Chapter 198: Aftermath
A Dark Cave.
Several spectral figures flickered into existence, including Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.
"Hmm? Why have you summoned us again? Has something major happened? Be quick about it; my prey is about to escape." A figure with sickly green eyes glared at the group, speaking with clear impatience.
"Heh, I say, Kakuzu, don't be in such a rush. Maybe they want us to take a break," a man with slicked-back hair—so smooth a fly couldn't keep its footing—said with a grin. "Then I wouldn't have to follow you around working all the time. My fragile body is exhausted because of you!"
He felt that Kakuzu was far too obsessed with money.
"Shut up, Hidan, or I'll kill you," Kakuzu growled menacingly.
"I know, I know. You're such a pain, Kakuzu-senpai."
"Enough. Stop this nonsense. Itachi, report on the situation." Pain's voice cut through their bickering.
Kisame spoke up: "We encountered Konoha's Tonbo Tobitake. If Itachi-san hadn't been there, I might not have made it back!"
In that battle, without Itachi, he might have lost right at the start. Even so, it was a brush with death.
"Tonbo Tobitake, huh? Tell us about his abilities," Zetsu said, looking at Itachi with surprise. "To think that even with a Mangekyo, you and Kisame together found him so troublesome—especially when we already had intel on him."
He was truly a terrifying enemy.
"Visual, auditory, and tactile triggers... he can launch Genjutsu from any of them," Itachi summarized the battle, including Kisame's experience. "Furthermore, his Taijutsu is elite, and he possesses an exceptional Puppetry secret technique. Based on observation, after a hundred of his puppets are destroyed, he gains the ability to manipulate the enemy's soul. It is a conditional technique; once the conditions are met, your soul falls under his control..."
Kisame nodded. "Exactly. That guy is frightening. It was the most harrowing fight I've ever experienced. One slip-up and you're finished by his endless stream of jutsu."
"It's also thanks to Zetsu's prior intelligence that we understood how to break his illusions. Otherwise, we might have died there," Itachi added.
"Puppetry? I didn't expect to find a master puppet user outside of the Hidden Sand—and from Konoha, no less. Incredible," a short figure said, his voice tinged with surprise.
Beside him, a blonde youth laughed. "Sasori-senpai, I told you! Only explosions are true art. That guy's puppetry sounds way more artistic than yours."
"Shut up, Deidara," Sasori croaked.
"Enough. We are here to discuss how to deal with such an enemy, not to argue," Pain barked.
In a Dim Laboratory.
"Hehehe... what a capable fellow. Facing Itachi and Kisame together, he not only escaped unscathed but seemingly made them pay a price." Orochimaru chuckled as he read the intelligence report.
It seemed this Tonbo Tobitake was just like him—a ninja who had mastered a vast array of techniques. Orochimaru didn't believe Tonbo's Genjutsu could truly rival the Sharingan, and since the duo had been specifically prepared to counter him, it shouldn't have been that one-sided. Still, he wouldn't belittle the man's strength. Strong was strong.
"Lord Orochimaru, are you speaking of that Captain Tonbo? He is indeed a formidable opponent." Kabuto, who was adjusting reagents nearby, responded. The events of the last Chunin Exams had genuinely shocked him.
"Kabuto, if you were to face him, how would you deal with it?" Orochimaru asked curiously.
Kabuto smiled. "I would probably just raise my hands and surrender."
"Heh, very much your style, Kabuto. But far too boring," Orochimaru remarked.
"You once said, Lord Orochimaru, that one must stay alive to find the meaning of existence. Facing an enemy like that, surrendering is a sound strategy."
"Fine. It seems I won't get an interesting answer from you." Orochimaru licked his lips. Tonbo Tobitake... what a troublesome variable. If he stays in the village, the plan will be difficult to execute.
Fortunately, Konoha had individuals who coveted the Hokage's seat.
Konoha. Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the intelligence in his hands with a hint of helplessness.
"Lord Hokage, how should we respond to the Land of Hot Springs?" the assistant ninja asked.
Just moments ago, the Land of Hot Springs had officially expressed its dissatisfaction. Their reasoning: a Konoha ninja had used massive-scale ninjutsu within their borders, causing the loss of a timber forest. The higher-ups of the Land of Fire were now pressuring the village to handle the matter. If handled poorly, it could escalate into a major diplomatic incident.
"Respond to them: don't take us for fools. At most, we will pay for the terrain damage. As for a 'timber forest,' tell them not to think Konoha is an easy target."
Hiruzen wasn't about to accept the full blame. It was just an undeveloped piece of land; calling it a timber forest was an obvious cash grab. But he couldn't be too blunt; he had to give the Land of Hot Springs a graceful way out to close the matter.
The main issue was a Konoha Jonin operating in another country without transit papers. "Going on vacation" was a weak excuse. Because of the secrecy, he hadn't coordinated with their government at all.
I hope Tonbo got the intelligence, he sighed. The most annoying part of being Hokage was managing international relations. One wrong move could lead to war—his greatest fear. This was why he was waiting for a leader capable of taking over the grand scheme.
Perhaps Tonbo is a good candidate, he thought. Tonbo's ability, talent, and contributions were all there. More importantly, he had a happy family; such a person would naturally dislike war, fitting the Hokage's role perfectly. Someone with much to lose would handle the responsibilities of the office more carefully. Then there were Tsunade and Jiraiya—those two also possessed the necessary capabilities.
Capital of the Land of Fire.
"Your Highness, I believe Tonbo Tobitake is the perfect choice for that matter. His abilities are uniquely suited for it. The princess of that Daimyo has grown up; it is time to execute the plan from over a decade ago." A minister named Toyotomi made the suggestion after presenting Tonbo's profile to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
"Indeed. It is about time to start. You will communicate with Konoha. Remember to make the preparations thorough before initiating the plan; we don't want any chaos." The Daimyo fanned himself, his voice devoid of emotion.
"Understood. I will coordinate with Konoha," Toyotomi replied. After the meeting, he exited the hall with the other ministers.
"I didn't expect Minister Toyotomi to be so proactive. That doesn't seem like you," one minister joked.
Toyotomi laughed. "It's all for the development of the Land of Fire. Naturally, I must do my best."
Internally, however, he was ecstatic. Lord Danzo's mission... completed just like that.
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