"Hello. This is the intelligence regarding Iwagakure."
Tobitake Tonbo handed a scroll to the silver-haired boy standing before him.
"Hmph."
Kakashi didn't say much; he took the scroll and left. No small talk, no wasted words.
"Man, really... he's so cold. It looks like Obito and Rin haven't quite managed to soften him up yet," Tonbo muttered, shaking his head as he watched Kakashi's retreating back.
Delivering this intelligence was a task assigned to him by Yamanaka Inoichi. There was no other reason for it than the fact that Tonbo had performed his mind-reading duties too well, so well that Inoichi feared reading any more memories for the time being would cause Tonbo's own mind to become scrambled.
However, in wartime, aside from necessary rest, manpower could not be wasted. Thus, he was sent to deliver the reports extracted by the Analysis Team to the disciple of the Yellow Flash.
At this time, Kakashi was already a Jonin. It was because of this rank that he could operate independently during the war.
Communication between the front lines and the Analysis Team is becoming more frequent. It looks like the Battle of Kannabi Bridge is about to begin, Tonbo analyzed based on the intelligence he handled.
It was just as he expected.
Half a month later, news arrived from the front. The diversionary unit led by the Yellow Flash had successfully cut off Iwagakure's supply line at Kannabi Bridge. Overnight, the fame of the Yellow Flash reached new heights. Simultaneously, Konoha began its counter-offensive, pushing the Iwagakure forces back.
Even shinobi from the Analysis Team like Tonbo were pulled onto the battlefield, relying on their superior sensory abilities to track down fleeing enemies. The goal was to settle the trouble with the Hidden Stone as quickly as possible to deal with the other hidden villages.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
"AAAGHHH—!"
"It hurts... it hurts!"
Tonbo formed a seal and cast his technique. Before him, a Chunin squad's faces twisted as they let out agonizing wails. Shimon seized the opportunity, driving his kunai through their chests. Their bodies tumbled from the tree branches.
"Haha, Tonbo, your Genjutsu is getting more and more twisted!" Shimon remarked, feeling a lingering fear as he watched the technique.
"Don't waste time. Three o'clock direction, another squad is coming," Tonbo said. Wartime was no time for idle chatter.
"Right!"
Swoosh!
Despite only experiencing the brief aftershocks of the main battle, Tonbo was physically and mentally exhausted. These remnant ninja were just small fry compared to the grand scale of the war, but they kept his nerves on edge and his mind drained.
Damn it, why does the Analysis Team have to do front-line combat too? I'm like a brick—wherever they need a hole filled, they just toss me in.
Combat was merely an interlude for Tonbo. His primary profession was still as a shinobi of the Analysis Team—a core member of the Intelligence Department. Encountering enemies was relatively rare, occurring mostly during chance meetings.
"Tobitake Tonbo is a true genius. At such a young age, his skills in mind-reading and even combat have become master-class!" Dokuraku Mawashi reported to Yamanaka Inoichi.
Over the past three months of working together, Tonbo had firmly caught their attention.
Inoichi pondered for a moment and smiled. "This is the Will of Fire. Where the leaves flutter, the fire shall burn. I have already submitted the application. Tonbo has been outstanding these past few months; I believe he is ready for promotion to Chunin."
"Understood." Mawashi was genuinely happy for his subordinate.
"What? I've been promoted to Chunin?"
The shocking news reached Tonbo's ears.
Mawashi nodded. "That's right. Your performance has been excellent. Lord Third has personally authorized your promotion."
Is it really that easy? Tonbo wondered.
"By the way, the fighting with Iwagakure has ended. In a few days, we'll be heading back to the village," Mawashi added.
"Ah... finally, we can go home. Those damn memories were driving me crazy," Tonbo breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
His talent was great, yes, but reading the memories of others was not something a normal person could handle easily. A "Shinobi" truly had to be one who could endure. Unlike the anime, every job a ninja did was grueling. In the Analysis Team, when there were enemy brains, they read minds; when there weren't... well, in war, there was no such thing as free time. They had to help with patrols.
He truly envied those transmigrators who had "Systems." Why did they get Systems and get sent to times of peace? According to his estimates, there was still about half a year to a year left before the war fully ended. By now, Minato had likely already gotten Kushina pregnant. And Uchiha Obito should be on his way to becoming a "Boss" under Madara's tutelage.
Crunch!
On the yellow-dirt road, a line of carriages moved along. Surrounding them were shinobi wearing Konoha forehead protectors, with scouts patrolling the vicinity.
"Thanks to the Yellow Flash, the trouble with the Stone was settled so quickly!"
"True. And his team members—the White Fang's son, Kakashi. I heard he's already a Jonin and even developed his own original Ninjutsu!"
"A shame, though. I heard one of his teammates sacrificed his life."
"Sigh, that's just how it is. People die in war. I've gone through several sets of teammates myself."
Walking with the group, Tonbo overheard the idle talk of the other ninja.
So he really did die.
The current Kakashi must have already been fitted with his Sharingan. It was enviable, getting a Kekkei Genkai for free. Of course, Tonbo had no intention of grafting someone else's bloodline onto himself. As he chewed on his dry rations, he thought to himself: If a ready-made Sharingan were right in front of me, what would I do?
He'd likely hand it over to the village in exchange for some high-level Genjutsu created by the Second Hokage. If Senju Tobirama could create Genjutsu to counter the Sharingan, why should Tonbo feel inferior? Bloodline limits like that were just magnets for trouble.
Since he knew the general plot, he figured he'd just stay burrowed in the Analysis Team, waiting for the protagonists to grow up and fix everything. According to the original story, Tonbo, Shimon, and Captain Mawashi were all characters who survived until the very end.
The very end...
Wait. Didn't the headquarters get obliterated by the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb later on?
Tonbo instantly grew tense. He still had to work hard to grow. He had to ensure that during the final battle against the Ten-Tails, that Tailed Beast Bomb wouldn't hit the HQ.
"Captain Tonbo, what are you thinking about?" Shimon teased, patting his shoulder.
Tonbo grimaced. "Please, just call me Tonbo. Or 'Tonbo-kun.' Don't call me 'Captain.' Thank you."
"Why? I think it has a nice ring to it," Shimon asked.
Tonbo's face darkened. It wasn't for any other reason than the fact that being called that felt embarrassing. Ever since Shimon found out about the promotion, he hadn't stopped, and it was incredibly annoying.
"Focus on the patrol, don't get distracted."
"What's there to worry about? The fight with the Stone is over. I'm sure things on Lord Orochimaru's side are almost settled too," Shimon said confidently.
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