Chapter 311: No One Supports My Ambition, I Shall Reach the Peak Alone
A Dim Laboratory.
Countless tubes were connected to Kabuto's body. At the points of entry, the flesh throbbed rhythmically like a beating heart. At the other end of the conduits lay various preservation vats containing experimental materials. Among them were the remains of Orochimaru's white snake form, neural filaments provided by Tonbo Tobitake, and various other biological tissues collected over the years.
"Since I've lost my goal, I shall become the goal itself. Lord Orochimaru, everything you knew, I shall know. And things you did not know, I shall master. I have already surpassed you."
As Kabuto felt his body rapidly mutating, white scales began to surface on his face. Countless minute nerve endings were spreading like a web within his system.
As time ticked by, a piece of news began to sweep through the ninja world.
Orochimaru has been killed by Sasuke Uchiha. Currently, Sasuke was in the process of releasing Orochimaru's experimental subjects, and it was these escapees who were spreading the intelligence.
The news sent shockwaves through the nations. That was Orochimaru—one of the Sannin. To think he was taken down by a mere brat.
"Go on, then. I knew you wouldn't give up on that kid," Tonbo said on the training field.
Naruto had just received the news and couldn't sit still for a second longer. He had immediately applied to Tsunade for a mission to track down Sasuke and bring him back.
Tonbo Tobitake shrugged, showing no intention of stopping him. At this moment, the winds of change were rising in the ninja world once more. Orochimaru's "death" signaled that the hidden players behind the scenes were finally about to step into the light.
"I understand!" Naruto replied with a look of newfound maturity. He knew that Tonbo didn't share his obsession with forcing Sasuke back, a fact evident since the last pursuit mission.
Whoosh! Naruto vanished from Tonbo's sight.
"Heh... when the Fourth Great War begins, should I arrange for those two little rascals of mine to head to the battlefield for some experience?"
The "rascals" Tonbo was thinking of were his two children, who had already begun executing missions. They were already quite strong; ordinary Chunin or even Jonin might fall if they underestimated their squad. They were the living embodiment of the saying "a great teacher produces brilliant students."
In terms of chakra, they weren't absurd "Chakra Batteries" like Naruto, but they were significantly above average. They had inherited excellent combat and sensory genes.
"I'll worry about that later. Pain should be making his move on the Nine-Tails soon. I'll reconsider then. For now, let's go check on Keigo's progress."
Tonbo wove a sign and vanished. He reappeared inside a massive laboratory filled with glowing screens and complex data streams.
Three-year-old Keigo Tobitake was tapping away at the screens with his small fingers.
"Dad, look at this chakra distribution. If we shift the direction of the nature transformation this way, wouldn't it better achieve your hypothesis?"
Seeing his father, Keigo brought up a 3D data model. This was the result of his day's study—a task assigned by Tonbo. Looking at the boy's focused expression, Tonbo felt like he was standing in front of a world-class scientist. He turned his attention to the model.
"Not bad, but not enough. I can put this into practice, but it won't reach our ultimate objective. Keep at it."
Keigo had inherited Tonbo's high IQ for theoretical study. Any knowledge Tonbo explained, the boy absorbed in record time. He was practically a carbon copy of his father. Of course, like Tonbo, he sometimes lacked raw "research inspiration," but that was fine. These tasks were part of Keigo's learning process; even thirty years of Tonbo's research wasn't something a three-year-old could catch up to instantly.
Still, a child's inspiration was often unburdened by the constraints of formal knowledge. It was very useful. As expected of my son.
"Mhm! This lab is so much better than those knock-off tools you made for me before, Dad." Keigo's face was lit with excitement.
"Watch your mouth. This place cost more than half of your grandfather's income from the last few years. Of course it's better than the knock-offs." Tonbo rolled his eyes. To accelerate Keigo's potential, he had spent a fortune. Of course, he also needed a top-tier lab for himself.
In the past, he relied solely on his mental processing power to conduct research. But as his work deepened, he began to use tools. Some things were simply better handled by scientific instruments.
He pressed a button, and the screen shifted to another scene. A massive sealing formation surrounded a specific area, with five crystals at the center. Five musical instruments within the crystals were absorbing rare substances Tonbo had collected: chakra minerals, organic chakra matter, and other rarities from across the ninja world.
A guitar, a suona, a flute, a drum, and a horn.
"Dad, are these ninja tools really that powerful? They cost so much money that Mom even scolded you." Keigo was curious. Lately, his father had gone on a shopping spree, causing the cash flow of the recently expanded Ichiraku Ramen to tighten significantly. Building the lab was one thing, but buying these materials just for a few instruments?
"Powerful? The tools themselves aren't the point. But when paired with a Genjutsu-type ninja, they become terrifying."
Tonbo looked at the data and the materials being infused into the tools with great satisfaction. No one wants to live a life of obscurity; every traveler wants to leave their mark on history. He was no exception.
Previously, he stayed low to survive. But with the Fourth War looming, showing his hand would no longer stunt the growth of Naruto and Sasuke. He prepared to put on a show during this war.
Why musical instruments? Because he hadn't forgotten that after the Akatsuki, there was still the Kara organization. That threat was even greater. To lower the suspicion and targeting of Kara and other factions, he hit upon a plan: concentrate his "expressive power" into ninja tools.
This way, to the outside world, he would just be a Kage-level ninja with powerful artifacts. In ninja culture, those with bloodline limits are feared and coveted. Ninja tools, however, can theoretically be used by anyone, which effectively lowers his perceived personal "threat level" while allowing him to maintain a high level of "style."
Even a middle-aged man has a bit of a "chuunibyou" heart. He wanted to look cool, but he didn't want to be too flashy and catch the eye of the Otsutsuki or Kara prematurely.
No one supports my ambition to reach the clouds; I shall step through the snow to reach the peak alone.
Tonbo Tobitake was looking forward to the start of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Genjutsu, after all, could be very expressive.
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