He followed the flow of people straight to the Mission Hall.
The hall bustled with activity, filled with ninja preparing to accept missions or turn them in.
Sitting behind the counter was a Special Jonin named Tanaka Kaiichi.
Tanaka Kaiichi flipped through the documents in his hands, catching sight of Chiba approaching the counter from the corner of his eye.
He curled his lip disdainfully without making it obvious.
He had some impression of Chiba, that unlucky bastard.
An average talent, a worthless man who had only survived the Third Shinobi World War by hiding among piles of corpses.
"What mission do you want?"
Tanaka Kaiichi did not even look up, his voice carrying the cold indifference of official business.
"Senior Tanaka, money's been a little tight lately."
"I'd like to take a C-Rank escort mission with a higher reward."
Chiba rubbed his hands together.
He even forced a fawning smile onto his face.
"They're all here. Pick one yourself."
Tanaka Kaiichi shoved a stack of Scrolls toward Chiba.
Chiba thanked him repeatedly and began searching through them with feigned care.
His movements were slow, but his eyes swept rapidly over every mission.
He could not directly look for a mission heading to Tanzaku Street.
That kind of selection with such a clear purpose would easily arouse suspicion.
He first picked up a mission heading to the capital of the Land of Fire, then shook his head because "the reward was too low."
Next, he pulled out a mission going to the border of the Land of Hot Water, then put it back in disgust because "the route was too dangerous."
He went back and forth through more than a dozen Scrolls.
Tanaka Kaiichi's face had already revealed obvious impatience.
Just then.
Chiba's fingers settled on a slightly worn Scroll.
He deliberately hesitated for a long while before gritting his teeth and pulling it out.
"Senior, I'll take this one."
Tanaka Kaiichi took the Scroll and gave it a glance.
[C-Rank Mission: Escort a batch of precious medicinal herbs to Kikyo Town in western Land of Fire.]
That town was very close to Tanzaku Street, only half a day's journey away.
Missions along such remote routes, with rewards only slightly higher than ordinary C-Rank missions, were usually unwanted.
Therefore.
The way Tanaka Kaiichi looked at Chiba grew even more contemptuous.
He was willing to take this miserable job just to earn a few thousand more ryo.
What a hopeless loser.
"Take the commission form."
"Gather at the village gate at two this afternoon."
Tanaka Kaiichi stamped the mission seal and tossed the document back.
Chiba accepted the document with both hands and bowed repeatedly once more.
The moment he turned away from the counter.
His previously hunched back straightened ever so slightly.
The first step was done.
That afternoon.
Before Konoha's broad main gate.
A merchant caravan of three carriages was conducting its final checks.
The caravan's owner was a fat merchant named Yamada, who was continuously wiping away sweat with a handkerchief.
"Konoha only sent one person?"
When he saw Chiba walking over alone.
Merchant Yamada immediately frowned.
"Rest assured, Merchant Yamada."
"I know this route well. I can absolutely guarantee the safety of the medicinal herbs."
Chiba walked forward at an unhurried pace, speaking calmly.
He had smiled and groveled before Tanaka Kaiichi because there had been too many ninja in the Mission Hall.
Chiba did not dare reveal himself carelessly.
But Yamada was an ordinary man, and he did not deserve the same treatment.
"Get on the carriage already."
"Don't hold up the journey!"
Yamada muttered several complaints in dissatisfaction.
But to avoid the costly expense of hiring an entire team, he could only swallow his dissatisfaction.
At that.
Chiba leaped directly onto the driver's bench of one of the carriages.
The ninja guarding the gate were still the old partners, Izumo and Kotetsu.
They checked Chiba's mission certificate and verified his Chakra mark.
"Have a safe trip."
Izumo waved his hand, signaling them to pass.
The carriage wheels slowly began to turn, rolling over the white line at the village entrance that marked the barrier's boundary.
The instant they passed through the barrier.
The massive boulder that had weighed on Chiba's heart was finally shattered completely.
The air of freedom poured into his lungs through his nostrils.
He lowered his head, a trace of wild ambition surfacing in his eyes.
That evening.
The caravan ran into several Wandering Samurai who did not know their place.
With only a few precise Kunai throws, Chiba easily dealt with those petty bandits.
When Yamada saw how decisively Chiba killed.
His attitude changed from initial disdain to eager flattery.
At night.
The caravan made camp in the woods.
Chiba volunteered to take the night watch.
He sat cross-legged on the thick branch of a tree.
After confirming that no one was nearby.
Chiba slowly raised his right hand.
There was no need for hand seals.
A faint green light quietly blossomed in his palm.
Then.
A sapling as thick as a thumb sprouted from the surface of Chiba's skin.
Its vibrant green leaves swayed gently in the night breeze.
Chiba felt his scalp tingle.
This was Wood Style!
This miracle of creating life from nothing completely defied the physical laws of conventional ninjutsu.
As long as he poured in more Chakra.
This thumb-thick sapling could instantly transform into a towering tree that strangled everything in its path.
No wonder even someone as proud and ruthless as Uchiha Madara had repeatedly suffered before Wood Style.
This was simply not a power that ordinary ninja could contend with.
A moment later.
Chiba immediately withdrew his Chakra.
The sapling instantly withered, turning into a small puff of ash that scattered in the wind.
He did not dare test it on too large a scale.
Out here in the wilderness, any major disturbance could easily attract unnecessary trouble.
His top priority now was to find Tsunade.
Before you continue