The following morning, the Konoha squad prepared to leave the village. The air was fresh with the scent of morning dew, though tension still lingered faintly in the villagers' glances as they waved the Ninja off.
They set out along the dirt road, the sun casting long shadows behind them. The silence stretched for a while, broken only by the crunch of boots on gravel, until Izumi tilted her head toward their leader.
"Teacher," she began curiously, "how did you know that rogue Ninja from yesterday?"
Sarutobi Muraki didn't answer right away. He stroked his thick beard, eyes narrowing slightly as if recalling an old memory. "In the past," he said at last, "that man was a Ninja from a small, now-forgotten village. It was a weak place, lacking powerful allies. Eventually… Konoha destroyed it."
Izumi blinked. "Destroyed by Konoha?"
Muraki gave a small nod. "Yes. But I heard that, long ago, that village was not always so feeble. They had once been known for two things—an exceptionally potent medicinal wine and a specialized dietary formula. The wine was said to boost strength and stamina, even help heal illness. The formula was equally valuable, passed down through their elders. But…" His voice grew heavier. "A rebellion erupted. In the chaos, the formulas were lost. Without them, the village declined, generation by generation, until it faded entirely from history."
"Oh," Izumi murmured, feigning polite interest while her mind buzzed with excitement.
So that's it! she thought privately. Those treasures must have been hidden before the rebellion, and for whatever reason, no one ever found them… until me. The inheritance of that village now belongs to me, hahaha.
The rest of the journey passed in a haze for her. She felt as if her feet barely touched the ground, her mood buoyant and light.
---
By the time they reached Konoha, the sun was dipping low. Izumi bid farewell to the others and hurried home, eager to examine her haul.
She shared dinner with her mother, trying to keep her expression neutral despite the anticipation bubbling inside her. The moment the dishes were cleared away, she excused herself and darted into her room, shutting the door behind her.
Her heart pounded as she laid out the weapons first. One sword in particular caught her attention. Its scabbard was plain, but the moment her fingers wrapped around the hilt, she felt a strange energy hum beneath the surface.
Slowly, almost reverently, she drew the blade. A cold gleam ran along its length, so sharp it seemed to cut the air itself.
"Wow," she breathed. "This sword… it's incredible."
She moved to the wooden training post she had set up in the corner and, with a swift strike, brought the blade down. The post split cleanly in two, the upper half toppling soundlessly to the floor.
"A treasure sword," she whispered in awe, "that cuts through iron like mud."
She set the sword aside carefully and reached for a sealed jar from her stash. As soon as she loosened the lid, a rich, intoxicating aroma filled the room.
She lifted the jar to her lips and took a cautious sip. Immediately, a wave of heat rushed through her body, as if a small fire had been lit in her chest.
"Mmm," she sighed, savoring the sensation. "Spicy at first, but so warm afterward… ah, it's bliss."
She took one more small drink before setting it aside. There would be time to enjoy it later. Now, she wanted to see what other treasures she had acquired.
---
Among the items was a tightly bound scroll. She unfurled it eagerly, eyes scanning line after line.
"So many Ninjutsu… these are the treasured techniques of an entire village," she murmured, her voice trembling slightly. "Amazing."
She flipped through the contents quickly—Fire, Water, and Earth Release techniques; intricate Sealing Arts; even unfamiliar symbols that hinted at unique clan abilities.
"This is great," she whispered to herself.
As she examined the scroll further, she noticed a faint seam near the base. Carefully unsealing the compartment, she pulled out a second, much larger scroll.
When she rolled it open, her breath caught.
A list of names stretched across the parchment, each written in bold, practiced strokes.
"This… this is a Summoning Scroll," Izumi said aloud, stunned.
Her pulse quickened. What kind of Summoning Beast could it be?
Without hesitation, she bit her finger, letting a drop of blood fall onto the scroll as she signed her name.
---
The moment her name touched the parchment, the air in her room swirled violently.
"Summoning Technique!" she called.
With a sharp bang, a cloud of smoke enveloped her—and then she was gone.
---
When the world solidified again, Izumi found herself submerged in water.
"Gurgle—!" She hadn't even had time to react before instinct took over, and she kicked hard for the surface.
Breaking through, she gasped for air. All around her stretched an endless ocean, but the water was a deep, unnatural black, glimmering faintly under a pale, otherworldly light.
"Huh? What's going on here? It's not poisonous, is it?"
She tested the surface cautiously, finding she could stand atop it by focusing her Chakra. Her clothes clung uncomfortably to her skin, her long hair plastered against her neck. With a grimace, she wrung the water from her hair.
"Ugh, long hair getting wet is such a pain."
Just as she was tidying herself, a massive shadow passed beneath the surface.
Her senses sharpened instantly. "Hmm?"
The shadow circled, sometimes disappearing into the black depths, sometimes brushing just close enough to stir the water.
Then, without warning, a gigantic figure erupted from the sea, towering above her.
A squid. No—the squid. Its tentacles swayed lazily, yet the sheer size of it made the water tremble.
Before she could process the sight, more shapes surfaced around her—squids of all sizes, their eyes reflecting the strange light as they formed a wide ring.
Izumi shifted into a defensive stance, prepared for an attack.
Instead, the giant squid spoke in a deep, resonant voice. "It has been a long time since we've seen a human. I thought another had signed the contract… but it's only a little brat."
Another squid chimed in, its tone curious. "Indeed. How many years has it been since the last time?"
Izumi blinked. "You… can talk?"
The giant squid let out a rumbling sound—laughter, perhaps. "Of course. You signed your name, didn't you? Otherwise, you would never have been summoned here."
Realization dawned. "Oh. So… this Summoning Scroll is for squids?"
"That's right," the creature confirmed.
"Then… you're Summoning Beasts? Could I form a contract with you?"
The giant squid hesitated, its massive eye studying her. "We summoned you to clarify the terms. In the past, we supplied our ink to the Ninjas of Sake Ninja Village. They used it to brew their sake."
Izumi's mouth twitched. "So that's what that special wine was made of."
"But that's not important to me," she said quickly.
The squid tilted its head. "You're not from Sake Ninja Village?"
Izumi shook her head. "No. That village disappeared long ago. Even the brewing method was lost. I only found the scroll by accident."
"I see. No wonder we haven't been summoned for so long." The squid sighed, sending ripples across the water. "Very well. Our old contract stated: if you brew sake, you must give us half. This is the price for our aid in battle. If you do not brew it yourself, you must at least gather the ingredients for us."
"No problem," Izumi agreed readily.
"Good. Then we are allies."
She hesitated, then asked, "Do you… have any techniques like Sage Art?"
The squid shook its head slowly. "No. Our reserves are fewer than other clans, and we have never developed Sage Art suitable for humans. But…" Its massive eye narrowed. "I sense strong natural energy within you already. You have no need for our Sage Arts."
"Ah… I see," Izumi said, unable to hide her disappointment.
The squid's gaze softened. "However, I can teach you our clan's Ninjutsu—the techniques of the Ink Sea."
Izumi's face lit up. "Really? Thank you!"
"Listen well," the squid intoned. "These are your first lessons:
Ink Squid Technique: Spit poisonous ink to blind the enemy or escape. Within the ink, your perception will sharpen. You can alter the ink's properties—make it oily for fire, toxic for poison, and so on.
Ink Dispersion Technique: Release ink into the water to sense faraway movements.
Squid Hand: Transform your arm into a tentacle with powerful suction and flexible reach.
Light Concealment Technique: Alter your colors to blend perfectly with your surroundings.
Squid Water Dance Technique: Swim at incredible speed through water.
Water Release: Ink Water Gun: Fire a high-pressure jet of water mixed with ink for destructive power.
Water Release: Squid Water Prison Bite Technique: Trap an enemy in a shrinking sphere of water, while a summoned squid devours the sphere from outside, growing stronger until it explodes with ink."
Izumi listened with shining eyes. "Thank you so much! May I know your name?"
The squid's voice rumbled. "I am Mokugyodo. Remember—of all these techniques, Ink Squid Technique is the most important. Ink in battle is not just a weapon—it is a strategy. I excel at Water Release and perception. Do you understand?"
"Yes! My name is Uchiha Izumi. Please guide me."
Mokugyodo regarded her thoughtfully. "Uchiha… I've heard the name. You may also summon my companions. Each specializes in something—poisons, speed, defense. Use them well."
Izumi looked at the squids of varying sizes circling her. She could barely contain her excitement. This… this is going to be incredible.
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