The Training Field.
"Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof!
On the vast open ground, a massive wall rose from the earth, with a colossal waterfall cascading down its side. Countless Narutos stood on wooden platforms extending from the wall, shouting "Heh!" in unison to keep their spirits up.
"You're quite clever, Kakashi, coming up with a training thod using Multi-Shadow Clones."
Tonbo Tobitake watched the training from a distance, having commandeered Kakashi's lounge chair. He held a piece of fruit, enjoying the show. Beside him was an earthen platform supporting a basket of pills. Though Tonbo frequently used secret-recipe Soldier Pills, he absolutely refused to eat these particular ones.
Nearby, Yamato was working hard to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra within Naruto, preventing the drain from triggering a rampage.
"Why do I get the feeling you aren't surprised at all? It's like you already knew about this," Kakashi said suspiciously.
Well, duh, I learned it from watching you! Tonbo thought. Aloud, he said: "But why did you call here? Do you need help with the training?"
"Yeah. Training for Wind Style Nature Transformation," Kakashi replied.
"Makes sense. Aside from Lightning and Earth Style, your Wind Style is a bit lacking," Tonbo nodded, throwing in a jab.
"..."
Poof! Poof! Poof!
While Kakashi remained speechless, Naruto exhausted his chakra. Just as the red chakra began to leak out, Yamato moved in to suppress it. Kakashi then brought a spent Naruto over, carrying him on his back. Naruto spotted Tonbo and blinked. "Hey, Uncle Tonbo, what are you doing here?"
"Your reaction ti is too slow; I've been here for ages. You're almost out of chakra—why don't you eat these Soldier Pills? They're Sakura's special recipe. Soldier Pills made with 'love,'" Tonbo teased, pointing to the basket.
Ugh!
Naruto looked at the pills and rembered the taste. He waved his hands frantically. "What 'love'? I just don't need them, I'm fine!" His face turned a shade pale.
"True. Sakura's special Soldier Pills are more unsettling than the taste of my 'Eight Fragrances of Fire' technique," Tonbo remarked.
"Exactly! Sakura's pills taste terrible!" Naruto agreed, nodding vigorously.
"Oh, Naruto, you're in for it. You just said Sakura's cooking is bad," Tonbo joked.
Naruto's voice dropped to a whisper. "But it really is bad."
"Alright, enough. He's here to teach you Wind Nature Transformation," Kakashi interrupted, knowing ti was short.
"Huh? Uncle Tonbo knows Wind Style too?"
"...Your mory is truly abysmal." Tonbo finally understood what it was like to deal with a dimwit. Fortunately, his own children were quite bright.
He then wove a series of hand signs.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
The wind rose from the flat ground. Under Naruto's astonished gaze, a violent gale swept through. The ground was literally peeled back like a carpet, rolling up under the force of the wind.
Crash! Boom!
The earthen walls Yamato had constructed were blown away piece by piece. Finally, the lush green grass was gone, and the tall wall and waterfall had vanished, leaving only a wasteland of yellow and black soil.
"See that? That's Wind Style."
Tonbo finished the jutsu, feeling that "showing off" felt pretty good. It had been a while. The three observers were stunned, their mouths agape. Even "dead-fish-eyed" Kakashi looked like his eyes might pop out.
"That was just a 'Great Breakthrough'?"
"My wall... my Waterfall Basin Jutsu... my chakra..." Yamato's hands trembled.
"Wind Style is so cool!" Naruto, seeing such power, practically drooled with envy. His passion was instantly reignited. "I want to learn that!"
"No, that's too hard for you. Stick to the basic Nature Transformation. This was just a demonstration, not for you to practice yet," Tonbo said. He then cut the chatter and began explaining the specifics of Wind Nature Transformation. He used a top-down approach, making his explanations simple and concrete. He was an expert at finding easy-to-understand ways to help a "idiot" like Naruto learn quickly.
"So that is Captain Tonbo's strength... what terrifying Wind Style."
In the forest outside the clearing, Sai and Sakura had happened to witness the scene. They were deeply shaken. Against a Wind Style of such scale, there was almost no room to dodge—one could only defend or tank it. On a battlefield, it would be a horrific harvester of the weak. Both Sai and Sakura instinctively imagined themselves as Tonbo's enemies and realized the danger.
The Hokage's Office.
Bang!
A monk wearing the robes of the Fire Temple stood before Tsunade.
"You're saying Chiriku was killed by the Akatsuki and the Fire Temple was destroyed?" Tsunade's face was grim as she slamd her palm on the desk.
"Yes. I only survived because I was away at the ti," the monk replied.
Tsunade clenched her fist. "Notify all Special Operations Squads. Assemble."
"Yes, Ma'am!" The ANBU ninja vanished instantly.
The Rooftop Outside the Hokage's Office.
Twenty squads appeared. Most were Chunin or higher; not a single Genin was present. Tonbo Tobitake was among them.
Finally, it starts.
These Special Operations Squads had been specifically ford by Tsunade to deal with the Akatsuki, with four mbers to a team. Tonbo was one of the captains. He hadn't originally wanted to join—he was still wary of the potential appearance of Urashiki Otsutsuki—but given his teleportation jutsu and Tsunade's insistence, he had no choice.
Besides, he wanted to save Asuma. Aside from being classmates, Asuma's survival wouldn't disrupt Naruto's growth—it would only affect Shikamaru's team. In the grand sche of things, Asuma's power level wouldn't change the main storyline. Furthermore, Tonbo wanted to see Hidan, the unique specin of the Jashin Cult. The jutsu Tonbo was currently developing was actually related to him.
I'll capture him for experints. An immortal is the perfect test subject, Tonbo thought. Aside from Taijutsu and the Curse: Death Controlling Blood, Hidan lacked complex skills, making him easy to control.
Shortly after, Tsunade laid out the situation. Everyone's faces grew solemn. Chiriku of the Fire Temple had been one of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi; if even a ninja of his caliber was no match for the Akatsuki, this would be a massive challenge. Asuma, in particular, looked incredibly troubled.
"Now, everyone move out! Intercept and kill the enemy within the borders of the Land of Fire!" Tsunade commanded sternly.
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Each captain led three mbers as they quickly deployed. Tonbo led three Chunin.
"To think we're with Captain Tonbo! We'll definitely catch the Akatsuki this ti."
"Great! I've been dying to see how strong Captain Tonbo really is!"
"It'll be a piece of cake. He's the man even Itachi Uchiha is wary of."
The three ninjas looked at Tonbo with eyes full of absolute trust.
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