Hiruzen Sarutobi

"They're back, they're back..."

"That's my brother. He's a Chunin."

"Hmph, my dad's a Jōnin. Where's my dad?"

Outside Konoha's gates, crowds of people stood packed together as countless residents watched the ninja army slowly approach.

Everyone stared expectantly at the ranks, hoping to spot their own family members.

Even if they did not see them, they might have been transferred to another unit.

The others in the ranks also greeted people they knew among the bustling residents.

Whether family or friends.

"After registering, you are dismissed. Go home and remain prepared for the war that may come at any time."

Captain Yamanaka Inoichi addressed all the ninja.

"Yes."

Tobitake Tonbo observed everything. He saw a black-haired woman with a swollen belly and a smile on her face. When she spotted Yamanaka Inoichi, her face filled with delight.

Yamanaka Inoichi carefully stepped forward to support her, afraid that she might fall.

So this was Boss Inoichi's wife, the future Ino Yamanaka's mother?

It looked like she was carrying Ino Yamanaka.

At the same time, he saw other teammates being welcomed by people as well.

Just then, a refined-looking middle-aged man appeared, smiling warmly. He was around thirty years old, but he had lost an arm.

When he saw Tobitake Tonbo, he walked over.

"Good kid, looks like you've grown quite a bit on the battlefield!"

"Dad, you're underestimating your son. I'm just like you now.

"I've become a member of the Analysis Division, and I've even become Lord Inoichi's disciple."

The moment Tobitake Tonbo saw him, he broke into a smile and spoke proudly.

This was his father, Tobitake Tosei. He had once been classmates with the White Fang of the Leaf, until his arm had been slashed.

Unable to form hand seals, he had retired. Only then had he had a son.

The reason Tobitake Tonbo in the original story knew of Yamanaka Inoichi and admired him so much—

was because Tobitake Tosei had instilled it in him while telling ninja stories.

"Very good. As expected of my son. Your superiors haven't chewed you out, have they?" Tobitake Tosei teased.

His son had inherited his genes, and he was very satisfied.

"Hilarious. You think I'd be like you?

"The first time you used the Mind Reading Jutsu, you got overwhelmed by memories and landed in the hospital.

"Your son is already a Chunin."

"What? As expected of my excellent genes. Hmph.

"Damn it, back then I was only a tiny bit behind Lord White Fang.

"Now my son is going to be just a tiny bit behind his son too?"

After registering, Tobitake Tonbo returned home with his father.

It was a two-story residential building.

It followed the style of Konoha's buildings: an old-yet-modern structure made entirely of wood.

Upon entering, he saw many dragonfly figurines made from different plants hanging around the house.

Looking closely, the place felt very warm and cozy.

After tossing his luggage into his room, Tobitake Tonbo finally relaxed. He collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep.

Tobitake Tosei did not disturb him.

Only after becoming a ninja and experiencing war could one understand how precious peace was.

In his own room, he used his nimble right hand to make another dragonfly out of reeds and hung it beneath the eaves.

By then, dragonflies densely covered the space overhead.

There were 125 of them in total.

"Ah, it's already the next morning!"

Tobitake Tonbo stretched, having finally enjoyed a long-awaited peaceful sleep.

After brushing his teeth and washing his face, he ate a breakfast full of his father's love before heading out.

"Do fish have memories of depression too?"

At Konoha Training Ground 98, a broad stream flowed nearby as Tobitake Tonbo cast a jutsu on a palm-sized fish.

After being affected by the technique, sorrow slowly appeared in the fish's eyes.

However, it only lasted for a moment before its dead-fish stare returned to normal.

"It seems Mind Reading Jutsu: Depression still needs improvement."

Having finally returned to the village and settled down, Tobitake Tonbo began a series of jutsu experiments.

At the top of the list was Genjutsu.

After developing Mind Reading Jutsu: Pain on the battlefield, a Genjutsu that could plunge enemies into agony, he had become thoroughly interested in Genjutsu.

The difficulty of Mind Reading Jutsu: Pain lay in grasping a creature's emotional suffering and the nerves that produced physical pain.

According to his theory, the foundation of Mind Reading Jutsu: Pain was the interaction between the enemy's pain nerves and brain, causing the enemy's conscious mind to send pain signals and thus create a real effect on the body.

In fact, most of his experiments had succeeded.

What he wanted to develop now was Mind Reading Jutsu: Depression. Through Genjutsu, it would make a creature's brain send depressive signals, causing its neural cells to become sluggish and exposing weaknesses for a single fatal strike.

But clearly, judging by this fish, it had only produced a temporary effect.

It seemed there was something he had overlooked.

"Hey, kid, are you practicing Genjutsu on fish?"

Bang!

Tobitake Tonbo felt as though his heart was about to explode. The voice by his ear had come from incredibly close.

If that person had intended to harm him, then...

With a trace of shock, he slowly turned around, raised his forehead protector, and pulled aside the bandage covering his eye.

An elderly man with a pointed little mustache stood before him.

"Lord Third Hokage."

The person before him was none other than Konoha's Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The wrinkles on his face were not yet as numerous as they would be in Naruto's time, but the signs of age were already clearly visible.

"Haha, no need for such formality. Did I scare you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand with a smile.

Tobitake Tonbo did not dare be careless. With a dejected tone, he said, "No. It's just that, as a sensory ninja of Konoha,

"I couldn't sense someone approaching me at all. I've failed the village's training!"

"Hahaha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed loudly.

"I am the Hokage. If a little child who has only recently left the academy could detect me,

"then I would be the one who had failed my teacher's training. Hahaha."

You're not wrong, but that was terrifying. Didn't you know people can be scared to death?

Tobitake Tonbo grumbled inwardly.

"Tell me, have you encountered some difficulty with your jutsu?

"I am the Hokage, after all. I can still offer you some guidance," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

Hearing that, Tobitake Tonbo glanced at him. You know you're the Hokage, so don't you have work to do? Why are you out here scaring people?

Still, he said, "Yes, there's a bit of a problem..."

Then he explained the entire principle of the Genjutsu and the issue he had encountered.

"I see. Though Genjutsu is one of my weaker areas, I do know that people and fish are different.

"So if you want to fully develop this Genjutsu, you will still need to test it on a real person."

Hiruzen Sarutobi offered him a pointer.

Tobitake Tonbo nodded. Mind Reading Jutsu: Pain had also only been perfected after testing it on enemies.

Pain nerves and depressive nerves were not within the same range, which was why he had failed.

"Ah, I haven't exercised in a long time.

"Let me be your test subject," Hiruzen Sarutobi said again, unable to resist after seeing how clever he was.

Just as he had said, ever since the war began, he had spent every day working in his office and had not exercised for a long time.

"This... wouldn't that be inappropriate? You are the Hokage, after all."

Though Tobitake Tonbo was tempted, he maintained the image of someone who loved Konoha and cherished his companions in front of others.

"Haha, wherever the leaves of Konoha dance, fire endures unceasingly.

"This is the will the First Hokage and my teacher passed down to me.

"I have always upheld it, and I hope you will carry it on as well." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a nostalgic expression.