Chapter 107: Uses
"Summoning Beasts capable of growth..."
Hiruzen's expression was grim. The implication was obvious: Kael Cross, the Second Leader of the Hidden Hot Water Village, would only continue to grow stronger.
If Kael's current strength wasn't enough to truly worry a major village like Konoha, his astounding potential certainly was.
"Is it some new, unknown ability? And where did that kid find all these summons with such diverse abilities...?"
Hiruzen's brows were tightly knit.
As an immensely experienced ninja, reading the report instantly told him that even if he were to act personally, he couldn't be 100% certain of dealing with Kael's tricky summons.
Just the flying eagle alone left him somewhat helpless.
"Terrifying defensive ninjutsu, Yin Release that robs people of their reason, elusive spatial abilities, techniques that prevent approach, Earth Style that turns flesh to stone, and a mysterious jutsu that even the Raikage's son, with his Lightning Release Armor, dared not tank..."
Hiruzen muttered slowly, his face growing increasingly solemn.
Any one of these abilities listed in the report would be troublesome on its own. Now that they were all gathered in the hands of a minor village leader, how could he not be wary?
However, he was relieved that Minato, the young genius in whom he had placed such high hopes, had not fallen to the Cloud's surprise attack. Instead, Minato had displayed even more astonishing strength. This actually sparked a hint of gratitude towards Kael in Hiruzen's heart.
"I only asked you to try it out. I never expected you to actually master the Flying Thunder God, a space-time ninjutsu. Minato, you truly are the most outstanding genius of this generation. It gladdens my heart to know Konoha has a worthy successor..."
Minato scratched his head, suddenly feeling shy.
"You praise me too highly, Lord Hokage..."
Land of Hot Water, in a forest outside the Hidden Hot Water Village.
The Thunder-Wind Eagle spat out large wind blades, slicing through towering trees at their base. Trees within a hundred meters toppled in droves, causing the entire forest to tremble and kicking up thick clouds of dust.
Next, it was the other summons' turn.
The Void Mantis flashed its sharp scythes. With a few flickers of movement, it chopped the fallen trees into logs and sliced off the excess branches, leaving smooth trunks.
The Earthen Beetle turned around, using its powerful hind legs to push the logs together. Countless Explosive Flies, carrying long ropes in their mouths, then bound the logs tightly.
Dense swarms of Blazing Worker Ants gathered beneath the bundles of logs and shouted in unison.
"One, two, three, lift!"
The next moment, bundles of logs countless times their size were lifted by the worker ants and carried rapidly toward the Hidden Hot Water Village.
In the forest, a small commander in black and white overalls, with seemingly intelligent beady eyes darting around the construction site, waved a small flag and shouted at the top of its lungs.
"Cluck, cluck, cluck! Cluck, cluck, cluck! Cluck, cluck, cluck! —Don't slack off! I'm watching you! Or I'll tell the master on you!"
"Woof, woof, woof! —Tch! Think you're actually somebody, huh?"
Little Gray curled his lip, wishing he could swallow the noisy chicken whole.
Goldie, Little Gray's best friend, also looked at Kun Kun with disdain. The wolf and dog duo were most annoyed by this overalls-wearing chicken who loved singing, dancing, playing basketball, and parting its hair down the middle. Goldie said sarcastically to Little Gray:
"Woof, woof, woof! —He's a divine descendant, you know. Be careful, or that ugly thing will hear you and use a summoning ritual to have his god punish you!"
Little Gray sneered.
"Woof, woof, woof! —I'm so scared!"
"Woof, woof, woof! —Why did the boss create such a shameless, ugly thing? Performing that crappy art for us every day... who can stand it?"
"Woof, woof, woof! —I don't know what the old-timer was thinking. Hurry up and synthesize that damn thing again, or I'm afraid I'll eat it one of these days!"
Despite their chatter, they didn't dare neglect their duties. The wolf and dog grabbed ropes in their mouths, dragging bundles of wood behind them as they raced toward the Hidden Hot Water Village, kicking up dust and lightning.
The Void Mouse struggled to carry a log dozens of times thicker than its body toward the village. Suddenly, its face went pale, and it collapsed on the ground, motionless.
Fortunately, the Void Mantis, which had already made a round trip to the village, spotted the little guy. After a moment's hesitation, it changed direction and headed toward the Void Mouse.
Although it didn't like the Void Mouse much, they were both of the Void attribute, so it couldn't just ignore it. Even if this mouse was usually despicable enough that its "siblings" disliked it and would often turn a blind eye to its troubles.
The Mantis reached out a foreleg to check the mouse's nose, then poked its eyelid. The Void Mouse rolled its eyes, then looked up at the Void Mantis angrily and made a face.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak! —Nosy bug, did you have to come check? Happy now? I can't even play dead in peace!"
The Void Mantis's eyes widened in shock, then it was filled with rage. It was always the one bullying others; when had it ever been humiliated like this?
"What the f**?"*
Seeing the situation turn bad, the Void Mouse immediately slipped into the void. But the Void Mantis vanished right after.
The next moment, the Void Mantis dragged the Void Mouse out of the void, gripping its neck tightly, choking it until it could barely breathe. The mouse raised a trembling hand.
"Squeak... squeak, squeak! —Big... Big Brother! I was wrong!"
"Screw you!"
The Void Mantis cursed coldly and released its grip, letting the Void Mouse fall mid-air.
Survived!
Just as the Void Mouse breathed a sigh of relief, it suddenly clutched its stomach. The next moment, it was launched like a cannonball, vomiting a long trail of blood in the air as it disappeared into the horizon like a shooting star.
"Hoo-ah!"
Maintaining a punching posture with its right claw, the Void Mantis wiped the corner of its mouth disdainfully with its left.
Five miles away.
A massive cement mixing pit.
Glug, glug!
Cement swirled rapidly in a pit a hundred meters wide, turning into a massive vortex. The lumpy mixture became smooth and silky before the naked eye.
Suddenly!
The Earth Dragon, whose head was submerged in the slurry as it mixed the concrete with its mouth, lifted its head in confusion. Sticky brown mud dripped from its head, soaking half its body.
It thought it saw a black dot fly by in the distance, zooming past it at incredible speed.
"What was that thing that just went 'pew' past me?"
It stood there dazed, its scalp itching as if it were about to grow a brain!