Chapter 34: The Two-Year-Old Blonde Kid
Training Ground 45.
Clang! Clang!
Swish!
Togetake Tetusen used his kunai to deflect a sickle, stopping the blade right at Saisu Kamano's throat.
"Hehe, you lose."
Saisu looked at him deeply and lowered his weapons. "You... how did you become so strong?"
The fight just now had been suffocating. It felt as though Tetusen had predicted every move he was going to make and countered accordingly. Every strike landed exactly where it was most uncomfortable for him to defend.
Tetusen grinned. "Hehe, because our Captain is amazing! He has us do non-stop combat drills every day, using all sorts of different tactics. I've become very accustomed to dealing with straightforward Taijutsu like yours."
He felt a surge of pride. Captain Tonbo was truly incredible. While fighting the Captain, he had realized the man was strong, but only now, using what he had been taught against Saisu, did he truly grasp the scale of that strength. Tonbo was likely one of the top elites in all of Konoha.
Elsewhere.
Mibu Shinobu used the most basic Genjutsu—the Tonbo Tobitake Edition: Psycho Mind Transmission: Disgust —to easily defeat his own former classmate.
His thoughts mirrored Tetusen's; the moment he returned to the village, he wanted his acquaintances to see the results of his training. However, having been taught by the Captain that a ninja must never leak intel needlessly, he kept his mouth shut about Tonbo's specific abilities. Whenever his classmates asked, he simply gave a thumbs-up and said the Captain's teaching was top-tier.
I definitely don't want to be the one on the receiving end of the Captain's "Revised" jutsu again, he thought. The three of them had experienced it enough; it was a miserable ordeal. The Captain seemed to love using such "torturous" methods to motivate them. Just thinking about it made Shinobu shiver.
By a secluded river in Konoha.
Iruka was practicing Water Style. A water dragon swayed back and forth in the river, twisting and turning as if it were dancing. The head only had small horns and the body was a simple long shape, making the Water Dragon Bullet look somewhat like a cartoon.
"Dammit, Shape Transformation is so hard to learn."
He was practicing diligently, desperate to master the techniques the Captain had taught. According to Tonbo's explanation, to speed up the weaving and formation of the Water Dragon, one needed a deep understanding of its form. This was a requirement that went beyond just hand signs.
Rat - Horse - Tiger—
Splash!
Another failure.
As he practiced, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched him silently from behind. Seeing that the boy could already manifest such a high-level jutsu, the Third smiled. Tonbo Tobitake's stock rose once again in his mind. Noticing Iruka's frustrated expression, he stepped forward.
"What's the matter? Is the jutsu too difficult? Feeling discouraged?"
Panting, Iruka heard the Third's voice and turned around with a bright smile. "Lord Third Hokage!"
He then answered the question: "Ah, not exactly. The Captain said ninjutsu mastery doesn't happen overnight; it takes day after day of practice. But even though I can follow the signs, my formation speed and power are nowhere near the Captain's."
At this, he recalled the first time Tonbo had shown them the water dragon. It was a majestic, thirty-meter-tall beast. Even its swaying whiskers seemed more powerful than Iruka's entire dragon. It was awe-inspiring. It could cause massive destruction and even carry them through the sky. That was a true Water Dragon Bullet.
According to the Captain, Iruka could achieve that too—if he mastered the basics. Looking at the Third, and then at his own lackluster dragon, Iruka felt a wave of shame.
"Lord Third, is my talent just too poor? Tetusen can already add Wind Nature Transformation to his ninja tools!" Iruka asked. He had been doubting himself, feeling far behind his teammate. Tonbo always insisted their talents were similar, which was the only reason he kept going.
Hiruzen looked stunned. "Iruka... mastering Shape and Nature Transformation is something only Jonin are required to master. It's still too early for you. That's why you're confused."
Iruka's eyes lit up.
"For now, you just need to practice more. Shape Transformation will come gradually. Every Jonin started by learning from their predecessors; mastering it directly isn't something most people can do."
Iruka nodded. The Captain really thought highly of them, teaching Jonin-level concepts to mere Genin.
"Everyone has something they are good at," Hiruzen said slowly. "You are a detailed-oriented child with a calm personality. You are suited for researching the fundamentals and then expressing them. I went through the same thing back then. And since I am a 'Professor' of ninjutsu, I shall guide you."
"Really?"
"A Hokage's word is his bond."
Ichiraku Ramen.
After reporting to the Third, Tonbo Tobitake headed straight for Ichiraku. He was unaware of his students' bragging; right now, he only wanted to see Ayame.
Slurp!
"Ayame's ramen is still the best! The stuff outside doesn't even come close!" Tonbo praised her. It was that familiar, perfect taste.
Ayame's face turned slightly red, her eyes sparkling. "Honestly, you're too much... it's embarrassing."
Teuchi glanced at him. "Kid, I learned my craft in the Capital before starting my own shop. Don't think I don't know you're just being smooth-tongued."
"I'm being framed, Father-in-law! You've surpassed your masters; how can anyone else compare?" Tonbo said between slurps.
Ayame looked at him warmly. "The mission must have been hard, being away for so long."
Tonbo replied, "It wasn't hard at all. Thinking of Ayame waiting for me in the village makes any hardship disappear."
"Mm. You didn't get hurt, did you?"
"Who do you think I am? The finest sensory ninja in the Konoha Analysis Team! How could anyone hurt me? Impossible, absolutely impossible." Tonbo puffed out his chest to reassure her.
He wanted to provide a complete sense of security. When away from home, the family's peace of mind is vital, so he always emphasized his strength to Ayame. He wasn't worried about others speculating on his power; besides, everyone knows how to brag a little.
"I believe you."
Those three words made Tonbo's heart soar. As expected of his beloved. Even the ramen tasted better now.
After some sweet talk, Teuchi—being a sensible future father-in-law—kicked them out to go for a walk. The two strolled through the streets of Konoha hand-in-hand, leaning into each other.
Tonbo told Ayame stories about the Land of Fire—the prosperity, the technology, the movie theaters. Konoha didn't have a cinema yet; it would likely be a few years before they were introduced. In return, Ayame told him the gossip from the ramen shop.
For instance, she mentioned there was a blonde-haired boy about two years old in the village. The residents were calling him the "reincarnation of the Demon Fox." The rumor was spreading from person to person, making everyone who saw the blonde child feel a sense of dread.
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