Chapter 25 – Shikkotsu Forest
The wind…
The wind was calling in her ears…
The sky was gray and hazy…
Sakura felt like she was endlessly falling through the air, struggling to keep her balance. She looked down—
There was… nothing?
No, that wasn't right.
It wasn't nothing—it was white. Pure white.
"Huh?"
It felt like something had noticed her presence. Then, with a crisp pop sound—
Sakura felt herself land on something soft and squishy.
Holding her dizzy head, she finally had the chance to look around.
White. Only white. In the distance, a long blue "river" shimmered faintly.
"Oh my, it's been years since we had a visitor."
"And such an adorable little guest too~~~"
A gentle and elegant female voice rang out. Floating before Sakura's eyes was a tiny slug, no bigger than a palm.
Two tentacles adorned its head, and its entire body looked soft and jiggly.
"Is this… Lady Tsunade's slug?"
"Ara~ Seems like we have a little guest from Konoha~~"
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Back in Konoha…
"What do we do… what do we do…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was pacing anxiously in circles, while Enma the Monkey King sat calmly to the side, counting how many laps the Third Hokage had made.
Three hundred twenty…
Three hundred twenty-one…
Three hundred twenty-two…
At this point, Hiruzen was utterly panicked.
Using the Summoning Technique without a proper contract could randomly transport someone to an unknown dimension or space.
He had never imagined that normally steady and sensible Sakura would act so recklessly.
It reminded him of Jiraiya back in the day.
But Jiraiya had gotten lucky—by some miracle, he'd been sent to Mount Myoboku. Once might be luck, but twice?
In this case, only Space-Time Ninjutsu could bring Sakura back.
Even if Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, were resurrected, he wouldn't be able to retrieve her without a Flying Thunder God marker on her body.
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Meanwhile — Shikkotsu Forest
"So that's how it is~~"
"Sakura used the Summoning Technique without having signed a contract first. That was quite reckless~~"
The slug wasn't only soft in appearance—her voice and personality were equally gentle.
Among all the summoning beasts, she was known for being one of the kindest.
"Well then~~"
"I'll send Sakura back first and go explain things to the Third Hokage. That should solve the problem."
"Even if Sakura signs a contract with the Monkey King clan, I can still offer help if she ever needs it~~"
The slug, about the size of Sakura's forearm, slowly crawled onto her shoulder. Her voice was so gentle it made Sakura's heart melt.
"Mmm! Thank you, Lady Slug!"
With a soft poof, both Sakura and the slug vanished from the white world.
At the moment of her departure, the entire Shikkotsu Forest trembled ever so slightly.
"Even though she's a little liar~~"
"She's surprisingly adorable~~"
In all of Shikkotsu Forest, there was only one slug—the Slug Sage.
Every other slug, even the one Tsunade summoned, was simply a clone of the Slug Sage.
Having lived for over a thousand years, how could she not notice Sakura's poor attempt at deception?
But she didn't mind.
She didn't know how Sakura had managed to arrive here without a summoning contract, but to her, that wasn't important.
The very fact that Sakura had found her meant they were destined to meet.
---
Poof~
A small cloud of smoke rose where Sakura had disappeared, just as Hiruzen was about to leave and look up information on summoning techniques.
He froze mid-step.
"Sakura!!!"
"Do you even realize what you've just done?!"
The moment he saw that pink-haired girl again, Hiruzen nearly exploded in rage.
He had spent so much time and effort selecting an heir. The village finally had a new genius, and if she had died over something as simple as a summoning jutsu…
He would regret it for the rest of his life!
"Ah?"
"Hehe… I was wrong, Sensei…"
Sakura initially wanted to play it off casually, but when she saw the stern expression on Hiruzen's face, she obediently lowered her head and admitted her mistake.
"Lord Third, we meet again~~"
A familiar voice rang in Hiruzen's ears. That's when he finally noticed the small creature perched on Sakura's shoulder, and his pupils contracted sharply.
A slug…
The Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest…
Did Sakura just summon herself into Shikkotsu Forest?
What incredible luck!
Thankfully she didn't land in Ryuchi Cave!
If she had, she would've become snake droppings within three hours!
"L-Lady Slug Sage?"
Hiruzen asked in disbelief.
"Long time no see, Lord Third~~"
"I was actually asleep, but this little one just fell right on top of me~~"
Her words slowly calmed the storm in Hiruzen's heart.
Thank the heavens!
Two strokes of miraculous luck in one lifetime!
"Seems like this child has a connection with Shikkotsu Forest,"
Enma, the Monkey King, stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Yes indeed~~"
"She's very cute, you know~~"
The Slug Sage's tender words made Sakura's ears turn pink.
"Well then, I suppose I should be going."
Enma sighed and gave Sakura a regretful glance.
He had taken a liking to her as a summoning partner. But if she had chosen the Slug Sage, then they were simply not fated.
Besides, the Slug Clan was a close ally of Konoha. There was no need to damage that relationship over one child.
"Sakura hasn't signed a contract with me yet~~"
The Slug Sage's words made Enma pause in mid-step.
"Lady Slug Sage, what do you mean by that?"
he asked, puzzled.
Even though he was the leader of the Monkey Clan, he was still a junior compared to the ancient Slug Sage.
"If Lord Monkey wishes to sign a contract with Sakura, that's perfectly fine~~"
"After all, she is Lord Third's chosen heir~~"
The Slug Sage glanced at the still-silent Hiruzen, her tone warm.
"Since Sakura can summon me even without a contract, I don't need one~~"
"So don't worry, Lord Monkey~~"
Her words left Enma stunned.
Normally, a ninja could only make a summoning contract with one summoning beast clan.
Unless the beast had been raised by the ninja since birth, or some special method had been used, it was nearly impossible to summon multiple clans.
And established clans like theirs had their pride.
They typically refused to form contracts with anyone who had already signed with another clan.
But clearly, the Slug Sage didn't care that Sakura might also be contracted to another clan.
This made Enma fall into deep thought.
If even the Slug Sage didn't mind…
Should he?
Meanwhile, Hiruzen kept his gaze still and silent.
You old monkey, what are you still hesitating for?
Even the Slug Sage doesn't care—why should you?!
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(End of Chapter)
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