Chapter 76: S-Rank Intelligence Mission
The Hokage's Office.
Danzo spoke up: "I have heard much of you, but this is the first time we have met. I am entrusting this mission to you. You must bring the intelligence back at all costs—even if there are sacrifices."
Tonbo Tobitake was undoubtedly a Konoha elite. His ability to extract information through the Mind Reading Technique surpassed even Inoichi Yamanaka's, and his mastery of barrier ninjutsu made him a man Danzo highly admired. If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't been blocking him, Danzo would have long ago recruited Tonbo into his own ranks with the promise of a higher position.
Sacrifice?
Tonbo remained speechless. As expected of Danzo—basically saying it doesn't matter if people die, right? How ruthless.
At the same time, it was clear how much Danzo valued this mission, considering he had actually crawled out of his lair to speak personally. Is he coveting the power of the Rinnegan?
Undoubtedly, the civil war mentioned in the reports referred to the clash between Nagato and Hanzo. By now, the Akatsuki should have complete control over the Hidden Rain Village.
Hearing Danzo's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi interjected sharply: "Danzo, stop always keeping the word 'sacrifice' on your lips. My orders are to bring the intelligence back provided a safe retreat is possible."
"Pedantic. Small sacrifices are made for the sake of Konoha's greater good. Hiruzen, you're becoming an old fool." Danzo was deeply disappointed by Hiruzen's hesitant words. To him, only he was the fit choice for Hokage. Once he obtained the power of the Rinnegan, the title would be his.
"Hmph. I am the Hokage. Tonbo, I'm counting on you. Go home and speak with your family; you depart tomorrow. This mission may take a long time, so do not neglect them before you go," Hiruzen said.
"Understood."
Tonbo had just witnessed a classic "Hokage vs. Root" scene. Holding the intelligence file, he turned and slowly withdrew. As he passed Danzo, he could sense the man's cold, emotionless gaze fixed upon him.
The Tobitake Residence.
"Tianyu, Maki, Papa has to go on a mission tomorrow. You have to be good for Mama, okay?" Tonbo looked down at the fraternal twins in their cradle. His pale blue eyes gazed at them softly.
Both children had inherited his eye color; their watery, blue-mist eyes looked exceptionally bright. After much arguing between the four adults, they had finally settled on the names: Tianyu Tobitake and Maki Tobitake. They were simple names—nothing world-shaking or overly rustic—just easy to say. The truth was that neither Ayame nor anyone else in the family was particularly good at naming.
Maki and Tianyu seemed to understand his words, offering toothless baby smiles. Their tiny eyes followed him as if saying, I'll take care of Mom, you go ahead.
"Truly my kids. Your senses are sharp." Tonbo smiled back at them. Unsurprisingly, the little ones had inherited his sensory talent; they had a keen intuition for adult emotions. They already knew exactly when to cry and when to laugh to wrap their parents around their little fingers.
Ayame watched the interaction and smiled. "You haven't had an out-of-village mission in a long time. Will this one be long?"
She was used to the life of a ninja's wife. Living in Konoha, this was expected. There was no overly dramatic sense of parting; she was simply concerned for his safety.
Tonbo looked apologetic. "Yeah, it's been months. This one might take a while. I'm leaving the little ones in your hands, honey."
This was an intelligence mission; Tonbo didn't dare estimate how long it would take. Especially since he was facing a ninja of Nagato's caliber. He wasn't arrogant enough to think that his knowledge of the original series would make things perfectly smooth. The original story lacked many specific details; at most, he knew about the Rinnegan and Nagato's control over the Six Paths.
Furthermore, he couldn't just wander around and come back with a fake report. Konoha had organizations to verify intelligence to prevent people from fabricating reports out of fear. Besides, he wasn't going alone; he had his student and two men who were likely Danzo's subordinates.
"Don't worry. They aren't just your babies; they're mine too. Do you think I wouldn't take care of them?" Ayame teased.
"Waa-ee!" The babies chirped as if sensing the mood.
"Right. Tianyu, Maki—while I'm gone, these will keep you company." Tonbo pulled out two wooden figures carved in his likeness, polished until they were perfectly smooth, and placed them by the babies' bedding.
Inside the figures was a significant amount of his chakra. He had given similar items to his father and Ayame. In a moment of crisis, these figures could release pre-prepared jutsu to protect them.
That night.
Tonbo wove hand signs, inscribing countless sealing formulas onto the bandages he wrapped around his head. This was to reduce the casting time for certain techniques when needed. He packed his ninja tools, antitoxins, radio, binoculars, and every gadget that might be useful.
This would be his most difficult S-rank mission. Facing an enemy with the Rinnegan while possessing partial foreknowledge meant he had to be exceptionally prepared. He didn't claim to know all of Nagato's secrets, and his current Genjutsu was somewhat countered by the shared vision of the Six Paths of Pain.
"But when it comes to combat experience, I've never feared anyone, let alone a young Nagato." Tonbo was confident. His orders were to gather intel safely—if he couldn't win, he could run. He wasn't like Jiraiya, whose "Will of Fire" was so overflowing that he'd refuse to retreat. Tonbo had zero psychological burden when it came to running away. He had elders and children at home; why would he throw his life away for a paycheck?
A Two-Story Apartment.
"I get to fight alongside Sensei again. This time, I'll show him what I'm truly capable of." Mibu Shinobu checked his tools, tied his headband, and smiled. After two years of tempering, he was no longer the boy he once was; he was a Chunin capable of standing on his own. His experience and combat power were incomparable to his past self. As the most talented of the original trio, he was full of confidence. This was his first S-rank mission, and he was determined not to let Tonbo-sensei down.
"Your mission is intelligence on the wielder of the Rinnegan. Use Tonbo Tobitake's power to draw the enemy's attention. You are the elite of the Root; I trust you know what to do," Danzo looked at the two masked figures before him.
"Understood." Their voices were completely indifferent.
Poof! They vanished.
"The legendary power of the Rinnegan... it actually exists. Hiruzen, time will prove that I was right." Danzo looked at the sky, his lips curling upward.
Everyone had their own hidden agendas. But as the morning sun rose, everyone was ready and arrived at the meeting point. After saying goodbye to his family, Tonbo was the first to arrive.
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