Chapter 96: Important Matters

"What official business?" Tonbo asked. "My leave has not already ended, has it?" 

Hiruzen's expression supplied the answer. "You have been home for several days. Inoichi has reminded me repeatedly that while you are absent, he must lead the Analysis Team in addition to the Intelligence Division. He claims this leaves too little time for his daughter." 

During Tonbo's mission, Inoichi had carried both positions without additional pay or a deputy he trusted to handle the Analysis Team's most sensitive work. Command had reminded him how pleasant delegation could be. His complaints had finally reached the Hokage's desk. 

Hiruzen had intended to allow Tonbo a longer recovery. The preceding comparison between two angelic twins and Konohamaru had weakened that intention. 

"A few days," Tonbo said. "I have rested for a few days." 

He had planned to divide his leave between Ayame, the children, and research into techniques for enemies with Six Paths power. The Fourth Shinobi War was still more than a decade away. He could wait for Naruto and Sasuke to deal with such enemies, but he would never feel safe without some means of facing them himself. Escaping Pain had given him enough confidence to begin. 

His chakra reserves had grown to more than three times Kakashi's; in a few years, they might reach Hiruzen's level. Shadow Clones could advance research while he worked, although less efficiently than undivided concentration. The loss of free time was irritating, not crippling. 

"The Barrier Team also requires you," Hiruzen said. "They advanced Sealed Horizon while you were away. The Hyūga specialists resolved several structural problems, but the village-scale version still has weaknesses." 

Tetsugan and his team had completed the defensive prototype while Tonbo was away. Hiruzen wanted its remaining flaws corrected and its protection refined. 

Tonbo nodded. He had done the same work before leaving for Amegakure. "I'll resume the weekly sessions." 

"Good. There is another matter. Togekei has been promoted to special jōnin." 

Tonbo's disappointment disappeared. The promotion was deserved. Togekei's weapon work, spatial judgment, and conduct under pressure had moved beyond ordinary chūnin expectations even before Borrowed Instinct lent him Tonbo's reactions. 

"Excellent. He was ready." 

Tonbo took one step toward the door. "There is another matter," Hiruzen said. 

He stopped. "Of course there is." 

"What is your recommendation regarding Amegakure and its leader?" 

The Rinnegan report had been restricted to a narrow circle. Knowledge of it could provoke exactly the contest Danzō wanted: villages rushing to seize a power they did not understand. Hiruzen needed the judgment of the man who had faced it and escaped. 

"Amegakure is another village," Tonbo said. "We cannot involve ourselves in every other village's affairs. We know Pain controls six bodies with the Rinnegan. We know a separate masked man has a Sharingan, Wood Release, and space-time abilities. Beyond that, our intelligence is incomplete. Intervention would mean choosing war while ignorant of the enemy's true strength." 

He would rather leave Nagato to Naruto. Perhaps Jiraiya, armed with the intelligence Tonbo had brought back, could even beat his former pupil. Tonbo had little desire to face Chibaku Tensei himself; an attack on that scale was better left to Naruto and the Nine-Tails. 

Hiruzen nodded. With so little information and enemies that strong, there was no reason to start a war. Tonbo had offered no unexpected insight. 

"Then I'll go," Tonbo said. 

"One more matter." 

Tonbo turned slowly. 

"In a month, instructors from Konoha will receive a group from the daimyō's protective service. They belong to the guard organization under the Guardian Twelve. Their requested subject is genjutsu release." 

"You are not giving this assignment to me, are you?" 

Hiruzen shook his head, and Tonbo relaxed. "Not to you alone. I am assigning you, Yūhi Kurenai, and Kurama Murakumo." 

Tonbo stiffened again. Hiruzen added, "Three renowned genjutsu specialists. The mission belongs to all of you." 

Irritation gave way to interest. Shinku Yūhi had died during the Nine-Tails' attack, but his family's accumulated methods survived. The Kurama clan had once supplied Konoha with numerous jōnin and retained secret texts even after war reduced its numbers. Tonbo had no intention of stealing techniques. Watching how two other traditions taught release, however, might reveal assumptions his own work lacked. 

And what of Kurama Yakumo? He wondered whether she existed here. Her bloodline could give form to Yin Release without the nature transformation he needed. If he could learn from that power, he might take his own genjutsu far enough to control the weather. 

"Understood," he said. "Is that finally everything?" 

Hiruzen considered him, then nodded. Tonbo disappeared before the answer could be withdrawn. 

After the door closed, Danzō emerged from the adjoining shadows. "Is it wise to place a common-born shinobi before the daimyō's guard?" he asked. "The court and the noble families value lineage. If their representatives claim insult or incompetence, they may use it to argue for another reduction in Konoha's military funds." 

Peace always invited scrutiny of the village budget. The daimyō's officials paid for military readiness while seeing fewer immediate reasons to maintain it, and some among the nobility regarded inherited status as proof of fitness. 

Hiruzen looked toward the door through which Tonbo had escaped. "Then they will have to judge the instructor by his ability. Tonbo will give them no honest reason to complain."