Chapter 149: Captain Tonbo
Konoha Main Street.
"I heard the Uchiha clan was wiped out?"
"Yeah, honestly, it's a relief. I've been fed up with them for a long time."
"But... if such a huge clan can be destroyed, aren't we even less safe?"
"Maybe they did too many wicked things. It's retribution."
"No, I need to head to the capital of the Land of Fire to lie low. What if Konoha can't protect us? We'd be in serious danger."
"True. I can't believe even Konoha isn't safe anymore. Sigh!"
"What are you guys talking about? That tragedy only happened because they trusted their own people too much. The Hokage has already dispatched an elite squad to pursue the traitor."
"But that's a man who slaughtered an entire clan! Who can kill him?"
"It's Tonbo Tobitake, the Head of the Analysis Division. He performed immense feats during the Third War, and he's handled several critical matters during these years of peace. With him taking action, even Itachi Uchiha can only run for his life."
"Really? How come I've never heard of him? Tell me, what has he done?"
"I heard he read some vital intelligence for Konoha; he's an elite of the Intelligence Department. And he once developed a barrier that can protect the entire village! Lord Hokage himself said that to prevent a tragedy like the Nine-Tails incident, Lord Tonbo spent enormous effort studying barrier techniques. He finished it years ago, and after his refinements, even if the Nine-Tails came again, it wouldn't cause any damage."
"He's that strong?"
"Naturally. I heard even the Copy Ninja, Kakashi, often loses to him. Even the Third Lord praises him endlessly!"
"But can he beat Itachi Uchiha?"
"Ha! You don't know? Lord Tokuma Hyuga and Lord Hayama Shirakumo have guaranteed it. Back in the day, Itachi Uchiha was miserably suppressed by Lord Tonbo. Even if he's grown up, he wouldn't dare face Lord Tonbo, would he?"
"I see!"
Piece by piece, information traveled through the residents. It painted a vivid picture of Tonbo Tobitake's dedicated service and his legendary contributions to Konoha. The rumors grew more miraculous by the second—it was as if he had already dragged Itachi back in chains.
Even his appearance was being discussed. A man whose face, except for his mouth, was entirely wrapped in bandages. Some residents heard he had faced the current Fourth Raikage on the battlefield at age eleven and was scarred by Lightning Release; others heard he took a direct hit from the Third Tsuchikage Onoki's Particle Style and survived with indelible scars.
Even more absurdly, some claimed he was so handsome that he was mobbed by girls until his skin was kissed raw, forcing him to wrap his face to prevent further "assaults."
Crunch!
Tonbo Tobitake walked down the street, his fists clenching until his knuckles cracked as he overheard these ridiculous rumors.
"Konoha's propaganda department is way too unreliable! How can they let these kinds of rumors spread?"
He never imagined this. He thought they'd give him a dignified, heroic image like the Fourth Hokage. Instead, each rumor was more far-fetched than the last. If he could take a Particle Style to the face at age eleven, he'd be slapping Otsutsuki to death by now.
On the street, someone spotted Tonbo and their eyes lit up. Several unmarried girls immediately swarmed him, wanting him to be their boyfriend. Because his reputation had been "compromised" by the rumors, Tonbo had actually unwrapped his bandages, revealing his striking white hair, azure mist-like eyes, and handsome features.
Aside from the time he fought the Six Paths of Pain, this face was rarely seen in public. He only took the bandages off when he was with Ayame or at home.
Bandages or no bandages—both were a hassle. Especially these women; it was absurd. Even after he told them he had a wife and kids, they still crowded around. He eventually had to use a Body-Concealing Genjutsu to vanish from their sight.
"Eh? Where did that hottie go?"
"I don't know, he just disappeared."
"I have to find him! I don't mind being a concubine!"
"I'm telling you, my teacher back then was Captain Tonbo! I even learned one of his ultimate techniques, hehe."
In a local bar, Mibu Shinobu looked at a photo on the wall and bragged to his colleagues. His teacher had achieved great fame, and he felt the reflected glory.
"For real?" his colleague asked in surprise.
"Of course. But keep it low-key, low-key," Mibu Shinobu waved his hand with a grin.
"So do you think Captain Tonbo can beat Itachi Uchiha?"
"Captain Tonbo"—a title that had appeared out of nowhere, becoming Tonbo Tobitake's moniker just like "The Sannin" or "The Yellow Flash."
"Definitely."
"Aren't you too confident? Itachi Uchiha is an Uchiha with the Sharingan! And a genius who became an ANBU Captain at thirteen. Plus, he just slaughtered the whole clan, including many Jonin and countless Chunin."
"Hmph, so what if he has the Sharingan? Against my teacher, he's bound to lose. Why do you think he waited until my teacher was out of the village to kill his clan? It's because he's afraid of him!"
Mibu Shinobu had absolute confidence in Tonbo. Even learning a half-finished version of the Eye of the Creator technique had saved him a world of trouble on missions; he could only imagine his teacher's true power.
"I see..." His colleague realized the logic and was convinced of Tonbo's strength.
Analysis Division.
"Shimon, how did you have the guts?" Dokuraku Mawashi looked at Hijiri Shimon with wide-eyed wonder.
"You mean the 'Captain Tonbo' thing? Why wouldn't I? I'm making him famous! Besides, we've been calling him that in private for ages. Once the whole village knows, we can say it out loud without hiding."
Hijiri Shimon chuckled. It turned out the moniker "Captain Tonbo" had been started by him. He wasn't about to let a PR opportunity like this slide.
"You'd better pray for yourself. Division Head Tonbo is very petty," Mawashi warned him.
It was true; Tonbo Tobitake could be quite petty about certain things. The staff in the Analysis Division knew this well. For instance, if he caught you calling him "Captain Tonbo," you never knew when a prank or a dose of "Eight Scents of Fire" was coming your way.
Mawashi was also very proud. Tonbo had grown up under his wing, and now he was not only the Division Head but a powerful elite. It made him remember Tonbo's rookie days during the Third War—and the genius who learned the Mind Reading Technique in less than half a day.
He hadn't expected Tonbo to have done so much for Konoha in secret. Now, he was even the main lead in the pursuit of Itachi Uchiha. As a member of the Intelligence Department, Mawashi even wondered if the Third Hokage himself was a match for Tonbo anymore.
There were things Shimon didn't know, but Mawashi did. Shimon, who spent all day doting on his wife and bragging about his soon-to-be-born child, didn't have his mind on work anymore.
"I'm not scared. I've already mapped out his appearance patterns. There's no way he knows I'm the one who leaked it," Shimon said confidently.
"Is that so?"
Behind him, Tonbo Tobitake tapped him on the shoulder and spoke in a cold, low voice.
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