Chapter 262: Gold Coins Exploded
The five disciples surrounded Mugetsu and led him toward the spot where they had hidden their gift.
Once they arrived, Kakashi performed an Earth Release technique, unearthing the large box buried beneath the soil.
"Mugetsu-sensei, you can open your eyes now," Obito said excitedly.
Mugetsu opened his eyes to see a dusty but beautifully wrapped gift box before him.
"Mugetsu-sensei, thank you for your guidance during these past months," all five disciples said in unison, bowing respectfully.
"Mugetsu-sensei, open it! We all made it together," Obito added, grinning widely. He could barely wait to see his teacher's reaction.
"You made it yourselves?" Mugetsu smiled softly. "Then I'm really looking forward to it."
As he opened the box, the others leaned in, watching his face closely, eager to see his expression.
When the lid lifted, the sculptures they had made were revealed. Mugetsu blinked in mild surprise—then smiled warmly, his eyes softening with genuine satisfaction.
To be honest, he had already suspected something was going on. There had been small hints in their behavior lately. But when they snuck out at night to bury something, he confirmed it.
Because Tenten was training in the South Border Forest, Mugetsu had stationed a Shadow Clone nearby for safety—and through it, he discovered their plan to surprise him.
Even so, seeing the completed gift before him filled him with a deep sense of emotion.
Each sculpture clearly reflected its creator's touch. Kakashi's was precise and detailed, every line and contour carefully shaped. Guy's was bold and straightforward—his signature bowl cut and thick eyebrows were spot-on, even if the rest was rougher.
Shisui's sculpture held a short blade identical to the one Mugetsu had given him on his birthday. Mugetsu noticed it immediately.
Then, his gaze fell upon the central figure—his own likeness. The sculpture was a combination of all their efforts: the head was finely detailed, scaled perfectly to his proportions. Some parts were slightly mismatched, but it only added to its charm. It was clear that someone had made final adjustments to tie everything together.
In the display, Mugetsu stood at the center, surrounded by his five disciples—each captured mid-training. Obito practiced Fire Release, Kakashi wielded his Lightning Breathing sword style, Shisui honed his short blade technique, Rin used the Mystical Palm, and Guy struck a Taijutsu stance. Every sculpture carried their serious, determined expressions, perfectly reflecting their daily lives.
"I'm very satisfied with this gift," Mugetsu said softly. "It must have been hard to create something so wonderful while still training."
He gently patted each of their heads, pride gleaming in his eyes.
At first, his teaching had been driven by practicality—training them to trigger system rewards. But over time, something changed. He had grown to care for them deeply. Now, he sought strength not through manipulation, but through their genuine growth.
(The stronger your disciples become, the stronger you become.)
That was the true essence of his system. As long as they grew well, his own strength would follow naturally.
"It's nothing compared to what you've done for us, Mugetsu-sensei," Obito said, smiling brightly. "The time we spent making this gift is nothing in comparison."
He remembered clearly how much his life had changed. From being the Academy's dead last to rising to the top, surpassing even the genius he once admired—his progress in just one year was something he could never have achieved without Mugetsu.
"Yes, Mugetsu-sensei," Shisui added with a warm smile. "You can be even greedier. You've done far more for us than any teacher ever could."
Though Shisui had joined earlier than Obito and Guy, his loyalty and trust in Mugetsu had deepened later. Yet now, it was stronger than anyone's. After his birthday, that bond had become something close to family.
"It's because of you, Mugetsu-sensei, that my youth burns brighter than ever!" Guy said passionately, tears welling in his eyes.
His voice trembled slightly as memories surged.
He had been ridiculed and admitted into the Academy only through supplementary enrollment. Despite being mocked as the weakest, Guy never gave up his dream of becoming the strongest through sheer effort. But the road had been long and harsh.
When he first challenged Kakashi, he was defeated instantly. During the Academy's first practical exam, he lost in the first round. Even when his hard work seemed meaningless, he never stopped trying.
He remembered the day he overheard people mocking his father. He had rushed at them in anger—only to be beaten down and humiliated again.
Even with his strong will, there were moments when his resolve wavered.
Everything changed after he met Mugetsu.
Under Mugetsu's guidance, Guy topped his class for the first time. In the following exams, he reached second place overall, then claimed first in the year-end assessment.
And when someone insulted his father again, Guy didn't just endure it—he fought back and won. This time, he had the strength to protect what mattered to him.
That victory had burned itself into his memory. For the first time, he truly understood that his hard work had meaning.
He had even surpassed the genius rival he once admired.
And all of it—every bit of progress, every triumph—was because of Mugetsu's help. Without him, Guy knew he could never have achieved this in a single year.
"Because Mugetsu-sensei is here, dreams don't seem so far away," Rin said softly.
She had always carried an ambitious dream—but without the talent to match it. She wanted to heal those wounded by war and ultimately prevent war itself. It was a dream that felt impossibly distant for someone ordinary.
Back in her Academy days, she had admired Kakashi deeply, believing that only geniuses like him could achieve something so grand.
But after studying under Mugetsu, everything changed. Learning the Mystical Palm Technique gave her the power to heal her comrades, while mastering other skills allowed her to stand on equal footing with them in battle. For the first time, Rin believed she too could walk alongside Kakashi and the others to reach that dream.
As the others spoke, Kakashi—who had joined the team the latest—fell silent, memories flashing through his mind.
He had learned far more from Mugetsu than just ninjutsu or secret arts. Mugetsu had taught him lessons about life, and had given him moments he would never forget.
He remembered sitting by the river, weighed down by his father's death, when Mugetsu found him and spoke to him until the clouds in his heart began to clear. He remembered being ambushed by a jonin and Mugetsu stepping in to protect him, so calm that not even his robes were torn. And when he couldn't sleep, haunted by grief, Mugetsu had taken him home, cooked him breakfast, and stayed by his side like family. The warmth of that meal, and the image of Mugetsu standing alone as a rearguard, were carved deeply into his memory.
Thinking of all this, Kakashi stepped forward and handed Mugetsu a small box.
"Mugetsu-sensei," he said, his voice calm but sincere, "this is something I prepared for you personally. I'm truly grateful for everything you've done these past few months."
Without Mugetsu, Kakashi knew he might still be wandering through life like a hollow shell, unable to feel meaning or purpose.
"Another gift?" Mugetsu said in surprise, clearly not expecting anything beyond the earlier group present.
"We each made something individually too," Shisui explained, stepping forward and handing his own gift to Mugetsu.
His was too large to carry around, so he had left it in the South Border Forest and sent a shadow clone to fetch it—it had just arrived.
"How could one gift be enough for everything you've done for us?" Obito said with a grin, holding out his own box. "This one's from me personally!"
"This gift embodies my youth!" Guy declared proudly, his smile radiant as he presented his own offering.
Mugetsu looked at the small hands extended toward him, each holding a heartfelt token of gratitude. His expression softened, and he accepted them all with a warm smile before storing them carefully in a sealing scroll.
"It's getting late," he said gently. "Let's have dinner at my place."
He didn't say more—words of thanks felt unnecessary now. With his current strength, he no longer needed to hide much. Letting others know that Rin and Shisui were his disciples would only strengthen his reputation as an exceptional instructor.
"Yay!" Obito shouted, leaping into the air with excitement. Aside from training victories, nothing made him happier than eating Mugetsu's cooking.
"Hmm, I should tell my parents first, or they'll worry," Rin said with a soft laugh.
Shisui nodded quickly. He had never been to Mugetsu's home in the Main District before. Kakashi, who lived alone, simply agreed and followed along.
Mugetsu brought Shisui and Kakashi ahead to his house while the others went home to inform their families.
When they arrived at his door, Mugetsu spotted Minato just about to knock.
"Minato," he greeted with a smile. "You're here earlier than usual."
Minato turned, surprised to hear the familiar voice from behind him.
"I had a few things to take care of today, so I came back a bit late. Come in with me," Mugetsu said kindly.
"Minato-senpai," Kakashi greeted respectfully.
Shisui, though unfamiliar with him, followed suit. "Minato-senpai."
Minato smiled back and entered the house with them.
Why does this person feel so much like Mugetsu-sensei? Shisui thought as he observed Minato's warm smile and easy demeanor. They even carried the same calm aura.
Sensing his thoughts, Kakashi leaned over and whispered, "They're not related. They just look alike and get along really well."
Shisui blinked in surprise, then nodded, understanding.
"Is that boy also your disciple?" Minato asked curiously, glancing at Shisui.
"Yes," Mugetsu replied. "I've been teaching him for a while now."
"Mugetsu, you really are dedicated," Minato said with genuine admiration. "Five disciples already. You're a model instructor."
As a jonin teacher himself, he knew the workload well—and unlike him, Mugetsu wasn't even being compensated. He was doing it purely to cultivate talent for Konoha.
"Five isn't so many," Mugetsu chuckled. "During one of my special training programs, I once taught over three hundred students at once."
Minato blinked, taken aback. That was more than a quarter of the entire force Konoha had sent to war against Iwagakure.
Before he could reply, a familiar voice called from outside.
"Mugetsu-sensei, we're here!"
"Come in," Mugetsu called back.
Obito, Rin, and Guy entered moments later.
"Minato-senpai!" Obito greeted, grinning, then turned to Rin. "See? Minato-senpai and Mugetsu-sensei look alike, right? Not brothers, but maybe twins separated at birth!"
Slap!
A transparent flick of chakra smacked Obito squarely on the head.
"Minato, I'm sorry," Mugetsu said with a sigh. "Obito's thought process can be… unusual at times."
Minato laughed and waved it off. "It's fine. I don't mind." His eyes, warm with amusement, lingered on Obito and Rin—his future students.
Soon, Mugetsu headed into the kitchen to prepare dinner, and Minato joined in to help.
Although Minato wanted to stay and get to know his future team better, Kushina was waiting for him at home, so he excused himself once the food was ready.
For the meal, Mugetsu had gone all out—enough for his disciples, plus extra for Minato and Kushina. The table was covered with a mix of dishes from his past life and the finest Konoha-style cuisine.
"This is too much happiness! So many dishes at once!" Obito said, drooling openly as the aroma filled the air.
"Eat quickly. Some dishes don't taste as good once they're cold," Mugetsu said with a smile, taking a seat at the table and picking up a vegetable.
His words were like the sound of a charge horn—the five disciples immediately launched into a frenzy, eating at high speed.
During the chaotic meal, Obito activated his Sharingan just to snatch food faster, while Kakashi used Chakra to enhance his body, making his chopsticks blur like lightning.
Once they were finished, everyone helped clean up. None of them were good at cooking, but washing dishes and wiping tables were easy enough.
"Mugetsu-sensei, you should check if our gifts suit your liking," Obito said eagerly after they were done.
The others nodded, watching him expectantly. Their group gift had already received praise—but they hoped their individual ones would bring even more joy to their teacher.
Mugetsu smiled and nodded, taking out the gifts from a scroll.
He started with Shisui's, the longest and most eye-catching of the bunch.
When he opened the ornate box, a one-meter-long katana gleamed inside. Mugetsu drew it from its sheath, examining the flame pattern engraved along the scabbard.
"Wow, that sword looks amazing!" Obito exclaimed. "The flame design is so cool!"
"It's indeed beautiful," Mugetsu said approvingly. He infused Fire Release Chakra into the blade, and flames burst forth, dancing along the steel as he swung it through the air.
The fiery trail left behind showed that the sword had been forged with rare, high-quality materials.
"Mugetsu-sensei, I want to learn how to do that!" Obito's eyes shone with excitement, already imagining himself cutting down enemies with a blazing sword.
"This is simple," Mugetsu replied with a light chuckle. "Just continue practicing Flame Breathing diligently, and you'll be able to do it soon."
The localized Breathing Technique didn't require the use of a sword—but if one wished to, it was entirely possible.
"Of course," Mugetsu added, "don't try it at home like I just did. If you lose control, you'll burn your house down."
Turning back to Shisui, he smiled warmly. "You really put a lot of thought into this. I'm very happy with it."
He could tell the katana wasn't cheap. Knowing Shisui's situation as an orphan made the gesture even more touching. If he thought Shisui would accept it, Mugetsu would have given him half a million Ryo in return.
Shisui smiled softly. "As long as Mugetsu-sensei is happy."
Next, Mugetsu opened Obito's gift—an inkstone carved with a dragon. The design was rough, and the dragon's features were far from fierce, but its sincerity was undeniable.
"I didn't have much time. Once my skills improve, I'll make a better one," Obito said sheepishly, scratching his head.
"I'm already very satisfied with this," Mugetsu said kindly, patting Obito's head.
He didn't care about the item itself—what moved him was the heart behind it. If he truly wanted an inkstone or a sword, he could easily obtain them himself.
Next was Kakashi's gift: a beautifully crafted writing brush, with the faint word "Conviction" engraved on it.
"Kakashi," Mugetsu said with a small smile, recalling one of their past conversations, "I'll make good use of this brush that embodies conviction."
"It only has the word written on it," Kakashi replied. "If it ever wears out, I'll just make another."
Though his mask hid his expression, the light in his eyes revealed his mood—relaxed, content, and perhaps even proud.
Seeing that, Obito secretly felt relieved that he hadn't chosen a brush too. Matching gifts would have been awkward—especially if his turned out worse.
Then came Might Guy's turn. His gift was unexpected—not a green jumpsuit, but a small, hand-drawn picture book. The art was simple and cartoonish, yet full of energy.
Flipping through it, Mugetsu realized it was a visual diary—Guy had drawn everything that had happened since they met.
"This is quite the achievement," Mugetsu said, clearly impressed. Guy's memory wasn't the best, and drawing wasn't his strength either.
"Recording youth is no problem for one as full of youth as me!" Guy declared proudly, flashing his trademark grin.
He had originally planned to give Mugetsu a jumpsuit to "spread the way of youth," but after hearing Obito's comments, he realized not everyone shared his enthusiasm. So, he chose another path—one that expressed his spirit just as well.
Finally, Mugetsu opened Rin's gift: a flower, just beginning to bloom.
"I bought the seeds and planted it myself," Rin said, smiling brightly.
"I've never been good with plants," Mugetsu said with a chuckle, "but I'll do my best to keep it alive."
He looked at them all, feeling a deep sense of warmth. The love and respect his disciples had shown him were worth more than any reward.
Taking advantage of the cheerful atmosphere, Mugetsu retrieved several of his own calligraphy works and gave one to each disciple.
For Guy, he chose a piece about perseverance and self-improvement.
For Kakashi, one about conviction.
For Obito, one about unwavering determination—a reminder to never lose sight of his goals.
[You gifted your disciple your personal calligraphy. Due to your disciple's immense gratitude, the reward was a huge critical hit. You received the reward: Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Mastery Level).]
As the notification echoed in his mind, Mugetsu nodded to himself, pleased.
He had given Kakashi's first on purpose—hoping for a different kind of return than his usual Fire or Taijutsu-based rewards. And sure enough, the system delivered perfectly.
The disciple return rewards sometimes randomized, which Mugetsu appreciated. Kakashi already excelled in Lightning and Earth Release; Wind Release would be a powerful addition.
"I'm truly grateful," Mugetsu said softly, looking at his students. "Today has been… a wonderful day."
Even setting aside the new mastery he gained, his heart was full.
His praise encouraged them, just as their gratitude encouraged him. The teacher and students strengthened one another through this bond.
"As long as you're happy, Mugetsu-sensei, that's what matters most," Obito said with a bright smile.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Your happiness is our greatest reward," they said together, their voices filled with warmth.
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