Forest Ambush on the Way Home

"Target has entered the forest. Proceed according to plan. Kill on sight. Leave no survivors!"

A low command echoed from deep within the woods, reverberating through the dense branches and leaves.

Chiba walked along the dirt path carpeted with fallen leaves, casually tossing a wild fruit in his hand.

"Auntie, that walk of yours has quite the sway to it. Real style in those hips."

Chiba turned his head and looked at Tsunade beside him.

Tsunade wore a loose, short jacket, its collar slightly open to reveal the fair skin beneath her collarbones.

"Chiba, if your mouth's itching that badly, I wouldn't mind helping you grind it down."

Tsunade shot him an irritated glare. The mole at the tip of her ear had turned red.

"I'm complimenting you. With a figure like yours, if you walked down Konoha's streets, who knows how many people you'd charm to death."

Chiba grinned and leaned closer, his breath brushing against her neck.

Tsunade turned sideways to avoid him, but she was half a beat too slow, and her shoulder brushed against his chest.

"Cut the nonsense. If a fight breaks out, I'm not protecting you."

Tsunade turned her face away and stopped looking at him.

"That won't do. The work contract clearly says the bodyguard has to provide close protection. Preferably the zero-distance kind."

Chiba shamelessly leaned in again.

"You little brat, the contract says bodyguard. Nothing else."

Tsunade was starting to lose her composure and raised a hand as if to hit him.

"That money came from Yamato-ya. You got it through your own methods—does that count as your money too?"

Tsunade changed the subject to hide her unease.

"Why wouldn't it? Money earned by skill is mine. It's my revitalization fund. Aren't you happy spending it?"

Chiba answered righteously.

"What do I have to feel bad about? It's not my money anyway."

Tsunade raised the wine flask and took a sip. The liquor slid down her fair neck and disappeared into her slightly loose collar.

"Shizune, look at her. This is what you call financial affection. Now that I have money, she refuses to leave. If I go broke, she'll want to run."

Chiba called out to Shizune behind them.

"Chiba, please stop teasing Lady Tsunade."

Shizune held Tonton in her arms, looking helpless.

"How is this teasing? I'm cultivating feelings with the boss lady."

Chiba flashed a grin.

"Who's the boss lady? Stop taking advantage of me."

Tsunade spat lightly, the blush on her face deepening.

"Fine, fine. You're the fat sheep, and I'm the little creditor. Is that okay?"

Chiba placed his hand on Tsunade's shoulder.

This time, Tsunade did not brush it away, though her body stiffened slightly.

"Where do you think that hand is going?"

Tsunade spoke in a low voice.

"On your shoulder. Where else would it go? Your waist?"

Chiba's hand slid slightly down from her shoulder.

Tsunade grabbed his wrist, her palm a little hot.

"Behave yourself."

Tsunade glared at him.

"Auntie, your palm is sweaty. Are you nervous?"

Chiba looked at her.

"What am I nervous about? I'm thinking about how to explain this to Danzō's people later."

Tsunade released his hand.

"Explain what? Let your fists do the explaining."

Chiba looked relaxed.

"Shizune, what do you think?"

Chiba turned to look at Shizune.

"Chiba, are we really going back to Konoha?"

Shizune looked worried.

"We are. Why wouldn't we?"

Chiba looked ahead.

"Konoha is our home. Why should we hand it over to those old bastards?"

"Yamato-ya's money has already come through. We have our revitalization fund. Next, we go back and recruit our people."

Chiba bit into the fruit, juice spilling everywhere.

"But will the people in the village believe us?"

Shizune asked.

"Whether they believe us isn't important. As long as our fists are big enough, they'll believe."

Chiba sneered.

"In this world, strength is the only hard truth."

"Look at the Uchiha Clan. They shout about fairness every day, and what happened? They've been marginalized to the point where they can barely hold on to the Police Force."

"We Senju can't learn from them. If we're doing this, we do it big. We take the Hokage's position directly."

Chiba tossed the fruit pit to the ground.

"You've got quite the ambition, kid."

Tsunade looked at him.

"The Hokage's seat isn't so easy to sit in."

Tsunade sighed.

"Easy or not, someone has to sit in it. It's still better than handing it over to that hypocritical old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi."

Chiba curled his lip.

"He talks about the Will of Fire every day, but behind the scenes, all he does is push out his allies."

"The Senju Clan has been reduced to just the two of us. He bears an inescapable responsibility for that."

Chiba's voice turned cold.

Tsunade fell silent. She looked toward the forest ahead, her eyes complicated.

Chiba's words had struck the most sensitive place in her heart.

Nawaki's death and Dan's death were both inseparable from the village's decisions.

She had always chosen to run away because she did not want to face that cruel reality.

But now, Chiba had torn away that thin veil.

"Chiba, are you really not afraid of death?"

Tsunade asked softly.

"Afraid of death? If I were, I wouldn't have become a ninja."

Chiba smiled and lightly traced a finger across the back of her hand.

Tsunade's fingers curled slightly, and the mole at the tip of her ear reddened further.

"Smooth talker."

She muttered a curse under her breath, but she was not truly angry.

Watching from behind, Shizune could not help shaking her head.

"Chiba, the way you treat Lady Tsunade really is..."

Shizune did not finish.

"Really what? This is called filial piety, understand?"

Chiba replied as if it were only natural.

"Filial piety? Why does that feel a little wrong?"

Shizune muttered quietly.

"What do you know, kid? Hurry up and keep moving."

Chiba patted Shizune on the head.

The three continued forward as the light in the forest gradually dimmed.

The towering trees blocked out the sunlight, making the surroundings somewhat gloomy.

Chiba stopped.

"Come out. You've followed us all the way. Aren't you tired?"

He looked toward the treetops ahead.

Rustle.

Several figures dropped down from the trees.

Then more figures appeared among the surrounding woods.

A rough count put them at more than thirty.

All of them wore Root Organization masks.

Torune Aburame, their leader, stepped forward. His sunglasses reflected the light in the shadows.

"Senju Chiba, you are suspected of desertion. Come back with us."

His voice was cold.

"Go back? Go back where? Root's underground cells?"

Chiba looked at him.

"This is the higher-ups' decision."

Torune Aburame remained expressionless.

"Senju Tsunade, will you persist in your delusion as well?"

He looked at Tsunade.

"Since when did Danzō's orders become the decision of the higher-ups?"

Tsunade snorted coldly.

"Lord Danzō represents Konoha's interests."

Torune Aburame's voice remained perfectly flat.

"Senju Chiba has awakened Wood Release. His body belongs to the village and must be brought back for research."

He looked coldly at Chiba.

"Research? You want to treat him as an experiment?"

Anger entered Tsunade's voice.

"This is for the village's future. The Senju Clan should contribute to the village."

Torune Aburame answered.

"Contribute? Contribute my body so that old bastard Danzō can experiment on it?"

Chiba sneered.

"What the hell is he? Does he think he's worthy of using my Wood Release?"

Chiba took a step forward.

"Senju Chiba, there is nowhere left for you to run."

Torune Aburame waved his hand, and the Root ninjas around them immediately drew their short blades.

"Senju Chiba, you are suspected of desertion. By the secret order of Lord Danzō and the higher-ups, kill him on sight. Bring his corpse back to the Root Organization laboratory for experimentation!"