Upon returning to the village, Mū immediately took decisive action. He arranged housing for the Fūma clan without delay, placing them in a prime location near the heart of Iwagakure. This move served two distinct purposes.
First, it was a symbolic gesture that emphasized the village's recognition of the clan's importance. By positioning them close to the center, Iwagakure demonstrated its expectations for the Fūma to contribute meaningfully. Second, the placement made it easier to monitor them. While Mū didn't believe they would rebel, his cautious nature drove him to keep potential threats within easy reach.
"Mū-sama, your immigration policy is already showing clear results!"
"Many civilians and even rogue shinobi have joined us. The village is expanding rapidly, and our population has already grown by over three thousand!"
Iwagakure's officials delivered the news with visible enthusiasm, their faces lit up with broad smiles. With all the construction work underway, they had been making a great deal of money, and it showed in their energy.
Mū gave a brief nod. "That's solid progress, but we can't let just anyone in. We need to start screening based on character. I walked through the village just now and saw a few idle thugs and drifters doing nothing but freeloading in our housing. Those kinds of people are dangerous for village stability. They need to be dealt with firmly and removed."
He spoke calmly, but the message was firm.
"Yes, sir!" the officials replied in unison.
"Good. Now get back to work. Focus on your duties and carry them out properly."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them.
"Mū-sama, the location for the academy still requires your final decision," reminded the official in charge of its construction.
Mū narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Fine. I'll go select it myself."
Once the office emptied, Mū silently performed the Transformation Jutsu and slipped out of the Tsuchikage Building without drawing attention. Disguised, he walked the main streets of Iwagakure unnoticed by the villagers.
His trip had two main goals: to assess the public's mood and commercial activity, and to identify the ideal site for the new academy. By remaining in disguise, he avoided drawing a crowd or distracting the citizens.
As he wandered through the streets, he tuned into the chatter of the people around him.
"The village is doing really well lately. There's so much more available than before."
"Yeah, a lot of new people have moved in recently."
"It's all because of Mū-sama. He ought to be named Tsuchikage already!"
Mū gave a silent nod as he walked. His policies were working. The signs were all around him.
Before long, he found himself in the heart of the village's bustling commercial district. The streets were neatly lined with stores: barbecue joints, flower shops, clothing boutiques. These businesses added comfort to shinobi life and gave them a reason to spend their otherwise idle wages. The shopkeepers, meanwhile, were thriving in the lively atmosphere.
Mū stepped into a teahouse, placed a casual order for a cup of tea, and found a seat.
Just as Mū settled into his seat, a rakugoka performer stepped onto the small stage.
"Today, let me tell you the tale of how Mū-sama clashed with Madara Uchiha!"
Pfft!
Mū nearly choked on his tea. Seriously? The first thing he hears is a dramatized version of his own story?
"Mū-sama bellowed, 'Damn it! If I don't kill you today, Madara Uchiha, I'll resign on the spot! Flatten the Land of Fire capital within twenty-four hours!'"
The performer threw his arms wide, voice rising with theatrical flair.
"Then Mū-sama roared, 'Blow it up! What's there to consider?! You've infuriated Mū-sama, and now you'll face the consequences!' Explosion tags poured from the skies like hail, bam, bam, bam, straight onto Konoha's Hokage Tower!"
"And I swear on my grandma's rice basket! Mū-sama's explosion tags landed so perfectly, they even blasted Madara's underwear clean off! It was like a five-part dismemberment, followed by a shower of cherry blossoms!"
The audience burst into cheers and laughter. The atmosphere turned electric, more like a fantasy epic than a historical retelling. Some villagers even applauded mid-performance.
Mū took another sip of tea, letting out a slow, inward sigh.
That's why the skies had cleared; there was just too much ridiculousness in the air. He could feel a cold sweat forming since this level of exaggeration was way over the top. If Madara heard this nonsense, he'd probably come storming back for round two.
Still, even if the performance was absurdly overblown, it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It gave the villagers something to enjoy, a sense of pride, and a legend.
Ahem.
"Looks like people are living pretty well... they even came up with rakugo as a career."
(AN: Rakugo is a form of traditional Japanese storytelling that became popular during the late Edo period. Rakugoka is the person who tells the stories.)
Finishing his tea, Mū rose to his feet. After walking through the entire street, he felt he had a clear grasp of Iwagakure's steady progress. The foundation was coming together piece by piece.
With the commercial district now surveyed, it was time to focus on finding a location for the new ninja academy.
Eventually, Mū arrived at a wide, open plain.
Sunlight poured down freely. Visibility was excellent, and the area was conveniently situated near both the residential blocks and the heart of the village.
"This is the place…"
Without the slightest hesitation, Mū decided this would be the academy's site.
On his way back, he made a detour to the mountain behind Iwagakure.
He remembered that Ōnoki often trained there. Although Mū was swamped with village matters, he remained a mentor at heart.
"Huh, hah! Huh, hah!"
Up in the mountains, Ōnoki focused on chakra control, working to master wind, fire, and earth. He understood that only by mastering these three elements could he one day unlock Dust Release. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get the chakra natures to blend.
Mū quietly activated the Dustless Confusion Barrier and observed from the shadows.
After another failed attempt, Ōnoki collapsed to the ground with a loud sigh.
"Why can't I get this right?"
After a pause, Ōnoki gritted his teeth.
"Don't tell me… I'm not even gifted enough for Dust Release?"
Lying there, frustration pouring out, Ōnoki wailed to the empty sky.
After so many failed attempts, it was clear that Ōnoki's confidence had started to crumble.
Seeing the boy in such a state, Mū canceled the Transformation Jutsu and revealed himself without a word.
Whoosh!
Sprawled flat on the ground, Ōnoki suddenly noticed a shadow looming over him. He blinked and slowly looked up.
The moment he recognized the figure, he sprang upright in a fluster.
"S-sensei? What are you doing here?"
He scratched his head in embarrassment, trying to hide his frustration.
"I came to check on you. As your sensei, it's my duty to guide your training," Mū said as he sat down beside him, calm and composed.
"I wanted to see your progress. Don't lose heart. Dust Release was never meant to be easy."
His tone was steady, offering quiet encouragement.
Ōnoki let out a deep sigh. "I've tried everything, but I just can't get the three chakra types to merge."
Mū paused for a moment, considering the problem.
"Merging chakra requires not just power, but harmony and control. Maybe start by refining each element, wind, fire, and earth, one at a time, focusing on mastery. Then try fusing them bit by bit."
Ōnoki's eyes brightened briefly at the advice, but that light quickly faded again.
"But I've already done that so many times… and it still doesn't work."
He slumped back down, his frustration clearly etched across his face.
Mū gave a faint smile as he stood slowly. He could see it clearly, Ōnoki's problem wasn't a lack of talent. It was the weight of repeated failure grinding away at his confidence.
Now was the time for a teacher to do more than instruct. It was time to step in and help his student through the doubt.
"That's the most damaging part of failure," Mū began quietly. "It's not the fall itself, it's how many times you fall until you start believing you can't ever stand again. You begin to think you're just not good enough. And once that thought takes root, you stop trying altogether."
He gently ruffled Ōnoki's hair.
"Everyone reaches this point in life, this wall of self-doubt. On the road to growth, your results matter less than the growth itself. So don't just chase success. Focus on building the strength that leads to it. This growth, layer by layer, is what builds your future."
Mū's voice was steady and calm, but every word landed with weight. Slowly, his message began to sink in. Ōnoki's gaze shifted, still troubled at first, then gradually firming with new resolve.
If his teacher believed in him, then why should he doubt himself?
This was Mū, the most powerful shinobi in Iwagakure. If even he said Ōnoki could do it, then he had to try again.
A flicker of fire sparked back to life in his chest.
Clap, clap.
Mū gave Ōnoki's shoulder a reassuring pat and smiled gently.
"Keep working at it. I believe in you. You're my student, and you shouldn't ever sell yourself short."
Those words hit like a surge of pure chakra. Ōnoki felt it, a pulse of renewed strength.
"Alright, sensei! I'll master control over all three chakra natures!"
His voice rang with fresh determination, steady and unwavering.
Right after that, Ōnoki returned to training without hesitation. He focused on mastering each chakra nature one at a time, wind, fire, and earth, just as Mū had instructed. With steady breathing and renewed resolve, he began preparing himself once more to attempt the fusion.
Mū stood nearby, observing in silence, his gaze calm and unwavering.
There is another way to overcome the confidence barrier. Encouragement from someone in a position of authority can be very effective. When a person you trust shows faith in you, that trust can become a powerful force, one that rebuilds your confidence from the ground up.
Just like how his own words had reignited Ōnoki's spirit.
If the original master of Dust Release believed in him, how could Ōnoki possibly doubt himself?
That single belief sparked strength within his heart, filling it with renewed energy and drive.
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