The fire crackled softly in the quiet forest.
Golden flames reflected in Natsume's red eyes as she lowered her head and continued eating grilled fish with complete focus. Oil covered her lips. Her cheeks were slightly puffed out from stuffing too much food at once.
Uchiha Lie leaned forward slightly and smiled.
"How is it? Tastes good, right?"
"Mhm! Mhm!"
She nodded vigorously without even looking up, still chewing happily.
He waited for the right moment.
Then, as if asking casually—
"Then… do you agree to sign the Summoning Contract?"
Her movement froze instantly.
The half-eaten grilled fish stopped midway to her mouth.
Her red eyes shifted slowly toward him.
There was clear hesitation inside them.
"No way!" she blurted out. "I don't want to lose my freedom!"
Her tail swished sharply behind her.
Uchiha Lie sighed, trying not to laugh.
"Relax. Signing a Summoning Contract doesn't mean you'll become my prisoner."
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
He explained patiently:
"When I need help in battle, I'll use the Summoning Technique to call you. After the battle ends, you can return whenever you want. It won't affect your daily life. You can still roam freely."
She blinked.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"And you won't trap me somewhere weird?"
"No."
"And you won't suddenly summon me while I'm bathing?"
"…No."
She stared at him carefully, studying his face.
"Are you lying to me?"
He raised his hand solemnly.
"I swear I'm not lying."
Then he added calmly:
"This contract is mutual."
She tilted her head.
"What does that mean?"
"It means if you're ever in danger… you can summon me too. I'll fight for you."
Her ears—if she had any—would have perked up.
She looked surprised.
"You'd come if I summoned you?"
"Yes."
He answered without hesitation.
There was no joke in his tone.
She fell silent.
The forest wind passed between them.
Her loyalty to the Leopard Cat Clan was absolute. She would never betray them.
But this…
This was not betrayal.
It was cooperation.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the fish.
After a few seconds of internal struggle—
She grit her teeth.
"Fine! I agree!"
Then she quickly added:
"But next time we meet… you have to grill fish for me again!"
He smiled immediately.
"Deal. Fresh fish every time I summon you."
Her tail swayed in satisfaction.
---
Uchiha Lie unfastened the scroll he had been carrying on his back.
This was a specially prepared Summoning Scroll.
He had brought it with him long before meeting her.
He spread it carefully on the ground.
"Listen carefully," he said seriously. "I'll explain the process."
She leaned closer, curious.
"I'll sign on one side as the contractor. You'll sign on the other side as the summoned party."
"You need to write your name in blood."
"Then press your five-finger blood print on the scroll."
She gulped lightly.
He bit his own finger first.
Interestingly—
Even though his body was formed through Edo Tensei, techniques like Summoning Contracts still allowed blood to flow normally.
He wrote his name clearly.
Uchiha Lie.
Then he pressed his bloodied palm onto the scroll.
The contract seals glowed faintly for a second.
He handed it to her.
She extended one sharp claw and lightly cut her fingertip.
A small bead of blood formed.
She hesitated briefly.
Then—
She wrote her name carefully.
Natsume.
After a short pause—
She pressed her five blood-stained fingers onto the scroll.
The markings shimmered slightly.
"Is… is that it?" she asked nervously.
He examined the scroll carefully.
The chakra response was stable.
The contract seal was complete.
"It's done."
The Summoning Contract between Uchiha Lie and Natsume was officially formed.
He rolled the scroll back up and secured it to his back.
"Shall we test it?"
Her eyes brightened instantly.
"Yes!"
---
"Stay there," he said. "I'll go a little distance away."
He walked about ten meters away into an open clearing.
He bit his finger again.
Blood smeared across his palm.
Hand seals formed rapidly.
Then—
"Summoning Jutsu!"
He slammed his palm onto the ground.
A black summoning circle spread outward beneath him.
At the same time—
Natsume felt something strange.
A connection.
A silent call.
A voice inside her mind asking—
"Do you agree?"
Instinctively—
She did.
Poof!
White smoke erupted where she stood.
At the same time, white smoke exploded inside the summoning circle.
When it cleared—
She was standing directly in front of him.
Her eyes widened.
Her tail shot straight up.
"It worked!"
A genuine smile appeared on his face.
He had not been entirely certain whether a contract formed with a demon from this world would function properly.
But it did.
Natsume looked at her hands in disbelief.
Then she looked back toward the distant campfire.
"I moved instantly…"
Her tail swished rapidly.
"This is incredible!"
She looked like a child who had just discovered a new toy.
"Now try releasing the Summoning Technique," he instructed.
She closed her eyes and concentrated.
She sensed the contract link.
Focused her will.
Poof!
She vanished.
Smoke appeared near the campfire.
She reappeared there.
Then she dashed back toward him excitedly.
"This is so fun! It's way better than smoke bombs!"
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Teach me how to summon you! I want to try!"
He chuckled.
"Calm down. I'll teach you."
He reached out casually—
And gently patted her head.
Her short red hair was soft.
She didn't even notice.
Her entire focus was on learning the technique.
He secretly smiled.
"Heh… cat head feels nice."
---
He extinguished the campfire using Earth Release.
Together, they returned to the wooden building.
Natsume stopped abruptly.
"Wait… why is there a house here?"
She ran around the structure, tapping the wooden walls.
"You built this?"
"Yes," he replied calmly. "Temporary residence."
He opened the door.
"Come inside. I'll teach you properly."
She entered cautiously but curiously.
The interior was simple but clean.
Wooden stairs led to the second floor.
He guided her upstairs.
He opened a room next to his bedroom.
"This room is yours for now."
She blinked.
"Mine?"
"Yes. Stay here while learning the Reverse Summoning Technique."
He had prepared this room intentionally.
When he built the house, he had planned ahead.
He had also prepared supplies—
Catnip.
Yarn balls.
Teasers.
Everything.
But honestly—
One grilled fish had already achieved what he expected to require days of effort.
As she stepped toward the room—
She suddenly froze.
Her expression changed.
She slapped her forehead lightly.
"Wait!"
Her red eyes widened.
"I can't stay here!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"I have a mission!"
She looked frustrated.
"Big Sister Leader sent me here to gather information about the Shikon Jewel shards!"
Her loyalty returned instantly.
"I almost forgot!"
She clenched her fists.
Her tail flicked sharply.
"I can't just ignore that!"
Uchiha Lie looked at her calmly.
He had expected this.
Of course she wouldn't abandon her clan.
He stepped closer.
"Who said you have to?"
She paused.
"Huh?"
He continued evenly:
"You can complete your mission."
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously again.
"And you?"
"I'll help."
Silence.
She stared at him.
"Why would you help me?"
He looked out the window toward the forest.
"Because the Shikon Jewel is dangerous."
"And because…"
He turned slightly.
"…if your clan moves recklessly, it will bring disaster."
Her expression shifted subtly.
He spoke clearly:
"If you want to gather information… do it properly."
"No blind searching."
"No reckless fighting."
"No unnecessary sacrifice."
She listened carefully.
"For now," he concluded, "stay. Learn the technique. Grow stronger."
"Then complete your mission with strength."
The room fell quiet.
Her tail moved slowly behind her.
Finally—
She nodded slightly.
"Fine."
Then she pointed at him firmly.
"But you're grilling fish tomorrow too."
He smiled faintly.
"Of course."
And thus—
The contract was signed.
The bond was formed.
And the fate of Uchiha Lie and Natsume became quietly intertwined in the forest of this unfamiliar world.**
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