Chapter 74: Third Kazekage's Disappearance
"A special training during the holidays, it finally came." Obito took a deep breath, as if he could already foresee the miserable experiences of the next month and a half.
During school, there was at least a five-day buffer for attending classes. But now, with the long break, every day felt like a weekend.
Obito only hoped that the combat training could return to its previous state. Otherwise, with over two hundred additional questions every day, when the holidays ended, his life would also come to an end.
Upon hearing about the special training, Guy's eyes lit up. However, when he thought about the extra questions on weekends, he felt immense pressure.
Shisui's expression showed no change. Unlike Guy and Obito, he had already mastered the Shadow Clone technique and had long since sent a Shadow Clone to attend school.
Except for the time when he went to take exams, Shisui spent most of his time practicing with Mutsuki.
So even if Mutsuki said they would train every day during the holidays, it wouldn't be much different from their usual routine for him.
"Rest on Thursdays and Sundays, practice with me in the mornings and afternoons on other days. You can go home at noon, but if you don't, I'll cook," Mutsuki said.
Although during school, they came to Mutsuki every day, except for weekends, from Monday to Friday, the time spent practicing with Mutsuki was not much.
So even if it's five days of practice and two days of rest during the holidays, the actual practice time is much more than when they were in school.
"Resting for two days a week!" Obito exclaimed with joy.
He calculated and found that this seemed even more relaxed than when they were in school.
During school, from Monday to Friday, there were classes, and they had to go to Mutsuki for training. The entire weekend was spent training at Mutsuki's.
"In addition, pause the combat training. Obito, continue practicing Fire Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation, Shisui, Guy, I will teach you Soru," Mutsuki laid out the new training plan for the holidays.
During the time of the Youth Ninjutsu Competition training tasks, Obito had practiced Nature Transformation for a while, but he had only scratched the surface. He still needed to continue practicing.
Obito lacked Naruto's cheat-like vitality and Chakra, making it impossible for him to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Training method. He had to progress step by step.
"No need for combat training!"
If a two-day holiday surprised Obito, then the complete suspension of combat training made Obito truly enjoy the extended break.
Without combat training, there were no numerous problems. Though practicing Nature Transformation was tiring, compared to solving problems, he preferred practicing Nature Transformation.
After arranging the training tasks, the disciples began their individual training.
Obito, holding a large Ice Block, continuously released Chakra. Shisui and Guy were learning Soru.
Watching Mutsuki, accompanied by Shisui and Guy, flashing around, Obito, gripping the Ice Block, felt the coldness of the Ice Block flowing through his hand's veins to his heart.
"Yumi-sensei, what was that Taijutsu challenge you mentioned earlier? I also want to learn Body Flicker Jutsu," Obito couldn't help but ask.
He remembered Mutsuki saying that, besides achieving the top rank, completing the Taijutsu challenge assigned by him would also allow them to learn Soru.
However, at that time, Mutsuki directly said that Obito couldn't complete it, so Obito didn't ask for the specific details of the challenge.
But over the past month, his strength has improved significantly, and there's a chance he can complete the challenge Mutsuki mentioned.
"A Taijutsu challenge, huh? That's quite difficult. Are you sure you want to give it a try?" Mutsuki separated a Shadow Clone to communicate with Obito.
"But everyone is learning that Body Flicker Jutsu. If I don't learn it, won't I fall behind?" Obito said.
"Alright, I'll set up the arena today, and you can try the challenge tomorrow," Mutsuki nodded and said.
Obito's actions were within his expectations.
The reason he didn't directly teach Soru to all the disciples but instead set conditions was to provide intensive training for those who failed.
Instead of forcing training directly, he believed finding a way to stimulate the disciples' motivation would be more effective.
He would arrange some mechanisms that couldn't be completed without sufficient speed and strength. When the time came, Obito would surely work hard to strengthen his physique in order to learn Soru.
When the challenge is completed, the body becomes stronger, and practicing Soru becomes easier.
Moreover, with rewards earned through one's own efforts, Obito would study more diligently, appreciating the achievement all the more for its difficulty.
In order to help disciples enhance their strength more effectively, Mutsuki has considered every aspect, including the students' psychology.
After the training session, Mutsuki proceeded to the house in the main city area as usual.
Today, he made sushi and tempura.
However, there was a small incident during the meal. Just as the three were enjoying their food and conversation, a hawk's cry echoed from outside.
"Why now?" Kushina, who had just finished a piece of sushi, looked a bit annoyed.
"Let's go. It's so sudden; something big must have happened." Minato stood up and said.
"Sorry, Mutsuki. We have to leave temporarily. There's an urgent Jonin meeting."
Whenever something significant occurred in Konoha, messenger animals were sent to urgently inform the Jonin. Minato had experienced this several times.
"Mutsuki, remember to save some for us. These meetings usually don't take long, and with Minato's speed, we'll be back soon." Before leaving, Kushina reminded Mutsuki to save some food for them.
"I can't finish all that by myself." Mutsuki smiled and nodded, speculating in his mind about what significant event might have occurred.
Based on the timeline, Mutsuki guessed that it might be related to the events of the Third Great Ninja War.
"Is a full-scale war about to break out?" Mutsuki wondered.
Kushina and Minato didn't keep Mutsuki waiting for too long; they returned within half an hour.
"We thought something big happened, but it turns out The Third Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, has disappeared," Kushina complained as soon as she entered the house.
"They called for an urgent Jonin meeting, and for all we knew, it could have been Konoha's Third Hokage disappearing."
Hearing Kushina's words, Mutsuki thought to himself that a war was indeed about to erupt.
The Hidden Cloud Village, having already gathered its strength, was restless. With The Third Kazekage, disappearing at this critical moment, Hidden Cloud wouldn't miss this golden opportunity.
"Regardless of which Kage it is, they have a significant impact on the ninja world's dynamics. The sudden disappearance of the Kazekage, makes it highly likely that a major war is about to break out." Unlike Kushina, Minato's expression was somewhat grave.
"Indeed, the Sand Village is in for a tough time," Kushina nodded, picking up a piece of sushi and taking a big bite.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Mutsuki's mood was delicate.
Almost no one could have predicted that the Third Great Ninja War, triggered by the disappearance of the third Kazekage, would result in Konoha being battered the most, even though they eventually emerged victorious.
With the war about to erupt, Mutsuki felt even less secure.
He could only be thankful that he was part of the Root, and even if Danzo, in a moment of madness, decided to send his subordinates, Mutsuki would be among the later ones sent.
Mutsuki held no hope for Danzo.
He only hoped that he could elevate his strength to the level of a so-called Kage before the flames of war reached Konoha.
Strength was the most crucial thing in this dangerous world; without it, everything was just empty talk.
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