With Aokumo and Ryūfū, there was no longer any need for other summoned creatures, save for one he had used back then to trick Nawaki into becoming his disciple. Since then, he hadn't used one again, and he never imagined it would come in handy now!
Torifu chatted with Genshin in the courtyard for a while before heading home alone. Since Torifu had already accepted his daughter as a disciple, there was no need for him to stay and bother him any longer. Genshin was genuinely pleased that a shinobi of Torifu's caliber was taking Mana as his apprentice; he was probably overjoyed on the inside. His daughter's talent issue had been solved, and she had become Torifu's apprentice. This good fortune had arrived quite suddenly.
Torifu could have actually found a miraculous cure for Mana's allergy in the system store, but he was unwilling. The Aburame clan's insect-controlling techniques were excellent, but the training was incredibly painful. As a child, one had to let kikaichū infest their organs and build nests inside them. This kind of pain was not something an ordinary person could endure. Although Mana could definitely handle it, Torifu didn't want her to suffer such agony. After all, with the moth Torifu had evolved using a Summoning Seed, there was no longer a need for Mana to control kikaichū.
"Sensei, what are we going to do next?"
Torifu touched her head. "Give me your moth. Then, you can get to know your senior brother. From now on, you'll be fighting side-by-side."
"My senior brother? Is it Nawaki Nii-san?"
On the way here, Mana had heard from her father that the grandson of the First Hokage was Torifu's disciple, which was why she asked.
"No, it's a boy around your age. He just became my apprentice today, too."
Hearing this, Mana's interest was piqued. Nawaki was much older than her; they wouldn't have much to talk about or play together. But now there was a new senior brother, and she would have a companion.
"Sensei, where is my senior brother?"
Torifu pointed. "He's in that room. Just knock and go in."
Mana nodded, took the moth from her head and handed it to Torifu, then skipped off to find Minato.
Torifu could distinctly feel the moth trembling in his hand. Such a fragile little life could be crushed in an instant, but Torifu was not a cruel person.
"You little thing, you have a bit of spirit. Today, I'll give you a chance encounter. From now on, you must stay by Mana's side and protect her well."
The moth had no reaction, just trembled uncontrollably. Torifu smiled slightly at its fear and took it back into the room.
He opened the system and first claimed the 1,000 Peace Points from Minato. Frugality was the key to this kind of wealth. Then, he exchanged a Summoning Seed from the store. Each time he saw one, it looked incredibly disgusting, like a human heart.
Holding the heart in his hand, Torifu was a little stumped. Could this little moth even handle this evolution? What if it just burst from being overfilled?
But who knew that the little moth, upon seeing the seed, fluttered its wings and flew onto it, inserting its proboscis into the seed and beginning to suck the liquid inside. In no time, the entire Summoning Seed shriveled up, leaving only a husk. Torifu was utterly astonished. A thumb-sized moth had consumed an entire heart-like object. No one would believe it.
Right after it had finished eating the Summoning Seed, the moth suddenly emitted a faint, seven-colored glow. Its entire body was much larger than before, about the size of two adult palms. The antennae on its head had turned a golden color, like a tiny crown. The veins of its wings glowed with a mixture of blue and gold light, and its two front claws had become broad and sharp like scythes! This was probably its new means of attack.
Just from its appearance, one seed had brought about such a massive change in the moth. It was a fascinating sight every time. The patterns on its wings were even more magnificent now, looking like two mesmerizing eyes.
"Lord... Lord... Thank you..."
Oh, what a pleasant surprise. This was probably the first time in his life he had heard a moth speak.
Torifu held it in his palm. "You're welcome. I did this for my apprentice. Since you've gained this opportunity, you must stay by Mana's side and protect her well."
"Mana and I are friends. Of course, I will."
Torifu smiled. The moth had stumbled over its first sentence, but it had learned human speech so quickly.
"In the future, there will be many other moths and butterflies surrounding Mana. If you want to be the one she loves the most, you have to work harder."
As expected, when the moth heard this, it grew a little anxious. It had been with Mana for half a year and was close to death. But then it met Torifu, and now it felt like it could be with Mana for a very long time. However, the thought of other moths being around Mana made it feel a little dejected.
Torifu didn't expect this little moth to be so sensitive. "You just need to become the one Mana trusts the most."
He then tapped its head and passed on the part of the Sage Art training for summoning animals that he had previously obtained from the system.
"This method is for cultivating Sage Art by absorbing natural energy. Study it well, but you cannot let Mana find out. Even if you master it, only use it in times of danger."
"Just by training in this Sage Art, your power will increase dramatically. You must protect Mana well."
The moth fluttered its wings in agreement.
"Come on, let's go see how Mana and her senior brother are doing."
As soon as Torifu stepped out, he saw Mana and Minato waiting outside the room.
Mana asked with a cheerful smile, "Sensei, what were you mumbling about in there?"
Torifu waved his hand. "Nothing much."
Then, he brought his other hand out from behind his back. On his hand stood a moth with blue and golden wings, brilliant and dazzling. Mana was stunned when she saw the moth; she could feel that it was her moth, but how had it changed so much? It was so much bigger and more beautiful. It was great!
"Mana, Mana, please give me a name."
Mana was startled and tensed up. "Who! Who's talking!"
Torifu laughed. "Look down at the moth. It's the one who spoke."
Both Mana and Minato were now shocked! A moth could talk? This couldn't be real, right? But when the moth spoke again, Mana truly believed it. Although she hadn't fully adapted to it yet, she really liked Blue Spirit.
Blue Spirit was the name Mana gave the moth. It wasn't a great name, but it fit the moment. Its blue wings gave it the name Blue Spirit. It was a rather perfunctory name.