Chapter 38: The Meeting
Shisui Uchiha's eyes sharpened as he looked at Ayame. "Tonbo-kun? Who are you?"
"She's likely a resident of the village. The 'Tonbo-kun' she mentioned must be the culprit behind the training ground's disappearance. Seize her; we'll find out the truth after an interrogation."
The two Uchiha subordinates exchanged looks and moved to apprehend her.
"Stop! You can't just arrest people randomly. She clearly isn't a ninja; her chakra is too weak to even be refined," Shisui Uchiha blocked them.
The two Uchiha were dissatisfied with his restraint. The Uchiha had the right to detain first and question later, yet Shisui was being a hindrance. However, because Shisui was their captain, they maintained their discipline despite their radical leanings. They simply made a mental note to report this to the Clan Head later.
"Where did you take my husband?" Ayame asked, tears beginning to fall. She couldn't understand their technical talk.
"Who is your husband?" Shisui asked. This scene might truly be the work of a spy.
"That would be me."
As a voice rang out, putting them on high alert, the ground beneath them began to shift. Trees, grass, the lush riverbank, and the training posts in the center suddenly appeared out of thin air without them even noticing.
Everything returned to its original state.
Shisui's Sharingan spun rapidly, but he found no traces of a transition; it just... appeared, as if the barren land from moments ago had been the hallucination. Except now, there was a man with a bandaged face standing there.
The three Uchiha gripped their blades, staring intently at Tonbo Tobitake. It was terrifying—he had appeared silently before them, the clan with the strongest insight in Konoha.
Tonbo Tobitake saw Ayame and thought, Oops. He had intended to wait for them to leave before deactivating the barrier to keep his secrets, but he had forgotten her lunch delivery time. Seeing her tears, his heart ached, and he immediately released the barrier.
He had no desire to interact with the Uchiha or their eyes; his only interest was seeing how his own illusions would fare against the Sharingan. But he couldn't let them interrogate his wife. Protecting her was the reason he trained.
"Honey, it's okay. Didn't I tell you? Your husband is... really strong..." Tonbo quickly pulled Ayame into a hug and took the bento from her. "Let's see what we have today. Is it your world-famous ramen?"
Seeing that Tonbo was safe and even joking, Ayame's tears vanished, replaced by a smile. She truly thought he had been captured. "As long as you're okay."
"Kid, things are far from 'okay.' Who are you?"
"Explain what happened here just now, or I'll charge you with espionage." A slightly chubby Uchiha drew his blade, his two-tomoe Sharingan spinning slowly. The other lean Uchiha did the same. If Tonbo made a move or lied, they were ready to strike.
Even Shisui gripped his sword. In his Sharingan's vision, the way this man stood radiated strength. If he were an enemy, Shisui couldn't guarantee a quick victory. Fortunately, he didn't seem like an enemy; Ayame showed no signs of being a spy. But for the safety of Konoha, he couldn't drop his guard.
"Tonbo-kun... are they going to arrest you?" Ayame asked, her heart tightening again.
Tonbo patted her shoulder and turned to the trio. "Analysis Team, Special Jonin Tonbo Tobitake. Shisui of the Body Flicker, I've heard much about you."
The chubby Uchiha barked, "Enough talk! I asked what you were doing. Don't try to get friendly with the Uchiha; you're not worthy. Speak, or come with us to the Police Station."
Shisui frowned. He knows me? "Analysis Team Jonin? Explain how this place disappeared and reappeared. Even if there are no charges, as a Konoha ninja, you should understand the need for transparency regarding village safety."
Tonbo sighed. Even the relatively kind Shisui couldn't escape the typical Uchiha arrogance. To keep Ayame from worrying, he said, "I was just testing a new ninjutsu. I lost control for a moment and caused a stir. I didn't expect a routine practice to alert the prestigious Police Force."
Under their watchful eyes, he pulled out his ID—complete with photo, ID number, and graduation date. "This is my proof. Can we go now?"
"ID can be forged," the chubby Uchiha sneered. Seeing Tonbo's cooperative attitude, he grew bolder. His Sharingan spun as he forced eye contact. "I think you'd better come with us for an investigation."
Shisui gasped, wanting to stop him, but it was too late. Has the clan become this reckless? he wondered bitterly. He looked at Tonbo, hoping the man wouldn't be hurt. A Sharingan illusion was peerless; once caught off guard, there was usually no escape.
The reality, however...
The moment the Uchiha refined his chakra, Tonbo sensed it. Wanting to test his anti-illusion measures, he didn't counter-attack but took the hit head-on.
In the mental world, he was bound to a massive pillar by stone restraints. Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes, Tonbo noted. It was a complete illusion; an ordinary Jonin would be finished.
But...
The moment the illusion took hold, a "light point" within Tonbo's heart erupted. His chakra instantly fluctuated in a specific rhythm, creating a unique ripple that bounced the illusion back.
Hmph!
With a muffled groan, the chubby Uchiha's eyes went dull. He froze mid-motion. Shisui and the other Uchiha watched in confusion as their comrade became a statue.
Tonbo blinked, fully awake.
The "Return Mirror" structure is a success. It broke the illusion in a blink, Tonbo thought, satisfied. It felt like a long time in the mental world, but in reality, it was a split second.
The "Return Mirror" was an S-rank illusion he developed to counter the Sharingan. It could reflect standard illusions or disrupt his own chakra so he could break free without needing a teammate. It was his first S-rank technique, borrowing logic from how Jinchuriki use Tailed Beasts to break illusions.
He then looked back at the Uchiha.
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