Chapter 401: Legend, Magazine
A massive airship rose above Konoha. Standing inside, Tobitake Tonbo watched the scenery retreat behind him with a look of leisure. Most of his preparatory work was complete. Now, he was heading to the Hidden Sand Village.
He intended to exchange ideas with the Taijutsu ninja there. To develop a more powerful Taijutsu system, he needed more experience. Although Tonbo had researched the ninja physique deeply, it didn't mean he knew everything. The utility of chakra was infinite; he had only uncovered a small fraction of its potential. Like Einstein not knowing every facet of mathematics, Tonbo had his limits. They were both simply geniuses.
The reason he chose an airship this time was because he usually relied on Flying Raijin to travel, which caused him to miss too much scenery. Furthermore, visiting another village required a sense of formality. Otherwise, people might misinterpret your intentions. One always had to be prepared.
It hadn't been many years since the Fourth Great Ninja War. Many people still suffered from "Ninja Syndrome," and that wouldn't change anytime soon. Just as Konoha wouldn't abandon traditional ninja training, neither would other villages.
The scenery along the way was beautiful. The airship flew beneath the clouds; above was the white-tufted sky, and below was a carpet of green. Row upon row of buildings extended outward from Konoha. Occasionally, birds could be seen landing on branches to feed their fledglings. Rivers meandered through the landscape, twisting into the shape of a "6" in Tonbo's vision before flowing toward the distant sea. On the main roads, horse carriages—both traditional and new chakra-powered models—sped along.
"Huge changes... and they're all thanks to me."
These changes were indeed largely due to his efforts. The establishment of the World Ninja Association allowed ninja to apply the power of chakra to everyday life. Such a shift was monumental for the world. "Lifestyle Ninjutsu" had become mainstream, and ninjutsu in all sectors flourished. Even many minor Secret Techniques had emerged—they might not be powerful in combat, but they each had their use.
In less than a day, the airship traveled from Konoha to the Hidden Sand. Yellow sand filled the horizon, but compared to the desert of the past, it looked much better now. Many sand-blocking plants had been planted, reducing the intensity of the wind and dust. Clearly, the Hidden Sand had been diligent in its environmental management. Ninja could occasionally be seen using ninjutsu to treat the desert soil, much like a chef seasoning food.
"Welcome to the Hidden Sand Village, Three-Star Honor Ninja, Captain Tonbo. It's been a long time."
Gaara greeted him, accompanied by Kankuro and a purple-haired man—this was Shira. Since Temari was currently in Konoha being affectionate with Shikamaru, Gaara's guard had changed. However, Tonbo was slightly surprised to see Shira in the role of a personal guard.
"Kazekage, long time no see. Sorry for the trouble during this visit," Tonbo said. When he visited the Sand, he always stated his purpose directly. In fact, after the establishment of the World Ninja Association, all powerful ninja were required to report their movements when visiting other nations. While this meant their movements were known, it significantly reduced the risk of war.
Gaara nodded. "This is Shira, the person you wanted to meet. His Taijutsu is the best in my village; he is also my Taijutsu instructor."
Shira looked toward Tonbo. He had heard that this legendary figure was also a top-tier Taijutsu master—someone who once used pure physical strength to kick back the shell of the Ten-Tails. His eyes burned with excitement.
"Hello, Tonbo-senpai. I've heard much about you. May I spar with you in Taijutsu?" Shira didn't stand on ceremony; he was direct. Perhaps it was a common trait among Taijutsu ninja—straight to the point.
Kankuro smirked. "Heh, you better be careful. Shira is our Hidden Sand Taijutsu instructor. Watch out, or you'll get a foot to the face. He's incredibly strong. Once you're done sparring, I want to challenge you too."
Kankuro's face was full of pride. He secretly hoped Shira would land a kick on Tonbo's face. The Ninja Association Tonbo founded had rejected Kankuro twelve times now; he still hadn't met the requirements for the One-Star Puppet Ninja title. But he was close. His new puppet was about to be completed, and his weaponry was undergoing rapid iteration.
"Sure, we should spar. It's the best way to get a feel for things," Tonbo laughed. This was exactly why he had come.
Gaara said, "I'll take you all outside. The village can't withstand the impact of your battle." This wasn't the Chunin Exams. He raised his hand, and sand lifted the group off the ground, flying them toward the outskirts of the village.
"Whoa, who is that? The Kazekage is greeting him personally!"
"And Lord Kankuro and Lord Shira are with him too."
"Isn't Kankuro-sama's new giant puppet almost finished? How does he have time for this? That's not like him—he's the man who failed the One-Star Puppet Ninja exam twelve times."
"You're dead meat! That's Kankuro-sama's nightmare. Careful he doesn't give you a hard time later."
"I heard that giant puppet is called a 'Mecha.' I wonder how strong it is!"
"Regardless of how strong it is, the person he's greeting must be a high-ranking official from another village."
The other passengers from the airship and the Sand ninja were astonished to see the Kazekage's personal reception. The Hidden Sand was very busy these days. It was rumored that Gaara's dark circles, which had almost faded, were back because of the massive workload. He was arguably the hardest-working Kage among the Five Great Villages.
However, someone soon found the visitor familiar and pulled a magazine from their waist.
"Found him! It's Captain Tonbo: Two-Star Battlefield Ninja, Three-Star Honor Ninja, Three-Star Genjutsu Ninja, Director of the Konoha Technical Development Bureau... the man who recorded all the imagery of the war."
The magazine was a product of the News Report. It featured spreads showcasing the cruelty of war, using images paired with text to educate the public. The photos in this magazine were taken by Tobitake Tonbo himself, and it included his portrait. No one expected that while fighting a war, this man was already acting as a journalist to capture those moments.
"What? Why didn't I recognize him just now? Dammit, my autograph!" someone grumbled in regret. The others felt the same. He was one of the few Three-Star certified ninja in the world—a true global hero.
"Why is he here? Maybe he has some new suggestions to implement?"
While they chatted, a single eyeball observed the scene. A clump of sand on the ground formed into a palm-sized Tanuki.
"Going out to play without notifying me, Shukaku? Dammit! And after I've been working so hard as a Sealing Jutsu teacher at the Ninja Academy!"
Whoosh!
After grumbling, Shukaku dissolved into sand and vanished. He wanted to see what Gaara and that Tobitake Tonbo were up to.
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