Chapter 294: Progress in Two and a Half Months
After Hiruzen finished handling the war related affairs, he gave Mugetsu's proposal for medical specialist students serious consideration and found it workable.
So he sent ninja to summon both Mugetsu and Tsunade to the Hokage Office.
Tsunade was called for two reasons. First, her expertise in medical ninjutsu meant she could offer concrete suggestions about training details. Second, Hiruzen wanted her to understand his position. He had not rejected her ideas out of cruelty, but because her proposal had too many practical gaps.
Mugetsu and Tsunade happened to meet on the road.
"Lady Tsunade," Mugetsu greeted first.
"Are you also heading to the Hokage Building?" Tsunade asked, glancing at the tower not far ahead.
Since the end of the Second Shinobi World War, Tsunade had stopped taking combat missions, so she rarely came here. And with Mugetsu beside her, the one who had proposed the medical specialist track, she could guess why Hiruzen had called her.
"Yes. Are you going as well, Lady Tsunade?" Mugetsu asked with a gentle smile.
"Mhm. It should be about the medical specialist students you mentioned earlier," Tsunade said, voicing her guess. Then she looked at him, curiosity in her eyes. "How did you even come up with that method?"
Mugetsu thought for a moment before answering. "Because I teach at the Ninja School, I naturally think about problems from the school's perspective."
Tsunade shook her head with a small laugh. "No, it's because you've genuinely thought about this. If it were that simple, some other teacher would have suggested it years ago."
Since Tobirama founded the Ninja School, its model had barely changed. The fact that Mugetsu could see a different path at all said something about him.
Mugetsu smiled modestly, but inwardly he noted how serious Tsunade sounded. It was the first time she had praised him without a hint of sarcasm.
He kept the conversation going and shared more of his ideas.
He talked about a Ninja Middle School and Ninja University. Middle School would expand on the elementary foundation with more ninjutsu theory and taijutsu training. University would focus on specialization, allowing students to dive deeply into a chosen field. Those who did not enter university could graduate and serve as regular ninja, while university students would still count as ninja and take missions.
Tsunade's gaze drifted, thoughtful and a bit distant. In Mugetsu's boldness, she saw a shadow of her granduncle, Tobirama. A Ninja University was already far removed from the current system. Calling it audacious was almost an understatement.
Talking as they walked, they soon reached the Hokage Office.
Mugetsu raised a hand to knock, but Tsunade pushed the door open first, so he followed her inside.
"Third Hokage," Mugetsu greeted respectfully.
Tsunade skipped the niceties. "Say what you need to say quickly."
Hiruzen was used to it. He chuckled, took his pipe from his mouth, and said, "I think Mugetsu's idea for medical specialist students is excellent. And since you are the most skilled in medical ninjutsu, you can help shape the training details."
He turned to Mugetsu. "Explain your plan in full."
Mugetsu paused, then began. "First, for recruitment, I think second or third year students are the best choice. They already have a foundation by then."
The Ninja School had many civilian students who started with no knowledge at all. Mugetsu did not want to place first year kids into a specialist track. Second year was the earliest sensible point.
In truth, he preferred the third year. Under a normal six year system, third year would be ideal. But they were in wartime, and graduation came earlier, so waiting that long might be too late.
"Second," Mugetsu continued, "the specialist track's graduation exam should be adjusted to focus on medical ninjutsu content."
The idea had been a spark in the Jonin meeting, but afterward he had thought it through carefully and mapped out the details.
Hiruzen listened while nodding, clearly pleased. This was not a casual suggestion. Mugetsu had actually built a plan around it.
"Good," Hiruzen said, exhaling a faint stream of smoke. "This matter will be entrusted to you and Tsunade. Once the plan is polished, submit it for approval."
Both Mugetsu and Tsunade accepted without objection. Tsunade might refuse other tasks, but this one mattered to her, so she was willing.
"If you ever don't understand something about training medical ninja, ask me directly," Tsunade said, thumping Mugetsu's shoulder with one hand and giving a thumbs up with the other. "Writing the plan is your job."
"At least don't say that in the Hokage Office," Hiruzen sighed.
"Or what. You want me to write it? Would you approve it?" Tsunade shot back.
Hiruzen could only smile helplessly. It was not his fault her old proposal was detached from reality.
Mugetsu was happy to take the work. A shadow clone could handle it with ease.
Even so, it would not be immediate. Rolling out a new specialist track in the middle of a semester was unrealistic. Mugetsu figured next semester would still count as fast.
Several of his disciples had already graduated, but his schedule remained packed. Between his own training, school duties, and his students dropping by whenever they had time, every day was full.
Busy days passed quickly.
The Basic Breathing Technique was simpler than the others. Over two and a half months, Rin had progressed halfway, able to focus her breathing to strengthen her body.
During that same span, Guy pushed the Eight Gates far enough to open the Third Gate and began training Rock Breathing in a constant state.
Obito's Flame Breathing constant state entered a new stage as well. His next goal was to maintain uninterrupted Flame Breathing for a full twenty four hours.
Kakashi still had not solved his reaction issue, but he refined Thunderclap Flash into something new, a Half Flash. It had explosive power without outrunning his reflexes. Slower than a full Flash, but stronger in impact.
Shisui adjusted his existing Fire Release techniques, reshaping them to better suit his style.
Meanwhile, with Tsunade's help, Mugetsu absorbed far more medical knowledge. Through teaching, he also gained a steady stream of new techniques across different elements, filling out his arsenal and steadily patching his weaker areas.
As July approached, another responsibility landed on his shoulders.
He had been selected as an examiner for the Chunin Exams.
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