Chapter 56 Summoning Technique
Same bar, same private room, same two people.
"Pleasure doing business with you."
Haruko intended to pay the bill and leave immediately, but this time, he was stopped by Kagero before he could even exit the private room.
"If... the Fuma Clan were to join Konoha, what would happen?"
Haruko was stunned for a moment.
'This guy... did she guess that we are Konoha Ninja? That makes sense. Aside from Konoha, who else would be looking for Jiraiya and be so familiar with Orochimaru?"
"Joining Konoha, huh..." Haruko thought for a moment. "The benefit is that you can live quite securely. As the head of the Five Great Ninja Villages, you won't have to worry about a lack of missions."
"However, that's about it. Konoha has many clans, and the upper echelons are... well, it's complicated. Outside ninja clans will inevitably be excluded and exploited. You either withstand the pressure to earn a place, or you get marginalized, gradually become mediocre, and eventually fade into the crowd."
Haruko sneered.
"Heh, crows are black all over the world. Konoha is already considered quite good; at least the facade is maintained, and the overall living environment is decent. It's unlikely for a clan to become a great power, but continuing the clan's lineage is still possible."
"...I understand. Thank you for the information."
"Mm. That's all then, goodbye."
Haruko pushed the door open and left the bar. Kagero stood at the doorway, watching his back until he disappeared.
...
On the way back to Konoha, Anko seemed a bit depressed.
Although the mission was completed, the process had been quite embarrassing for her as the team leader and Special Jonin.
The clues were basically found by Haruko, not to mention that she barely contributed—
"Anko-sensei, you have already learned how to expel Natural Energy from your body, so you basically don't need to worry about the curse mark going out of control anymore. Next, you should learn how to guide and use Natural Energy, but unfortunately, I basically rely on physical instinct and feeling, so it's not easy to describe specifically..."
—she even had to have Haruko help suppress the curse mark and provide guidance on using Natural Energy.
It was as if their roles had been swapped.
Where was the dignity of a Special Jonin? Where was the authority of a teacher?
"Ahem, well... Haruko. You performed well on this trip."
"Huh?"
"As your guiding Jonin, I feel I still need to teach you something. Otherwise, wouldn't this trip have been a waste of time?"
Haruko blinked: "Then what does Anko-sensei want to teach?"
"You saw it during our sparring earlier, which one do you want to learn, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands or the Dragon Flame Technique?"
"Uh..." Haruko hesitated.
"You want to learn both? What a greedy kid." Anko put her hands on her hips and nodded. "Alright, then I'll teach you both."
"Actually... well, I already know those two techniques..."
"Huh?"
"The Dragon Flame Technique is not much different from the Fireball Jutsu I know. I've also seen you use Hidden Shadow Snake Hands so many times, I just don't like snakes, so I don't use it."
Haruko formed hand signs: "Dragon Flame Technique."
A slightly smaller fire dragon erupted from Haruko's mouth.
"Huh??"
Haruko raised his hand and flicked it: "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands."
His arm turned into several pythons and shot out.
"Huh???"
Seeing Anko stunned, Haruko tried to make up for it: "However... I do have a technique I want to learn."
"What technique?" Anko's eyes lit up.
"Orochimaru-style Body Replacement Technique."
The expression on Anko's face froze.
'Damn, she doesn't know it, does she?...In the original work, she really never used it. Tsk tsk, Sasuke learned it after three years with Orochimaru, but Anko hasn't learned it after all these years. No wonder Orochimaru stopped playing with her."
Seeing Anko almost losing her composure, Haruko quickly changed his words: "How about the Summoning Technique instead? It feels quite convenient."
"Fine, then I'll teach you the Summoning Technique!" Anko clearly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Listen well, the Summoning Technique is a contract-based summoning jutsu. The sequence of hand signs is Boar-Dog-Bird-Monkey-Ram. The key lies in using a blood contract and..."
She bit her finger, formed hand signs rapidly, and slammed her hands on the ground.
Bang!
A small snake appeared on the ground, flicking its tongue.
The smoke cleared, and a large purple snake as thick as a thigh coiled at Anko's feet, hissing.
"That's about it, did you understand?"
Anko turned her head and saw Haruko squatting down, grabbing a wild snake from the side of the road.
"Summoning Technique."
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke exploded.
Anko stared blankly at what was under Haruko's hand—the snake was lying there, flicking its tongue with a confused expression, clearly not understanding the situation.
"Once... and you succeeded?" Anko felt her worldview had been impacted.
How long did it take her to learn this technique back then? This kid learned it after watching it once?
Haruko took out a Kunai, chopped the snake's head off with one strike, then skinned and gutted it in one smooth motion.
"Mm, pretty good. From now on, I won't run out of fresh ingredients when I go out. Thank you, Anko-sensei."
Anko felt a breath stuck in her throat.
"You just summoned it, and you're eating it?"
"Otherwise? This snake can't even deliver a message, what's the point of keeping it? Anko-sensei, do you have that kind of summoned beast that is a bit sturdier, preferably with hands and feet, that can help me wash dishes, mop the floor, and carry flour?"
Anko rolled her eyes: "In your dreams! Summoned beasts with intelligence all have their own clans and sacred lands. You must earn their recognition to sign a contract. Stop dreaming."
"Oh. Then forget it. I'll just keep using them as ingredients."
Anko took a deep breath.
Forget it, how he uses the techniques she taught him is his business. At least the teacher's face was saved... sort of.
"Let's go, back to the village to report the mission."
...
Hokage Office.
"That is all for the mission report."
"I see... You don't want to return to the village?" The Third Hokage exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes looking somewhat aged and weary.
The information in the scroll was not much, just some investigation results regarding the Land of Rice Fields and Orochimaru, plus some miscellaneous intelligence.
What he really cared about was not this.
"Haruko, you performed very well on this mission. Anko should have told you on the way, right?"
"You are too kind, Hokage-sama." Haruko lowered his head, his attitude respectful.
The Third Hokage smiled and waved his hand.
"You may step back for a moment. I have something to discuss with Haruko privately."
Anko was stunned for a moment, glanced at Haruko, then nodded and exited the office.
The door closed.
Only the two of them remained in the office.
The Third Hokage stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Haruko.
"Haruko, you have a good relationship with Uchiha Itachi, don't you?"
Haruko's heart tightened, but his face remained calm.
"Itachi is a regular customer at Ichiraku Ramen, we are friends."
"Friends, huh..." The Third Hokage turned around. "Then do you know the recent situation of the Uchiha Clan?"
"I don't know, and I don't care." Haruko shook his head. "I'm just a Ramen Shop employee. Itachi just comes to the shop to eat ramen occasionally, chats with me, and I forget it the moment he leaves."
"Elder Danzo has some complaints about your relationship with Itachi, but I told him he was overthinking it. He is also doing it for Konoha; he's just a bit too sensitive. I've already talked to him during the time you were away, so don't take it to heart."
"I understand. Then, if Itachi comes to the shop again...?"
"Just continue interacting with Itachi as you did before."
The Third Hokage opened a drawer and took out a scroll, placing it on the table.
"Actually, the reason I called you here today is that there is a reward for you. I heard you are interested in the Summoning Technique?"
"I am a little interested." Haruko looked at the scroll. "Mainly, I want to find someone who can help with chores."
"Is that so? Then that's perfect." The Third Hokage smiled. "This is a contract for a branch of the Monkey Clan. Although not as powerful as the Monkey King, it is still a decent Summoning beast. They are high in intelligence, agile, and very suitable for auxiliary work."
Haruko knew very well that accepting this scroll meant being labeled as part of the "Hokage faction."
'It's not a bad thing, though. It's good to have a big tree to lean on. If you give it to me, I'll take it, but I won't promise anything. If you want me to do something, I'll just continue to slack off."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Haruko stepped forward and took the scroll.
"You are the future of Konoha, so naturally, I should take care of you." The Third Hokage laughed heartily.
"Alright, you must be tired, go back and get some rest. Send Anko in; I have something else to discuss."
"Yes."
Haruko tucked the scroll into his chest and slipped away happily.
...
After Haruko left, as Anko entered the room, the Third Hokage's smile gradually faded.
"Anko, tell me truthfully. On this trip, what do you think of Haruko?"
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