Summoning Beasts

The Land of Fire is one of the most prominent nations in the world today. Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth lies the Land of Waterfalls, a country composed of numerous waterfalls. Due to its geographical location, many ninjas have perished in battles, leading to the nation's decline. However, the Land of Waterfalls has a relatively glorious history, and its ninja village has always possessed a Tailed Beast, making it a medium-sized nation under the great powers. Below these medium-sized nations, there are naturally smaller countries.

The Land of Filling is one such small country that trembles at the mere mention of the Land of Waterfalls.

Small countries with sparse populations and scarce resources struggle to survive. A single large-scale ninja technique from either side of a conflict could annihilate them. Over time, those small nations located at strategic crossroads have vanished, leaving only those established in remote corners to endure.

Ino, while perusing the Yamanaka Clan's archives, came across legends of haunted mountains near the Land of Filling. Combining these with older rumors, she estimated a fifty to sixty percent certainty and decided to investigate on her way.

Before Kaguya Otsutsuki descended upon this world, it was a place where a hundred ghosts roamed at night. After her arrival, she swept through like a tempest, toppling all the ox-headed demons and serpent spirits—literally. Ninety-nine percent of the "ghosts" and "gods" were eradicated by her. Only the toads, snakes, and slugs of the Three Great Sage Regions, along with the Shinigami, the King of the Underworld, and Jashin, managed to survive to this day. The Flower God, an old friend of the Yamanaka Clan, clung to life for over a decade but ultimately couldn't hold on.

Now, most of the remaining strange beasts are descendants of those "ghosts" and "gods." Those with spiritual intelligence can become Summoning Beasts, while those driven solely by instinct for slaughter become materials for various weapons.

The Vapor Explosion technique, due to its massive chakra consumption, leaves the user in a weakened state for a period afterward, which is unavoidable. The Second Mizukage used Genjutsu to conceal his presence.

Although Ino could leverage the relationship between Yuhi Kurenai and Asuma to learn some Genjutsu, she truly didn't have the time nor the desire to invest much effort in it. Her solution was to find a large Summoning Beast capable of using Genjutsu. Ultimately, various clues led her to the Land of Filling.

A ninja is not limited to one Summoning Beast, nor is a Summoning Beast bound to a single ninja.

After Sasuke formed a summoning contract with Ryuchi Cave, he could still summon the Ninja Hawk, Garuda. No matter how one thinks about it, Shikkotsu Forest couldn't be more domineering than Ryuchi Cave, could it? The Land of Filling is nestled among the mountains.

The people here live and die within their country, never venturing beyond its borders, completely isolated from the Hidden Leaf Village.

Despite this, Ino was still concerned about revealing her presence. She transformed into Kakashi and found an inn, where she approached the kindly-looking owner.

"Old man, may I ask you something? Do you know how to get to Shoushi Ridge?"

The old man first scrutinized "Kakashi's" forehead protector before cautiously replying, "Shoushi Ridge? You mean the capital of the Land of Shoushi from fifty years ago?"

Despite being warned about man-eating demons at Shoushi Ridge, Ino still ventured onto a mountain path at night, heading toward the ruins known as Shoushi Ridge.

It's said that this haunted place only reveals itself at night. Having practiced Yin Release extensively, Ino didn't find nighttime activities problematic. After checking her ninja tools, she followed the innkeeper's directions and made her way deeper into the mountains.

Ino had already beaten the future Seventh Hokage and the Sixth Mizukage, and she might even take on the Fifth Kazekage in a few days. At this moment, she was brimming with confidence.

After walking for two hours, she sat down to drink some water when she suddenly noticed a rather ancient Japanese-style castle at the foot of the mountain to her side.

The castle had three floors and was about ten meters tall. Inside, a faint flickering candlelight could be seen, and a voice seemed to be calling her, urging her to enter the castle.

"Sense!"

Ino used her sensing ability to search the area at the foot of the mountain. After patiently searching for about five minutes, she finally detected an extremely faint heartbeat.

This invisibility ability was truly impressive, and she felt a surge of excitement. She walked toward the castle and arrived at the front gate. The two wooden doors seemed to sense her presence and slowly opened.

She wasn't foolish enough to just walk in—that would be too reckless.

"I think we can be friends!" Her fingers quickly formed hand seals, leaving behind a series of afterimages. Just like with Little Mustache, she aimed her hands toward the castle gates.

"Ninja Art: Mind Confusion Technique!"

The castle was a living entity with its own physical form and spiritual energy. In terms of life level, it was far more advanced than the residual Chakra of the Second Mizukage.

However, this peculiar life form seemed to be in some kind of dormant state. Its heartbeat was slow, and its consciousness appeared sluggish. Ino's technique effortlessly penetrated its mental world, allowing her to make slight alterations.

Regardless of what had happened before, they were now friends! After confirming that there was a certain level of goodwill between them, Ino cautiously entered the castle. It didn't take long for her to find what she was looking for on the third floor—the Summoning Scroll, which had been in the room of the former castle lord.

This Summoning Scroll was ancient and had passed through many owners. The most recent owner was named Koza Kubisaki, who was likely the lord of Kubisaki Ridge.

Before Koza Kubisaki, there was someone named Qishi, but she didn't look into it further.

Before his death, Koza Kubisaki had issued some kind of command, and the Summoning Beast had remained in the ruins of Kubisaki Ridge for fifty years.

"Are you a chameleon or a lizard? Strictly speaking, you're a chameleon, right?" Ino muttered to herself, but the surroundings were empty, and no one responded.

"From now on, we'll be companions, okay?" The chameleon, influenced by her "Mind Confusion Technique," had developed a slight sense of goodwill. Although most of its consciousness was still dormant, it vaguely transmitted a signal of "okay."

Ino bit her finger and wrote her name on the Summoning Scroll, becoming its new owner.

"I'll still call you Kubisaki. You've been away from your clan for many years, and you must want to go back, right? Go ahead. If I need you, I'll summon you."

Ino spoke with understanding.

In battle, it could help her become invisible. During missions in the wild, the Summoning Beast could transform, and a castle capable of housing a hundred people would appear out of nowhere, complete with various supplies. She could take a bath inside, and Choji could come in to cook. Wasn't this much better than Yamato's Three-Room-Two-Hall Technique? The chameleon named Kubisaki transmitted another "okay" signal, and it was clear that it was much happier than before.

It was finally free.

After rolling up the Summoning Scroll, the Summoning Beast Shuzaku vanished into a puff of white smoke, and Ino also left Shuzaku Ridge.

Five days later, the Animal Path of the Six Paths of Pain, who was originally a Ninja from the Fuuma clan and had been recreated after death, arrived at Shuzaku Ridge.

The male Ninja wandered around the ridge three times, completely dumbfounded.

Where was the huge castle? Where was the Summoning Scroll of the Chameleon clan?