Hm?
Who could it be at a time like this?
Chiba, who had only taken a few steps, turned around at the sound of knocking, a puzzled thought flashing through his mind.
Although the Peace Alliance had ended, there were still countless matters, large and small, to handle in the village. First was the adjustment from the overloaded martial law imposed during the Peace Alliance. It was impossible to instantly relax from high alert into ordinary vigilance. If they abruptly shifted from tense security measures to normal ones, the sudden relaxation could easily make the ninjas overly lax and complacent, creating even more loopholes instead.
This needed to be adjusted gradually, and would take at least half a month.
Then there was the full restart of the Expansion Plan. Chiba did not need to think to know how many tedious matters that involved, or how much manpower and time they would consume.
So, although martial law had been lifted, the village's ninjas still had plenty to do and remained extremely busy.
The fact that only Hirohiko and Yukina, who were on vacation, and Kushina, who could do nothing and was not allowed to do anything because of her status as a Jinchuriki, had visited him in the hospital made that clear. His friends were probably all so busy that they did not even have time to visit.
Given their friendship, Chiba could not possibly think they simply did not want to see him.
That was why it was quite unusual for someone to come looking for him now.
Who could it be?
Did something happen? Did Minato Namikaze need me for something?
With that thought, Chiba did not hesitate any longer. He simply stepped forward, preparing to open the door.
No matter what, he had to open it.
"Teacher Chiba,