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Chapter 28: Summoning technique
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After the team allocation was completed, we were all handed the forehead protectors, and now we were formally genin. But how to say... this forehead protector really isn't suitable for wearing on the head, it really does make one look ugly. So, I tied it around my arm.
"Let's go back, Akira. I've heard about Sarutobi-sensei—he's one of Second Grandpa's students and great at ninjutsu. He should probably be a good teacher. I just don't know why Grandpa put that idiot Jiraiya on the same team with us. He's only going to hold us back."
"Now, now, it doesn't really matter all that much," I replied, trying to calm her down. "Our class has two elite teams this time—ours and Orochimaru's. Both have two top students paired with a crane tail. But Jiraiya and Hiruko do have great potential for growth. Maybe they'll catch up with us someday."
"Hmph, like that's ever going to happen. Jiraiya is a complete fool who can only pull pranks, him being able to catch up with us impossible. Oh, by the way, I forgot to tell you before—Grandma said she'd give us a gift when we graduated. I tried to find out what it was, but she's hidden it. It must be something really good with how much she's hiding it."
"Well then, let's head back quickly. I guess it'll probably be some ninja gear or a secret ninjutsu, considering it's a gift for us becoming shinobi."
Tsunade nodded, seemingly agreeing with my analysis, and soon we reached home. I couldn't help but feel excited. I rarely received gifts in my previous life, and no matter your age, the joy of receiving a gift is constant.
"Grandma! We passed the exam!" Tsunade announced excitedly as we entered the house. "Akira and I are in the same team now, and our jonin leader will be Second Grandpa's student, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Though Jiraiya is also part of the team..." Her excitement wavered at the mention of Jiraiya, eliciting a laugh from Grandma.
"Is that so? The 'Monkey' is indeed good enough to be your sensei. And as for Jiraiya, he's still a child. He'll grow and mature, so don't worry too much, little Tsuna," Grandma said with a kind smile. "Now, since you've both passed the exam and are about to become shinobi, it's time for your gift. Come, follow me."
Grandma led us to the basement of the mansion. When we arrived, I noticed seals covering the door, they were so complex that even after studying sealing techniques for over a year, I could only recognize a few of them. Grandma opened the heavily protected door, revealing a room filled with scrolls.
These must be the Senju clan's collection of jutsu. The Senju were famous for their thousands of techniques, and this treasure trove was likely one of the best in the world. Grandma picked up a large scroll and gestured for us to follow her outside.
We soon reached the training field in the backyard, which was massive—easily larger than a football stadium. Grandma sat on a nearby bench and began explaining.
"The gift I've decided to give you both is quite special: a summoning beast. This summoning scroll belonged to Hashirama and connects to one of the three holy places, the Shikkotsu Forest. To become a summoner, you would have to pass a trial of the slugs, If you pass the trial, you'll gain a summon of your own which is amongst the best in the world. Do you wish to try it?"
"Of course!" Tsunade and I exclaimed in unison.
The slugs of the Shikkotsu Forest, while not the strongest in combat when compared to the toads and snakes, had unmatched auxiliary abilities. More importantly, the sage mode they granted was the best. Unlike the Toad Sage Mode, which required a long time for preparation, or the Snake Sage Mode, which altered appearance, the Slug Sage Mode was both efficient and elegant. The Sage mode displayed by Hasirama Senju in the battle of the valley of the end was definitely one of the best sage mode in the series, second only to the six paths sage mode.
"Very well," Grandma said, unrolling the summoning scroll. "Write your names here with your blood, and then I'll teach you the summoning technique."
Writing my name was a bit tricky due to my healing factor, So I brought my index finger and thumb together, added chakra to the nail of the index finger, making a small cut, and began writing, I kept the nail inside stopping the healing process, and only when I finished, I removed the nail. The wound healed instantly, leaving only a trace of blood on my thumb. Grandma noticed some of my peculiarity but simply smiled and nodded at me, and didn't ask anything.
After Tsunade finished writing her name, Grandma began teaching us the summoning jutsu. It was relatively simple and only took about ten minutes to learn.
"Now, remember," Grandma said, "you would be reverse-summoned to the Shikkotsu Forest. Don't be afraid—there won't be much danger. Most likely, you'll face a small test. I have only heard about it from Hashirama, but that idiot might have exaggerated things."
We nodded and performed the summoning jutsu together. In a burst of white smoke, we disappeared and reappeared in a strange forest. The trees had completely white bark, and the ground, covered in bone-like twigs, gave the forest an eerie yet majestic aura.
A small slug appeared before us. "You must be the new contractors. Follow me; I'll take you to the Immortal Katsuyu. All slugs here are clones of the main body."
The slug led us to a massive valley where an enormous slug towered before us. Katsuyu's size was staggering—maybe comparable to the Ten-Tails, if not larger.
"You children are the new contractors," Katsuyu said in a soft, kind voice that didn't quite fit her massive size. But her massive size did make us both nervous and worried about the upcoming test. "Do not be nervous. There won't be a difficult test. I only need to assess your talent. A contractor of the Shikkotsu Forest must have the potential to at least reach elite jonin level. Allow one of my clones to sit on your shoulder." Lady Katsuyu said with some mirth in her voice.
A small slug split from Katsuyu's body, and I placed it on my shoulder. I felt it draw some of my chakra before returning to Katsuyu.
"Excellent," Katsuyu said. "Both of you are quite talented, especially Lord Akira. Your chakra is exceptionally pure. Both of you have the potential to reach kage level at the lowest, and Lord Akira may even master Sage Mode. Lady Tsunade too is highly talented, From now on, you may summon us in battle or visit the Shikkotsu Forest for training. There are many secret techniques here that may benefit you."
This was another thing which made the Slugs the best summon, they were easiest to get along with, and would follow orders much better. Now, Not only had I secured a powerful summoning contract, but I also now had access to the best training ground for mastering Sage Mode. In the original work, Jiraya trained in mount Myoboku since he was a child, and Shikkotsu forest might have some treasures which could be useful.
[Achievement Unlocked: Three Holy Places Summoner
Reward: Advanced Sage Talent ]