After leaving the blacksmith's shop, Chiba went straight back to the cabin. Over the next few days, all the way up to New Year's Day, he did not leave again. Kushina had no need for his help either, so he was spared the trouble.
Still, Chiba had not been idle these past few days. Forbidden Jutsu training, Sealing Jutsu research and development, retraining in swordsmanship, Chakra Nature Transformation... These things had practically filled every day of his life.
It had only been a few days, though, so there were no obvious results yet.
"Today... should we go over for lunch, or wait until dinner?"
Now, on New Year's Day, Chiba slowly lowered the heavy towel he had finished wiping his face with. Looking at the gloomy sky outside, he suddenly furrowed his brow.
He had suddenly realized that while Kushina had invited them to spend the New Year at her place, she had never said when they were supposed to go eat.
Normally, it would have been fine to go now. But with Kushina's temperament, and since she had also invited Kakashi, she might have prepared some carefully planned surprise. If they arrived too early and spoiled the surprise she had worked so hard on, would she not beat him up?
But if they had agreed to spend New Year's at her house and then skipped lunch, what if there was no special surprise? Would he not get beaten up anyway? For a moment, Chiba was torn, and the towel in his hand remained unhung.
Cold sweat even began to form at his temples.
Damn it!
How could I have been so careless? How did I not ask something this important? Regretful thoughts like these slowly surfaced in his heart.
"Chiba... are you ready?"
At that moment, Hirohiko's urging voice