"Lord Third Hokage, Lord Chiba's reply has arrived."
As he watched the battle below grow increasingly intense, a low report suddenly came from behind the Third Hokage.
"Hmm? A reply?"
At those words, the Third Hokage frowned, his attention abruptly pulled away from the fierce battle below as he voiced his confusion.
At the same time, his brows furrowed deeply.
"Yes."
From the shadows behind the Third Hokage came a seemingly hesitant pause, followed by a firm response.
Is that so...
Still unwilling to speak face-to-face...
No! I should say, he still doesn't want to speak face-to-face with me? That child...
Hearing this, the Third Hokage fell silent for a moment. A trace of sorrow flashed across his face as he thought ruefully.
Over the past decade or so, it was not as though the Third Hokage had never tried to call Chiba back. Though he had not openly summoned him outright, he had hinted at it several times, both directly and indirectly. Yet every time, Chiba had turned him down through various forms of what seemed like polite refusal.
Just like this time.
Clearly, Chiba did not want to speak with him face-to-face.
And as for why Chiba did not want to speak with him face-to-face, with Chiba's intelligence, he had likely realized that the Third Hokage intended to hand the position of Hokage over to him.
Yes, the Third Hokage had sought a private meeting with Chiba this time in order to give him the position of Hokage.
And Chiba clearly knew that the Third Hokage wanted him to become the Fifth Hokage, which was why he deliberately delayed seeing him.
Or perhaps he was politely refusing.
This time was the same. Otherwise, the one lurking in the shadows now should have been Chiba, rather than the Anbu