Earth Release and Fire Style

Perhaps he might be able to defeat her.

In truth, Ultear was gambling too. She was betting that Chiba would not confront her directly, that he would not leave rashly, and that she was capable of making him submit to her completely.

On one hand, she had taken an interest in Chiba's potential. On the other, she had taken an interest in the unique nature of chakra.

She did not intend to treat Chiba the way she manipulated Jellal, because her intuition told her that method would not work.

The two continued onward, only stopping when they reached the door of an unremarkable wooden house.

Ultear pushed the door open and led Chiba inside.

Inside was a young woman's bedroom, simple and elegant. Though there was not much in it, one could tell that its owner had decorated it with care. Well... it was full of girlish charm.

"Big sis, I'm not sleeping here tonight, am I?" Chiba asked casually, looking around.

"Not unless you want to die," Ultear said flatly.

Chiba curled his lip. Tch, little wench, I was just being polite. I don't want to sleep here anyway.

If only I knew Wood Release. I could just use the Wood Release: Three Bedrooms and a Living Room Technique.

I don't need Wood Release like Hashirama's, the kind he used to conquer the world. All I need is Yamato's ability to build houses. It's not powerful, but it makes money.

Come to think of it, could I fuse a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai in the future?

Hmm... I can dream.

Ultear then led Chiba into a little rundown room next door and said flatly, "You'll be living here for at least the next week. Don't even think about escaping. You don't have a guild emblem, so showing yourself in this town would be asking for death. Understand?"

Chiba nodded quickly.

"I'll send a healing mage over in a while, and have dinner brought to you as well." With that, Ultear walked out of the room.

Chiba silently looked around, then glanced at the bare bed frame and silently sat down on it.

He felt around his body. Apart from the dozens of Shuriken and Kunai in the ninja tool pouch Mira had made, he had nothing else.

He could not help wanting to complain. There isn't even a mattress on this bed! Are you trying to freeze me to death so you can drag my corpse away for research?

Forget it. I'd better cultivate my chakra.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

He created two Shadow Clones, then his original body closed its eyes and entered the Ninjutsu Chamber.

Great Fireball, Gale Palm, Shadow Clone, Phoenix Flower Fire, Body Flicker Technique, and Substitution Technique. He had returned the scrolls for the Ninjutsu he had mastered to the Ninjutsu Chamber long ago.

How had he put them back? All he had to do was hold a scroll, close his eyes, and silently think of the Ninjutsu Chamber, and he would arrive with the scroll.

Chiba had come to the Ninjutsu Chamber this time because he believed he had enough chakra now. First, he wanted to try learning B-Class Ninjutsu, which only Jonin could cultivate. Second, he wanted to master Ninjutsu of all five natures as soon as possible.

If he had chakra of all five natures, it would mean his fighting style could be flexible and varied. If, early on, he mastered one offensive and one defensive Ninjutsu for each nature, he would have a high chance of victory against enemies of every nature.

So this time, he was going to choose a Ninjutsu of another nature.

Earth Release!

[Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet Technique]: B-Class Ninjutsu. Summons an earth dragon that spits mud bullets to attack enemies. Highly powerful.

[Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet]: B-Class Ninjutsu. The flames expelled by the caster split into three directions—forward, left, and right—to attack enemies simultaneously, reducing them to ashes in an instant.

The two Ninjutsu were placed together. Chiba remembered that in the Naruto anime, the Third Hokage had used these two Ninjutsu in combination when he fought Orochimaru.

After considering it for a moment, Chiba decided to take both Ninjutsu out with him.

He had originally planned to cultivate only one B-Class Ninjutsu, but since these two could be used together, he might as well take both and cultivate them together.

Though he had no idea how long it would take to learn them.

After leaving the Ninjutsu Chamber, Chiba handed each Shadow Clone a scroll, then began cultivating chakra himself.

Night.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The sudden knocking startled Chiba out of his cultivation. Frightened, he hurriedly dispelled his Shadow Clones and opened the door.

"Kid, Miss Ultear sent us. We're healing mages here to treat you!"

A face full of hostility met Chiba's eyes. Two youths in mage robes stood outside the door amid the falling snow, speaking in unfriendly tones.

Chiba was somewhat suspicious. Hadn't she said the healers would come with whoever was bringing dinner? Where was dinner?

He let the two of them in anyway.

But the two of them looked as though they had a serious problem with him.

"Kid, sit on the bed," one of the youths, who had a scar on his face, said commandingly.

Chiba obediently sat down on the bed.

"May I ask your names, my lords?" he asked.

The scarred youth glanced at him, then said flatly, "Are you worthy of knowing?"

Chiba smiled and did not ask again.

"Hmph! He really is a coward." Seeing that Chiba had not even gotten angry, the other youth muttered disdainfully beside him.

Chiba said nothing.

"I don't know why Miss Ultear would keep trash like you around!" the scarred youth said, making no attempt to hide his contempt.

Chiba remained silent.

Seeing that Chiba, sitting on the bed, had said nothing, the two looked at him with even greater disdain.

A silvery-white magic circle formed in front of the scarred man's hand as he chanted an arcane spell. At once, a milky-white magical light entered Chiba's body.

Chiba immediately felt a wave of relief. As expected of a healing mage. That's some impressive healing speed.

He could feel the injuries all over his body recovering at a visible rate. Even his broken bones were slowly mending.

When the scarred youth saw Chiba close his eyes, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Hmm???"

Suddenly, Chiba sensed that something was wrong.

They were members of a dark guild, and Chiba had not trusted them much from the start. So while the youth treated him, he had been sensing his magic the entire time.

But at that moment, he sensed something strange within the other's magic.

This feeling... it's just like when I dealt with Bobbit!

This guy is plotting something against me!

After a while longer, the magic circle in the scarred youth's hand dissipated. He stood up, a smile curling his lips, and said, "Kid, your injuries weren't very serious. They're healed now."

Chiba got off the bed and rolled his wrists and ankles. Indeed, just as the youth had said, his injuries were mostly healed.

But...

"Kid, since we'll be spending time together from now on, I might as well tell you some of the dark guild's rules." The scarred youth spoke flatly, with a somewhat superior air.