"Minato-senpai, watch closely," Chiba said with a light smile in the mental space, raising his right hand as he strode toward the Nine-Tails. "This next move is going to be really cool."
According to the script, all he needed to do next was match the Tailed Beast Bomb with a Rasengan. With Minato and Kushina's help, sealing the Nine-Tails should succeed. Chiba knew the principles behind the Rasengan; performing it wasn't difficult for him.
"Alright!" Behind Chiba, Minato focused intently, eager to see the source of his junior's unshakable calm and to witness just how "cool" that move would be.
But under Minato's highly expectant gaze, Chiba's figure vanished from the mental space the moment he took a single step forward.
Minato: "???"
A dumbfounded expression spread across Minato's face. Did his junior… just run away when things looked bad?
… And he took the time to show off before fleeing???
"Nope, nope. The Nine-Tails is way too scary. Better use that move instead!" Back in the real world, Chiba opened his eyes with lingering fear and yanked the crystal necklace from his neck.
Thinking was one thing; doing was another. Faced with a Tailed Beast Bomb bigger than he was and the Nine-Tails' snarling maw, Chiba simply couldn't muster the courage to charge in recklessly just now.
Snap.
Time was precious. Chiba quickly wrapped his right hand in chakra, pressed the crystal necklace firmly against Kushina's chest, and held it there, refusing to let go.
For extra insurance, he channeled a surge of chakra—imbued with Senju lineage—into the necklace.
Huh. My body probably has a bit of Uchiha blood mixed in now too. Should be fine, right?
A flicker of concern passed through Chiba's mind, but then he reconsidered. If Hashirama Senju had any consciousness lingering in this necklace, he'd probably be thrilled!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the next instant, the crystal necklace in Chiba's hand trembled violently, as if sensing something.
Beams of bluish-green light shot from the necklace, instantly wrapping the out-of-control Kushina up like a rice dumpling.
"I… I can't hold on much longer, Minato… dattebane!"
"It's okay, Kushina. I'll always be with you."
In the mental world, just as Minato and Kushina, exhausted and resolved to die together, braced for the end, beams of bluish-green light projected into the space, coiling tightly around the Nine-Tails' massive form.
One beam, with almost sentient purpose, looped around the fox's snout and tied its mouth shut.
Plop. The half-formed Tailed Beast Bomb before the Nine-Tails slowly dissipated.
"Mmmph! Damn you, Hashirama! Can't even rest in peace without tormenting me! Why won't you let me be FREE?!" The Nine-Tails struggled madly, erupting with chakra, but the more it fought, the tighter the bluish-green beams constricted, biting deep into its form.
"Senpai! Reinforce the seal now!" Chiba's voice rang in from outside, jolting Minato's spirit.
"Right!"
One inside, one outside—they worked simultaneously, using their respective methods to strengthen the Four Symbols Seal.
Finally, brimming with rage and bitter resentment, the Nine-Tails was sealed back inside Kushina once more.
As the dust settled, Minato and Kushina, who had been pushing themselves to the limit, finally gave out. A tidal wave of mental and physical exhaustion crashed over them. Almost in unison, they collapsed weakly, unconscious.
Real World.
Having successfully saved Minato and Kushina, Chiba let out a sigh of relief. Then, his mind grew active.
Thank goodness I started the job today. One day later, and I would've missed out on recruiting two top-tier SSR units!
Looking at Minato and Kushina lying before him, Chiba's heart pounded.
These two were Naruto's parents, characters who left a deep mark on the Naruto world. One was a perfect Jinchūriki with pure Uzumaki blood. The other was a prodigy, a future Hokage candidate.
Saving them… What kind of insane rewards would that yield?
Taking advantage of their unconscious state, Chiba rolled up his sleeves, ready to get to work.
"Little Chiba~ Could you leave these two for me to treat? Consider it a favor owed by the Mitokado clan~"
A coquettish laugh sounded from behind. Chiba's brow instantly furrowed.
That voice… Mitokado Tsuki?
Chiba turned. The speaker was indeed Mitokado Tsuki, followed by several medical ninja who looked out of breath.
"Little Chiba~ Now that you're in the Anbu, your merit for stopping the Nine-Tails' rampage is already shining bright," Mitokado Tsuki said with a sweet smile. "If you could let your big sister here handle treating the Jinchūriki, my new medical reform department could share a bit of that glory~"
"Heh!" Chiba let out a cold laugh. "So it's about snatching credit. What if I refuse?"
Even without the rewards, Chiba wouldn't let a bunch of opportunistic schemers treat his senior and his senior's wife. No matter how good their medical skills were, combined, they couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes. He absolutely did not trust these people with their lives.
"Little Chiba~ I'm asking nicely. Don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit~" The smile remained on Mitokado Tsuki's face, but her voice turned icy. "Rank-wise, I currently outrank you. I am your superior. And I specialize in medical affairs. By both reason and protocol, these two should be treated by my department!"
As an Anbu squad leader, Chiba was like the Imperial Guards—considerable power, but his official rank was indeed lower than Mitokado Tsuki, the head of a newly established department.
Thus, faced with this disparity in status and position, Chiba had no choice but to rein in his temper and suppress his annoyance as he spoke.
"Get lost. Get the fuck out of my sight right now."
Mitokado Tsuki's smile froze on her face. She hadn't expected Chiba to refuse her, much less dare to be so rude!
And after cursing her out, Chiba had already crouched down, placing a hand on each of them, beginning to treat Minato and Kushina.
He'd let Mitokado Tsuki have her way before because he'd been too weak back then. With his current strength? He had zero reason to indulge her.
He'd masterminded the Sunagakure unrest. He'd influenced the balance between two nations. His mindset had long since changed.
For fuck's sake, he'd offended Danzō Shimura without a second thought. What was some little noble brat to him?!
"You… you vulgar commoner! You… you…!!!" Mitokado Tsuki was fuming, but she knew about Chiba's dominant performance in the Chūnin Exams.
She turned to the observing Anbu members nearby, pointing at Chiba. "Are you just going to stand there and let him act like this?"
The Anbu stayed silent, unwilling to be drawn into the conflict.
"He was the only one who acted earlier. Now he's treating both patients alone. Clearly, he wants to monopolize all the credit, leaving none for you to redeem yourselves!" Mitokado Tsuki pressed on. "If the Hokage asks, someone like him will definitely report you for negligence. Is that what you want?"
Mitokado Tsuki might have been spoiled, but growing up in that environment, she was no stranger to political maneuvering.
Her words made the Anbu members' expressions shift.
After all, Chiba had severely reprimanded them earlier. It was entirely possible he'd do just that.
"If you assist me in 'treating' these two now, I can put in a good word for you with the Hokage," Mitokado Tsuki declared imperiously. "Punishment or reward? It's just a matter of what I say. The choice is yours."
"Well…"
The Anbu exchanged glances, tempted. After a long moment, as one slowly moved toward Chiba, the others followed, forming a loose circle around him.
"Kid, you've already earned plenty of merit. How about you let them treat one of the patients? That way, everyone can have something to show for it, right?"
"Yeah, consider it a favor owed. If the Hokage decides to punish us, we… we have no power or backing. We really can't afford it."
The Anbu spoke up one after another. Even the Anbu who had escorted Chiba here offered a bitter smile. "Captain Raijin… maybe just let them have it. Don't be stubborn. We can't afford to offend the Mitokado clan either."
Their words sounded like persuasion, but it was coercion—forcing Chiba to share the credit so they could cover their own mistakes.
"When it was time to stop the Nine-Tails, you all cowered. Now you've found your backbone?" Chiba chuckled coldly, watching the Anbu close in. "Which eye of yours thinks I can't afford to offend the Mitokado clan, huh?!"
As he spoke, Chiba reached up and removed his mask, his cold gaze sweeping over the Anbu.
"Do you even know who I am? You're afraid of offending the Mitokado clan… but are you not afraid of offending me?!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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