Drip!
A clear, warm droplet traced a crystalline arc through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground, shattering into countless beads and spreading dark spots across the floor. Its crisp break echoed through the silent tent.
"Phew..."
Then came a slow, relieved exhale.
Chiba, who had remained standing with a scroll in hand, slowly opened his eyes. As he did, the ripple-like patterns gradually faded, returning his eyes to normal.
Crack, crack, crack, crack, crack!
At that moment, a string of cracking sounds rang out from his hand. The sealing scroll that had released all the Tailed Beast Chakra shattered into powder in an instant, slowly drifting through the air.
"Goodbye, Kushina..."
The haze in his opened eyes gradually cleared, replaced by calmness. Chiba murmured unconsciously.
Then, after one final look at the girl lying on the hospital bed—her breath and life gone, yet looking as though she might awaken the next second—Chiba took a slight breath. Once he had suppressed the last flicker of emotion in his eyes, he turned, lifted the tent flap, and strode away.
Now that the Fourth Hokage had died in battle, Konoha had only two most pressing matters to deal with.
At least one of those matters concerned him personally. Given the Third Hokage's efficiency, discussions on it had probably already begun. In other words, some kind of emergency meeting should already be underway!
Before that, before any decisions were made, he had to make the stakes clear to the Third Hokage.
No matter what, he had to hurry!
The moment he stepped out of the tent, this resolute thought flashed through Chiba's mind.
"Hmm?"
Yet just as that thought crossed his mind, Chiba froze in place, surprise flashing across his face.
"Hmm?"
At the same time, a startled sound came from not