Chapter 36: Happy Naruto
Konoha Main Street.
"Up you go!"
Tonbo Tobitake seemed to have found a new hobby. Grabbing Naruto by the armpits, he tossed him high into the air and caught him as he fell.
The watching Anbu were breaking into a cold sweat. If the Hokage hadn't already ordered them not to interfere with Tonbo's interaction with the Jinchuriki, they would have moved in by now. Still, they remained coiled like springs, terrified the Jinchuriki might suddenly surge and break the seal.
As for Naruto himself, he was having the time of his life.
This uncle wrapped in bandages wasn't scary at all—in fact, he was quite gentle. Tonbo's laughter was infectious; Naruto completely cast aside the negative emotions he had absorbed from the other villagers and simply enjoyed the moment. He didn't realize that in this brief window, his fate had shifted; he wasn't just the kid everyone feared.
Tonbo didn't overthink it. He simply wanted to do as he pleased without compromising himself. What was wrong with playing with the Fourth's son? Would the Third really punish him for it? Naruto was younger now and much more fun to play with. Once he grew up and attained the Power of the Six Paths, he wouldn't be nearly as "toy-sized."
At the same time, this was Tonbo's way of honoring the Fourth's sacrifice—giving the hero's son a moment of genuine warmth. Of course, he didn't intend to build his entire career around Naruto; based on his current progress, Tonbo's Genjutsu was already on a path to a sovereign throne.
Seeing Tonbo having so much fun, Ayame's face grew redder as she thought more and more about having children of her own. Maybe we can have a few kids as cute as Naruto.
Unbeknownst to them, at a nearby corner, a teenager holding the hand of a child about Naruto's age watched the scene.
Sasuke watched as Tonbo lifted Naruto high and tossed him toward the sky. His eyes brightened with envy. He looked up at the teenager beside him. "Big Brother, I want to do that too!"
Itachi Uchiha smiled warmly. "Alright. We'll do it when we get home."
"Yay!" Sasuke's face lit up with excitement.
Itachi's mind, however, was elsewhere as he looked at Tonbo Tobitake.
This man... is very strong. He had considered using his Sharingan to observe Tonbo, but a shiver of dread ran through his heart—a premonition that something terrible would happen if he looked too closely.
"Let's go. Mother has made some delicious sweets."
"Mhm! But you have to toss me high when we get back!" Sasuke said, oblivious but happy, skipping along while holding Itachi's hand.
Tonbo had no idea he was being observed, let alone that someone had considered using the Sharingan on him. If he had known, he'd be curious to see what Itachi would have experienced. Being aware that this was a world of "Legendary Eyes", Tonbo was naturally guarded against dangerous visual and sensory prowess like the Sharingan and Byakugan.
He had layered an information protection net around himself specifically designed for visual and sensory-type jutsus. No matter the eye or the sensory method, anyone trying to peer deeply into him would be hit by a chaotic flood of messy, discarded memories he stored in his body. While not intentionally lethal, it was incredibly unpleasant. It ensured the Byakugan couldn't see through him and the Sharingan couldn't copy his techniques.
"Naruto, Big Sister and I have to go now. Where do you live? Do you want me to walk you back?" Tonbo checked the position of the sun and set Naruto down.
The surrounding Anbu tensed up again. Inquiring about the Jinchuriki's address? Definitely suspicious.
"Actually, never mind. I'm sure you know the way home. Get back safely and don't get lost," Tonbo said, sensing the movements in the shadows and curling his lip. What a bunch of cowards. It's just the Nine-Tails. I'll be the one handling it later anyway.
Naruto watched them go, reluctant to leave. He looked back every three steps. "Big Brother Tonbo, will I see you again?"
"Go on home," Tonbo laughed, waving his hand. "I'm a ninja who protects Konoha. Even if you don't run into me on the streets, once you become a ninja, you'll definitely see me."
"Good luck, Naruto!" Ayame added, cheering him on.
Naruto beamed, a firm goal taking root in his heart: he was going to become a ninja.
Two Years Later.
Tonbo Tobitake and Ayame had married in a modest ceremony attended by a balanced mix of friends and family. They were finally a wedded couple. On that day, Tonbo was incredibly happy; he had truly become a "man" in this world.
Ichiraku Ramen was becoming more popular by the day. Tonbo's father had also improved his weaving skills, already saving up money for his future grandchildren.
In these two years, Tonbo hadn't seen Naruto again, though Ayame ran into him often. Tonbo's mission count had increased significantly. As Konoha's strength gradually recovered, the Third Hokage regained international recognition, leading to an influx of mission requests.
This made Tonbo's schedule increasingly busy. He occasionally led his squad across the land to complete missions and further their training. Now, all three of his students had become Chunin, recognized by the Hokage as capable of leading their own teams.
Finally, Tonbo's duties shifted back to his preferred role: an Intelligence Ninja in the Analysis Team. He still liked this best. Leading a team—especially those three—wasn't easy! At first it was fine, but as they improved and figured out his temperament, they became quite bold, constantly trying to "extort" better techniques out of their Captain.
"Ah, it's finally over!" Tonbo clinked his glass against Shimon's.
"You lucky brat. I'm so jealous you're actually married," Shimon said, his voice dripping with envy. He remembered swearing he'd be the one to show off his relationship to Tonbo; he hadn't even found a girlfriend yet, and Tonbo was already a husband. Dammit.
"Haha! Not just that—I might be holding a son by next year. You'd better hurry up; you're a Chunin now, after all." Tonbo smiled at the thought of his wife. Step one of his dream: marry a kind, capable, and wealthy wife. Done. Next step: start a family—maybe four or five kids. If their luck was good, his kids might even be in the same class as Konohamaru.
"Seriously though, why did you give up leading a team? Doesn't it pay better?" Shimon asked, puzzled.
"Doing it once was enough. They're not exactly easy to manage, and I'm just not built for that kind of stress," Tonbo joked. Some things only needed to be experienced once. Leading fresh graduates involved too much running around. He preferred the Analysis Team—less drama and closer to home. As for money? His wife had plenty.
"I don't get it. I heard Togetake Tetusen is already becoming a mainstay of the village; he'll probably beat me to Jonin at this rate!" Shimon sighed. He didn't believe for a second that Tonbo wasn't "built for it."
"And Iruka is a Chunin now, teaching at the Academy. He'll hit Jonin eventually. Then there's Mibu Shinobu, who joined the Torture and Interrogation Force and has already made a name for himself. He's their rising star."
This was why he didn't understand. Why did an educator as brilliant as Tonbo want to stay cooped up in the Analysis Team?
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