Chapter 276: A Headache
Bang! Bang!
As Tonbo Tobitake finished contemplating the next targeted ninjutsu to develop following the completion of Forced Execution, Kakashi, in the distance, was already being terrorized by Sakura's fists.
It looked as though Sakura was about to uproot the very crust of the earth.
Rumble!
It wasn't just Kakashi; even Naruto was breaking out in a cold sweat. Having not seen her for two and a half years, Sakura had become terrifyingly strong. If he took one direct hit... he could already visualize his head exploding on impact.
Only Tsunade wore a wide, satisfied smirk. Sakura was the most suitable successor to her combat system she had ever seen. Genjutsu, Taijutsu, Nintaijutsu—everything was perfect. Her medical ninjutsu was also progressing at lightning speed. Years from now, Sakura would undoubtedly drive Konoha's medical arts to even greater heights.
Tsunade shifted her gaze to Jiraiya, walking over to his side. "Jiraiya, compared to my apprentice, Naruto's progress seems to be lagging a bit behind!"
She was reasonably satisfied with the results of Naruto's training, but compared to her own student, there was a gap. At the very least, looking at the fight with Kakashi, Naruto's strength manifested in his chakra control and a slightly improved combat style. He had finally learned how to fight like a proper ninja.
"Was that no-seal ninjutsu developed by her?" Jiraiya scratched his head, deep in thought as he watched Sakura's incredibly fluid, seal-less movements. That looks even more useful than the Rasengan!
However, he doubted Sakura could develop such a technique on her own. Aside from the Rasengan, he had never seen a ninjutsu that could be used by completely bypassing hand seals.
"No, Tonbo Tobitake taught it to her," Tsunade explained. "He said it was to build a foundation for her chakra control, allowing her to enter the proper state quickly when learning other techniques. I have to admit, Tonbo was right. Thanks to that foundation over the last two years, Sakura's progress has been immense."
Tsunade watched Sakura use versatile tactics to pressure Kakashi alongside Naruto. While Kakashi wasn't using his full strength, Sakura's current capability was evident. That no-seal technique gave her massive tactical flexibility; combined with her Genjutsu and Monster Strength, she was already a ninja on par with Kakashi in terms of raw potential, provided she gained enough experience.
"It's a shame. Naruto's chakra control is now perfect for extreme shape transformation, but this kind of 'brain-intensive' chakra usage doesn't seem to suit him," Jiraiya sighed. Naruto was unpredictable, but playing with chakra shape transformation as intricately as Sakura was still difficult for him.
"Mhm. Although it feels a bit intrusive, for the sake of Konoha's development, I've asked him to release that ninjutsu. It will be integrated into the Academy for general education." Tsunade smiled. If every graduating class had a few students who could master that technique, they would be the blue-chip stocks of Konoha's future. As a medical ninja, no one understood the value of chakra control better than she did.
"That guy again, huh? His talent for developing ninjutsu is catching up to Orochimaru's!" Jiraiya muttered upon hearing Tonbo's name.
Tsunade nodded. "True. But he's different from Orochimaru. He has elders to care for and kids to raise. I heard he's even planning on having another child..."
Speaking of this, she thought of her former lover. If he were still alive, they would probably have many children by now—and they'd certainly be cuter than Tonbo's kids. She had met Keigo; he wasn't exactly a "cuddly" child. He was too smart. It wasn't that she disliked him, but a child like that didn't give her any sense of "nurturing" achievement.
"That's true. Speaking of which, how about the two of us have a few kids?"
POW!
"Do you want to die?"
Jiraiya was sent flying with a single punch, a few ounces of blood spraying from his nose in mid-air.
Konoha Main Street.
"What? Sakura, you're already a Special Jonin?" Naruto was gobsmacked. "Then... what about the others?"
Sakura smiled. "Ino is a Special Jonin too. Shikamaru, Choji... they're all Chunin now. Oh, and Neji is already a Jonin."
"So... I'm the only Genin left..." Naruto was utterly bewildered. How did this happen?
"Well, there's still Sasuke," Sakura added softly. At the mention of his name, both fell silent. The time for Orochimaru's reincarnation was drawing near, yet they still had no news of him. The mood shifted instantly.
Naruto's House.
Konohamaru was cleaning the room, making everything spotless. "When will big brother Naruto come back? He'll definitely be floored by my earth-shattering new ninjutsu."
He looked excited. Over the past few years, he had worked hard to catch up to Naruto, even innovating his signature "pervy" techniques. He was sure he could impress Naruto.
Pitter-patter!
Two figures suddenly appeared on Naruto's windowsill. "Konohamaru! Naruto... Big brother Naruto is back!"
Tonbo Tobitake's House.
Seeing that Naruto had returned, Tonbo knew the Akatsuki's move was imminent. However, he no longer feared the "butterfly effect" moving the timeline forward. From the reports sent by his clones across the land, he knew the Akatsuki were already in motion.
When the army moves, provisions go first. When ninjas move, intelligence goes first.
The Akatsuki's outer subordinates were already busy gathering data on the Tailed Beasts' locations. While the core members were few, their network of subordinates was extensive. Every powerful ninja needs an intelligence web, and the Akatsuki were no exception.
"The Akatsuki's strength is no longer a threat to me. I just need to ensure my family isn't taken hostage. The rest can be handled by Naruto and Sasuke. The most important thing now is to develop a method to counter the Reflection Shinjutsu."
Tonbo didn't know if the wielder of that Shinjutsu was an enemy yet, but he knew the ability existed. Based on the rules of fiction, such an overpowered ability usually belonged to a villain. He had to think of a way to use his existing knowledge to counter it.
Time couldn't be wasted. He even considered waiting for Orochimaru's return to consult with him. It took him ten years to develop Forced Execution; a technique to counter a god's Shinjutsu might take even longer, even with a clear direction.
Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/MistaQuartz
On Patreon, you can explore Extra Chapters in advance!