"Please, come with me."
As Minato Namikaze's words fell, an Anbu ninja slowly entered through the office doors behind Hirohiko, who was looking at Chiba with eyes full of worry. After stopping behind Hirohiko, he spoke softly, signaling for Hirohiko to follow him.
"Yes!"
At Chiba's glance, a trace of helplessness flashed through Hirohiko's eyes. After bowing slightly to Minato Namikaze, he obediently followed the Anbu ninja out of the Hokage's Office.
"I won't pursue this matter any further, but Chiba, you went a little too far this time."
By then, Minato Namikaze had returned to his seat behind the Hokage's desk. Looking at Chiba, he spoke with both helplessness and concern.
"Yes, Teacher Minato."
Seeing the worry written all over Minato Namikaze's face, Chiba ultimately did not voice the rebuttal already on his lips. He merely bowed in apology as he answered.
Minato Namikaze had not said those words to him as the Hokage, but as the teacher who had once taught him the profound knowledge of Chakra's Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation.
From the expression on Minato Namikaze's face, Chiba could tell that he did not resemble the Hokage at all right now. He was entirely that man who had once been his teacher's boyfriend.
Of course, he was also the teacher who had taught him.
That was why Chiba did not argue or bring out the speech he had already prepared. Instead, he admitted that he had gone too far.
Naturally, he had to argue with the Hokage, at the very least leaving the Hokage with nothing to say.
But arguing with a teacher who cared about him would be far too tactless.
"Sigh... Then what had you originally planned to say?"
Seeing that Chiba looked apologetic but bore no actual remorse on his face, Minato Namikaze