Secret Technique

"Bloodlines were special attributes born from different chakra natures undergoing unique combinations,

resulting in special attributes.

As for secret techniques, according to Shikamaru Nara in the anime,

they were created by combining spiritual energy and physical energy in special ratios.

Normal chakra was formed through a one-to-one combination.

To create a secret technique,

the ratio between spiritual and physical energy had to be adjusted."

Tobitake Tonbo carefully analyzed the information he knew and organized his knowledge.

First were bloodlines. There was no need to say much about those; many ninja knew of them.

But when it came to secret techniques, few people understood them.

That was because developing secret techniques was no less dangerous than developing bloodlines.

The danger lay in not knowing what ratio would allow spiritual and physical energy to create stable special chakra without being combined one to one.

Only that kind of chakra could serve as the foundation for developing secret techniques.

But it was very dangerous.

If physical energy was reduced, the resulting chakra would tend to devour spiritual energy.

And the reverse was true as well.

That was the difficulty.

It was also what Tobitake Tonbo needed to overcome.

He already had an idea.

First, the ratio definitely needed to favor spiritual energy.

Second, he had a boss from a secret technique clan.

He could ask him about the knowledge involved in creating secret techniques.

As long as he did not pry into someone else's secret techniques.

Now that he had an idea, it was naturally time to go home and eat. Only when he was full would he have the strength to work.

After he finished eating, Yamanaka Inoichi summoned him over.

The door opened.

Yamanaka Inoichi and the Fourth Hokage came into view.

"Lord Hokage."

Tobitake Tonbo bowed.

"Tonbo, I came to see you, and also to obtain clearer intelligence directly from you."

Minato Namikaze smiled at him.

"Is it about Kirigakure?"

"Yes."

Since the Hokage had asked, Tobitake Tonbo could only recount the situation once more.

He knew Minato was likely worried that some intelligence might not be relayed clearly by others. It also showed how seriously he took this matter.

Minato Namikaze nodded repeatedly.

He expressed his approval of Tobitake Tonbo's detailed report.

He truly was a talent. The Third Hokage had not been wrong.

After meeting him previously, Minato had investigated Tobitake Tonbo's file.

He discovered that the Third Hokage had actually met him and even given him some guidance.

According to the Third Hokage's assessment, Tobitake Tonbo was a young man who had inherited the Will of Fire.

Now, it seemed that his abilities were also among the best of his generation.

After Tobitake Tonbo finished explaining, Minato smiled at him and vanished before his eyes.

"What was that?"

Tobitake Tonbo pretended not to understand, looking shocked at the Hokage's sudden disappearance.

Yamanaka Inoichi smiled. "That was the Flying Thunder God Technique, a forbidden technique developed by the Second Hokage. Only the Fourth Hokage has the talent to practice it."

"So that's how it is. I'm so jealous. I want to learn it too!"

Tobitake Tonbo genuinely wanted to learn it. His talent was not bad, and his neural reflexes were excellent. Aside from his chakra reserves, he did not think he had any major shortcomings.

Compared with ordinary ninja.

"Haha, that won't do. The Flying Thunder God is a forbidden technique, and the training process carries enormous risks.

Those who have not earned the Hokage's recognition cannot learn it."

Yamanaka Inoichi said.

"Mm-hmm. By the way, Boss, there's something I'd like to ask you about."

"What is it?"

"Something related to secret techniques..."

"You brat, I didn't expect your talent to be this good. But this is very dangerous.

I'll explain it to you in detail."

"Thank you, Boss."

As a boss, Yamanaka Inoichi was exceptionally qualified.

Even outside of work, he could chat freely with his subordinates.

When faced with Tobitake Tonbo's questions, he was even more generous, giving him the best advice without holding anything back.

Of course, as one of the heads of the Intelligence Division, he had a firm grasp on what should and should not be said.

During their casual conversation, Tobitake Tonbo also learned that his intelligence had rendered a great service this time.

Time passed swiftly.

Although the war had ended, postwar recovery was equally important.

There were many things that needed to be restored.

For example, certain strategic resources were gradually being opened up again.

Combat supplies such as Explosive Tags and Shuriken had required purchase applications during the war, but now they could be bought at ordinary ninja tool shops.

Tobitake Tonbo also threw himself into the work of restoring the village.

With the war over and fewer enemies around, the workload for reading memories decreased accordingly.

Whenever he had free time now, he went around doing odd jobs.

For example, helping the Hokage organize documents or guarding Konoha's gates.

That was right, he had become a gate guardian too.

Wherever help was needed, he was there.

And seeing how hard he worked, Ayame prepared a bento for him every day.

It made him feel very happy.

He worked even harder at training, and his progress in overcoming secret techniques became faster and faster.

His Genjutsu also improved to another level.

During their usual sparring sessions, Sheng Shimon, Guy, Ebisu, and the others suffered miserably at his hands.

Even a hot-blooded youth like Guy only dared challenge him once every few days.

The emotional aftereffects of being caught in his Genjutsu lingered in one's heart even after it was dispelled.

It was terribly unpleasant.

That Mind Reading Technique: Depression in particular was something even Guy could only barely resist.

There was no need to mention Ebisu and the others.

Clang!

A blade knocked aside a Kunai and came to rest against Tobitake Tonbo's neck.

"You lost."

Kakashi, the masked youth, said calmly.

"Ah, I still can't beat you, Kakashi!"

Tobitake Tonbo waved his hand helplessly.

"You're only relying on the Sharingan."

Kakashi lowered his blade, the Sharingan in his eye slowly rotating.

He had never expected that the expert Guy recommended would be so skilled in Genjutsu.

If not for the Sharingan's ocular power, he would have had no way to deal with him.

And in Taijutsu, he was no weaker than either Kakashi or Guy.

"Haha, ninja do not have the luxury of saying they rely on something.

If you want to say what we rely on, it is naturally our brains."

Tobitake Tonbo would not say something like, "Without the Sharingan, you would definitely lose."

Only idiots said that to other idiots.

Ninja were assassins. There was no need to talk about fairness or morality.

As for fairness and morality, it meant not using forbidden techniques on comrades and the like.

"But next time, heh heh, your Sharingan will be useless."

Tobitake Tonbo smiled confidently at him.

Kakashi froze at those words and studied him intently.

Who had given him the confidence to challenge the Sharingan?

One could only understand how useful it was after using the Sharingan.

Its insight was simply beyond comparison with that of ordinary ninja.

Its resistance to Genjutsu was also enhanced in every aspect.

Just now, it had been the Sharingan that broke Tobitake Tonbo's Genjutsu.

"Ah, worthy of being my lifelong rival! You actually defeated Tonbo."

Guy cheered for Kakashi from the side.

He even shouted that he would run five laps around Konoha as a reward for himself.

Tobitake Tonbo's face darkened.

What a once-in-a-thousand-years kind of spectacle. It was even more toe-curling than in the anime.

Kakashi felt the same way.

Especially since Guy had been promoted to Chunin a few months ago, his challenges toward Kakashi had become even more hot-blooded.

He swore to settle things with Kakashi once and for all.

Tobitake Tonbo looked up at the sky. Nine-Tails' Attack was coming soon.