After reaching the location, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately asked Mokgetsu to perform the Great Waterfall Jutsu, and then began asking Mokgetsu questions, providing explanations and demonstrations.
Asuma quietly watched their exchange without interrupting. Once Mokgetsu showed noticeable improvement during practice, Asuma cheered loudly.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, you still say you're not a genius, learning so quickly even with the old man." Asuma said excitedly, surprised.
The surprise was due to Mokgetsu's outstanding performance, while the excitement was from the anticipation of Mokgetsu teaching him Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation in a moment.
Even Mokgetsu, such a humble person, admitted to a significant breakthrough, making Asuma feel Mokgetsu must have made great progress.
"Thanks to the guidance from the Third Lord Hokage." Mokgetsu smiled, giving the credit to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"It's mostly because your ninjutsu talent is exceptional, Mokgetsu. My teaching just played a guiding role." Sarutobi Hiruzen said, shaking his head while stroking his small mustache.
Although he believed in his teaching abilities, teaching Mokgetsu wasn't like teaching a disciple. It was mostly about giving a few pointers. Mokgetsu's ability to learn these two A-level ninjutsus in a short period was entirely due to his own strong learning ability.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had a fleeting thought of taking Mokgetsu as a student. Although he had three disciples renowned in the Ninja World, none had inherited his full knowledge of ninjutsu or the powerful combined ninjutsu.
Mokgetsu's performance was like a simplified version of himself. If Hiruzen personally mentored him, Mokgetsu might become the next Ninja Technique Professor.
"I'll consider it after the war ends." Sarutobi Hiruzen thought for a moment and temporarily gave up the idea of taking Mokgetsu as a disciple.
With the Ninja World in chaos and busy schedules, he didn't have much time to mentor Mokgetsu. Taking a disciple without teaching would be meaningless.
After giving guidance, Sarutobi Hiruzen went home. Before leaving, he advised Asuma to head home after learning and not to wander around.
"Seriously, I'm already a ninja, not a child. Why do these things need to be said?" Asuma couldn't help but complain.
"This has nothing to do with being a ninja or not. You're just ten years old. The Third Hokage is worried about you." Mokgetsu smiled and tapped Asuma on the head.
"Let's not talk about that. Teacher Mokgetsu, hurry up and teach me Nature Transformation!" Asuma eagerly said.
Mokgetsu nodded and began teaching Asuma Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation.
With about ten days left until Ninja Academy starts, he planned to take some time to teach Asuma and enhance his abilities.
...
"Rin, don't be afraid when you meet the enemy, just stay by my side, and I'll protect you." On the way to the Hokage Building, Obito passed on his mission experience to Nohara Rin as a senior.
Due to their excellent performance during training yesterday, Namikaze Minato decided to take them on a mission.
"Well, today we shouldn't be getting a mission that will encounter enemies." To prevent Obito from being too disappointed, Namikaze Minato decided to give Obito a heads up.
"Generally, newly graduated Genin like you can only take on D-Class Missions. Obito, you've interned, so you should know the specifics of D-Class Missions."
"I know, D-Class Missions are all about chores, picking up trash, helping with farm work, things like that." Obito nodded, having done quite a few D-Class Missions himself.
"But during our internship, we were granted permission for C-Class Missions. It doesn't make sense to regress after becoming an Official Ninja." Obito thought there shouldn't be any issue taking on C-Class Missions.
He even completed S-level Missions. Only getting D-Class tasks seemed too unreasonable.
Minato thought Obito was still too optimistic. The privileges granted by Sarutobi Hiruzen were for Mokgetsu Squad, but now they were under Minato Squad. Ninja rules were very rigid.
Seeing one of the familiar registrar ninjas in the hall, Sawada Kazuya, Obito's eyes brightened, and he greeted Sawada Kazuya warmly: "Uncle Sawada, good morning."
"Hmm, good morning, and congratulations on becoming an Official Ninja." Sawada Kazuya responded cheerfully, looking at the forehead protector on Obito's head.
"Could you assign our team a good C-Class Mission?" Obito asked with a smile.
"No." Sawada Kazuya flatly refused.
"Ah, then we won't trouble you, Uncle Sawada. We'll choose on our own."
"Your team can only take D-Class Missions, not C-Class Missions." Sawada Kazuya explained seriously, then handed out the scroll of D-Class Missions.
"Ah?" Obito was dumbfounded, not expecting to start again from D-Class Missions.
Kakashi had an 'as-expected' expression, having guessed this would happen. Even as a Chunin joining a new team, he had to dutifully do chores. Obito's record was remarkable among students, but evidently not enough to break the rules.
"Uncle Sawada, didn't the Third Hokage grant us C-Class Mission privileges earlier? And we even completed S-level Missions before. Isn't it a bit unreasonable to only be assigned D-Class Missions now?" Obito asked, puzzled.
He had spoken to Nohara Rin on their way, discussing how dangerous missions could be and how to handle them. He wasn't happy about now having to do chores.
"That was during your internship in Mokgetsu Squad. Now that the class and team members are different, you have to follow the standard new Genin rules." Sawada Kazuya explained the rationale. Inheriting such privileges was out of the question, unless the Third Hokage said otherwise.
"Even if you have the capability for C-Class Missions, you should consider if your teammates have that same ability."
Obito recalled Nohara Rin's Monster Strength Power and thought C-Class Missions shouldn't be an issue.
Things were progressing as Minato had expected. He started reviewing D-Class Missions, knowing that despite his disciples' adequate strength, pushing Sawada Kazuya for higher-level missions would be unethical.
Then Obito had a bright idea as he looked at the D-Class Mission scroll.
During their internship, they were only assigned D-Class Missions, and it was only after they completed them that Sarutobi Hiruzen granted them C-Class Missions to try.
"Senior Minato, how about you pick ten for us to complete quickly and let Rin get familiar with missions?" Obito suggested, deciding to go all out and finish off the D-Class Missions.
"We'll take all the tasks on this scroll." Minato said to Sawada Kazuya.
"That's fine." Sawada Kazuya agreed, knowing Obito and Kakashi's speed and efficiency. Ten D-Class tasks wouldn't take long for them to complete.
"Kakashi, let's use Shadow Clones to increase mission efficiency and finish them quickly." Outside the Hokage Building, Obito said to Kakashi, planning to include him.
Obito could create two Shadow Clones to work with him, and Kakashi could also create two more. Including their actual selves, it would be seven people working on missions together.
"Why use Shadow Clones? You'll be exhausted afterward." Kakashi didn't understand why Obito suddenly became so enthusiastic, so he asked.
"Have you forgotten? Once we finished the D-Class Missions, we got a chance for C-Class Missions. Maybe it'll be the same this time." Obito revealed his brilliant plan.
"Not necessarily." Kakashi felt this wasn't certain, as there wasn't a clear standard.
"How about we compete to see who can finish more D-Class Missions? You, a Chunin, aren't afraid of me, a Genin, are you?" Obito provoked him.
Kakashi: …
Though a low-level taunt, Obito's words irked him, so he agreed.
Their quick pace in completing tasks inspired Nohara Rin, who became more motivated and faster.
With relentless hard work, their team completed thirty D-Class Missions in one day. After finishing and dispelling the Shadow Clones, Obito was exhausted, but determined to continue this strategy the next day until there were no D-Class Missions left.
While Obito was enthusiastically completing tasks, Mokgetsu received system rewards as well.
[Disciple Kakashi and Uchiha Obito diligently completed commissioned tasks, receiving growth reward: Chakra +5]
[Disciple Kakashi and Uchiha Obito diligently completed commissioned tasks, receiving growth reward: Chakra +4]
Perhaps because of their stronger abilities, the rewards for completing D-Class Missions were now pretty meager for Obito and Kakashi. Toward the end, they only got two or three points combined. Fortunately, the sheer quantity was enough. The total was more than they'd gain from a day of class in terms of Chakra.
Since he wasn't the one leading the team, Mokgetsu had an inexplicable sense of satisfaction from benefitting without effort—gaining Chakra while sitting at home.