Chapter 115: Holding Back
Konoha.
On a high rooftop, three figures leaned against the railing.
"Is it really okay for those two little ones of yours to head back on their own?" Kakashi asked.
Tonbo Tobitake broke into a smile. "Hmph. I am a ninja who knows sensory ninjutsu; naturally, my children have protection. Besides, they are very smart—even if they're a bit bratty at times."
Having lived with them for two years, how could he not know his own children? In front of him and Ayame, they were obedient and adorable. But the moment they turned their backs, they became as cunning as little demons.
The two children had a great talent for perception, even better than his own back in the day. However, the sensory skills he had cultivated over the years weren't something that could be rivaled by talent alone. As long as he wished, everything the children did was right under his nose.
He was simply waiting—waiting for their bones and muscles to be strong enough to handle a "discipline session." They were two years old now, which was just about the right time. For the past two years, he had let them experience a father's love; next, before they became ninjas, Tonbo would let them experience what "true" fatherly love felt like.
"Hey, isn't it a bit wasteful to use chakra like that?" Kakashi said, sounding speechless. Wouldn't it be better just to walk with them rather than wasting chakra on remote monitoring?
To the side, Guy grinned in support. "Children are the future of the village! I support Tonbo—even if I really don't appreciate his sense of style."
"Don't talk about me. I heard that you failed another batch of graduates this year, Kakashi? Sent them right back to the Academy?" Tonbo asked.
Over the past two years, Kakashi had been assigned a team of graduates every year, but not a single one had passed his assessment. They were all sent back to school. To be honest, Tonbo himself had only been at that level of strength before he went to the war. If he had encountered a teacher like Kakashi back then, he probably would have been sent back too.
"Yeah, it's not easy being a teacher and leading a team. Why are you doing that? I've been asking the Third for a long time, and he keeps saying I'm still 'lacking something,'" Guy said, crying tears of frustration. Despite his mission completion rate being equal to Kakashi's in their generation, he hadn't been chosen by the Third as a team leader for Academy graduates.
"People without capability are better off going back to school for further study. If they can't even pass a team test, becoming a ninja would only result in them dragging down their comrades," Kakashi said, having his own convictions. In his eyes, those who didn't cherish their comrades could not earn his recognition.
"As expected of my eternal rival! You're right. However, cultivating a child's sense of teamwork during ninja missions is also very important," Guy agreed with the sentiment but slightly disagreed with the method.
Tonbo teased, "Maybe you just lack the confidence to be a teacher and are just giving the Third the cold shoulder?"
He knew that for the next few years, Kakashi wouldn't lead a team from the Academy—not until the "Main Cast" made their debut.
Kakashi remained expressionless, pulling out a copy of Icha Icha Paradise. "So, why was I chosen as a teacher for the Ninja Academy graduates while you two... heh!" He shook his head.
"..." Guy and Tonbo were both stumped. Guy had never led a team, and Tonbo hadn't led a squad of Academy graduates in years.
"Dammit! I lost to Kakashi again! For the rest of the day, I shall do 1,500 front kicks and 500 push-ups..." Guy's fighting spirit was instantly reignited.
"By the way," Tonbo spoke up, "during your recent missions, have you encountered an underground mercenary group called 'Akatsuki'?"
It had been a long time, but his intelligence network hadn't received much news regarding Akatsuki or the Hidden Rain Village. It was as if the person he beat up back then had lost all his temper. He had been keeping an eye on Akatsuki intel to prevent the butterfly effect of his presence from spiraling out of control.
But there was nothing. Akatsuki was like a ghost; they existed only in the world of underground mercenaries. Because he had the advantage of knowing the plot, he knew that during this stage, Nagato's plan for the Akatsuki was to surround the Great Nations with small nations, thereby eating away at the ninja mercenary resources of the major powers.
His intelligence network paid special attention to the situation in small countries. There was indeed a super-strong underground organization that completed every mission they took, attracting many nobles and Daimyos of smaller nations. However, beyond that, he hadn't received much detailed information.
"Underground mercenary organization?" Kakashi looked puzzled. "Never heard of them," Guy added.
"A ninja organization that wanders through small countries. Their ninjas are extremely powerful. I heard that since their debut, they haven't failed a single mission. Many nobles and armies in small countries seem to love using them to handle certain 'affairs.' Orochimaru is just one of their members," Tonbo said slowly.
It seems the Third has hidden all the intelligence regarding the Rinnegan, Tonbo thought. Is he worried that the Rinnegan would cause chaos in the shinobi world?
"What?" Guy was shocked. "Orochimaru?"
Kakashi recalled that day—the man who had made him tremble. Just passing by him had caused an involuntary chill, leaving him able only to watch him leave without moving a muscle.
"That's right. Orochimaru. One of the Sannin, just like Lord Jiraiya and Lady Tsunade," Tonbo emphasized.
This news made both Guy and Kakashi turn solemn. What kind of organization could actually take Orochimaru under its wing?
"That truly is explosive news."
"Are they only active in small countries?" Unlike Guy, Kakashi focused on the organization's objective.
"Yeah. You might want to keep an eye out when you're on missions," Tonbo replied.
The Inuzuka Training Ground.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
"Passing Fang (Tsūga)!"
Boom!
A massive boulder was instantly blasted apart, sending stone fragments flying everywhere.
Fwoosh!
Kiba, having transformed into a tornado, bounced back the moment he struck. As he hung in the air, a grin spread across his face.
Woof woof! Akamaru offered high praise.
Landing on the ground, Kiba put his hands on his hips and looked at his stunned sister and mother.
"How is this possible?"
"Kiba, are you sick or something?"
Hana and Tsume spoke at the same time but said different things. With Kiba about to enter the Ninja Academy, they thought they would test him since he had been studying with Tonbo for nearly two years. They didn't expect that in just a few days of specific training, Kiba would have mastered the Four Legs Technique, the Beast Human Clone, and Passing Fang...
Although Kiba's chakra reserves were still low due to his age—exhausting him after only one or two uses—this learning speed was insane.
"Hmph! You guys have no idea how Tonbo-sensei trained me. I'm going to get much stronger in the future!" Kiba was full of confidence.
When he was younger, neither his parents nor his sister believed him when he tried to tattle on Tonbo's "harsh" methods, so he eventually stopped. Now that the training had stabilized, he felt like nothing could stop him.
"Yes, yes, our Kiba is the best. But school starts in a few days. Are you ready?" Tsume smiled. Tonbo Tobitake's teaching ability was truly formidable.
Only Hana felt a bit slighted. Why wasn't I that amazing? That cursed Tonbo-sensei... he definitely held back when he taught me!
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