"The Fourth Hokage... Minato Namikaze... has fallen in battle against the Nine-Tailed Fox. I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, will resume the office of Hokage until a suitable Fifth successor is found."
Hiruzen stood on the Hokage Tower balcony, the wind whipping his robes. He looked older. He felt older.
Below him, the village was silent.
Minato had been in office for less than a year. He was the golden promise of a new era, a symbol of youth and strength. His death wasn't just a tragedy; it was a terrifying blow to Konoha's stability.
Tonbo stood in the crowd, flanked by Mawari and Seishi.
Why didn't the Third die? Tonbo wondered, a dark thought crossing his mind. With the Reaper Death Seal, Hiruzen could have taken the Fox down. But the plot demanded Minato's sacrifice for Naruto's story.
It was a cynical thought, but grief made cynics of everyone.
"We finally ended the war... and now this," Seishi sighed heavily. "Chaos is coming again."
"Yeah," Tonbo agreed. "The next few years will be hard."
The geopolitical impact would be immediate.
The disappearance of the Third Kazekage started a war. The death of the Third Raikage broke Kumo's spirit.
Now, with the Yellow Flash gone, Konoha looked weak. Clients would hesitate. Mission requests would drop. The economy would stagnate.
"To stabilize the village, the council didn't risk electing a new, unproven Kage," Tonbo analyzed. "They fell back on the Professor. It's the safe choice, but it means stagnation."
The funeral for Minato and the other victims was massive.
Tonbo stood before the Memorial Stone, bowing his head. He saw Kakashi, looking emptier than ever. He saw Iruka, standing alone.
Tonbo had attended too many of these.
Goodbye, Minato. Goodbye, Kushina.
They were good people. They deserved better than to be plot devices.
One Year and Six Months Later.
Life moved on.
Tonbo sat in his study, reading a scroll titled Theoretical Applications of Barrier Ninjutsu.
"Tonbo Tobitake. Lord Hokage summons you."
An Anbu appeared in his window.
"Is prep required?" Tonbo asked, closing the scroll.
"No."
Tonbo stepped out into the bright afternoon sun.
He had grown taller. His jaw was sharper. At the Intel Division, he was no longer just a rookie. He had been promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin (Special Jonin). His mastery of the Mind Transmission technique had evolved to the point where even Inoichi admitted Tonbo's range and extraction speed exceeded his own.
Why does the Hokage want me? Tonbo mused. A dedicated escort mission? An undercover op?
Knock! Knock!
"Lord Hokage. Tonbo Tobitake reporting."
"Enter."
Tonbo pushed open the door. Hiruzen sat behind a mountain of paperwork, looking weary but sharp.
"Lord Hokage."
"Ah, Tonbo. You've grown. You look... sturdy," Hiruzen smiled, his eyes crinkling.
"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, I am handsome and tall, but definitely not 'sturdy'. I'm a sensor, not a tank," Tonbo corrected deadpan.
"Hahaha! True, true. My old eyes are failing me," Hiruzen chuckled. This kid and his deadpan humor.
"I called you here for a specific assignment."
"Yes, sir."
Hiruzen leaned back, lighting his pipe. "The war and the Nine-Tails attack decimated our middle ranks. We have a gap in leadership. We need to raise the next generation quickly and correctly."
"Your skills are verified. You have battlefield experience, tactical brilliance, and a solid moral compass."
"So, I want you to take a Genin squad. Become a Jonin Sensei. What do you say?"
"A squad leader?"
Tonbo blinked. He hadn't expected that. He thought he'd be rotting in the T&I department forever.
But the idea... wasn't bad.
Leading a team meant field missions, but usually C-ranks to start. It meant shaping young minds.
"No problem," Tonbo said firmly. "Adding fresh firewood to the Will of Fire is my duty."
Hiruzen beamed. "Excellent. I knew I wasn't wrong about you."
He slid a file across the desk. "Here is your team."
Tonbo picked it up.
Squad Leader: Tonbo Tobitake (Tokubetsu Jonin)
Member 1: Iruka Umino
Member 2: Shinobu Mibu
Member 3: Tekuno Kanden
Tonbo scanned the profiles.
Iruka Umino:
Academy Grades: Theory (A), Practical (B).Skills: Standard Three, Basic Taijutsu.Notes: Highly empathetic. Future educator material.
Shinobu Mibu:
Academy Grades: Theory (B+), Practical (B).Skills: Intel potential.Appearance: Wraps his head in bandages similar to Tonbo, leaving only tufts of hair exposed.
Tekuno Kanden:
Academy Grades: Theory (A), Practical (A).Skills: Trap Specialist. Weapon Summoning. Space-Time Ninjutsu affinity.Notes: Prodigy in tool manipulation.
Tonbo smirked internally.
So, I'm teaching the teacher of Naruto.
Shinobu Mibu... why does he wrap his head like that? Is he trying to copy my style? Sorry kid, I'm the original bandage-face.
And Tekuno... this kid is basically the prototype for Tenten, but actually competent. Space-Time affinity at Genin level? He must be from a wealthy weapon-smith family.
"I accept," Tonbo said, closing the file. "When do I start?"