Eastern Border of the Land of Fire
Aosui and his three companions arrived at the eastern coastline of the Land of Fire after a journey that had lasted nearly a day and a half.
Although ninjas possessed stamina far beyond that of ordinary people, Kurenai, Rin Nohara, and Shizune were still young. Their endurance and travel speed could not compare to experienced shinobi like Aosui. As a result, their pace had been steady rather than fast.
When they finally reached the shore, Kurenai froze in place, her crimson eyes widening in wonder.
"Is this… the ocean?"
The vast expanse of blue stretched endlessly before her. Sunlight shimmered across the rolling waves like scattered diamonds.
"It's so beautiful!" Rin exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement.
Shizune nodded eagerly. "I've never seen anything like this before!"
Aosui merely smiled at their reactions. He had seen the ocean many times before and was long accustomed to its grandeur.
"You three take a short rest," he said calmly. "I'll find a boatman heading out to sea."
Though they had learned to walk on water using chakra control, the uninhabited island where medicinal herbs grew was still quite far offshore. Sustaining chakra for such a long distance was beyond their current abilities.
Traveling by boat was the only practical choice.
Leaving behind a shadow clone to guard them, Aosui departed.
It did not take long to find a fisherman preparing to sail. After negotiating a round-trip fare, Aosui returned with the boatman. Soon, the small vessel cut through the water, carrying them toward their destination.
The boat moved swiftly.
In less than half a day, the silhouette of an isolated island appeared on the horizon.
As they stepped ashore, Aosui turned serious.
"Do you still remember the herbal knowledge I taught you?" he asked.
"Yes!" Kurenai answered confidently. "We won't make any mistakes."
Rin added, "We've memorized the differences between the medicinal plants and the poisonous look-alikes."
Aosui nodded approvingly.
"Good. And remember — don't harvest everything. Leave enough behind so the herbs can regrow. If you strip the island bare, there won't be anything left in the future."
This was an unwritten rule among herbal gatherers — respect nature, or suffer the consequences later.
The three girls nodded repeatedly.
With that, Aosui led them into the island's forest to begin collecting herbs.
However, while they worked, Aosui's main body was already moving elsewhere.
The Aosui gathering herbs was merely a shadow clone.
His real body dashed across the ocean's surface, chakra flowing steadily beneath his feet as he ran over the water.
His destination was another island nearby.
Summoning Island.
Also known as the Island of Oblivion.
Summoning Island
Unlike the quiet herb island, Summoning Island was a land of primal wilderness.
Towering trees stretched high into the sky. Dense vegetation covered the ground. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and blood.
Powerful summoning beasts roamed freely.
Massive serpents slithered between trees. Winged creatures circled overhead. Giant wolves fought over territory in the underbrush. Hunting and violence were daily occurrences.
It was a paradise for summoning beasts.
And a nightmare for ordinary ninjas.
Few dared to remain here for long.
Yet in the heart of this savage land stood a human research facility.
Within it, a group of researchers had devoted themselves to a dangerous ambition: creating the Ultimate Summoning Beast.
Their vision was bold.
They wanted to combine the abilities of every powerful summoning beast on the island into a single lifeform.
A being that would rival the creatures of the Three Great Sage Regions.
After years of research and countless failed experiments, they believed they had finally succeeded.
Inside a massive cultivation tank floated a grotesque creature — its body an unnatural fusion of tentacles, scales, claws, and armored hide.
"It's complete!" one researcher shouted, eyes shining with madness.
"We did it! This is the strongest summoning beast!"
Excitement filled the laboratory.
The creature possessed regenerative abilities, immense physical strength, enhanced perception, and chakra reserves surpassing any natural summoning beast on the island.
But there was one flaw.
It was uncontrollable.
The Ultimate Summoning Beast's power exceeded its creators' ability to command it.
Suddenly, its eyes snapped open.
The cultivation tank exploded.
"Something's wrong!"
"It's out of control!"
"Honoka! Seal it!"
Amid the chaos stood a barefoot girl with long red hair.
Honoka.
Unlike the panicking researchers, she remained relatively calm.
She slammed her palms onto the ground.
Golden chakra chains burst forth from her back, glowing brilliantly as they shot toward the raging beast.
They wrapped tightly around its enormous body.
Anyone familiar with sealing techniques would immediately recognize it.
This was the Adamantine Sealing Chains — a secret technique of the Uzumaki clan.
Honoka was one of the scattered survivors of the once-great Uzumaki clan of the Land of Whirlpools.
After their homeland's destruction, its members had been forced to scatter across the world.
Some, like Nagato's mother, had fled to the Land of Rain, only to perish in war.
Others had fallen into exploitation.
Compared to them, Honoka's fate had been fortunate.
She had come to the Land of the Sea and survived using the sealing techniques she had learned in her youth. Because of her unique ability, the researchers invited her to assist in controlling the Ultimate Summoning Beast.
They had treated her kindly.
But now—
The beast roared violently.
Two massive tentacles shot forward and seized two nearby researchers.
"No!"
Before anyone could react, the beast devoured them whole.
Blood splattered across the shattered floor.
Terror gripped the room.
"Seal it! Hurry!"
Honoka clenched her teeth, pouring more chakra into the chains.
But her sealing technique was incomplete.
Without full Uzumaki training, her Adamantine Chains lacked their true power.
"I… I can't hold it!" she cried in despair.
With a violent surge of strength, the Ultimate Summoning Beast shattered the chains.
"Run!" Honoka screamed.
The surviving researchers fled toward the exit.
They never made it.
The creature tore through them mercilessly, crushing and devouring them like prey.
The facility collapsed under the onslaught.
In moments, everyone lay dead.
Everyone except Honoka.
And she was next.
She ran desperately through the forest.
"Help! Someone help me!"
But deep down, she knew no one would come.
This was Summoning Island.
A paradise for monsters.
A tentacle lashed toward her.
She barely dodged, tumbling to the ground.
Before she could rise, a second tentacle shot forward.
She couldn't escape.
Is this the end?
Just as despair consumed her—
A massive water dragon materialized out of thin air.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The roaring dragon crashed into the Ultimate Summoning Beast, forcing it back more than ten meters.
Honoka stared in shock.
A blue-haired man wearing sunglasses stepped forward calmly.
It was Aosui.
He had sensed the disturbance upon arriving on the island and rushed toward it.
When he saw the girl about to die, he acted without hesitation.
Landing beside her, he extended his hand.
"Are you alright?"
Honoka blushed faintly as she accepted his help.
"Th-thank you… for saving me."
"Who are you?" Aosui asked. "And why was that summoning beast attacking you?"
She quickly explained everything.
As he listened, Aosui recalled fragments of memory.
There had been an incident involving an Ultimate Summoning Beast in the future timeline.
But that had occurred years later, near the beginning of the Fourth Great Ninja War.
In that version, Honoka had already died — appearing only as a spiritual remnant guiding Naruto.
So this was the origin.
The beast roared again and charged forward.
The earlier Water Dragon had not injured it at all.
Its durability was impressive.
Aosui's eyes gleamed with interest.
Perhaps this creature could withstand the power of the Seven-Tails' wings.
Without hesitation, he formed hand seals again.
He inhaled sharply.
"Water Release: Severing Wave!"
A concentrated, ultra-high-pressure stream of water shot from his mouth like a blade.
The air screamed as it sliced forward.
The Ultimate Summoning Beast attempted to defend itself—
Too late.
The Severing Wave cut cleanly through its massive body.
Under Honoka's stunned gaze, the creature was severed in half.
Blood gushed violently.
The beast howled in agony.
"So strong…" Honoka whispered, trembling.
Aosui stood calmly, water vapor swirling faintly around him.
To him, the so-called Ultimate Summoning Beast was nothing more than a promising test subject.
But to Honoka—
He looked like salvation itself.
And perhaps, the beginning of a new fate.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)