Rebellious Asuma

Konoha.

Training Ground No. 98.

The three boys sat cross-legged on the ground, leaves stuck to their foreheads, their hands forming the Tiger seal.

Tobitake Tonbo sat nearby reading a book called "Barrier Ninjutsu Volume Seven," an essential part of learning Barrier Technique in Konoha.

Learning really was fascinating.

"Captain, can this really improve our strength?" Iruka tried hard to focus his chakra on his forehead.

"Of course. An outstanding ninja must be able to focus at any moment in order to spot the enemy's intentions from the smallest details in a split-second battle,

and to mobilize chakra immediately to perform ninjutsu." Tobitake Tonbo replied without taking his eyes off the book.

Mibu Shinobu said, "I get it. It was because Iruka couldn't focus enough that he failed to notice the Pangolin burrowing out of the ground while fighting the giant beast Captain summoned."

"That wasn't it. I was just careless." Iruka curled his lip.

"Focus and stop talking. Mibu Shinobu is right. When a Pangolin moves underground, it makes quite a disturbance,

as long as you consciously pay attention to enemies that could appear above, below, or in any direction, you'll notice the movement beneath your feet,

ninja must remain alert at all times for new enemies that may appear. I believe they taught that at the Academy." Tobitake Tonbo affirmed Mibu Shinobu's words.

"Besides, the Third once said that wherever Konoha's leaves dance, the fire burns on without end. Instantly concentrating chakra on the leaf means you have ignited the first flame,

this is the time to put your Will of Fire into practice!"

Hearing that, the three immediately became energized and worked hard to do as their captain said, focusing their chakra on the leaves on their foreheads.

"The Will of Fire really is useful." Watching the three work so hard, Tobitake Tonbo could not help marveling at the Third's brilliance.

The methods he had racked his brains over to entice the three into striving toward his desired direction could not compare to a single mention of the Will of Fire.

In this regard, he was inferior to the Third. He admitted that the Third was the greatest master of Talk no Jutsu; even Naruto could not compare.

He then turned his gaze to the Barrier Technique manual in his hands, which explained every aspect of barriers.

Hand seals, chakra allocation, barrier nodes, and every other aspect were described in dense detail.

He was confident that once the plot began, he would be among the strongest ninja in the Shinobi World, but he could not guarantee that Konoha would not be destroyed.

Nor could he guarantee that he could stop Pain from unleashing his ultimate move before it began.

So he wanted to carve out another path through barriers and prevent Konoha from being destroyed by Pain's ultimate move.

Barrier Technique could absolutely accomplish that. He had already thoroughly worked through the first six barrier manuals. Though there were more than a dozen volumes left, he was confident he could finish them.

Then he would begin experimenting with the various applications of Barrier Technique.

"These are all just precautions. Maybe I'll already be invincible by then?"

That was Tobitake Tonbo's thinking.

He carried out the ninja principle of preparing for every contingency to the letter.

Looking at the three little ones again, he found that they had already entered the zone, though their focus was still too slow in his perception.

He also noticed that every passing breeze diverted a bit of their attention.

"Let's try Barrier Ninjutsu."

Inspired, Tobitake Tonbo prepared to test an idea based on the Barrier Technique theory he had just read.

He took out several slips bearing the character "Silence" from his ninja tool pouch and flung them onto tree trunks around the training ground, then began forming hand seals.

Barrier Ninjutsu was extremely complicated. Even Tobitake Tonbo, as he was now, took a full minute to complete the seals.

They were the most complicated hand seals he had formed since crossing over.

"Soundless Barrier."

As he completed the seals, chakra linked the four "Silence" talismans and formed an invisible dome that enveloped the entire training ground.

The three inside, who were working hard to focus, suddenly felt that the environment had changed. There was no wind to distract them, no cicadas chirping, and no birds singing.

Their speed at refining and concentrating chakra increased.

Tobitake Tonbo also carefully experienced the strengths and weaknesses of Barrier Ninjutsu.

Its advantages were that multiple people could perform it and it had many functions. Its weaknesses were that it consumed quite a lot and required a continuous supply of chakra.

It could only be used for traps or positional warfare.

The original work had not gone into much detail about Barrier Ninjutsu, showing only scenes of rogue ninja frequently breaking through barriers, which made Barrier Technique seem rather awkward.

But judging from this Soundless Barrier, it was truly quite good in certain respects.

In the blink of an eye.

Another month passed.

With the help of the new technique, the three little ones progressed quickly and found it easier to focus. Once they reached a certain level, Tobitake Tonbo removed the barrier and let them improve step by step.

They could now quickly focus during sparring. Whether it was performing ninjutsu, throwing Shuriken, or analyzing the battlefield, they had made tremendous progress.

Meanwhile, outside of work, Tobitake Tonbo had discussed the wedding date with Teuchi and Ayame. It would be two years later.

He would marry at seventeen.

For people of the Shinobi World, who had twice as many cells as those in his previous life, that was not considered an early marriage.

So he was in an exceptionally good mood every day.

Even Iruka and the other two could sense his happiness from his expression.

When they learned that their captain had a fiancée, they were all stunned.

They could not believe it.

But they had no choice but to believe it. Tobitake Tonbo took them out for ramen, and seeing how lovey-dovey they were, how could they not believe it?

It was also on that day that the Hokage sent an order for him to lead his squad to the Hokage Office. There was a mission.

Tobitake Tonbo led Iruka and the other three little ones as they stood attentively before the Third. After not seeing him for some time, he had aged considerably.

"Lord Third Hokage." Iruka was very happy to see the Third.

Seeing Iruka, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. "It's Iruka. According to the report Tonbo submitted, I hear you've already become an outstanding Genin."

Hearing that, Iruka glanced at Tobitake Tonbo and said excitedly, "I'm still far behind Captain."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded kindly and looked at Tobitake Tonbo. "I'm giving you an important mission. You must help me complete it."

"Me?"

Tobitake Tonbo was puzzled, but he still said, "I guarantee the mission's completion."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "The mission is to find Asuma Sarutobi and bring back intelligence. It would be even better if you can persuade him!"

"Huh? Asuma Sarutobi?"

The members of Tonbo Squad were all confused.

The surname Sarutobi... did he have some connection with the Hokage?

Tobitake Tonbo was stunned. This was the period when Asuma rebelled and fled Konoha!

"He is this old man's son. Because of my work, I failed to educate him properly, and his temperament grew increasingly rebellious. Recently, he took advantage of an assignment outside the village and disappeared without a trace,

but someone saw him in the Land of Fire, so I need to find his location." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

So that was it.