Chapter 26: Rebellious Asuma
Konoha.
Training Ground 98.
Three teenagers sat cross-legged on the ground, a leaf stuck to each of their foreheads, hands formed into the Tiger seal.
Tonbo Tobitake sat nearby reading a book titled Theoretical Research on Barrier Ninjutsu: Volume 7. This series was an essential component for anyone in Konoha aspiring to master barrier arts.
Learning was truly intoxicating.
"Captain, is this really going to increase our strength?" Iruka asked, struggling to keep his chakra focused on his forehead.
"Of course. An elite ninja must be able to concentrate at a moment's notice. Only then can you spot an enemy's intentions in the heat of a lightning-fast battle through the smallest details," Tonbo replied, his eyes never leaving the page. "It's also how you mold chakra at the first possible second to complete a jutsu."
Mibu Shinobu added, "I get it! It's because Iruka wasn't focused enough during the fight with the Captain's giant beast that he didn't notice the pangolin tunneling underground."
"I was focused! I just got careless!" Iruka retorted, pouting.
"Focus. Stop talking," Tonbo said, finally acknowledging Shinobu's point. "Shinobu is right. A pangolin tunneling through the earth makes a significant disturbance. As long as you are consciously aware of enemies appearing from any direction—above, below, or the four cardinal points—you will notice the movement beneath your feet. A ninja must remain constantly vigilant against potential new threats. I believe the Academy taught you this."
He paused, then added: "Furthermore, the Third Lord said that where the leaves dance, the fire shall burn. Concentrating your chakra instantly onto that leaf represents lighting your initial flame. This is the moment to put your Will of Fire into practice!"
Upon hearing this, the three immediately surged with energy, redoubling their efforts to focus chakra as Tonbo instructed.
It really is useful, this Will of Fire! Looking at the hardworking trio, Tonbo couldn't help but marvel at the Third's brilliance. The elaborate schemes he had brainstormed to trick these three into working hard couldn't hold a candle to a single mention of the Will of Fire. In this regard, he admitted he was inferior to the Third; the Old Man was the ultimate master of "Talk no Jutsu," surpassing even Naruto.
Tonbo then returned his gaze to the barrier manual. It was a dense collection of notes on seals, chakra distribution, and nodal points.
He was confident that by the time the main plot began, he would be one of the top ninjas in the world. However, he couldn't guarantee that Konoha wouldn't be destroyed, nor could he guarantee he could stop Pain before he launched his ultimate "Almighty Push."
Therefore, he wanted to forge a new path through barrier ninjutsu to prevent Konoha's destruction by Pain's massive attack. This was entirely possible with barriers. He had already finished the first six volumes; although there were over a dozen more to go, he was confident he could devour them all and then begin experimenting with different barrier deployments.
These are all "just in case" measures. Who knows, maybe by then I'll already be invincible? That was Tonbo's mindset. The shinobi philosophy of "preparing for every eventuality" was being carried out to the letter.
He checked on the three Genin again and saw they had entered the "zone," though he sensed their concentration was still too slow. He also noticed that every time a breeze blew, their attention wavered slightly.
Let's try a barrier jutsu then.
Feeling inspired, Tonbo decided to test a concept from the theories he had just read. He pulled several "Silence" tags from his ninja tool pouch, flicked them onto the surrounding tree trunks, and began weaving hand signs.
Barrier ninjutsu was incredibly complex; even with Tonbo's current skill, it took him a full minute of weaving to finish. It was the most intricate set of signs he had performed since transmuting to this world.
"Barrier: Zone of Silence."
As he completed the signs, the chakra connected the tags, forming an invisible dome that enveloped the training ground. Inside, the three Genin suddenly felt the environment change. The sound of the wind, the buzzing of cicadas, and the chirping of birds all vanished. Their speed in refining and focusing chakra increased instantly.
Tonbo carefully analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of the barrier. The advantage was that barriers could be cast by multiple people and had many functions; the disadvantage was the high consumption and the need for a continuous chakra supply. They were best suited for traps or stationary defense.
In the original series, barrier ninjutsu was never given much depth—it was usually just a scene where a rogue ninja broke through one, making the art seem a bit embarrassing. However, judging by this Silence Barrier, it was quite effective in specific contexts.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
With the aid of Tonbo's new jutsus, the three Genin progressed rapidly. They found it much easier to concentrate. Once they reached a certain level, Tonbo removed the barriers, forcing them to improve step by step. Now, they were capable of focusing instantly during sparring matches. Whether it was casting jutsus, throwing shuriken, or situational analysis, they had made massive strides.
In his time off, Tonbo had also finalized his wedding date with Teuchi and Ayame: two years from now. He would be seventeen. For the people of the shinobi world, whose cells were twice as active as those in his past life, this wasn't considered an early marriage.
He was in high spirits every day. Even Iruka and the others could sense his happiness. When they learned their Captain had a fiancée, the entire team was stunned. They couldn't believe it—until Tonbo took them to Ichiraku Ramen and they saw how affectionate he and Ayame were.
On this day, an order came from the Hokage: report to the office with his squad for a mission. Tonbo stood with his team before the Third. He noticed the Old Man had aged significantly since they last met.
"Lord Third," Iruka said, looking happy to see him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "It's Iruka. I've read Tonbo's reports; I hear you've already become an excellent Genin."
Iruka glanced at Tonbo and said excitedly, "I'm still far behind the Captain."
Hiruzen nodded kindly and then looked at Tonbo with a serious expression. "I'm entrusting you with an important mission. You must complete it for me."
"Me?" Tonbo was puzzled, but he replied, "Mission completion guaranteed."
Hiruzen sighed. "The mission is to find Asuma Sarutobi and report back with intelligence. If you can convince him to return, even better!"
"Eh? Asuma Sarutobi?" The Genin were confused. Sarutobi? Does he have a connection to the Hokage?
Tonbo, however, was stunned. This was the period when Asuma rebelled and fled Konoha!
"He is my son," Hiruzen sighed. "Due to my work, I failed to educate him properly, and he has become increasingly rebellious. Recently, he took the opportunity of an outside mission to disappear. Someone spotted him in the Land of Fire, so I need you to locate him."
So it's come to this, Tonbo thought.
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