New Year's Eve—a time to celebrate and unwind from all that stress.
That night, [Homuragakure] held another grand bonfire party.
In the Ninja World,
New Year's Day was considered one of the most significant festivals.
However, due to years of constant warfare, ninja were practically working nonstop all year round on missions.
As a result, while the festival remained highly important to ordinary people,
its significance had become increasingly weak within each Hidden Village.
After all, everyone was working overtime during the New Year—where was the time for celebration?
Therefore, by comparison,
[Homuragakure], though not exactly lenient in its demands,
still offered generous treatment in terms of compensation, holidays, and other benefits...
Shimoku waved a generous hand himself,
directly specially approving that, aside from rotating shift guards, everyone else would receive a seven-day vacation.
This made New Year's Eve exceptionally lively in the village.
Almost all citizens joined the celebration, creating a festive and joyful atmosphere.
Zabuza danced a striptease...
Deidara showcased his explosive clay artistry...
Riyō and Gin were locked in a dazzling swordplay performance...
Everyone was laughing freely and indulging in fun.
Even Shimoku himself
was immersed in a sea of joy,
sneaking himself a few cups of sake with a quiet grin, truly letting loose.
He didn't even bother using chakra to sober up.
After all, despite never touching alcohol in this life,
Shimoku had absolute confidence in his alcohol tolerance!
Soon, within just a few minutes,
someone stumbled drowsily into Yueji's lap,
drifting in a cloud of warmth and softness.
Until he was carried home and fell into a blissful slumber…
The next day, Shimoku woke up drowsily, hurriedly changing his bedding.
Last night's sleep had been really warm!
Did someone actually warm my bed for me?
"Damn it! Drinking costs me my dignity again!"
"My body's still tiny—still growing! No wonder I couldn't handle the sake!"
"If I'd known, I should've used chakra to burn off the alcohol!"
"What a waste—I didn't even get to enjoy it properly last night…"
Shimoku inwardly regretted.
Quickly washing up, he went downstairs and started making breakfast.
Nonou the housekeeper's cooking remained as excellent as ever; the freshly heated milk was white and thick...
Shimoku happily enjoyed a satisfying meal.
Then immediately turned to serious matters.
At the beginning of the new year, he indeed had very important things to do.
[Summoning Jutsu!]
Suddenly casting the technique, Shimoku summoned 'Mooncake'.
Currently, Mooncake
was enjoying a pleasant nap;
he was even clutching his short legs like tasty dumplings, drooling slightly as he chewed.
"Hey! Lazybones, wake up."
Shimoku grabbed the miniature 'Mooncake' and shook him awake.
"Who—who dares interrupt Your Supreme Nap?!"
"Shimoku!"
"You again, brat!"
"Let me down at once, you rascal!"
Mooncake lashed out like a grumpy kitten—with about as much threat as one.
Mooncake set the snack aside, smirking as he spoke:
"You do nothing but loaf around all day — sleep after eating, eat after sleeping. Can't you do something useful for once? Look at how soft you've gotten..."
"Mind your own business!"
"Took you long enough to remember I exist? Encountered another problem again?"
"I can help, sure..."
"But the price went up! Double payment this time — no deal otherwise!"
Mooncake plopped onto the table, crossed his little paws, and puffed his cheeks in irritation.
In short: he wouldn't help without a raise. No double payment, no deal!
Shimoku frowned and gave Mooncake a playful tap on the head.
Of course, it wasn't hard.
Then, chuckling, he teased:
"Who're you trying to impress anyway?"
"Today's New Year's Day. I'm going to visit Elder Lord Inuzuka."
"You better hurry back and perform the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring me over."
"Hurry up!"
Mooncake rubbed his head, wearing a fierce expression.
"No way!" he snapped, crossing his arms.
Shimoku didn't waste words, directly handing him a drumstick — one so massive it dwarfed Mooncake himself.
"How about this now?"
Mooncake grabbed the giant leg, sniffed it deeply, and his eyes lit up instantly.
His tone shifted dramatically:
"Hmm… barely passable."
"Just wait here. I'll summon you right away."
Saying that, he struggled under the weight of the enormous drumstick, then with a puff of white smoke — vanished back.
Just like that.
Within ten seconds, a burst of white fog exploded.
Shimoku disappeared from the spot.
Instantly, space-time energy activated.
Thus, Shimoku crossed thousands of kilometers and arrived at another sacred secret land —
[Maku Zhutai]
The habitat of the Panda Summoning Beast Clan — and also Mooncake's hometown.
Actually...
Among the existing Summoning Beasts in the Ninja World, except for the Ninja Hounds directly bred by the Inuzuka Clan,
other Summoning Beasts typically resided in their own hidden habitats.
These places were mostly secret, making them nearly impossible to detect for regular ninja.
In fact, one could regard these places as separate hidden realms.
Existing within the Ninja World, yet independent from it...
The Natural Energy inside was exceptionally abundant.
They were like independent grand barriers.
Without special methods or permission, ordinary people couldn't possibly enter!
Of course, the best-preserved among them were [Mount Myoboku], [Ryuchi Cave], and [Shikkotsu Forest] — which naturally became known as the Three Sacred Lands.
Apart from these three holy sites, every other Summoning Beast had its own habitat.
Otherwise, those Summoning Beasts wouldn't have survived in the first place...
This [Maku Zhutai] was the exclusive dwelling place of the Panda Summoning Beast Clan.
Thinking carefully, this was actually the third time Shimoku had come here.
The scenery here truly was breathtaking.
Nestled between mountains and rivers, shaped like a basin cradling nature itself.
Lush greenery everywhere, much like the Sichuan Basin from Shimoku's past life — a land crafted by nature's own hand.
Of course, provided you ignore all those vast stretches of bamboo forests already stripped bare.
Clearly, after many years...
Under years of unchecked indulgence.
The bamboo supply within this secret realm could no longer satisfy the dietary needs of the Mooncake Clan.
To make matters worse, there was someone like Uncle Copperluo, whose monstrous appetite far exceeded others.
That's why Mooncake was kicked out by Old Lord in the first place and had to trek all the way to the Five Great Nations to form alliances.
He never would've met Shimoku or entered a blood pact with him through summoning.
"I should suggest to Old Lord later that we really need to fix this place up."
"If we keep pulling up bamboo like this, it'll all be wiped out soon..."
"Alright then, I'll bring more provisions next time."
Shimoku silently resolved.
Of course, he hadn't come here for sightseeing.
He genuinely needed to consult something with Old Lord.
"Mooncake, is Old Lord home?"
"In, in, in!"
"With his age, where else could he possibly go?"
"Go find him yourself. Don't bother my mealtime!"
Mooncake waved him off impatiently, clearly annoyed.
He just wanted to shake off that kid Shimoku as soon as possible so he could finally dig in!
Otherwise, if he waited too long...
The smell of that big chicken leg would reach Uncle Sanshu's nose, and Mooncake wouldn't even get a taste!
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