Chapter 270: The Thirty-Year-Old Virgins
Konoha.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Over two hundred figures lunged from the village, rapidly advancing in all directions. To any familiar observer, it was clear: these were all Shadow Clones of Tonbo Tobitake.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Once a safe distance from Konoha, each clone used the "Eye of the Creator" technique to summon various riding mounts. Immediately after, they simultaneously used the Transformation Jutsu to adopt different appearances.
Following distinct behavioral patterns, they began their journey toward their respective targets. Some rival factions observing the outskirts of Konoha noticed the sudden movement.
"What's going on? What just happened?"
But moments later, they found they couldn't quite remember; they only knew that something had occurred.
"After years of training, I finally have the confidence to defeat a powerhouse and bring him back as my husband. On this trip to Konoha, I must capture one of those men—Kakashi or Might Guy—and take them back to the village to marry."
Shizuka of the Nadeshiko Village walked along the road with her guard.
The guard sighed. "Lady Shizuka, what if that man was lying to us?"
"Impossible. Others might lie, but my master wouldn't. Even if that 'Jiraiya' fellow was deceptive, I still believe in the vow between him and my master. Regardless, there will be no mistake in going to Konoha."
"The strength might be real," the guard muttered, "but from the intel I've gathered, there's no mention of their looks."
In her reports, Kakashi only had data on the Sharingan, and Might Guy was merely listed as a Konoha Elite. There was zero description of their physical appearance. While Konoha protected its ninjas' identities, it was strange for there to be absolutely no physical profile.
"It doesn't matter," Shizuka said confidently. "As long as they are strong enough, I can be satisfied regardless of their looks."
The tradition of Nadeshiko Village was to conquer the strong. Aesthetics were not part of their traditional values.
"Fine. I just hope your training over these years is enough to win!" the guard lamented. Having traveled the world, she had grown tired of the village's feudal traditions.
"Are those people coming from Konoha? Let's go ask."
Shizuka noticed a figure riding a sprinting tiger coming from the direction of the village. The rider sat cross-legged on the tiger's back, a brown hooded cloak fluttering in the wind.
"Excuse me, I'd like to ask a question..." Shizuka blocked the rider's path.
The figure slowed to a halt. As the hood fell back, Shizuka and her guard finally saw the man's face. He had graying hair, a long mullet framing his cheeks, a small goatee, and eyes that held a weary, all-knowing look.
"Ask away, little girl. Coincidentally, I have questions of my own."
Tonbo Tobitake hadn't expected to run into Shizuka here, years after their encounter in the Land of Steam. So, she's here to find a husband for the village? I wonder if Kakashi and Guy can finally escape their single status.
"Uh... thank you. I wanted to ask, do you know two ninjas named Kakashi and Might Guy?"
"I know them. Why? Are you looking for intel? I'd advise against any ill intentions; those two aren't the type of people you should be poking around," Tonbo said in a gravelly, aged voice.
"No, no! We just have business with them. But... why do you say that?" Shizuka asked, puzzled. Were they village secrets?
"Hehehe. Did you know? Those two are Konoha's last remaining thirty-year-old virgins. If their pent-up vigor were to be unleashed, not even all the single women in Konoha could handle them. I wonder if you two can withstand that?"
Tonbo chuckled, his voice rising and falling dramatically as he built up their "fearsome" image.
"...What a lewd old man," both women thought. Shizuka regained her composure and asked, "Thirty is a bit old, but I can accept it. What do they look like?"
The guard thought: Hah! And you said you didn't care about looks.
"It seems they really are your targets. As for their looks, they are only slightly below Konoha's former Acting Hokage, Tonbo Tobitake. Furthermore, they are very... unique. They leave quite an impression."
Shizuka breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they weren't hideous.
"I've answered your questions. Now for mine."
"I want to know if you've encountered any special organizations or unusual institutions? Something strange, or perhaps ancient ruins? I am an information broker; I live by selling secrets. To pay for the intel I just gave you, you must answer truthfully, otherwise..."
As Tonbo spoke, his cloak flared. A massive surge of chakra pressed down on their hearts like a physical weight. Shizuka and her guard were instantly drenched in cold sweat.
"Senior... we would never lie..."
They tried to mold chakra to resist, but it was futile. They could only recount everything they had seen in their travels. Fortunately, they weren't planning on lying anyway.
When they finished, the crushing pressure vanished instantly. Along with it, the mysterious old man and his tiger were gone.
"What a terrifying elder!"
The two were shaken. In all their years traveling the war-torn ninja world, they had never met anyone so frightening. To suppress them with mere killing intent alone... they had only felt a similar presence once before, from a brief glimpse of the Fourth Raikage in the Land of Lightning.
"The ninja world truly hides its masters. Village Head, are we still going to Konoha?" the guard asked, heart still pounding.
"Yes. That old man has nothing to do with us," Shizuka replied.
"Land of Bears, Land of Rivers, Sea God Island..."
From Shizuka's account, they had indeed seen many minor factions during their travels. Beyond the Five Great Nations, there were countless small countries where mysterious things resided.
"Looking for a needle in a haystack," Tonbo sighed.
He hadn't sent out so many clones to find the Akatsuki. The Akatsuki no longer posed a significant threat to him. His true target was Kara.
He knew his "future self" clearly hadn't found their specific base, otherwise the information would have been sent back—or perhaps it was sent, but it was useless because interfering might make the timeline even more unpredictable.
Regardless, Tonbo had to try. He knew too little about the Boruto era, and that lack of knowledge made him feel unsafe. He sent out his clones to solve future threats before they could even begin.
Meeting Shizuka and her guard was just a side distraction.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!