Chapter 44: Uchiha, Anko, and Hayama Shirakumo
"You shouldn't say that, elder sister. It is only through marriage and the nurturing of the next generation that the Will of Fire of the previous Hokage can be passed down, isn't it?"
A youth about 1.4 meters tall, with a ping-pong paddle crest (the Uchiha fan) on his back, appeared. His eyes were melancholic, looking as though they contained a lifetime of stories. He voiced his disagreement with Anko Mitarashi's statement while clearly approving of Tonbo Tobitake's perspective.
"Hey, kid, who are you? Don't tell me you're our teammate. If you are, you'd better go back and train some more before coming along. Border missions aren't for children," Anko frowned, looking at the young boy. She wondered why the Third Hokage would send someone so young on a border mission; wasn't this reckless?
Hayama Shirakumo interrupted: "Alright, now that the team has assembled, everyone introduce yourselves and your specialties so I can make arrangements."
The youth spoke first: "Since you are all seniors, I will go first. I am Itachi Uchiha. I specialize in analysis, Fire Style, shurikenjutsu, and the insight of the Sharingan. Please look after me."
Tonbo looked at the little brat. His eyes looked like he hadn't slept for days, with tear troughs deeper than his father's. So this is Itachi Uchiha in his youth? He looks so weary, not cute like Sasuke at all. It was clear that having the mind of an adult was not healthy for a child. To Tonbo, current Itachi was just a child, regardless of whether he had the "philosophy of a Hokage" at age seven.
Tonbo also pondered the Third's intentions. Not long ago, he was gossiping about Itachi losing his teammates, and now they were on the same team. I hope Obito doesn't show up again. Moreover, the Third was comfortable throwing a kid this age to the border where local skirmishes were likely—did he think the rest of them were enough of a safety net?
He glanced at the others. Both Hayama and himself were Jonin level; it seemed the Hokage placed a great deal of trust in them.
"Anko Mitarashi, Chunin. I'm well-balanced in all areas with a fair amount of experience in combat and reconnaissance," Anko said, still frowning. She hadn't expected this kid to be an Uchiha, much less the famous Itachi Uchiha. Graduating at seven was an incredible achievement. As for passing down the will through children, she figured it was just talk—good men weren't that easy to find. Thinking this, she glanced at Tonbo. This guy has good luck, already married.
Tonbo laughed. "Haha, Tonbo Tobitake. Specialist in Mind Reading, quite accomplished in Genjutsu, and I'm a sensory type. I'm also proficient in battlefield first aid."
Everyone's gaze landed on him in surprise. Hayama Shirakumo hadn't known about the medical skills; the Third's files hadn't mentioned it. It seemed his former classmate had learned a lot during the Third War. He was pleased; even basic first aid meant the team effectively had a medical ninja, making the mission much smoother.
Itachi nodded. "Senior is impressive." To know so many skills, he must be an outstanding ninja. With Mind Reading involved, this mission might be easier than expected.
Anko was skeptical. "Hey, kid, don't brag. Even a small discrepancy in intelligence can get people killed." Her tone was heavy. She didn't believe Tonbo, who was only two years older than her, could have mastered so many disciplines. She had studied under Orochimaru and still felt her repertoire was limited.
"I believe Senior," Itachi stated firmly.
Tonbo grinned and said to Anko, "There's a reason I'm a Jonin and you're just a Chunin!"
That one sentence made Anko snap. Infuriating guy! She grit her teeth. "What's so great about being a Jonin? I'll be one sooner or later."
"Talk to me when you actually become one," Tonbo teased.
"Alright, stop bickering," Hayama Shirakumo commanded. "I am your captain, Hayama Shirakumo, a Konoha Jonin. I specialize in the Body Flicker Technique, Genjutsu, Wind Style, and Taijutsu. Now, check your equipment. Make sure nothing is missing; it won't be easy to resupply once we reach the border."
The three stopped arguing and began checking their ninja tool pouches. Tonbo was meticulous. Experience from the battlefield taught him that checking gear before a mission was mandatory. Even though he was powerful now, caution was never a mistake. He didn't want Ayame to become a young widow; he hadn't even raised his son or daughter yet!
Swoosh! Swoosh!
After registering with the gatekeepers, the four set out immediately.
The Land of Lightning lay to the northeast of the Land of Fire, connected by a narrow stretch of land. Their destination was the Land of Iron, which sat near that intersection.
"Our mission is to deal with the Kumogakure ninjas infiltrating the Land of Fire and uncover their reasons for being here," Hayama explained as they leaped through the high mountain terrain.
Itachi mused, "The highest probability is that they want to intercept the ore supply between the Land of Fire and the Land of Iron. Or, they intend to cross the border to gather internal intelligence on Konoha to prepare specific measures against the village."
"We can't rule out interference from other villages either," Tonbo added his own analysis. "For instance, the Land of Hot Water, which is separated from the Land of Iron by sea, or even Kirigakure across from them. From the memories I've read in heads brought back by comrades, Kirigakure is undergoing intense internal turmoil. They might be looking to supplement their resources. The trade relationship between the Land of Water and the Land of Hot Water has always been decent; they might use that as a bridge to target the wealthy Land of Iron."
"So you're saying our main enemies might be from Kumo, but we could also face ninjas from Yugakure or Kiri?" Anko frowned. This was troublesome. Kumo was already a handful, but now there were so many variables.
They looked to their captain.
Hayama Shirakumo nodded. "Yes, the situation is complex. That's why the Hokage specifically formed this special task force. Based on Lord Hokage's intel, it's confirmed the enemy is targeting our ore trade to undermine Konoha economically and fundamentally. Several trade routes have already suffered losses, which is why the Land of Iron requested aid."
The four of them discussed the mission's nuances, each contributing. Aside from the genius Itachi, the other three were veterans of the Third War, so they quickly agreed on several strategies. Tonbo felt very comfortable with this team. Whether it was Anko who studied under Orochimaru, the Jonin Hayama, or the genius Itachi, they were all top-tier teammates. It was a relief; there were no scenes like Naruto constantly bickering with his teammates. He mentally praised the Third for his thoughtful selection.
Unlike the anime, which focuses on the protagonist's perspective, reality was much more complicated. Ore trade was one of the foundations of a Great Village's strength. Losing the source of minerals for ninja tools could reduce a village's power by more than a fifth. This was a realization Tonbo had reached over the years. Even someone like himself, or even the Third or Fourth Hokage, would see their combat effectiveness drop significantly without ninja tools.
I hope the mission goes smoothly, Tonbo prayed silently as he leaped between tree branches. He had only just left Konoha, and he already missed his wife.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!