continued:
"It doesn't affect me. Even if you don't train, I'll just spend the time with you and still get my salary of two thousand ryo an hour."
"But it's different for you. You lose an hour of training, and that hour is gone forever, with nothing gained."
For such a rebellious teenager, you have to make them feel that everything you do is for their own good, that you're on their side, and that they are the ones making a mistake.
"I..." Asuma hesitated to speak. The more Mokgetsu talked, the more regretful Asuma felt, and the more he felt like a jerk.
The more he had been annoyed by Mokgetsu's approach earlier, the more his favorability increased now.
It's no exaggeration to say that Asuma felt that Mokgetsu, who had been teaching him for only a few days, was much better than his Hokage father.
Despite paying lip service to Mokgetsu's training requirements, Mokgetsu never scolded him, and instead even praised him for being strong-limbed.
If it had been Sarutobi Hiruzen, he would have been so angry that he would have puffed his beard and glared, then scolded him.
Before starting to lecture, Mokgetsu first helped dust off his clothes and tidied him up, even thoughtfully keeping at eye level with him.
Thinking of this, Asuma's eyes couldn't help but turn a bit red.
Why could a tutor he had known for only a few days unhesitatingly praise him, yet when he came home excitedly with a first place, he could never receive praise from his parents?
Did Asuma's first place have less worth than others' first places?
The more Asuma thought, the more wronged he felt, and he couldn't help but also recall being defeated by a newly enrolled Ninja School student today.
The accumulation of emotions eventually erupted.
No matter how hard Asuma tried to control himself, in the end, tears still dripped down, and he turned his head, not wanting Mokgetsu to see.
But how could this escape Mokgetsu, who was always paying attention to Asuma?
Mokgetsu didn't act immediately; instead, he waited for a while until Asuma vented some emotions through crying, then he got up, patted Asuma on the shoulder, and handed him a handkerchief.
"Teacher Habu… you're really nice." Asuma said, choking up as he took the handkerchief and wiped his tears.
"Unlike my parents, they wouldn't do that..."
"That's because you only remember their bad side and forget their good side.
Think carefully, when you were young, who patiently coaxed you to sleep, who taught you to walk and run step by step, who checked if you had covered your blanket at night..." Mokgetsu said earnestly.
The Third Hokage might be watching, so he had to smooth things over and reconcile the father-son relationship while improving his approval rating.
Asuma was left speechless. Mokgetsu's words did indeed stir up similar memories in his mind.
"You can take the time to think it over when you're free; for now, start preparing for cultivation. You haven't forgotten what you said before, have you?" Seeing Asuma looking conflicted, Mokgetsu brought up the subject of training.
"Of course, I haven't forgotten. From now on, whatever Teacher Mokgetsu says to practice, I'll practice," Asuma said, wiping his face clean with the handkerchief.
In Asuma's heart now, Mokgetsu's image had transformed from a cunning, vile adult to the perfect teacher who truly cared for him.
"This week, you'll continue practicing Chakra Control Ability; next week, we'll practice Ninjutsu." Mokgetsu briefly outlined the training schedule.
He wouldn't teach Asuma the same way he taught Shisui and the others.
Firstly, Asuma's status was sensitive. The Third Hokage might be watching personally or have someone observing, which could expose Mokgetsu's abilities. Mokgetsu didn't want to display a level beyond Chunin for now.
The second reason was quite realistic: Asuma was just a student, not a disciple, and not worth putting too much effort into.
As Mokgetsu expected, at the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen was using the Telescope Jutsu to observe how Mokgetsu was teaching Asuma.
"When it comes to teaching children, Habu is indeed exceptional." Watching Asuma transform from resistance to respect, Sarutobi Hiruzen acknowledged Mokgetsu's prowess as a teacher.
He wasn't too surprised that Mokgetsu could summon Shisui.
Because Shisui was a student in Mokgetsu's class, and if even students from other classes liked Mokgetsu so much, there was no reason Mokgetsu's own students wouldn't like him.
"But to have such talent just after entering school, that talent even surpasses Kagami." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought of his former teammate Uchiha Kagami.
He was an Uchiha acknowledged by the Second Hokage for having the Will of Fire.
"Looks like I need to pay more attention." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and pondered.
Shisui was Uchiha Kagami's grandson and was outstandingly talented; Sarutobi Hiruzen had long been aware of his existence.
He hoped that Shisui could become an Uchiha like Uchiha Kagami.
Seeing Asuma start his training, Sarutobi Hiruzen canceled the Telescope Jutsu and returned to handling official business.
Until evening, Sarutobi Hiruzen again used the Telescope Jutsu to inspect Konoha, before leaving the Hokage Building to go home for dinner.
At dinner, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked with a chuckle:
"Asuma, are you satisfied with your tutor? I carefully chose this teacher for you."
Asuma's hand paused in the middle of shoveling rice, and his mind involuntarily recalled the events of the day.
Before today, Asuma would have answered that Mokgetsu was a lousy teacher who deceived students.
"Teacher Habu is great, much better than you." Asuma praised Mokgetsu while simultaneously taking a jab at the Third Hokage.
Even though Mokgetsu had enlightened him, his resentment towards the Third Hokage wouldn't dissipate in just half a day.
"What do you know, kid? I taught the Sannin," Sarutobi Hiruzen huffed, puffed his beard, and glared as he was challenged.
"Obviously, Aunt Tsunade and the others had extraordinary talents of their own," Asuma retorted. Though the Sannin were famous, they all forged their own paths.
"Sometimes, acknowledging one's shortcomings is also a display of wisdom," Asuma mimicked Mokgetsu's tone.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was left at a loss for words by his good son's antics; admitting it meant he wasn't as good as Mokgetsu, and not admitting it meant he lacked wisdom.
Seeing his old father at a loss for what to say, Asuma felt a wave of satisfaction, and eating his meal became even more enjoyable.