Chapter 67: The Deceptive Reverse Summoning
"Little Liumu! Why are you daydreaming? Eat up!"
Mount Myōboku.
Liumu stared at the table laden with what could only be described as a "bug feast." His stomach churned violently.
Beside him, Fukasaku, wearing a tiny apron, placed a plate of something black and distinctly cockroach-like in front of him.
Yuck~
"Great Elder Shima, I… I'm not hungry. You and Great Elder Fukasaku should eat, please."
At this moment, Liumu felt utterly speechless. He forced a polite, trembling smile.
"Nonsense! If your main body weakens, your dispersed clones will vanish too!" Elder Shima chided. She scooped a few writhing grubs from her own bowl into his. "It's delicious! When little Jiraiya trained here, he could eat several bowls in one go!"
Jiraiya? Several bowls? Are you kidding me! Does he have such… robust tastes?
Recalling the chopsticks Jiraiya used at home… those were strictly serving chopsticks!
Gag—!
Help… someone save me.
I can't just one-punch these two old… toads!
Just then, a brilliant violet light erupted from beneath Liumu's chair, instantly enveloping him.
It's here!
Seeing the rapidly forming summoning array under his feet, Liumu's heart leaped. A savior has appeared!
"A Reverse Summoning?!" Elder Fukasaku recognized the technique immediately. But why was Liumu the one being summoned?
Whoosh! Before the two Toad Sages could react further, Liumu vanished in a burst of white smoke, his gleeful, relieved laughter echoing for a split second in the air.
The Desert Ridge.
Boundless wind swept across, stirring clouds of scorching sand. The sun blazed, yet its light seemed swallowed by the endless yellow-grey expanse.
In the distance, the crisp jingle of camel bells echoed, a lonely sound for lost souls.
Where is the way home?
Where is home?
Don't be afraid. Lift your head, and your heart will show you the way.
BOOM!
A dune erupted as a puff of white smoke exploded mid-air. As the sand settled, a single, screaming figure plunged headfirst into the soft grains.
Ptooey! Ptooey! Senior Minato… Huh? Where is he?
Liumu pushed himself up, spitting out hot sand from his mouth and nose. He looked around. Nothing but desert in every direction.
As for Minato, who had supposedly Reverse Summoned him here…
Liumu: (╬￣皿￣)
Who am I?
Where am I?
And where the hell is Minato?!
This Reverse Summoning jutsu was utterly unreliable—a complete scam! Where had it dumped him? Weren't they supposed to be in Loulan? Is this… Loulan?
"Four years of madness, the Dragon Vein that should be guarded…"
"The white blade shoots forth, gazing up at the starry sky…"
"The gravel is all driven mad…"
"O glorious, blooming sun…"
Amidst his fury, Liumu suddenly caught a faint, drifting melody. Beautiful, serene, yet laced with an underlying sorrow.
"…scattering like blossoms."
"…following the circle…"
Liumu's head snapped toward the sound. His legs tensed, exploding the sand beneath him into a crater. In a flicker of movement, he shot toward the melody's source.
A few minutes later, a colossal, tower-filled city gradually took shape on the horizon, growing clearer with each leap.
"Could this be…" Liumu skidded to a halt, staring at the legendary ancient ruins now vividly before his eyes. "The ancient city of Loulan?!"
The Ancient City of Loulan.
On one side stood the towering spires of an ancient civilization. Seeing it materialize so vividly before him took Liumu's breath away.
The singing continued, pulling him from his awe. He leapt again, arriving at the mouth of an abandoned stone well. The song was definitely emanating from within.
"It must be her!" A smile touched his lips. He dropped into the well.
Below, a little girl with fiery red hair sat atop a pile of rubble, tears tracing silent tracks down her upturned face. Sunlight filtered through a crack above, painting her with a pure, holy glow. Her whispered song was endlessly mournful, a tale of remembrance and lament.
"Who's there?!" The girl's head whipped around at Liumu's sudden appearance. A vigilant cry escaped her lips.
Liumu put on what he thought was his friendliest, most charming smile and gave a little wave.
But…
Huh? Where'd she go?
He blinked. The girl had vanished in a flash of red hair, fleeing into a nearby stone chamber. A heavy thud echoed as a mechanism sealed the door shut behind her.
Liumu stared blankly at the solid stone wall, then scratched his head.
Was my smile not handsome enough? Why did she run?
But…
Based on his memories, he was almost certain now. This girl was Sarah, the current, new Queen of the ancient city of Loulan!
In the story, a man named Mukade, having absorbed a cursed seal, broke the Dragon Vein's seal and entered Loulan, establishing himself as its puppet-master under the name "Anrokuzan." Sarah, though nominally queen, was merely his pawn. Even her mother, the previous queen, had been secretly assassinated by Anrokuzan.
"This mission must be related to Anrokuzan!"
While Liumu didn't know the specifics of Minato's mission, there was no doubt—that man was the root of it all.
"So… I just have to punch him once, and the mission ends perfectly? That simple?" Liumu chuckled to himself, leaping lightly out of the well.
Wandering through the vast ancient city, surrounded by countless labyrinthine towers, Liumu took in the sights. The interwoven streets, the advanced foundations and architecture—it all spoke of a highly developed civilization. Purple energy surged through pipelines crisscrossing the city, supplying power to every household.
Thinking of the rustic, wooden buildings back in Konoha… Liumu couldn't help but shake his head with a wry grin.
Too far behind…
Suddenly, a series of firework explosions sounded in the distance. Liumu looked up. Countless fireworks burst into the sky, forming a brilliant, colorful neon display.
Simultaneously, a sky-shaking roar of celebration erupted, like the grand opening of a magnificent ceremony.
A moment later, Liumu stood atop one of the highest towers, overlooking the central ceremony square.
Woooooo—
The solemn sound of trombones hummed. The great gate atop the royal palace slowly opened. Sarah, now adorned in lavish robes and wearing the queen's crown, stepped forth. She gazed down at the "people" filling the ancient city below, a complex mix of emotions flickering in her eyes.
This is Loulan. Those are all Loulan's subjects.
And I… am now Loulan's new queen!
…
"This silly girl… she must be nearsighted," Liumu muttered, shaking his head in exasperation.
Looking at the "citizens" in the square below—their movements stiff and unnatural—they were clearly nothing more than human-shaped puppets in disguise.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
Bonus Chapter For Every 100 Power Stones
Lets hit the goal of 200 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
We are at 166 members 🎉