Seeing the summoning contract form with a game world he at least knew of made Kaitou feel a sense of relief. He had never played *Monster Hunter* himself, but a few of the older kids at the orphanage used to talk about it constantly. Over time, he had picked up a general understanding of its principles and mechanics.
But that understanding now led to confusion. The creatures in *Monster Hunter* were mostly wild, powerful, and savage beasts. Only a select few showed any significant intelligence.
How does this summoning contract even work in such a bizarre case?
As if responding to his thoughts, the system provided an explanation:
---
[Summoning Contract (Game Version: Monster Hunter)]
Description: The user gains access to special spaces categorized as small dimensions. Within these spaces, the user can engage in battles against previously selected opponents. Upon victory, the defeated opponent will be classified as a summon, and a mental link will be established for summoning purposes. If the user loses, they will be ejected from the space, receive a penalty, and experience a cooldown before the next attempt. The user cannot die within this space.
As in the original game, the user cannot challenge the strongest creatures immediately but must progress by defeating lower-ranked monsters before unlocking stronger ones.
[Current Summons: /]
[Available Challenges: All Wyvern categories (Fanged, Flying, Brute, etc.), Beasts, and more.]
[Current Tries: 3]
---
Kaitou's eyes narrowed as he read through the explanation. This was not just a summoning contract - it was an entire connection to the *Monster Hunter* world. The implications were enormous. If he could establish a bond with those creatures, he could gain powerful summons unlike anything the shinobi world had ever seen.
His first instinct was to test it immediately. But as the excitement faded, he felt an undeniable weight settle over him. His body wasn't exhausted, not in the way a normal person's would be - but his mind was. According to Hashirama and Tobirama, he had been gone for two days. And considering how time had seemingly moved differently while he was in the Tengu's realm, it was likely he had gone even longer without actual rest.
He exhaled through his nose. I should get some sleep first. Not because he truly needed it, but because he still clung to the habit of resting like a normal person. Even with his enhanced body and suppressed emotions, sleep was one of the last connections he had to a normal life - one he wasn't willing to abandon just yet.
Closing the system screens, he allowed himself to sink deeper into his bed. His thoughts lingered on the possibilities this new contract presented, but soon, the weight of sleep overtook him.
Tomorrow, he would test it.
A sharp, high-pitched voice jolted Kaitou awake.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up, friend!"
Kaitou groaned, his mind still sluggish from sleep. His instincts flared at the sudden disturbance, but as his senses adjusted, he recognized the voice. He cracked open an eye, only to see a floating figure hovering over him - small, mischievous, and grinning far too widely for this early in the morning.
Hoopa.
"Finally awake, hmm?" Hoopa chuckled, spinning one of its golden rings on a finger. "You sleep like a Snorlax! Hoopa got bored waiting!"
Kaitou sighed, rubbing his temples. "You've been waiting all night?"
"Of course!" Hoopa puffed out its chest. "Hoopa is free now! Thanks to you!" The mischievous Pokémon twirled in the air, its bound form still restricting its full power, but that didn't stop it from being a menace.
Kaitou exhaled, sitting up. "Great. Now I have a loud, floating headache to deal with."
Hoopa gasped dramatically. "Rude! Hoopa is powerful! Hoopa is amazing!"
"And Hoopa is going to give me a migraine if you keep yelling."
The Pokémon pouted but seemed to tone it down - slightly. Kaitou took a moment to properly wake up before standing and stretching. "Come on, if you're going to stick around, we might as well get breakfast first."
"Hoopa likes food!"
"Somehow, I already guessed that," Kaitou muttered.
They made their way to the mess hall, where Kaitou grabbed something simple to eat. Hoopa, on the other hand, seemed to materialize snacks from its rings, stuffing its face gleefully.
As they ate, Hoopa floated beside him, watching him closely. "So, what's the plan, friend?"
Kaitou glanced at it before taking another bite of his food. "Training grounds. I have a few things to take care of first."
Hoopa tilted its head. "Ooooh. Fighting? Summoning?"
"Yeah, those and a bit other stuff," Kaitou replied simply.
Hoopa giggled. "Hoopa likes you already."
Kaitou wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a very, very bad thing.
After finishing breakfast, Kaitou made his way to the training grounds, Hoopa floating lazily beside him. As he arrived, he spotted Raiga and Fuyuki already in the middle of intense training. Sparks of lightning crackled through the air as Raiga moved swiftly, while Fuyuki's control over his chakra had become noticeably more refined.
Kaitou didn't disturb them, instead opting to handle his own business first.
Before he could test the *Monster Hunter* summoning, there was one last thing on his agenda - his Zanpakuto.
A few days ago, he had been on the verge of completing his initial bond with it. But circumstances had interrupted him before he could enter his inner world. Now, before taking on anything new, he wanted to finish what he started.
Kaitou took a deep breath, gripping the Asauchi at his side. Then, closing his eyes, he focused inward, allowing his consciousness to drift.
It was time to finally enter his inner world.
---
As Kaitou's consciousness shifted inward, the world around him blurred and distorted before solidifying into something new.
He stood in the center of a vast battlefield, the land cracked and scorched as if it had been the site of countless clashes. Twin rivers of molten lava snaked through the terrain, casting an eerie glow against the darkened sky. Towering obsidian pillars loomed in the distance, their jagged forms stretching toward an endless horizon. The heat was oppressive but not unbearable - more of a presence than a force meant to harm him.
And then, from the shadows of the molten rivers, they appeared.
Two figures emerged, walking side by side. One was tall and imposing, clad in dark, ornate armor, a massive blade resting against his shoulder. His presence exuded raw power, the very ground beneath him seeming to tremble under his every step. The other figure was his contrast - lean, agile, dressed in flowing, ember-colored robes, his movements fluid and effortless. His sword, sleek and curved, almost flickered like a mirage in the heat.
They stopped a few paces in front of Kaitou, their gazes unreadable.
"So," the armored one rumbled, his voice deep and weighted like an avalanche. "You have finally come to finish what was started."
The robed figure smirked. "Took you long enough. I was beginning to think you got yourself killed before we could have a proper conversation." His tone was light, teasing, but his sharp gaze held an undeniable intensity.
Kaitou exhaled. He could feel it - the bond between them, the connection that had been incomplete before. Now, standing here before them, it was finally solidifying.
"You are my Zanpakutō," he stated, more a confirmation than a question.
The robed one chuckled. "We prefer the term 'partners', but yes."
The armored one stepped forward, planting the massive blade into the ground with a resounding *thud*. "Let's not beat around the bush, we don't play games. We are Daishō Gōka - the Twin Infernos of Judgment." His eyes burned like embers beneath his helmet. "And you, Kaitou, are the one who will wield our power."
Kaitou studied them both carefully. "Your forms… you're different, yet the same."
"Balance," the armored one said simply. "Destruction is not a single force. It is weight and speed. Overwhelming force and precision."
"Chaos and control," the robed one added smoothly. "Two halves of the same whole. Just like us."
Kaitou folded his arms. "If you don't like games then tell me - how do I use your power?"
The robed one grinned. "Ah, straight to the point. I like that." He raised his sleek blade and twirled it effortlessly in his grip. "Unorthodox, but alright, our power is not about brute strength or simple slashes. It's about manipulation. Of weight, of force, of inertia." When he finished speaking both pointed their swords at Kaitou, moments later lights shot out and hit Kaitou straight, he could've dodged, but didn't feel any killing intent from them.
The armored one nodded. "The Reversal of Weight. You decide which blade is light and which is heavy, shifting them in an instant. Confuse your enemies. Crush them when they expect speed. Strike with blinding speed when they expect force."
"And let's not forget my favorite," the robed one chimed in. "Divergence Strikes. Delayed slashes. The enemy may think they've dodged, only to be hit a moment later. It messes with their instincts, makes them doubt their own movements."
Kaitou took in their words, his mind already piecing together strategies. "And what is this controlled gravity?"
The armored figure let out a low, approving chuckle. "Yes. You can make yourself lighter, swifter. Make your enemy's weapon heavier, sluggish. Every battle becomes your battlefield. Their own strength will turn against them."
Kaitou smirked. "Sounds like fun."
The robed one clapped his hands. "I knew I liked this kid."
The armored one studied Kaitou for a long moment before lifting his massive blade. "Then prove yourself, wielder. Show us that you can truly wield the Twin Infernos of Judgment."
The temperature spiked, and before Kaitou could react, both spirits lunged at him simultaneously.
The test had begun.