Chapter 320: The Contract
"Fourth Kazekage, you can return now. Within the month, I'll definitely pay a visit to Sunagakure."
At the gates of Konoha, Tonari, as the Hokage, was personally seeing off the departing shinobi and Kage from the other villages.
He spoke in a voice low enough for only Rasa to hear.
This time, Rasa had truly given Tonari enough face—and shown genuine sincerity.
The previous Kazekage might have considered opposing Konoha only because back then, it had housed both the God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju, and the equally powerful Uchiha Madara.
After their deaths, the other villages quickly united to challenge Konoha, sparking the First and Second Ninja Wars.
But now, it felt as though Konoha had once again returned to its former glory—standing above the rest of the shinobi world.
Others might think that as the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa should at least be able to match Tonari.
But Rasa himself knew the truth: he could not.
He had seen Tonari multiple times since arriving in Konoha and had never once dared to meet his gaze directly.
That alone made it clear how wide the gap between them truly was.
That's why, as soon as he became Kazekage, Rasa's first move had been to ally with Konoha.
Not because he was weak, but because he understood—this was Tonari's era.
The era of a new God of the Shinobi.
"No problem. I just hope the Fourth Hokage doesn't forget," Rasa nodded.
He then turned and left with Baki and the team of Sand shinobi who had come for the Chūnin Exams.
Anbu would escort them part of the way to ensure they safely left the Land of Fire and wouldn't linger too long.
After seeing the Sunagakure delegation off, Tonari turned to Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage.
Even though Yagura was under his complete control, he still went through the formalities.
"Fourth Mizukage, this wasn't our first meeting—and I believe it won't be the last.
I hope Konoha and Kirigakure can maintain a friendly relationship.
This blade, the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei, originally belongs to your village. Now it returns to its rightful place.
May our friendship endure."
As he spoke, Tonari extended his hand.
"May our friendship endure," Yagura echoed solemnly.
He accepted the Hiramekarei and handed it to Sasaki behind him. Then he grasped Tonari's hand in a firm shake.
This handshake marked a long-lasting alliance between Konoha and Kirigakure—one likely to last for decades.
At the same time, Tonari replenished Yagura's chakra reserves with a massive surge of ocular power.
And so, Kirigakure departed.
This marked a new beginning for them. After seeing the prosperity of Konoha firsthand, these Mist ninja would surely return home with renewed determination to improve their village.
As for Iwagakure's Kurotsuchi and Kumogakure's Tutai—they didn't receive such formal treatment. Their status simply wasn't the same.
Once the farewells were done, Tonari returned to his office.
On the way, every Konoha civilian and shinobi he passed greeted him with cheerful, respectful smiles.
The formal end of the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha's overwhelming success in the Chūnin Exams, and Tonari's immense power had brought peace and reassurance to the entire village.
Now, anyone who saw Tonari greeted him with the utmost respect.
Back at the Hokage Office, several people were already waiting for him.
"Sensei!"
A young shinobi wearing a standard Konoha Chūnin vest stood up.
On his back, a short sword—less than five inches long—hung at an angle, its hilt engraved with the Uchiha clan's fan symbol.
Tonari's smile grew.
"Shisui, you're finally a Chūnin—and you even helped your teacher secure first place for Konoha in the Exams. That's excellent!"
He genuinely felt the joy of having a talented student.
"It's because I had a good teacher," Shisui said with a bright smile, rubbing his big nose with a finger.
Despite always receiving Tonari's praise, Shisui never tired of it—especially since Tonari wasn't just anyone.
He was the Fourth Hokage, one of the strongest shinobi in the world, and Konoha's guardian deity.
Tonari patted his shoulder, pleased.
"Is there anything you want? As long as it's reasonable, I'll make it happen."
Shisui looked embarrassed but smiled sheepishly.
"Hehe..."
Tonari immediately understood—Shisui clearly had something in mind.
This was rare for him.
"Go on, let me hear it."
Shisui was usually quite open. Unlike Itachi, who wouldn't ask for anything unless Tonari noticed himself.
"Sensei… you mentioned before that once we were strong enough, we could get our own summoning cat, right? Hehe..."
Tonari couldn't help but pity Shisui's nose from all the rubbing.
"I understand."
He bit his thumb.
Summoning Jutsu!
Poof—
A large, round, blue-gray cat nearly twice the height of a man appeared in the office.
"Lord Tonari!"
The cat, initially looking lazy, instantly straightened up respectfully upon seeing Tonari.
Its belly jiggled from the sudden movement.
Tonari knew its personality well. But Shisui, seeing the plump cat, couldn't help but wince.
He'd seen many cats in Tonari's cat sanctuary—all adorable and elegant, regardless of size.
But this blue-gray blob totally subverted his expectations.
At the same time, a smaller two-tailed cat leapt from Tonari's chest: the young Two-Tails.
Upon seeing her, the fat blue cat's eyes lit up.
"Lord Matatabi!"
Tonari stroked the little cat's back, and she leaned into his touch, purring with pleasure.
Turns out, being petted was addictive for both the petter and the petted.
She sat on Tonari's desk, licking her paw as she enjoyed the affection.
"Blue Fatty, quit dawdling. Bring out the scroll," Tonari ordered.
This cat was called Blue Fatty—a name he'd received from Little Blue when he was young and stuck ever since.
"Got it, Lord Tonari!"
Blue Fatty plopped down and began rummaging through his belly fur.
Shisui's expression became even more awkward.
Tonari noticed and smirked.
"What is it, Shisui?"
Shisui hesitated but finally asked,
"Sensei... you're not saying this guy is going to be my summoning beast, right?"
Blue Fatty paused, turning to stare at him.
"Are you looking down on me? Me, Blue Fatty?"
"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Shisui waved his hands in panic.
"I think it is what you meant! Lord Tonari, can I smack this brat?!"
Tonari shrugged,
"Up to you. Just a heads-up—Shisui's already on par with a Jōnin."
Blue Fatty tensed—but quickly pretended to be unfazed.
"So what if he's Jōnin level? As long as he's not Kage-level, I fear no one!"
He crouched, glaring at Shisui.
"You disrespected me—and by extension, the entire Neko Clan, Lord Tonari, and Lord Matatabi.
Even if everyone else forgives you, I won't!"
Shisui laughed awkwardly, trying to deescalate.
Unfortunately, his teacher sat nearby munching on snacks, offering no help at all.
Shisui sighed.
So... this was happening, huh?
He crouched, ready for battle, hand on his short sword.
Blue Fatty tensed as well, muscles rippling beneath the fat.
The air between them grew heavier.
Blue Fatty bared his fangs.
"Draw your blade! Come on! Cut me!"
"...What?"
"Cut me! How else will you see how tough I am?!"
Shisui blinked, confused.
But Tonari remained silent, snacking contently.
So Shisui drew his blade and slashed at Blue Fatty's leg.
Clang—
Metal rang against flesh. Sparks flew.
His sword had struck what felt like steel.
"That all you got? I didn't feel a thing! Hit me harder!"
Now a little more confident, Shisui slashed again with full force.
Blue Fatty blocked with his forehead.
CLANG!
This time, he staggered slightly and rubbed his head.
"Okay... that one stung a bit."
Stung?
Shisui was speechless.
He had used everything he had—yet Blue Fatty barely felt it.
"You got anything stronger?" the cat asked, plucking some singed fur.
Shisui's eyes narrowed—and flared open, revealing his three tomoe Sharingan.
He poured all his chakra into his blade.
"Sharingan? Uchiha?"
Blue Fatty's ears perked up in alarm.
Before he could react, Shisui was already airborne, sword raised high.
"Wait—stop! STOP!"
But it was too late.
A figure suddenly appeared between them.
CLANG—
Sparks flew as Shisui was deflected mid-air, tumbling back.
Tonari stood atop Blue Fatty's head, returning his circular blade to its sheath.
Both Shisui and Blue Fatty sighed in relief.
"You see it now, Shisui? Blue Fatty's true strength?"
Shisui nodded sincerely.
"Blue Fatty has a special gift—defense. That's why he guards this."
Tonari accepted a massive scroll from Blue Fatty's belly and opened it.
"The Neko Clan's Summoning Scroll. Leave your name and blood mark here to form your contract."
This was how to expand the summoning clan's reach—by having multiple strong contractors to spread their name.
Shisui nodded solemnly and wrote his name, then bit his finger and left his bloody fingerprint.
Contract complete.
Blue Fatty took the scroll back carefully.
"Uchiha Shisui, I'll remember your name—and your chakra. Summon me whenever."
With Tonari's nod, he vanished in a puff of smoke.
"A new summoning clan, huh..."
Just then, a voice came from the office window—low and playful.
---
Read up to 20 chapter ahead of time on patreon.com/Legendryweeb
{please give this novel 5 Star review and power stone}
*Thank you*