Pfft!
A half-open scroll slammed heavily onto the slightly dusty table under the bright white light, making the dust jump and drift upward in fine wisps.
Cough! What is this?
Watching the scroll fall, Chiba coughed lightly, seeming to hide the awkwardness on his face. After sitting down, he asked.
"Notes on Barrier Jutsu."
In response, Hyuga Yukyō showed neither displeasure nor any positive emotion. He spoke with a slightly expressionless face.
However, the bloodshot veins in his eyes and the heavy dark circles beneath them were plainly visible.
Apparently, during the days Chiba had been absent—or rather, the days he had broken their appointment—Hyuga Yukyō had not slept well at all.
If Chiba had not suddenly remembered, after reading the Forbidden Jutsu scroll, that he seemed to have an appointment with Hyuga Yukyō and sprinted down here, Hyuga Yukyō might not have known when he would see Chiba again.
"Oh... oh! Um, have you made any progress on the second mechanism?"
Chiba grinned awkwardly, picked up the Barrier Jutsu notes, and asked.
Damn it, I completely forgot.
I never even thought about what the password for the second mechanism might be.
There had been too much going on lately. I had completely thrown it to the back of my mind.
Inwardly, he gritted his teeth. If Hyuga Yukyō started giving him a hard time now, he would have no choice but to take it.
After all, the things inside these two boxes were very likely related to Yukina. Although Yukina was now safe and sound, there was no guarantee that they did not contain some secret about her.
These boxes might not have been as important as before, but they were still extremely important.
Yet after Chiba asked that question, Hyuga Yukyō said nothing. He simply slid one box