Chapter 275: A New Goal
Konoha Training Grounds.
"Reflect."
Facing Kakashi's Great Fireball Technique, Haruno Sakura pulled her hands apart, manifesting a massive chakra net that enveloped the flames. After a brief surge of energy, the fireball was reflected straight back.
Boom!
On the other side, Kakashi, who had just exhaled the fireball, stood frozen in shock.
Sakura can use ninjutsu without hand seals now?
No-seal ninjutsu?
He truly hadn't known. Since Sakura became a Chunin, he hadn't teamed up with her much. He only knew that under Lady Tsunade's tutelage, her medical ninjutsu had improved by leaps and bounds.
Whoosh!
Despite his surprise, his reflexes remained sharp. He vanished from his spot, narrowly avoiding the reflected attack.
"Kakashi-sensei, gotcha!"
At that exact moment, two Narutos appeared, grabbing Kakashi from both sides to pin him down. Behind Kakashi, a third Naruto materialized.
He was crouching. His hands were formed into the Tiger seal.
"One Thousand Years of Death!"
Thwack!
This was the battle to test Naruto and Sakura's strength following Naruto's return. After the incident with Shizuka of Nadeshiko, Jiraiya had arrived with Naruto. Since everyone was gathered, Tsunade ordered Kakashi to spar with the duo to see how much Naruto had grown over the years.
"What a coincidence. One show ends, and another begins. Keigo, look at them. Your older brothers and sisters are quite powerful. Do you feel any pressure?"
Tonbo Tobitake was now paying close attention to Keigo's words. He felt he hadn't quite fulfilled his fatherly duties and lacked a sense of participation, so he made a conscious effort to communicate with him.
"Why would I feel pressure? I don't," Keigo said, his words surprising as usual. "They are allies, aren't they? The ones who should feel pressure are their enemies."
"Then do you want to become that powerful?"
"Are they powerful? I feel like even if they all teamed up, they couldn't beat you, Dad," Keigo said flatly.
Tonbo's eyes flashed with excitement. "Heh! You finally said something that satisfies your old man. You're right—even together, they're no match for me."
"So, can you teach me to be even stronger than them?" Keigo asked.
"Of course."
"In that case, why would you ask such a childish question? In the future, I will certainly be an outstanding Jonin. At the very least, I could be the Chief Executive Officer of Ichiraku Ramen, expanding the brand and providing limitless resources for our family's ninjas."
Keigo continued, "Besides, my goal isn't just to be a Jonin. That's too low-level. I want to enter the research industry to study the ultimate secrets of chakra and ninjutsu. Becoming a Jonin is merely a means to access more resources."
Tonbo rolled his eyes. Good grief. This kid had the exact same dream as Orochimaru. He hoped Keigo wouldn't follow in Orochimaru's footsteps and start researching immortality jutsus just to have enough time for his studies.
"You... fine. Having a dream is a good thing. I'll find a good teacher for you when the time comes," Tonbo said, feeling a bit helpless.
Even with his own talent, he didn't dare claim he could uncover the "ultimate secrets" of chakra and ninjutsu. And here was a three-year-old...
"A teacher? In all of Konoha, you're the one with the deepest understanding of ninjutsu research, Dad. Are you talking about a ninja from another country, or a scientist or something?" Keigo's eyes filled with anticipation. For his proud father to consider someone a "good teacher," that person had to be incredible.
"I can't invite them just yet. Maybe there will be a chance in the future."
"It's a promise, then."
"Mhm."
The person Tonbo had in mind was, naturally, Orochimaru. He hoped the Sannin wouldn't actually die due to the butterfly effect of his presence. It was unlikely, though. Orochimaru's Cursed Seals weren't just on Sasuke; in the original story, he had placed them on countless test subjects.
With the maturity of the Cursed Seal and Living Corpse Reincarnation, Orochimaru wouldn't die easily. Only a man like that was fit to be his son's teacher. Tonbo had high respect for Orochimaru's capabilities, even if he was a rogue ninja.
That guy truly is the foremost researcher of chakra in the ninja world. To think he managed to seal the nerves I planted on Sasuke! Tonbo thought admiringly.
With the completion of his Sage Mode and Neural Transfer techniques, Tonbo had considered trying to project himself over to Sasuke's location. But when he formed the seals, he found he could no longer sense the nerves he had planted.
Considering he was in Sage Mode—which amplified his senses dozens of times over—this was no small feat. Fortunately, Tonbo's arsenal was constantly evolving; he wasn't a one-trick pony. Otherwise, if Orochimaru found a flaw in his Forced Execution, it could have been game over. Most ninjas are finished once their "ultimate move" is cracked, but an all-rounder like him could simply rotate through an endless supply of jutsus.
I can't slack off. The Akatsuki is no longer a threat, but the future holds 'mechanics-based' monsters like Shibai Otsutsuki. One of his abilities, if I recall, is 'Reflection.' Anyone who harbors killing intent toward him is hit by the counter-effect of that Shinjutsu. The stronger the intent, the harder the reflection.
He didn't know if the ability countered only active, emotional malice or passive, physical intent, but he had to create a counter-mechanism regardless.
Tonbo was already absurdly powerful. Aside from Six Paths Naruto, Sasuke, and Kaguya, even Madara would likely struggle against him. He was confident because Madara, despite his combat experience, was still a "stats-based" fighter of flesh and blood—the exact type of ninja Tonbo's abilities countered. Tonbo's combat experience was at least equal to Madara's, and he had the advantage of future intelligence.
His goal wasn't Kaguya; Naruto and Sasuke could handle her. He just needed to preserve his strength and guard against Kara.
As for "Reflection of Malice," he already had a counter-theory. Just like the memory-altering Shinjutsu could be countered by his HeartSteel ability, he planned to seal his soul's emotions, leaving only "computer-like" data instructions. Using Heart of Steel as a foundation, he would control his body to fight like a robot. Without emotions, there would be no malice.
But if their Shinjutsu can detect the 'malice' in physical actions alone, then it'll be too late to reconsider. Perhaps Boruto's Jougan has the power to purify such Shinjutsu; that's why he's the protagonist.
Tonbo had to consider every possibility. After all, Shibai Otsutsuki was hailed as an omnipotent god. It wouldn't be strange if his abilities possessed a mechanism to judge intent based on action itself.
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