After a morning of training, Mutsuki said to the students, "Tonight is Guy's birthday, we'll gather at Guy's place then."
This was mainly directed at Kakashi, as Obito had already prepared all the gifts.
"Next, I have something to do. You are free to act as you wish. You can continue training here this afternoon if you like."
Mutsuki was going to show off his acting skills to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Maybe he's going to prepare a gift for you, Guy. I wonder what kind of gift it will be," Obito said enviously.
His birthday is on February 10th, still over a month away, but Obito has already begun to anticipate what gift Mutsuki will prepare for him.
"Haha, no matter what gift Yumi-sensei gives me, I'll be very happy," Guy said with a big smile.
He thought Mutsuki had already been very good to him, and apart from his father, he had never met anyone who treated him so well. So he didn't expect more, even if Mutsuki just said happy birthday, he would be very happy.
"That's true, but wouldn't you be happier if the gift were better?" Obito thought for a moment and said.
If the birthday gift Mutsuki gave him was a standard Kunai bought from a store, he would be happy and would cherish it, but if Mutsuki gave him one personally crafted, he would be even happier and cherish it more.
...
After leaving the training ground, Mutsuki headed straight to the Hokage Building.
He told Duy that the reason for having more opportunities to see Sarutobi Hiruzen was indeed true due to special circumstances, but Mutsuki said it more to increase the credibility of his own words.
Under normal circumstances, it was more convenient to find Sarutobi Hiruzen at the Hokage Building. Going to Sarutobi Hiruzen's house to find him would only be possible close to evening, which would be too late.
Thud, thud!
Mutsuki knocked on the door of the Hokage's office.
"Come in," came Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice.
"Third-sama," Mutsuki greeted respectfully.
"Mutsuki, what brings you here?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took his pipe out of his mouth, exhaling a puff of smoke, and asked.
"Third-sama, I have found a ninja within Konoha who possesses power far beyond their current rank. Their strength is exceptional, yet they remain a Genin," Mutsuki said with a serious expression.
"An exceptional Genin?" Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately pictured a figure in his mind.
"Is it a ninja carrying a burden?" Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment.
When it came to exceptional strength but remaining a Genin, his mind immediately went to Kosuke Maruboshi.
Kosuke Maruboshi was a seasoned ninja whose skill and contributions had long surpassed the level of Jonin. However, due to some past events that cast a shadow over him, he had consistently refused promotion.
Sarutobi Hiruzen greatly admired Kosuke Maruboshi and even taught him his own creation, an A-rank ninjutsu called the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Not quite, if I had to specify, it would be thick eyebrows and a green spandex suit," Mutsuki shook his head.
"Might Duy?" As Mutsuki described, a new image formed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.
Might Duy was somewhat infamous in Konoha, but not for good reasons.
Mutsuki nodded and explained, "It was a discovery by chance. Because Guy, the son of Might Duy, was interning with me, I had the opportunity to witness Might Duy's true strength."
This was why Mutsuki took this step only after the internship began, with such a background, the adaptation process became more reasonable and convincing.
"He has mastered a powerful Taijutsu called the Eight Inner Gates. Even at full force, I am no match for him," Mutsuki said earnestly.
"I feel something is amiss. A Genin mastering a formidable Taijutsu that I have never heard of before. That's why I've come to report to you, Third-sama," he concluded.
Upon hearing Mutsuki's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a slight expression of surprise. That Might Duy had actually mastered the Eight Inner Gates.
"It's normal that you don't know because the Eight Inner Gates is a forbidden technique" Sarutobi Hiruzen explained.
Sarutobi Hiruzen paused for a moment, exhaling a cloud of smoke, and continued, "This forbidden technique has existed since the Warring States period. Once mastered, its power is extremely terrifying. The Second Hokage once gathered some people in an attempt to create a team of ninja capable of using the Eight Inner Gates, and Might Duy was one of them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen had never witnessed the power of an Eight Inner Gates ninja firsthand, but he had seen the training methods for it, which were extremely demanding.
If it weren't for the utter failure of Senju Tobirama's Eight Inner Gates squad plan, he would have considered creating one himself.
Senju Tobirama initiated many innovations, such as the Academy ANBU series, but not all of them succeeded. The Eight Inner Gates plan was one of the most unsuccessful among them.
It wasted a lot of manpower and resources, and in the end, there wasn't even one successful practitioner. It was a complete failure.
"I never expected that after all this time, he still hasn't given up, and moreover, he succeeded," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen formed hand seals and created a Shadow Clone.
"If Might Duy has truly mastered the Eight Inner Gates, then being a Genin is no longer suitable for him. He can be promoted to Chunin," Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
For the Third Hokage, Might Duy's successful mastery of the Eight Inner Gates was no small achievement. It proved that the Eight Inner Gates squad plan was feasible.
However, mere words from Mutsuki were not enough. Sarutobi Hiruzen had to see it for himself.
It wasn't that he didn't trust Mutsuki's character, but he didn't fully trust Mutsuki's judgment. This was the Eight Inner Gates ninja that even his sensei wanted to know about.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen directly create a Shadow Clone, Mutsuki thought that the allure of gaining an Eight Inner Gates ninja was indeed considerable. There was no need to wait for Might Duy to be summoned; he could go directly with the Shadow Clone.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shadow Clone arrived at an empty training ground, while Mutsuki went to find Duy for testing.
Due to Mutsuki's prior warning, Duy had been staying at home, and Mutsuki spotted him as soon as he arrived.
"Let's go. Third wants to personally test your strength, Senpai. Try your best to show what you've got," Mutsuki instructed.
"No problem, I'm always ready to burn with the flames of youth!" Duy flashed a bright smile, giving a thumbs-up.
At this moment, Duy's emotions were a bit overwhelming. After decades had passed, he had been prepared to remain a perpetual Genin, but unexpectedly, he received such an opportunity.
"Also, Senpai, try not to talk to Third about my strength," Mutsuki reminded, worried that Duy might let something slip.
Although Duy was not aware of the full extent of his abilities, they were still beyond what he could demonstrate at the moment.
"Don't worry, I understand," Duy nodded in response.
He didn't know why Mutsuki wanted him to conceal his strength, but Duy respected Mutsuki's choice and was willing to help.
Following Mutsuki's lead, the two of them arrived at the training ground where Sarutobi Hiruzen's Shadow Clone was located.
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