Kaitou invested a lot of time in these three days to help them solidify their understanding of fusing their chakra natures. While there wasn't as much progress as he had hoped, he figured he compared them to himself, who was supported by a system.
He was patient and guided them with every step forward. He promised he would help them to his best ability in these days, and he fulfilled that promise.
Even with this full time commitment, the three days went by quickly enough, and Kaitou decided to deal with the summoning contract as soon as possible. He told the other two to continue with their training, and that he will not be available for the next few days.
After this he left the training ground and made his way to his uncles. Tobirama was busy as ever these days, though right now Hashirama was getting another earful, because he wanted to slack off again.
Madara was rarely seen in the camp, or even close by. His low presence slowly also influenced his reputation. Some people already started to forget about his prior prestige.
When Kaitou entered the room, Hashirama's eyes lit up as if seeing true salvation, he immediately stood up and ran over to Kaitou, hiding behind him with a wide grin, smiling at his brother.
Seeing this Tobirama's fore head was practically full of tick marks, and it was only a question of time before he completely exploded. So, before anything more could happen, he decided to drop the bomb.
"I need a bit of help with something…"
Hashirama perked up on this, as it was another opportunity to get away from his most difficult adversary till this day, paperwork. On the other hand, even Tobirama eased up a bit and slightly raised his eyebrow, looking interested.
"So? What do you need help with?" asked
"It is about a summoning contract, I think it's time that I'll try my luck on getting one for myself," Kaitou opted for an half-truth.
"Okay? And what do you need help with then? This is normally something rather dangerous, but it is not that you should encounter any problems. Sure, without a prior contract the summoning will be random, but you are strong enough to hold on against most," Hashirama was slightly perplexed, he knew firsthand how this could go, and therefore knew of the dangers, but he also had a good estimate on Kaitou's strength.
"It is nothing major, I have already prepared some seals get me back if needed, but they need to be filled with a huge amount of chakra, so to make them function regardless where I get brought, I'd need at least one of you two to awake the, from this side," explained Kaitou, while pulling out his prepared seals and handing them to Tobirama to examine.
Kaitou carefully observed as Tobirama inspected the seals. His uncle's sharp gaze scanned the inscriptions, nodding in understanding.
"These are well-made," Tobirama admitted. "If properly activated, they should work across great distances."
Hashirama grinned, slapping Kaitou on the back. "You've really thought ahead, huh? Alright, I'll help too. Should be easy enough with my chakra reserves."
With everything set, Kaitou made his way to a secluded area near the training grounds. He couldn't risk anyone seeing the true nature of what he was about to do. Under the guise of a standard summoning jutsu, he activated the prepared seals and used a layered illusion to mask the real effects.
The moment he slammed his hand onto the ground, a surge of power rushed through him. The world twisted, his surroundings blurred, and then - silence.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar land. Thick, impenetrable fog surrounded him on all sides. His enhanced vision, granted by his'Red eyes', usually able to pierce through darkness and obscurity, was rendered useless. This was no ordinary mist - it felt ancient, layered with an almost supernatural presence.
Kaitou tensed, his senses on high alert. He wasn't alone.
Shrouded figures emerged from the mist, their movements swift and precise. Their silhouettes carried an unmistakable presence - tall, humanoid, yet with an avian grace to their posture. As they stepped closer, their features became clearer.
They were… Tengu.
Kaitou had read of them back in his old world, but those were just vague myths and forgotten folktales, nothing truly detailed. Their appearance was striking - elongated, sharp noses, dark feathers mixed with human-like skin, and eyes filled with wisdom far beyond human years.
Despite his wariness, their reactions surprised him.
Instead of hostility or suspicion, they bowed. Deeply.
Kaitou remained still, his mind racing. 'Why are they treating me like this?'
Then, an elderly Tengu stepped forward. Unlike the others, his features were even more refined, his robes intricate, and his aura commanding. His crimson eyes - similar yet vastly different from Kaitou's - held an emotion Kaitou couldn't quite place.
"I'd long lost hope, that one of you would return," the elder spoke, his voice carrying an almost ethereal weight.
Kaitou's brows furrowed. "Return?"
The elder nodded. "Because of your eyes."
Kaitou stiffened slightly. He knew his eyes were special, but the way the elder spoke of them carried something deeper. Something special.
"Your eyes are a reflection of the Creator's own," the elder continued. "Though, much weaker than his's."
Kaitou caught the slight emphasis but didn't push the subject - yet. Instead, he chose his next words carefully.
"Who was this Creator?"
The Tengu elder smiled knowingly but did not answer directly. Instead, he extended his arm.
"Come with us. There is much to discuss, and if you are willing, much to learn."
Kaitou hesitated for only a moment before nodding.
Before he followed, he decided to send his uncles a message seal; telling them, that everything was going well and that it could take a bit longer. They received the message nearly instantly after Kaitou sent it, both looking at each other, before then concentrating on the seal again.
They knew, they could trust in Kaitou's judgement, but chose to remain cautious. Just in case.
---
As Kaitou followed the Tengu elder through the fog-covered land, he couldn't help but notice the subtle shifts in the environment. The mist itself felt alive, moving with an unseen will, but it did not obstruct their path. Instead, it parted slightly before them, as if recognizing the presence of its inhabitants.
They walked in silence until they arrived at an ancient-looking temple, built into the cliffs of a mountainous region Kaitou couldn't recognize. The architecture was unlike anything he had seen before - massive wooden beams intertwined with natural stone, carvings depicting avian figures locked in battle, and a central monolith etched with intricate symbols that pulsed faintly with an unknown energy.
The elder motioned for Kaitou to sit as the others formed a respectful semicircle around them. Only then did the elder finally speak again.
"You must have many questions," he began. "And it is time that you learn the truth of our existence."
Kaitou nodded, leaning slightly forward in anticipation.
"The Tengu, along with four other races, were the first beings created by our Creator. We were not born as mortals, nor were we meant to be. Each of us was shaped in the image of one of his five great powers, to embody and wield it as our own. Our role was not to rule but to act as the hands that shaped the world in its infancy."
The elder raised a clawed hand, gesturing towards the carvings on the temple walls. As Kaitou observed them more closely, he noticed that there were indeed five distinct beings depicted, each with unique characteristics - one with wings and a long nose like the Tengu, another resembling a humanoid beast with burning eyes and weird proportions, the remaining three remained unclear in their forms.
"We, the Tengu, were given the power of the Red Eyes," the elder continued. "A gift from the Creator that allowed us to see through all illusions, to perceive the true nature of the world, and, in its highest evolved form that we have ever achieved, to create illusions so real, that they can fully deny perception."
Kaitou's mind raced. 'Denying perception itself? Could this be the true potential of my eyes, or is there something even beyond this?'
"When the invaders arrived from beyond the stars - what you know as the Ōtsutsuki, or later the one refer to as the 'Sage of Six paths' - we foresaw the devastation they would bring," the elder said, his tone growing somber. "Their methods, their hunger for power, their disregard for the natural balance… we could not stop them, nor could we afford to be seen by them."
Kaitou narrowed his eyes. "So, you isolated yourselves?"
The elder nodded. "We and the others made a choice. Each of the five races used their gifts to sever ties with the world, retreating into the hidden places of the earth, where not even the Ōtsutsuki could find us. Some went underground, some vanished into other dimensions, and we-" he gestured at the dense fog around them "-became part of the mist, unseen, forgotten."
Kaitou exhaled slowly. The weight of history pressed down on him. The Tengu weren't just some lost clan - they were one of the original guardians of the world.
But there was one thing that still nagged at him. "If you chose to stay hidden, why accept me now?"
The elder smiled knowingly. "Because you are proof that our power still flows through the world. Your Red Eyes - though diluted - carry the same essence as ours. And that means our legacy is not lost. It also shows that this meeting, brought by mere coincidence, could be very well attributed to fate."
The other Tengu murmured in agreement, their gazes filled with something Kaitou could now recognize- hope.
"We offer you guidance," the elder said. "Not as a summoning contract in the traditional sense, for our role is not that of warriors bound to battle at a whim. Not anymore. Instead, we will teach you our ways."
He lifted his hand, and the air around them seemed to hum with unseen energy.
"You will learn the way of the sword as we once taught the greatest warriors of old. You will strengthen your Red Eyes, so they may reach their true potential. And, most importantly, we will teach you the path of Ki."
Kaitou focused. "Ki?"
The elder nodded. "Unlike Sage Chakra, which draws from nature and carries the risk of harming the unworthy, Ki is the essence of all living things. It is not borrowed from the world - it is generated within one's own being."
Kaitou frowned. "If it exists in everything, why is it not widely used?"
"Because it is difficult to awaken," the elder admitted. "It requires discipline, an understanding of one's own existence, and a level of control beyond what chakra alone can provide. Unlike Sage Mode, which grants instant boosts of power, Ki is cultivated over time, offering strength that does not fade, techniques that do not degrade, and abilities that surpass even the limitations of flesh."
The elder's crimson eyes gleamed. "So, what will it be, Kaitou of the Red Eyes? Will you walk this path?"
There was no hesitation in Kaitou's answer.
"Yes."
After he spoke, the elder gestured to one of the walls, which immediately started to dissolve and reveal an old parchment, full of writings Kaitou had never before seen. The parchment was collected by the older Tengu and then, along with a feather with ink, brought to Kaitou and laid in front of him.
Kaitou estimated this to be their way of a contract. He inquired about the way it works and after the elder explained everything, Kaitou signed it with the method mentioned by the Tengu.
When this was done, both of them bowed in respect to one another, before Kaitou decided to leave, for now. For this he activated his own seals, that without any problems activated, and brought him back to the starting point where the the two Senju brothers still waited. The words of the elder rang out once more in his mind; Kaitou was fully allowed to reveal their existence, and once he mastered Ki, can teach it to his kin as well.
The Tengu didn't need to hide anymore, the reason they remained like this is because they completely merged with the fog and became one with it. Too much time passed and too strong methods were used to achieve this. Even then, the Tengu were never really created to stand in the limelight, this can also be seen by their mastery over illusions, gifted upon them.
For Kaitou, this trip and experience was worth a lot more than to just receive companions for battles, though, he was a bit disappointed that he still hadn't solved this problem entirely.
Just then,
[System Notice!]
[Multiple Achievements received]