After clearing the battlefield, Team 1 made their way back to Konoha under the cover of night. The noise from their fight could attract unwanted attention, and with the Casino Team already wiped out early on by Mukade, there was no reason to linger. The last thing they wanted was another unnecessary fight unrelated to their mission.
By the time they returned to Konoha, it was already 7 a.m. Hayama led them straight to the Hokage's office to submit their report, along with the sealed scroll containing Mukade's body. Minato praised their efforts and teamwork, then dismissed them.
With no upcoming missions before the Chūnin Exams, everyone returned home to rest.
The next day, Enso made his way to the base of the cliff, a quiet and secluded place he often used for intense solo training. This time, his goal was to refine a technique he had already mastered: Void Step.
Although he had learned Void Step long ago, he rarely used its ability to walk on air. Until his fight with En Oyashiro, he treated it as a secondary tool, relying more on his Kenjutsu. That battle showed him how vital groundless movement could be in real combat.
After his near-fatal encounter with the arms dealer, Enso faced a hard truth. Raw power alone wasn't enough. Without mobility, even the most skilled fighter could be trapped and defeated. Void Step had the potential to be more than a flashy escape. It could be the key to surviving and controlling aerial combat.
Today, he wouldn't settle for just stepping on air. He wanted to command it.
Void Step allowed more than just suspension in mid-air. It enabled the user to shift direction, adjust altitude, and maneuver in three dimensions as naturally as if fighting on the ground. This was its true strength. Yet it came with a critical weakness: the moment Enso stopped moving, his footing would vanish.
The technique required motion that was continuous, fluid, intentional, and precise. Every movement had to flow seamlessly into the next without hesitation or pause. Mastering this constant, controlled motion was essential to fully harness the power and versatility of Void Step in combat.
He took a breath and leapt upward, activating Void Step.
At first, he floated gracefully. But when he tried to stabilise and shift position, his balance faltered and gravity yanked him down. He caught himself with another step, only to find his rhythm off again. Up. Fall. Step. Wobble. Again and again. For every moment of grace, there were ten moments of clumsy recovery.
Still, he persisted.
Everything he needed was there. He had the strength, the chakra control, and the understanding. But applying it all in real time was harder than he had imagined. As the hours dragged on, he fell more times than he cared to count. Each fall taught him something new about his timing, his control, or his breathing.
Enso pushed on without complaint.
Gradually, his movements became more confident. He learned to trust his muscle memory and move with the flow instead of resisting it. He began incorporating Tsubame Gaeshi, a fluid and reactive sword technique, into the rhythm of his aerial steps. It complemented Void Step well, allowing him to adjust his posture and prepare counterattacks while airborne. The combination gave him the agility he needed.
En Oyashiro's defeat was largely due to his Genjutsu failing to affect Enso. The S-Rank technique he unleashed had come dangerously close to securing a decisive victory. That fight had been a wake-up call.
His goal was to become a new master of aerial combat. If he could run and change altitude at will, then no one could threaten his ability to survive.
Eight hours passed before he finally allowed himself a break. His shirt clung to him, soaked with sweat. His muscles trembled with fatigue. Still, he felt accomplished.
After returning home, he looked at his reflection and noticed the rips and tears in his old clothing. They were a badge of his effort but also a clear sign it was time for an upgrade.
He headed straight for the shower. The hot water washed away the grime and tension, and he emerged feeling refreshed.
Then he made his way to the Konoha Ninja Store.
Inside, he picked out a short-sleeved black jacket. It was practical and simple yet sharp in appearance. The outfit reminded him of Kaneki Ken from Tokyo Ghoul with its clean, shadowy aesthetic. He also picked out two long-sleeved hooded jackets, one black and one white. A bit of variety never hurt.
Later that evening, he arrived at Kushina's house to help with dinner preparations.
Chino was already there, expertly chopping and organising ingredients with the calm efficiency of someone who enjoyed cooking. It was a rare, peaceful moment in their often chaotic lives.
The kitchen filled with warm aromas, and for a while, there was only the soft sound of knives, sizzling, and a quiet chatter.
Then, during a lull, Enso looked up at Minato and Kushina and spoke with quiet sincerity.
"Sensei," he said, "I need a summoning jutsu. It's too difficult to contact my teammates without exposing myself."
Minato and Kushina both paused, then nodded in understanding.
Kushina smiled and gently patted Enso's head. "You're in luck. We both have a perfect summon for you that works in just about any terrain."
Enso blinked, surprised. He had never considered the possibility that Kushina had a summon contract of her own.
Seeing the expression on his face, Kushina raised an eyebrow and folded her arms, feigning offence. "What? You thought I didn't have anything up my sleeves?"
Minato chuckled, stepping in to save his student from further embarrassment.
"Your sensei has a sea-type summon," he explained. "A killer whale. It's more than just a mount. It's a powerful fighter in its own right. Probably one of the strongest aquatic summons out there."
"Wow," Enso said, visibly impressed.
Minato continued, "Because Konoha isn't near the ocean, she rarely gets a chance to use it. But if you're ever fighting on the sea, you won't find a better companion."
Kushina grinned, now clearly enjoying the attention. "For land-based missions, though, the toads are more useful. They're fast, durable, and excellent messengers. It depends on the battlefield."
Minato demonstrated the hand seals and summoned a mid-sized toad in a puff of smoke. The creature blinked at them, then croaked in greeting.
Eager, Enso mimicked the seals. His chakra surged.
"Hold on!" Minato shouted suddenly.
"Wait—stop!" Kushina echoed.
Too late.
A surge of chakra exploded outward, engulfing Enso in blinding light. The world twisted.
When the light faded, Enso was no longer in the kitchen.
He stood on a vast, springy surface made up of countless webs rather than solid ground.
The silk beneath his feet was tightly woven, forming a massive dome structure. The dome's top was open, revealing not one but two suns shining down. Their golden light bathed everything in a surreal glow.
The landscape stretched far beyond his sight, massive enough to rival the entire Land of Fire. It was quiet, yet it pulsed with energy.
He tensed.
Had he summoned something… or summoned himself?
He tested the ground with a small jump. The surface responded with gentle elasticity. Although he weighed over two tons because of the Vajra Blades mounted on his waist, the silk held firm. It was flexible but stronger than steel.
Before he could think further, a calm, curious voice spoke beside him. "Welcome, visitor. You are the first human to set foot here in over a millennium."
Suddenly, a massive spider appeared right beside Enso, seemingly out of nowhere. Its entire body was encased in a gleaming golden carapace that shimmered under the light. Each of its eight limbs was shaped like a single-edged sword, long and razor-sharp, designed to cut through anything in its path.
The front section of its body was slightly rounded, smooth and polished like a dome. In contrast, the rear section tapered sharply into a conical shape, resembling a powerful drill built to bore through solid stone.
The spider's silhouette bore a faint resemblance to the familiar shape of the Spider-Man logo, but that was where the comparison ended. Its true form was far more magnificent, almost divine in nature.
The symmetry and precision of its body structure were flawless, crafted with a geometry that seemed impossible for any ordinary creature. Its sheer size alone was enough to instil terror in anyone who laid eyes upon it. This was no ordinary spider. It was a living war machine, created for destruction and battle.
Despite the overwhelming presence of this terrifying beast, Enso did not move to attack. He felt no fear toward the spider. It did not radiate any hostility or aggression. If it were intended to harm him, it would have struck immediately rather than speaking.
Slowly, before Enso's eyes, the spider began to change. Its golden limbs folded and retracted, its body reshaping itself and shrinking in size. Within moments, where the spider had stood, now stood an adult man.
This man was tall, standing two meters in height. His hair was golden, shimmering like rays of sunlight. His body was muscular and powerful, built with strength comparable to Enso's own. Yet, there was a quiet calm in his demeanour, a controlled energy that spoke of confidence.
"Hello," Enso greeted politely, bowing his head slightly as a sign of respect. "Can you tell me where this place is?"
The man chuckled softly and motioned for Enso to follow him.
As Enso chased behind the man, he kept his eyes scanning their surroundings with cautious attention. Even though the man had just transformed from a colossal spider towering over ten meters tall, his speed was astonishingly swift and graceful.
Enso found himself struggling to keep up the pace, relying heavily on 'Void Step,' a skill that allowed him to glide silently and swiftly through all terrain around them. The man glanced back just once, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he nodded in approval, clearly impressed by Enso's ability to maintain the chase.
"We are a unique race of spiders who defy the course of destiny," the man began, his voice calm yet carrying a commanding presence. "We are known as the Void Vajra Spiders. I cannot sense any destiny tied to you. This suggests that your arrival here was no mere coincidence."
Enso paused thoughtfully before asking, "Void Vajra Spiders? Are you connected to the Senju Clan from the Hidden Leaf Village?" The question arose naturally. He remembered that the Senju clan's insignia bore a strong resemblance to the vajra symbol, and a connection between them seemed possible.
The man fell silent for a moment, contemplating Enso's question. Then he replied, "The first human who arrived here, over a thousand years ago, claimed to be a descendant of Asura. His life force was powerful, much like yours. Whether the Senju and Uzumaki clans are related to him, I cannot say. But since that initial arrival, no one else has managed to summon us."
Enso reflected on this information for a moment. "Asura's descendants were divided into the Senju and Uzumaki clans, both famed for their enormous chakra reserves. Strangely, neither clan has been able to summon you during battles."
The man chuckled and shook his head, mimicking a human gesture. "It is not about the amount of chakra they have. Rather, they lack the proper qualifications. To form a contract with us, one must first defeat us in battle. That first human succeeded, but no one since has been able to do so. The contracts we offered have been lost to the world ever since."
Enso's eyes widened with shock. He stared at the man, realising how nearly impossible it would be to overcome such foes. Their immense size, strength, and speed were overwhelming. The golden carapace was surely incredibly tough to break. Size mattered after all, not to mention the agility of an eight-legged spider.
"Are you one of the elders of this land?" Enso asked after a moment of contemplation.
The man laughed happily. "Smart people are easy to talk to," he chuckled lightly."I am indeed an elder," he said warmly. "I am Tengen, the Elder of Combat Lineages. Within our race, there are five other lineages, each with unique specialities. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Enso grasped Tengen's hand firmly, shaking it with all his strength. The elder smiled, sensing Enso's power, and seemed even more excited. But the fact that Enso's full strength had no visible effect on him shocked Enso deeply.
"I will bring you to the boss first," Tengen said with a grin. "She sent me to pick you up after all. Try to keep up!"
Without waiting for a response, Tengen rushed ahead.
Enso activated his 'Void Step' and 'Body Flicker' techniques to keep pace, but he barely caught a glimpse of Tengen's back. The elder's speed and physical prowess far surpassed his own.
To match such speed, Enso estimated he'd need to use at least sixty percent of his full power. No one had ever pushed him this far before. The challenge awakened a true excitement within him, a thrill that only real combat could bring.
Before long, they arrived at the centre of an immense web. Passing through the white world of silk gave Enso a dizzy, surreal feeling. It was as if he were walking through a world of snow, yet the texture beneath his feet was soft and bouncy, unlike anything he had ever experienced.
Outside a colossal fortress woven entirely from thick strands of silk, Tengen awaited Enso. The two quickly entered the fortress together.
Inside, the space was vast, as large as the Hidden Leaf's training grounds. It made sense because, considering how enormous the Void Vajra Spider species was, their home had to be equally grand.
It was the first time Enso had ever seen a creature that could transform between spider and human form so effortlessly. If he could manage to sign a contract with these spiders, it would be a tremendous boost to his overall combat power.
The web fortress was a towering marvel of silk and shadow, heavily guarded by over a hundred colossal spiders. Each one was unique in form, colour, and menace.
Their massive bodies loomed like living statues, their many eyes watching every movement with eerie intelligence. Some had crystalline exoskeletons, while others were cloaked in dark velvet fur.
Yet compared to Tengen's previous spider form, none of them truly stood out.
His carapace shimmered with a radiant golden hue, gleaming like polished metal in the dim light.
After navigating through a maze of sticky threads and narrow bridges suspended in mid-air, they finally reached the end of the fortress. What lay ahead brought Enso to a halt.
A throne room came into view, grand and imposing. The architecture was both majestic and ominous, crafted entirely from reinforced silk and armoured chitin. At its centre stood a massive throne, raised on a platform.
It was made from the black and gold carapace of an ancient Void Spider, its legs curled around the base as if it still lived. The throne pulsed faintly, as though it retained the essence of the creature it was built from.
Five smaller chairs surrounded the throne, arranged in a symmetrical pattern: three on the right, two on the left. Each was distinct in colour and design, representing different spider lineages. Four of the chairs were already occupied by figures radiating immense power. The atmosphere in the room was suffocating.
Without hesitation, Tengen led Enso to the centre. Then, without a word, he stepped past him and sat on the golden chair to the right of the throne.
Sensing the gravity of the moment, Enso bowed respectfully. His voice was steady, though cautious.
"My name is Enso. Greetings to all the Elders of the Vajra Void Spider families."
He understood the danger he was in. These were not ordinary spiders. They were ancient beings capable of killing him effortlessly. A single mistake could be fatal.
From the throne, a serene but commanding voice responded.
"I haven't seen a human in millennia. What a polite young man," said the lady seated on the central throne. Her eyes gleamed like stars hidden behind mist.
She regarded him with quiet interest before continuing.
"To come here without a contract already proves your potential. This place exists in a separate dimension from your world, and entry is no simple matter. The rules are clear. If you defeat a spider from any lineage, you earn the right to summon them in battle."
Her tone shifted.
"Any questions?"
The woman in white, seated on one of the chairs to the left, asked the question in a serious tone. Her eyes locked onto Enso, sharp and unblinking, as if testing his resolve.