Chapter 339: Time
"Tonbo, do you have any strength left?"
"I do. Why?"
"Naruto and Killer Bee have headed for the battlefield. Lady Tsunade and the Raikage have decided to let them join the fight, but since the two of them must lead from the command center, they need you to watch over the Jinchuriki. At the very least, we need someone there capable of communication."
Tonbo Tobitake suddenly received this message from Headquarters.
Neither Naruto nor Bee were communication-type ninjas. Shikaku Nara had witnessed Tonbo's performance on the battlefield; even though he was just a shadow clone, he had displayed powerful dominance over the combat zones. Shikaku realized he had underestimated Tonbo's utility.
Thus, as Naruto and Bee headed out, the task of monitoring them was handed to Tonbo.
"No problem."
Near the Headquarters, Tonbo's original body was currently carving runic formulas across the entire facility. If anyone proficient in Space-Time Ninjutsu were present, they would realize this was the setup for a massive space-time barrier.
Upon receiving the notification, Tonbo immediately created another shadow clone to head toward Naruto and Bee, while his main body continued the setup.
"Heh... back then, I actually worried about this. I really underestimated myself!"
Why was he setting up a space-time barrier at HQ? It was a plan rooted in his thoughts from when he first transmigrated.
In the original story, the "Tonbo Tobitake" who served as a sensor ninja under Inoichi Yamanaka died at the Alliance HQ, vaporized by the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb along with Shikaku Nara and Inoichi.
When he first arrived in this world without a "system" or a "cheat code," he spent a lot of time thinking about how to avoid that inevitable blast. He had considered many things—retiring early, refusing to go to the front...
The Inverted Golden Bell Barrier he developed was originally intended to survive Pain's assault and the Ten-Tails' ultimate attack.
Back then... he was only twelve years old.
In a few days, it would be nineteen years since his arrival. He was nearly thirty-one. Looking back, his childhood ideas seemed to lack so much foresight.
Yet, he decided to complete the setup anyway—to build the Inverted Golden Bell at HQ. It was a way of giving closure to his younger, naive self. Moreover, when Obito and Madara eventually targeted the HQ, he could show off his "wisdom" once again without revealing too much of his true combat power. It was killing two birds with one stone. It reinforced his image as a brilliant strategist.
"Perhaps my current thoughts, if viewed years from now, will seem just as laughable as my twelve-year-old self's ideas," Tonbo mused.
He thought of his wariness regarding the Kara organization. He wouldn't let his guard down. It was precisely these worries that had allowed him to grow to this point. If a person loses their inhibitions, they become reckless and eventually turn into the very dragon they sought to slay.
Whoosh!
White clouds drifted beneath Tonbo as he soared through the endless sky.
"The 'Old, Weak, Sick, and Disabled' duo... I wonder if they're even enough for Naruto to warm up with."
The current Naruto could absorb natural energy while moving. He was rapidly closing the gap with Tonbo—all he lacked now was a permanent Sage Mode.
Soon, Naruto and Killer Bee entered his sensory range. Judging by Naruto's chakra, his mastery of the Nine-Tails' power was greater than expected. He likely used Sage Mode during his tug-of-war with the fox to seize even more chakra.
"Business aside, photos first."
Tonbo summoned his camera.
Click! Click!
"Uncle Bee, Eight-Tails... do you feel like someone is watching us?" Naruto's senses were incredible in Sage Mode, and combined with Nine-Tails Mode, they were nearly peerless.
Bee paused for a moment. "Nope. Did you find something? Is it a foe coming to deal a blow? Fool, ya fool..."
The Eight-Tails added, "Naruto can sense natural energy; his perception far exceeds ours. He's likely right."
"This is... Nagato... and Itachi Uchiha..."
As Naruto was processing the sensation, two chakra signatures appeared, causing him to stop in his tracks. Soon, two men supporting each other appeared before them.
"You know them?" Bee asked.
"Yeah," Naruto replied, recounting their history.
"Ah, then they're formidable enemies!"
The Desert.
"Such powerful sensory ability. There's a master sensor on the other side as well!"
Mu and the others realized they had been spotted and deactivated their anti-sensing barrier. They looked up at the two figures flying in the sky: one standing on a platform of sand with a large scroll on his back, and the other on a giant eagle, holding a musical instrument.
"Gaara."
Rasa frowned when he saw his son. The Third Raikage and the Second Mizukage also watched the approaching army. Since neither side was in a rush to clash, Rasa began to converse with Gaara. When they learned that the Five Great Villages had actually formed a United Shinobi Army, shock colored their faces.
"Hey, seniors! Quick, strike a pose! I'm taking a photo."
Tonbo Tobitake held up his camera and called out to the legendary Kage.
"Taking a photo?"
Hearing this on a battlefield left the four of them stunned.
Click!
Tonbo's camera captured their bewildered expressions perfectly.
"It's a device that preserves a person's image in a frame. Lord Mu and Lord Gengetsu Hozuki probably haven't seen one. Once the war is over, I can make sure your likenesses are passed down to future generations," Tonbo introduced with a straight face.
"Hey, kid! I don't know what that thing is, but if you're going to pass our images down, let me try again. I need to strike a better pose. I can't look ugly for history!" Gengetsu Hozuki said. Thinking of his own illusions and mirages, he was dissatisfied with his previous look. He immediately struck several flamboyant and, in his mind, "extremely handsome" poses.
Mu remarked, "How childish. Kid, I don't care what you do, but bring Onoki here. He's the only one who can face me."
Despite his words, Mu's body was surprisingly cooperative, shifting into a dignified stance.
"We notified him the moment we found you. We'll hold you here until Master Onoki arrives," Tonbo said.
"Oh? Quite the bold claim. I expanded the Bloodline Limit to create the Bloodline Selection. You'd better be careful."
Before Mu could even finish his sentence, his body moved on its own. He extended his hands, and a pillar of light began to gather between his palms. The other three were no different.
The Third Raikage erupted with chakra comparable to a Tailed Beast, activating his Lightning Style Armor. Rasa slammed the ground, sending waves of Gold Dust surging toward the Allied army. Gengetsu Hozuki pointed a finger directly at Tonbo.
"We can't control ourselves. This feeling is truly wretched. Hurry up and seal us away!" The Mizukage's mustache twitched as he joined the others in warning the Alliance about their own abilities.
Ting-dong—!
At that moment, the melodious strumming of a guitar rang out, reaching the ears of the four Kage.
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