"Mighty Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Mokgetsu quickly formed seals and unleashed a fearsome dragon of fire, as tall as a person, soaring through the sky.
To conceal his true skill level, Mokgetsu deliberately crafted the full set of seals, though he could perform this ninjutsu with just one seal.
"The Mighty Dragon Fire doesn't cover as much area as the Great Flame Technique you're using now, but it's more agile and likely to hit, and its power is quite impressive. You can decide which ninjutsu to use based on the battle situation," Mokgetsu advised.
"I understand." Asuma nodded.
When it was time for Mokgetsu to take Asuma home, they ran into Sarutobi Hiruzen who had just finished work.
"Asuma, have you been studying well with Teacher Mokgetsu?" Sarutobi Hiruzen cheerfully inquired.
"Of course, I've been studying well with Teacher Mokgetsu, considering he's not some old man who likes to smoke," Asuma replied.
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused for a moment, setting down his smoking pipe.
Exhausted and sweating, Asuma didn't have the energy to spar with Sarutobi Hiruzen, so he simply quipped before going to get his change of clothes for a bath.
"Mokgetsu, you've surprised me again lately; your Class 1 in Year 1 might just be the best-performing class in the history of the Ninja School," Sarutobi Hiruzen began.
The Ninja Academy occasionally sees some top students; former luminaries like Orochimaru, and Kakashi a few years back, were prodigies with extravagant talents.
However, Mokgetsu's Class 1 in Year 1, where the entire class performs excellently, is a rare sight.
Because the classes in the Ninja School are truly randomly assigned—there are no supposed "elite classes"—at least, there aren't any now. If there were elite classes, how would Might Guy, who failed the entrance exam and was finally admitted, end up in the same class as Kakashi?
"It's still just the second semester of the first year, not much can be seen yet; there are several years of study ahead." Mokgetsu humbly said.
"If they can sustain such progress until graduation, the Genin from your class won't be ordinary," Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked with a smile.
Sarutobi Hiruzen anticipated with interest what kind of results Mokgetsu, wholly responsible for a class, would ultimately yield.
"The Ninja World is chaotic now; the Hidden Rock and Hidden Cloud are eyeing us in Konoha eagerly. If all Ninja School teachers were as excellent as you, Mokgetsu, I wouldn't need to worry about Ninja School affairs."
Mokgetsu thought that if all the teachers in the Ninja School had his level of strength, not only wouldn't there be worries about the school, but even war concerns would be resolved—these would be nearly a hundred Elite Jonin.
"After the second semester break, what are your plans? Still planning a special training similar to summer vacation?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
The winter break between the second and third semesters isn't as long as the summer break, but it still lasts a bit over a month.
The only break after the third semester into the next academic year indeed doesn't have time for special training because it's only two weeks long.
"For regular students, training can proceed as usual. However, for exceptionally excellent students, I propose starting internships related to ninja work," Mokgetsu responded.
Then Mokgetsu explained his idea to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
For the vast majority of students, special training is undoubtedly optimal, while those top students, such as those ranked at the forefront of the grade, receive special treatment to commence commission tasks ahead of time, honing their ninja skills.
Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't inquired today, Mokgetsu would find a time to discuss the internship with him.
He wanted to take Might Guy and Obito to do missions together.
There are rewards for exams, so are there rewards for disciples completing commission tasks? Mokgetsu was curious.
Additionally, he wished to seize this opportunity to train both his disciples and himself.
Mokgetsu currently lacks battle experience; taking several interns with him, the Third Hokage would at most allow him to take on D-class and C-class missions, where encountering actual ninjas would be rare, ensuring safety.
It might even be difficult to secure C-class missions, because newly graduated Genin aren't allowed to take C-class missions, let alone interns from the Ninja School. Mokgetsu might need to have a rapport with Sarutobi Hiruzen to make it happen.
"Have outstanding students undergo internships…" Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered.
"You might not even need Jonin as guiding instructors; just dispatch some excellent Ninja School teachers. They're only permitted to undertake D-class and C-class missions," Mokgetsu continued.
Actually, Mokgetsu's intern concept coincidentally aligned with Sarutobi Hiruzen's earlier musings.
Before, when Mokgetsu arranged senior year's special training, Sarutobi Hiruzen considered that it could make the graduated Genin stronger and speedier in handling ninja tasks.
Now, seeing Mokgetsu's intern initiative, Sarutobi Hiruzen deemed it even better.
Students like Might Guy and Obito, apart from not taking the graduation exam, possess strength superior to ordinary Genin—they're certainly up to handling commissions.
When familiar with commission work, upon graduation, they wouldn't start from tasks like collecting garbage or mowing lawns as other Genin do, but could directly begin from C-class missions.
"Your idea is very promising, Mokgetsu. I think it's feasible, but you need to refine the details," Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked after some thought.
The time was still early, with over two months before the semester break; he wanted to see Mokgetsu's complete plan.
Mokgetsu nodded and said, "I'll present it to you once completed."
As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen showed interest, Mokgetsu wasn't worried about his plan failing.
Because all factors were in favorable alignment presently.
Although the Ninja World wars were currently at a probing stage, various precautionary measures still needed numerous ninja assignments, resulting in fewer ninja available for commissions within Konoha Village.
Mokgetsu felt that in the end, it might not just be the top-ranked students, but possibly all excellent-performing students could secure internship slots.
He considered many potential scenarios, including the possibility that the Third Hokage might have him continue with special training instead of leading internships.
Mokgetsu had long prepared contingency plans, such as inviting Sarutobi Hiruzen to evaluate other teachers' special training effects compared to Mokgetsu's results.
Mokgetsu could also strategically retreat, indicating that such an important decision shouldn't always rest upon him, and other teachers should also get chances.
He even considered the complete failure of his plans, which wouldn't impact him significantly.
If he's unable to lead disciples in missions, then he'll lead students in training instead, yielding significant gains nonetheless; plus, the break only lasts a bit over a month, after which the disciples would resume normality.
Upon returning, Mokgetsu continued his humble daily life.
Teaching students during the day, learning to forge ninja tools in the evening. Yet, occasionally leaving marks on his hands from forging that students would notice.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, are you really practicing some terrifying kinjutsu?" Obito asked with a serious face.
Smack!
Mokgetsu swiftly knocked on Obito's head with two fingers together.
"I've merely been studying how to forge ninja tools recently; don't overthink it." Mokgetsu explained.
"I see." Obito looked disappointed.
"Why are you learning that, Teacher Mokgetsu? Are you planning to open a ninja tools store?" Obito curiously asked.
"No," Mokgetsu shook his head, declining to elaborate.
Contrary to Obito's conjecture, Shisui felt that someone of Mokgetsu's strength was dissatisfied with ordinary ninja tools, prompting him to learn forging personally.
On Monday noon, Mokgetsu attended a small conference with only the Grade Coordinator and Teaching Director present.
The main topic was the performance in the recent exams.
Without a doubt, Mokgetsu's Class 1 in Year 1 was again praised for its outstanding performance, but Mokgetsu had long become immune to such praise.
Then there was a discussion on Mokgetsu's earlier-proposed large-scale classes.
Currently, only Year 1 had these large classes, with Mokgetsu and another Chunin Teacher named Kono Yasuharu each teaching four classes.
However, it was somewhat awkward, given that the disparity in performance was quite stark. The students in Mokgetsu's classes performed significantly better than the other classes.
It was clear it wasn't a matter of large classes; it was purely Mokgetsu's individual capability.
Comparing performance with Mokgetsu's classes was evidently unfeasible; instead, comparing average grades from Kono Yasuharu's four classes of last semester revealed a drop of about six to seven points.
Not a significant drop, yet there was a decline; ultimately, the decision was to continue the trial only within Year 1 and not to extend it to other grades for now.