Poof!
With a billowing cloud of white smoke, the toad Kanon summoned this time was significantly larger than the one Naruto had called forth previously.
Jiraiya stood mouth agape as the white smoke gradually dispersed, revealing a purple toad standing before them.
"Shima-baasama!" Jiraiya blurted out in shock. He hadn't expected her at all.
"Oh? Was it you who summoned me, Jiraiya? What is it?"
"No... it wasn't me."
"Then who summoned me?" Shima asked, somewhat puzzled.
Jiraiya pointed behind him to Kanon, who was shyly scratching her head.
"Ahaha... Shima-baasama? I'm sorry, I was the one who summoned you..."
"Eh?! Such a cute girl?!" Shima was instantly charmed by Kanon's beautiful appearance.
"You flatter me, Shima-baasama."
Seeing how adorable Kanon was, Shima hopped up and perched herself right on Kanon's shoulder.
"Jiraiya-boy, I like this child very much!"
"As long as you're happy, Shima-baasama," Jiraiya replied weakly.
"Well, since I'm already here, I'm going to go buy some groceries. To celebrate Kanon-chan successfully summoning me, why don't you all come over to our place for dinner tonight!"
"Eh! Really?!" Kanon asked expectantly.
However, Jiraiya politely declined. "Baa-sama, maybe next time. These two are my students, and I still have to oversee their training."
"Very well. I'm off to Konoha markets then."
With that, Shima vanished, heading toward the village.
Jiraiya's heart, however, could not remain calm. The girl before him truly lived up to the name of a genius. But did the prophecy about the Child of Prophecy ever mention a girl? If it were a girl, the Great Lord Elder surely would have said the 'Daughter of Prophecy.'
As he pondered this, Naruto stood by, staring in awe.
"Kanon, how come the toad you summoned can talk?!"
"I don't know either..." Kanon shook her head, genuinely unsure.
"Kanon, use the Summoning Jutsu one more time!" Jiraiya said, his expression becoming dead serious.
"Al... Alright." Being the focus of such an intense gaze made Kanon a bit uncomfortable, but she complied.
"Ninja Art: Summoning Jutsu!"
Poof!
A massive cloud of white smoke erupted. As a smirk played on Jiraiya's lips, a toad as large as a mountain appeared. On its back were two giant katanas.
It was Gamahiro! He stood like a colossal monument, with Kanon perched high above.
"Whoa! It's so high up!" Kanon shouted down to Naruto and Jiraiya.
Jiraiya clapped for her, while Naruto looked utterly shell-shocked.
"Is that you, Jiraiya? What's going on? You didn't summon me!"
"The girl on your head did," Jiraiya pointed upward.
"I see. So, you've taught the children the Summoning Jutsu?"
"That's right. Hiro, go ahead and sign a contract with her."
"Hmm. Excellent potential. To summon me at such a young age..."
Gamahiro began chatting with Kanon. He took an immediate liking to the girl on his head. Soon, a contract was finalized, and he became Kanon's first official summon.
As Gamahiro vanished back to Mount Myoboku in a cloud of smoke, Naruto's face was a mixture of envy and excitement. He began practicing the Summoning Jutsu relentlessly. Despite her success, Kanon didn't grow arrogant; she shared every detail and sensation of the summoning process with Naruto to help him improve.
Over the next few days, Naruto's hard work was visible to the naked eye. Eventually, he successfully summoned Gamabunta. The Chief Toad made a wager with the two genin: if they could stay on his head for an entire day, he would sign a contract with them.
In the end, it was Naruto and Kanon's unyielding willpower that moved Gamabunta. He personally saved the exhausted Naruto alongside Kanon. The two of them lay sprawled on Gamabunta's head, looking down at the distant Konohagakure.
"Do you two realize? Other than the Fourth Hokage, no one has ever stood on my head before."
From the distance, Jiraiya walked over. "Bunta, take a look at the scroll."
Gamabunta looked at the contract scroll. Indeed, two names were written there: Kanon Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
"I see... Heh."
"They've exhausted themselves just to reach a contract with me."
"I could give them some of my strength, but it's probably best to take them there instead."
…
In the early morning, Naruto opened his eyes. Looking at the ceiling of the Konoha Hospital, he let out a long stretch. He turned his head and saw Kanon lying in the hospital bed next to his. She was sleeping soundly, a faint smile on her face as if she were having a beautiful dream.
Naruto was momentarily captivated by her delicate, cute sleeping face. Just then, Kanon mumbled something in her sleep.
"Mama... look, is my shuriken aim good...?"
"So you're dreaming about your mom?" Naruto whispered to himself. He moved to sit up, but the noise was apparently too loud.
"Morning... Naruto!" Kanon rubbed her misty eyes. Even though the dream had been wonderful, it was, after all, just a dream. She wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye and gave Naruto a bright smile.
"Kanon, you should rest some more. The Chief Toad's test yesterday was really brutal..."
"You're telling me..." Kanon calmed her racing heart and climbed out of bed. "But we have to keep working hard today!"
Suddenly, the door swung open. Shikamaru walked in, hands in his pockets.
"You two have been asleep for three days and three nights. You just woke up, stop making such a racket."
"Three days..."
"Three days and three nights?!" Kanon and Naruto cried out in unison.
"Shikamaru, when do the matches start?!" Naruto asked urgently.
"Tomorrow!"
"What?!" Naruto was frantic. "Why didn't anyone wake me up sooner?!"
"I'm not in a position to be lounging around and sleeping peacefully!!" Naruto grabbed Kanon's collar in his panic.
"Ah... haha... Naruto, if you keep pulling, you're going to rip my clothes off..." Kanon's face turned pink.
"Aaah! Sorry!" Naruto let go immediately and turned back to Shikamaru. "Where's the Pervy Sage? I have to find him and get back to training!"
"Hey, calm down!" Shikamaru sighed. "There's only one day left. Panicking won't do you any good."
Kanon walked up to Naruto and took his hand, smiling gently. "Resting is also a form of training, right?"
"I... I'm hungry, Kanon..."
"Want to go get ramen? Shikamaru, you coming?" Kanon invited.
"Oh, right!" Shikamaru remembered something. He pulled a fruit basket from under Naruto's bed. "It was a drag, but I bought this when I went to see Choji. The doctor said he can't eat it yet, so we might as well eat it together."
"Choji? Was he hurt that badly?" Naruto asked, concerned.
"Don't get the wrong idea. He's in here because he ate too much barbecue."
"He gave himself a stomachache."
"Hahaha! That is definitely Choji's style!" Naruto roared with laughter. Kanon picked up an apple and began peeling it for the two boys.
"Here, you two." She handed the peeled slices to Shikamaru and Naruto.
"Thanks!"
"Looks delicious!" Shikamaru said as he and Naruto began to eat.
Shikamaru leaned in and whispered to Naruto, "Just like Choji, you probably wouldn't have had any girls come to visit if it weren't for Kanon, but since she was hospitalized with you, I figured I'd stop by."
"I see. Well, let's rest up after we eat. I'm going to the shop near the hospital to pick up some toiletries," Kanon said.
"Go ahead, go ahead!" Naruto and Shikamaru waved her off. They had a few "guy topics" to discuss, and Kanon's presence made things a bit awkward.
Kanon gave them a curious look, then nodded and left the room.
It was midday. As she walked past Rock Lee's room, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure entering.
Wait? Gaara of the Sand? What is he doing in Lee's room?! Confused, Kanon quietly followed him.
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