Chapter 230: The Taketori Clan
Screech!
High in the sky, a giant eagle soared over a carriage traveling from the Land of Fire toward Konoha. Looking from afar, its destination appeared to be the capital of the Land of Fire.
"I finally get to experience the feeling of flying through the sky again. The free wind blowing against my face... it's truly comfortable."
Yuuto Kido spread his arms wide, savoring the headwind.
"Kido, once this S-rank mission is complete, you can ask a senior to help you capture a flying summoning beast," Genda joked with him.
Kido sighed. "It's not that simple. I've been looking for traces of flying summoning beasts for a long time and found nothing."
Shuuya Goenji snorted. "Hmph. Perhaps this trip to the Land of Snow is an opportunity. After all, their geographical environment is different from Konoha's."
"Then you're out of luck," Tonbo Tobitake interjected as he listened to them. "The Land of Snow is a country where all four seasons are winter. Powerful flying beasts are extremely rare there—basically non-existent."
He recalled encountering one back when he took Guy's team to the ocean for training, but he had slaughtered it after finishing his research on it.
"Ah, well... it doesn't matter. I'll find one eventually," Kido sighed.
"Haha, alright. Let's organize our mission parameters now so we aren't scrambling later." As the captain, Tonbo had to set a good example. Ninjas had to check their equipment before setting out. However, he knew they wouldn't forget; they were already Chunin. He was just giving a reminder.
"Understood, Captain." The three didn't argue and began meticulously checking their ninja tools.
Tonbo looked at the approaching capital of the Land of Fire with a hint of nostalgia. It had been a long time since he'd visited. As the most prosperous city in the Land of Fire, it had only grown grander over the years. The silhouettes of high-rise buildings were already taking shape. A massive wall enclosed the entire capital, and within Tonbo's perception, a giant barrier completely enveloped the city.
He led his subordinates to land just outside the capital.
Tiger-Boar-...
Poof!
He unfurled a scroll, wove hand signs, and pressed his palm onto it, sending out a signal pulse. Genda and the others stood guard around him.
They waited for about fifteen minutes before a team moving stealthily appeared within Tonbo's perception. It was a squad of fifteen.
So this is the Land of Fire's unit. Only fifteen people? Even with a resistance in the Land of Snow, taking down a sitting monarch with just this seems a bit difficult, doesn't it?
Tonbo mused. No one knew his full strength; even the Land of Fire high-ups likely viewed him as a powerful Jonin, not some god-tier shinobi. Was this the plan they had set in motion over a decade ago? He was a bit skeptical.
However, as the team drew closer, his perception registered that five of them possessed chakra levels exceeding Kakashi's. While chakra isn't the sole measure of a ninja's power, it certainly dictates their margin for error.
I spoke too soon. If they have some secret techniques, they really might be able to pull it off.
Tonbo felt he had judged too early. There were too many secret arts in the ninja world; the Land of Fire surely had some trump cards up its sleeve—perhaps even techniques capable of slaying a Tailed Beast like the Nine-Tails. The longer he sat in the upper echelons of Konoha, the more he realized just how deep the "water" in the ninja world truly was.
Whoosh!
At the first sign of movement, Genda's trio turned their gazes toward the source, ready to strike. This was no small mission.
"Don't worry. It's the Royal Guard," Tonbo signaled them to stay calm.
"Tonbo Tobitake?" The lead ninja had light brown hair parted down the middle.
The two exchanged countersigns. Once confirmed, the other man spoke: "I am Tensho Taketori, former member of the Guardian Shinobi Twelve, now an instructor for the Royal Guard. I will be leading this unit to handle the combat side of this mission."
The ninjas behind him stood in perfect discipline.
"So you're from the Taketori clan. I've long heard of your reputation," Tonbo replied, surprised but polite.
"Mhm. Let's move. Your team is responsible for espionage and establishing rapport with Princess Yukie. No problems there?"
For this operation, the Land of Fire's unit was the "hard" power—the combat. Tonbo's team was the "soft" power—the finesse.
"No problem. I look forward to a successful cooperation," Tonbo nodded.
The Guardian Twelve had disbanded, but he hadn't expected a member of the Taketori clan to still be serving the Daimyo in the Royal Guard. This clan was not to be underestimated. This was exactly why Tonbo felt the world was more complex than it seemed. The Taketori clan had been renowned since the Warring States period and had been allies with the Hyuga clan for generations. Even now, the Hyuga clan head would often visit them to maintain ties. However, they operated as a "one clan, one village" entity. It seemed their political power was aligned with the Daimyo's side, much like the Fire Temple.
Zip! Zip!
They began making their way toward the film crew where Koyuki Kazahana was located. Because of the Royal Guard unit, Tonbo didn't continue flying; they moved in standard ninja fashion. They moved through the "Shinobi Passages," so silent that even livestock didn't notice them.
"Tonbo-sensei, the Taketori clan seems really powerful," Kido asked as they traveled.
Tonbo nodded. "Yes. They are a family that has existed since the Warring States period. They were a powerful group that once fought alongside the Hyuga against common enemies."
"I've never heard of them, but they definitely feel formidable," Kido noted with a look of realization.
Of course they were. The clan was famous for its massive chakra reserves. While not as vast as the Uzumaki clan's, they were still significant.
It seems the Land of Fire is taking this very seriously, sending out a former Guardian Twelve member, Tonbo thought.
The Guardian Twelve had collapsed due to internal strife. The radical faction, led by Kazuma, believed the Hokage shouldn't exist and wanted all power centralized under the state. The conservative faction, led by Asuma and Chiriku, fought back. The conflict resulted in many deaths and the eventual dissolution of the group. That was one of the reasons Asuma had returned to Konoha back then.
Still, it was a good thing; Tensho Taketori was a powerful ninja who would be a great asset. Ideally, Konoha would just handle the intel and not have to fight at all.
"Instructor, is that Tonbo Tobitake, the head of Konoha's Analysis Division? Is he really as legendary as they say?" one of the Royal Guard members whispered to Tensho behind Tonbo.
"As someone capable of pursuing Itachi Uchiha, he naturally possesses strength," Tensho replied.
"I wonder if he has the ability to handle our new Scientific Ninja Tools," the guard muttered, patting the gauntlet on his arm.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!