Leave Someone Alive to Deliver a Message to Danzō

Chiba planted his foot on the Root ninja lying on the ground, whose mask had been shattered in half.

The man was Torune Aburame's clone. He was vomiting blood in great mouthfuls, his body twitching in the mud.

"Senju Chiba, you traitor! Lord Danzō will never let you go!"

The clone gritted his teeth, his voice full of resentment, his face twisted in fury.

Chiba ground the sole of his foot against the man's face, producing a harsh scraping sound.

"Go back and tell Danzo Shimura to wash his neck and wait."

Chiba looked down at him, a trace of mockery on his face and utter indifference in his eyes.

"I'll personally collect the Senju Clan's debts from Root Organization's underground base, one account at a time."

The clone glared at him fiercely. He wanted to say more, but no sound came out.

Chiba lifted his foot and kicked the clone away.

The clone turned into a cloud of smoke in midair and dispersed, leaving behind only a fallen leaf.

Chiba dusted off his pant leg and turned around.

Tsunade stood not far away, looking at him strangely, a faint flush on her face.

"Chiba, the way you looked just now... you really did seem a little like the head of a clan."

Tsunade folded her arms, making the magnificent curves of her chest even more prominent. Her collar hung somewhat loose.

Chiba walked over, his gaze lingering briefly on the mole below her collarbone.

"What, Auntie? Have you taken a liking to me?"

He leaned close to Tsunade's ear and lowered his voice teasingly.

"How about we fulfill the intimate part of our contract tonight?"

Tsunade raised a hand and knocked him on the forehead. The blow was not light, producing a crisp sound.

"Get lost. Can't you be serious for once?"

She turned her face away, but the mole on the tip of her ear had turned brightly red, making her look a little flustered.

Shizune walked over while holding Tonton, her face full of concern as she looked at Chiba.

"Chiba, letting him go back will only make Danzō prepare even more."

Shizune sighed. She felt Chiba was being a little too arrogant, and she could not help feeling uneasy.

"What's there to fear? I let him go precisely so he could prepare."

Chiba shoved his hands into his pockets and strolled leisurely through the woods.

"If he went down too easily, what fun would that be? Life needs a little excitement."

Tsunade looked at him, her lips moving slightly before she finally sighed.

"You brat, I really don't know whether you're arrogant or genuinely capable."

"Of course I'm genuinely capable. If you don't believe me, Auntie, why not try me tonight?"

Chiba winked, grinning like a rogue as his eyes roamed over Tsunade.

[Detected a change in First Beauty Tsunade's state of mind. Favorability increased.]

[Tsunade Favorability +10. Current Favorability: 45.]

The system notification rang in his mind, and the smile at the corner of Chiba's mouth deepened.

"Enough with the sweet talk. Hurry up and get moving. Once we're back in Konoha, you'll have hell to pay."

Tsunade shot him a glare, turned around, and started walking away, her steps slightly unsteady.

Shizune hurried after her, still muttering softly under her breath, looking somewhat helpless.

"Chiba, that Wood Release you used earlier was incredible. It was my first time seeing it."

"Of course it was. From now on, I call the shots for the Senju Clan. No one can do a thing about it."

Chiba followed behind Tsunade, looking at the sway of her hips and feeling an itch in his heart.

"Auntie, slow down and wait for me."

"I won't. If you've got the ability, use Wood Release to catch up."

Tsunade's voice rose a little. Her mood had clearly improved, and her pace quickened as well.

"That won't do. Wood Release is for protecting Auntie, not for traveling."

Chiba took a few quick steps and draped his hand over her shoulder again, his palm warm.

This time, Tsunade only struggled symbolically before allowing him to hold her.

"Chiba, once we get back to the village, how do you plan to face the old man?"

Tsunade's voice was low. She was clearly still worried about Konoha's higher-ups, her brows slightly furrowed.

"How else? I'm going straight to collect what they owe us."

Chiba sneered, his gaze turning cold.

"The Senju Clan gave so much to Konoha, and now we don't even have our ancestral land anymore. This debt has to be settled."

"The old man won't admit to it so easily. He has those two old fossils, Koharu Utatane and Mito Kadoyan, backing him."

Tsunade sighed. She knew those higher-ups all too well, and her face was filled with worry.

"If they won't admit it, I'll beat them until they do. Besides, I have Wood Release now, and I've got you, Auntie, as my powerful backer."

Chiba turned to look at her, his eyes full of confidence as he gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"I'm not your backer. I'm just hired help, so don't think you can cling to me."

Tsunade curled her lips, but her hand tightened around Chiba's wrist instead of letting go.

"Even hired help is my person. Whoever dares touch you, I'll whip them to death with Wood Release."

Chiba burst out laughing, his arrogant laughter echoing through the night sky.

"Chiba, the border is just ahead. We need to pick up the pace."

Shizune called from behind, struggling a little as she held Tonton.

"Got it, Shizune. Hold Tonton tight and don't fall behind."

Chiba called back over his shoulder as chakra began gathering beneath his feet.

"A big gift? What are you plotting now, brat?"

Tsunade eyed him sidelong, though her pace quickened as well.

"You'll find out when the time comes. I guarantee those old fossils will never forget it for the rest of their lives."

Chiba chuckled as chakra erupted beneath his feet, leaving an afterimage among the trees.

"Shizune, stay close. Don't get left too far behind."

Tsunade turned back to remind her and accelerated too.

"Yes, Lady Tsunade. I can keep up."

Shizune held Tonton and chased after them with some difficulty.

The three raced through the night, the wind whistling past their ears.

"Chiba, you said you were going back to Konoha to collect debts. What exactly are you planning to do?"

Tsunade asked from the side as they ran.

"First, of course, we take back the Senju Clan's ancestral land."

Chiba's voice drifted in the wind, yet it was exceptionally firm.

"That place was reclaimed by the village. They claim they're holding it for us, but they really just want to seize it."

"If they dare refuse, I'll build us a new house with Wood Release right in front of the Hokage Building."

Chiba sneered, his face full of scorn.

"You little brat, you really have no regard for rules."

Tsunade sounded helpless, though a hint of approval flashed in her eyes.

"This isn't disregarding rules. It's taking back what belongs to us."

Chiba answered righteously.

"Second, we take back all the Senju Clan's industries and funds from these past years."

"I've done the math. That's no small sum—it'll be enough for us to spend for several lifetimes."

Chiba counted on his fingers, looking every bit the money-grubber.

"You've certainly calculated the accounts carefully, but the old man and the others won't hand it over easily."

Tsunade poured cold water on his plans.

"They have to hand it over, whether they want to or not. Now that only the two of us are left in the Senju Clan, if they don't give it to us, who are they going to give it to?"

Chiba curled his lips, looking utterly unconcerned.

"Besides, we have Yamato-ya's assets. The revival fund already has a solid foundation."

"Next, we recruit people and horses, and make the Senju Clan name famous again."

Chiba looked into the night ahead, his eyes brimming with ambition.

"Chiba, there seems to be a Konoha patrol ahead."

Shizune quietly warned him from behind.

"A patrol? Ignore them. We're going straight through."

Chiba answered without turning his head.

"But we're rogue ninja now. Wouldn't it be troublesome if they discovered us?"

Shizune was worried.

"What's there to fear? With my Auntie here, who would dare stop us?"

Chiba wrapped an arm around Tsunade's waist, grinning smugly.

"Let go, you little brat. Taking advantage of me again."

Tsunade angrily smacked his hand away, though her face had turned rosy.

"How is this taking advantage? This is interaction between family members. Don't you understand?"

Chiba replied with a cheeky grin.

"Enough nonsense. Hurry up, before the patrol catches us up."

Tsunade urged, speeding up again.

The three turned into three afterimages and silently passed through Konoha's border defenses beneath the cover of night.

"We're finally in. Konoha's air is still as disgusting as ever."

Chiba stopped and looked at the village's distant outline, sneering.

"Yes. This place carries too many bad memories."

Tsunade's voice was low, and her expression somewhat forlorn.

"Don't worry, Auntie. This place will become our domain from now on."

Chiba walked to her side and gently squeezed her hand.

Tsunade looked at him. The struggle in her eyes gradually vanished, replaced by resolve.

"Let's go. Let's give Konoha a big gift."