Hokage's Office.
"Putting my issue aside, how could he possibly kill a fellow villager? Uncle Hiruzen, you must punish him severely!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk. He heard Mitokado Tsuki's accusation, then looked at Chiba. "Chiba, do you have anything to add?"
"No, Lord Third." Chiba shook his head.
Hiruzen had undoubtedly already heard everything from others. There was no need for him to waste his breath like that idiot woman, Mitokado Tsuki.
Hiruzen gave a slight nod. "Very well. Your handling of this matter was indeed improper. Your position as Anbu squad leader will be temporarily taken over by Nawaki."
Upon hearing Hiruzen's punishment for Chiba, a look of delight flashed across Mitokado Tsuki's face. She challengingly arched a slender eyebrow at Chiba.
Hmph! Now you know the consequence of offending me, you commoner!
But then, Hiruzen spoke again. "Tsuki, you are also at fault in this matter. From now on, you will no longer be responsible for the new medical reform project."
"Wha—?!"
Mitokado Tsuki was dumbfounded. She hadn't expected Hiruzen to disregard her father's position and punish her too!
"Pfft—"
Chiba couldn't help it. He laughed right in front of both of them.
Faced with Chiba's mocking grin, Tsuki couldn't even spare the energy to care. She quickly turned to Hiruzen, pleading. "Uncle Hiruzen, I've poured so much effort into the New Medical Reform Division! I've managed everything flawlessly! And besides… besides me, who else in Konoha is even qualified for such a responsibility right now?"
Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe. "Tsunade happens to be free recently. It seems fitting for the person who proposed the new medical reforms to take charge, don't you think?"
Tsuki was instantly rendered speechless. She stood there, rooted to the spot, brimming with grievance. Tears welled in her eyes.
She didn't understand. This was clearly Chiba's fault! If only Chiba had just given in to her from the start, wouldn't everything have been fine?
Why… why take away the director position she worked so hard to get, all for the sake of some commoner?!
"Uncle Hiruzen, I—!" Tsuki tried to speak again, but Hiruzen had already lowered his head to deal with the documents on his desk.
"In the office, remember to address me by my title. I have work to do. Both of you, dismissed."
"…Yes, Lord Hokage."
Tsuki bit her lip. Alongside Chiba, she left the Hokage's office, seething with resentment.
Not only had this trip gained her nothing, she'd even lost the director position her father had secured for her. Father was going to scold her to death when she got back!
Mitokado Tsuki had never feared much in her life, but her father Mitokado Homura's reprimands were the one exception. She was already starting to feel anxious.
"Miss Mitokado Heiress, why so sad? A mere director position shouldn't even be worth a glance from someone of your stature, right?"
Once outside the Hokage Building, Chiba chuckled, teasing her.
"You bastard! How dare you mock me! It's all because of you, you jerk! I'm going to strangle you!"
Having been "bullied" by Chiba again and again today, Tsuki finally lost all rationality in her rage. With a shriek, she lunged at him.
"The hell are you doing?!"
Chiba's arms tensed slightly. The moment Tsuki threw herself into his embrace, any threat she posed vanished. She squirmed and wriggled against him, which was… starting to annoy him.
Apart from her intelligence, this woman was top-tier in every other aspect. A top-tier flat board, that is. Luckily, Chiba remained unflustered and didn't let things… rise to the occasion.
"Let me go! Let go!"
"Stop struggling, or I'll smack your ass!"
Mitokado Homura had just arrived at the Hokage Building to discuss his daughter's affairs with Hiruzen. He watched this scene and fell into deep thought.
Weren't they saying Tsuki and Chiba were on terrible terms?
…Ah. This kind of 'terrible terms.'
"Now that I think about it, that boy Chiba does have immense potential. If Tsuki really likes him…"
Mitokado Homura stroked his chin, contemplating seriously.
To be honest, he thought highly of Chiba. Although the boy had no clan background, such a person would integrate more easily into the Mitokado clan.
Moreover, his spoiled daughter had always looked down on everyone. This was the first time he'd seen her being so… physically affectionate with someone of the opposite sex.
"Father!"
By the time Tsuki spotted Mitokado Homura, she'd already been struggling in Chiba's arms for a good while. Her whole body had gone soft, and her silky hair was plastered damply to her face.
"Chiba, you bastard, let me go! I'm begging you!" Tsuki jolted in fright, pleading with him in a tearful voice.
Whoosh!
He didn't need her to ask twice. Chiba immediately released her, his eyes darting around, searching for an optimal escape route.
After what he'd just done to the man's daughter, Mitokado Homura might very well charge over and try to kill him right now!
But before Chiba could make his getaway, Mitokado Homura appeared in front of him with a Body Flicker, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Oh shit?
Chiba's body tensed. He was ready to transform into paper and flee, but Mitokado Homura… actually offered a kindly smile.
"No need to panic, Chiba."
"I was young once too. It's perfectly normal for you youngsters to have some… conflicts. Nothing to make a fuss about."
Huh? Mitokado Homura (Father) isn't yelling at me?
Both Chiba and Tsuki were stunned. They even glanced at each other in perfect, synchronized confusion. This situation was not what either of them had anticipated.
"However!"
Mitokado Homura's face suddenly turned stern. The hearts of both Chiba and Tsuki lurched in unison. But the next moment, he smiled again.
Chiba & Tsuki: "???"
"However, this is a public area. Your behavior just now was highly inappropriate. Be more mindful of your image in the future, understood?" Mitokado Homura instructed.
"Understood, Lord Mitokado (Father)." Both quickly bowed their heads in response.
"Good, good." Mitokado Homura nodded, satisfied. He patted Chiba's shoulder once more. "Tsuki is a girl, after all. In the future, you should yield to her a bit, understood?"
"If you ever run into any problems you can't solve, feel free to come by my house. We can play some shogi. Have a chat."
"O-okay."
Watching Mitokado Homura's retreating back, Chiba nodded, utterly bewildered.
Given how troublesome Mitokado Tsuki was, Chiba had assumed her father would be a difficult character too. Who knew he'd turn out to be unexpectedly reasonable?
He'd just manhandled the man's daughter, and yet Homura was being so polite to him…
"Mitokado Tsuki… your father is surprisingly decent!" Chiba remarked.
"Father… he's not usually like this?" Tsuki's head was also spinning.
Not only had she lost her position today, she'd just made a complete fool of herself in front of her father. By all rights, he should have scolded her harshly!
How could he possibly be this amiable? Even on her birthdays, Father always kept a stern face!
"…Hmph. I don't want to talk to you. I never want to see you again, you dead commoner!"
Realizing she'd instinctively replied to Chiba, Tsuki snorted coldly. She turned and stalked off in the opposite direction, though the blush on her cheeks hadn't yet faded.
"Tch. As if I'm eager to talk to you either!"
Coming back to his senses, Chiba scoffed as well and headed towards Konoha Hospital.
Konoha Hospital.
"Phew… the familiar ceiling…"
Minato Namikaze opened his eyes. He saw the familiar surroundings, and his tense body instantly relaxed.
"You're awake, Senior Brother. Here, some water."
Chiba's voice came from the side. Minato quickly propped himself up. "Chiba! Is Kushina alright?"
"She's fine. But she left the village without permission. Lord Third has confined her to her home for the next month. That's why she couldn't come see you." Chiba handed a glass of warm water to Minato with a smile. "Also, I've already reported those Anbu who nearly got you killed to Lord Third."
"I see…" The weight on Minato's heart finally lifted. He took a sip of the water, then looked at Chiba with immense gratitude. "I really owe you this time, Chiba. Kushina and I would have been in serious danger otherwise!"
Chiba waved it off with a smile. "Senior Brother, we're family. No need for formalities."
He'd gained quite a bit from Minato and Kushina too. If not for needing to hide the system's existence, Chiba would have wanted to thank them.
Minato didn't say more, simply committing this debt of gratitude to heart.
Previously, his interactions with Chiba hadn't been extensive. His feelings for this junior brother weren't particularly deep.
But after this incident, Chiba's standing in his heart skyrocketed, now firmly in third place.
"Ah, right, Junior Brother." Minato suddenly remembered something. "That 'Rasengan' you mentioned before… what was that about?"
"Well, I heard from Master Jiraiya that you were developing a new jutsu to counter Tailed Beast Bombs. But I couldn't remember the name you came up with, so I just simplified it to 'Rasengan'."
Hearing Chiba's explanation, Minato nodded thoughtfully.
"I see… Rasengan… Rasengan… Spiral… I've got it!"
Minato's eyes suddenly shone with brilliant clarity.
He raised his uninjured arm. As chakra whirled and gathered, a pale blue sphere of light slowly took shape in his palm.
"If it's the same in every direction… maintaining that spiral state… the technique can stay stable!"
Minato dispersed the sphere in his hand, looking at Chiba with excitement. "Junior Brother, you're a genius!"
I just mentioned a name, and you figured out the whole technique. Maybe the genius here is you? Chiba thought silently.
"This is fantastic, Chiba! To thank you, I've decided to name this move the 'Glowing Spiral Enlightened Chiba Twin-Style Sphere: Zero Form'!"
Minato was overjoyed. The next time he encountered a rampaging Nine-Tails or another tailed beast, he could use this to protect Kushina!
"No, Senior Brother." Chiba shook his head. "I heard you developed this to protect Kushina. In that case, I think you should go to her. Let her name it."
"She's confined at home. If she could see you safe and sound, appearing right before her, I think she'd be very happy."
"You're right, Chiba! I'm going to see Kushina right now!" Upon hearing this, Minato threw off the covers and started changing to rush out.
Just then, a nurse making her rounds saw this and hurriedly said, "Hey, hey! Patient! The doctor said you mustn't leave your bed! Lie back down!"
Minato looked at Chiba. Chiba pulled a certificate from his robes and handed it to the confused young nurse.
"I'm the doctor," Chiba stated calmly. "And if I'm not mistaken, no other doctor here has a higher rank than me."
The young nurse looked at the Senior Physician certification in her hand, then at Chiba's youthful face. Her small mouth fell open in an 'O' of shock.
"Hm, wait a second?"
Watching Minato's departing figure, Chiba suddenly realized a potential problem.
While his original intention was to help Minato and Kushina bond… if Minato went to Kushina and she happened to come up with the same name he had just suggested… Would Senior Brother start overthinking things?
After leaving Konoha Hospital, Chiba headed for the Anbu headquarters. By his estimate, his three new teammates should have already reported for duty.
Just as he was approaching the Anbu building, a figure shot out from the main entrance.
"Raiden! Perfect timing, I was just looking for you."
The figure saw Chiba, paused, then offered a bitter smile.
"Your squad members are fighting someone. The situation's getting a bit out of control. You need to go break it up, fast!"
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