Wood Release Reappears in the Office

"ANBU, seize this disciple who has no regard for village rules!"

As soon as Mito Kadoyan's voice fell, dozens of ANBU ninja wearing animal masks rushed in from outside.

Kunai and tachi in hand, they instantly surrounded Chiba and Tsunade.

"Protect the Hokage! Capture the rebel!"

The ANBU leader shouted.

Chiba looked at the ANBU surrounding him and sneered.

"You think this bunch of trash can take me down?"

His tone was filled with contempt.

He could not even be bothered to raise a hand. He merely lifted his right foot and lightly stomped on the shattered desk.

Buzz.

A strange ripple of chakra spread outward from beneath Chiba's foot.

Then, the office's wooden floor suddenly cracked apart.

Countless emerald-green branches erupted wildly from beneath the floorboards.

As though alive, the branches moved at incredible speed, transforming into green barriers in the blink of an eye.

Before the first few ANBU could react, the branches tightly bound them, leaving them unable to move.

"What is this? Why can't I move?!"

The bound ANBU cried out in alarm.

They tried to slash at the branches with their tachi, but their blades struck them with the clang of metal. They could not cut through them at all.

Moreover, the branches continued growing, enveloping the entire office in a sea of green.

In the blink of an eye, dozens of ANBU ninja were locked in midair by cages formed from Wood Release, unable to so much as move a finger.

The once-spacious Hokage's office had become a green forest brimming with life.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the scene unfold, the pipe in his hand fell to the floor again.

He stood frozen in place, his pupils contracting as disbelief filled his face.

"W-Wood Release?!"

Koharu Utatane let out a shriek. Her body trembled slightly as she pointed at the branches.

Mito Kadoyan pushed up his glasses, his face turning pale. He could not utter a single word.

Looking at the pure chakra emanating from Chiba, they seemed as though they had seen a ghost.

That chakra was warm and powerful, brimming with vigorous life. It was exactly like the chakra of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, from their memories.

"How is this possible? You really awakened Wood Release!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice trembled slightly.

He had always believed the rumors of Chiba awakening Wood Release were exaggerated, or perhaps some kind of special secret technique.

But now that he had witnessed this incomparably pure Wood Release with his own eyes, all his doubts vanished.

"Old man, do you believe it now?"

Chiba brushed the wood chips from his hands and smiled at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Back then, my granduncle used this technique to quell the warring era and establish Konoha."

"Now I'm using it to reclaim what belongs to the Senju Clan. Do you think that's appropriate?"

Chiba's words left Hiruzen Sarutobi speechless.

Koharu Utatane looked at the ANBU hanging in midair, her heart filled with fear.

She knew that if they did not accept Chiba's terms today, this brat would truly dare to massacre people here.

"Chiba, let them go first. We can talk this out."

Mito Kadoyan hurriedly said, all the arrogance from before gone from his voice, replaced by a hint of pleading.

"Talk it out? When you ordered people to attack just now, why didn't you talk it out properly then?"

Chiba sneered.

"Now that you realize you can't beat me, you want to sit down and negotiate? Where could you find a bargain like that?"

Chiba controlled the branches, tightening them around the ANBU.

The sound of bones cracking was especially clear in the silent office, accompanied by the ANBU's muffled groans of pain.

"Chiba, enough. Don't kill them."

Tsunade spoke from the side.

Though she was dissatisfied with the higher-ups, these ANBU were still ninja of the village. Their deaths here would be a tremendous loss to Konoha.

"Since Auntie has spoken, I'll give Auntie some face."

Chiba turned to Tsunade and smiled.

With a thought, he loosened the branches slightly, though they still held the ANBU trapped in midair.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the emerald branches filling the room and took a deep breath.

It was as if he had returned to decades ago, to the days when he followed behind the First Hokage and watched him use Wood Release to quell the warring era.

"Chiba, the chakra within you truly is the First Hokage's power."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"Since you inherited this power, you should understand that Wood Release exists to protect the village, not to threaten your comrades."

"Protect the village? Old man, save those words for the genin who just graduated."

Chiba curled his lip disdainfully.

"My granduncle protected the village, and yet the Senju Clan ended up exterminated."

"Now, I only want to protect myself, protect my aunt, and reclaim what belongs to us."

Chiba pointed at the agreement on the desk, covered in wood chips.

"The Senju Main Residence, South District Commercial Street, and thirty million ryo in compensation. The handover must be settled today."

"Thirty million ryo? This is robbery!"

Koharu Utatane could not help shouting.

"Robbery? Compared to what you've taken from the Senju Clan over the years, I'm only taking back a little interest."

Chiba looked at her coldly.

"Elder Koharu, if you keep talking, I wouldn't mind letting Wood Release grow in your courtyard too."

Chiba's threat made Koharu Utatane's face turn pale, and she hurriedly shut her mouth.

Mito Kadoyan looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes full of anxiety.

He knew that if they did not agree to Chiba's demands today, this matter truly could not be resolved.

"Hiruzen, sign it. The Senju Main Residence was theirs to begin with, and they can manage South District Commercial Street on Konoha's behalf as well."

Mito Kadoyan urged him in a low voice.

"As for the thirty million ryo, the village treasury can pay it in installments."

"Installments? I won't accept installments. Before sunset today, I want to see all the money and the property deeds."

Chiba was firm, giving them no opportunity to bargain.

"Chiba, don't go too far. The village needs time to move its funds around as well."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him, helplessness in his eyes.

"That's your problem. It has nothing to do with me."

Chiba shrugged.

He turned to Tsunade beside him and said with a smile.

"Auntie, what do you think of my Wood Release for building houses? I'll handle the renovations for our Senju Main Residence from now on."

"You brat, stop showing off and get this settled already."

Tsunade rolled her eyes at him, but the corners of her lips could not help lifting slightly.

As she looked at Chiba, the worry in her eyes completely vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of ease.

With this guy around, the Senju Clan really was going to rise again.

[Detected a change in the mindset of the first beauty, Tsunade. Affection increased.]

[Tsunade Affection +5. Current Affection: 75]

The system notification sounded again, and Chiba was overjoyed.

"Fine. This old man agrees."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sighed and compromised.

He picked up a pen, signed his name on the agreement, and stamped it with the Hokage's seal.

"Before sunset today, the money and property deeds will be delivered to you."

"Pleasure doing business, old man."

Chiba walked over, collected the agreement, and dispelled the Wood Release.

The emerald branches instantly withered, turning into wood chips that scattered across the floor. The ANBU suspended in midair fell one after another, staggering to their feet in disarray.

Chiba dusted off his hands and turned to Tsunade.

"Let's go, Auntie. Time to collect rent."

Chiba said with a smile.

"You brat, now that you've got the money, shouldn't you treat me tonight?"