Shikigami Summoning in Konoha

Chapter 76: The Mission to the Land of Waves Begins

"Damn brat, come here!"

Ignoring the enraged Kurama who was clawing at the seal, Katsuragi was checking the newly generated bounty seal, feeling a bit shocked.

"Defeat the Incomplete Nine-Tails" "Reward: 5 million gold coins"

Katsuragi hadn't expected the bounty seal's reward to be so high, and this was just for the incomplete Nine-Tails. Could it be that the complete Nine-Tails might offer a reward up to 10 million gold coins?

If it weren't for the fact that he knew he truly couldn't defeat the Nine-Tails, Katsuragi would have wanted to find a chance to release the Nine-Tails just once. After all, that was 5 million right there, plus the 1.5 million he already had saved up, he could almost level up two SSRs.

Looking at the Nine-Tails, still extending its claws and baring its fangs, lying in front of the seal and staring him down, Katsuragi pondered for a moment and then approached with a forced smile, "Ah, so you were awake, Nine-Tails. I was just joking, don't take it seriously, okay?"

"Damn human, damn brat, when I get out, you'll be the first one I devour."

The Nine-Tails ignored Katsuragi's apology, its fierce eyes glaring daggers at him. With the size of the Nine-Tails, devouring Katsuragi would indeed be a matter of a single bite.

"Nine-Tails, we've known each other for so long, you shouldn't get so angry over a joke."

Katsuragi suddenly felt like having a heart-to-heart with the Nine-Tails. He sat down in front of the seal, sighing, "You're the only one in Konoha who knows about my special situation, so I really consider you a friend."

"Hmph, mere humans."

The Nine-Tails scoffed and looked at Katsuragi with a cold laugh, remaining silent.

"What's wrong with being human?" Katsuragi said calmly, "Wasn't the Sage of the Six Paths a human too? How come I don't hear you calling him 'mere human'?"

The Nine-Tails sneered, a trace of unnoticed reminiscence flashing in its eyes before it mocked, "And you dare to compare yourself to the Sage of the Six Paths?"

"Why can't I compare?" Katsuragi grinned and asked curiously, "Nine-Tails, how exactly did the Sage of the Six Paths die? Did you witness it yourself?"

As Katsuragi's power grew, so did his boldness. And since he was talking to the Nine-Tails, he knew it would never divulge his secrets.

"What exactly do you know?" The Nine-Tails looked at Katsuragi suspiciously, sensing something off about his tone. It was unusual for someone to make connections between it and the Sage of the Six Paths, and the Nine-Tails also noticed that Katsuragi had used the term "you all."

"I don't know much at all. I definitely don't know that the Sage of the Six Paths was actually named Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki, that he split the Ten-Tails and created you nine Tailed Beasts, and that you're called Kurama—I'm totally clueless about all of that," Katsuragi said with an "innocent" look, secretly amused at how he hadn't thought to tease the Nine-Tails like this before. Perhaps his recent surge in power had also changed his mindset.

"Who are you really?"

The Nine-Tails was truly startled now. The real name of the Sage of the Six Paths was supposed to be unknown to almost everyone in the modern world, including its own name and the story of the Ten-Tails, which only other Tailed Beasts would know. Based on its observations while inside Naruto, Katsuragi should not have had contact with any other Tailed Beasts.

"Just Katsuragi Tobiyo."

Katsuragi shrugged as if it was obvious the Nine-Tails should have known him by now.

The Nine-Tails frowned deeply, racking its memory. There was no one familiar connected to the name "Katsuragi" in its vast recollections, leaving the fox confused about how Katsuragi knew so much.

Seeing that the Nine-Tails was silent, Katsuragi remembered that Naruto was waiting outside. He stood up, saying, "Well, take your time to think it over. Tell me next time we meet, haha."

"Goodbye, Kurama."

Katsuragi waved cheerfully and deliberately pronounced the Nine-Tails' name. Without waiting for a response, he vanished from the seal.

Back in the house, Katsuragi went to make tea, thinking about future plans. The Third Hokage had told him that the Chunin Exams were only a few months away. Besides Orochimaru, there would be Gaara from the Sand Village, the One-Tail Shukaku's jinchūriki.

Orochimaru's bounty and the reward for capturing a Tailed Beast like Shukaku would definitely be substantial. His plans to upgrade the Six-Star Shuten Dōji and awaken Yuki Onna and Enenra also depended on this mission.

"And the Magatama and summoning charms," Katsuragi thought these were also crucial. Maybe defeating a Tailed Beast would yield an achievement reward.

"But with my current strength, facing the One-Tail might be a bit of a stretch."

Katsuragi pondered. Although he was powerful now, Shukaku was no weakling. A mere Five-Star spirit wasn't enough to dominate a Tailed Beast, but he was confident enough to defend himself.

"I still have a few months to grow stronger."

Katsuragi reflected. He had already graduated, and the upcoming mission to the Land of Waves, featuring the formidable Zabuza of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, who could stand toe-to-toe with Kakashi, promised substantial rewards.

"And if all else fails, I'll just awaken Enenra and Yuki Onna first."

Although awakening wouldn't transform his power dramatically, any increase in strength was welcome. As long as he could claim the bounty for the One-Tail, advancing their awakenings was an acceptable strategy.

Over the next few days, though he was reluctant to leave Hinata, Katsuragi decisively left Team 8. He worried that his presence might alter the storyline and negate the Land of Waves mission, thus forcing him to find other ways to gain power.

But perhaps because he hadn't changed any significant events since his arrival, just as he joined Team 7, Gatō still managed to appear as expected.

"What, just kids? Especially that short stupid one, is he really a ninja?"

As Gatō, holding a bottle and drunkenly, disparaged them, Katsuragi couldn't help but glance at Naruto's height, relieved to find that Naruto was indeed the shortest. If Gatō had meant him, he would have had to prove that power doesn't correlate with size.

Seeing Naruto, who had been laughing, realize Gatō was speaking about him and getting ready to retaliate—thankfully restrained by Kakashi—Katsuragi felt a mix of amusement and annoyance.

"Don't be fooled by their age; they are the elite of our village," the Third Hokage couldn't help but glance at Katsuragi, admittedly not very reassured about sending Naruto out on missions without the supervision of Katsuragi and Kakashi. The two Jōnin made the team overly qualified for a C-ranked mission.

"Really?"

Given it was the Hokage speaking, Gatō hesitantly reevaluated Katsuragi and the others. Considering his own village's circumstances, he sighed inwardly, hoping it was true, then formally introduced his "request."

The next day was clear and sunny, a gentle breeze stirring the air, warm sunlight filtering through the trees casting dappled shadows. Katsuragi and the rest of the team assembled at Konoha's gate, ready to start their mission.

"Zabuza, you'd better be worth a lot of gold," Katsuragi mused, looking towards the distance, preparing to set off for the Land of Waves.

End of Chapter 76