Beside Konoha Park, at the far end of the second-floor veranda of a traditional building.
Mamoru and the members of Team Guy sat around a wooden table. Two plates of exquisite fish sashimi lay before them, sliced so thin they were almost translucent, arranged in perfect rows, each piece shimmering like a pearl.
"They say I'm not cut out for Medical Ninjutsu." Tenten pouted, voice thick with disappointment and frustration, fingers absently tracing the rim of her teacup. "But even Mamoru learned it…"
"Haha, don't let it bother you!"
Guy boomed, chopsticks flashing as he scooped up three thick slices of sashimi in one go, dunked them in soy sauce, and stuffed them into his mouth.
Chewing noisily, he continued, "There are plenty of amazing kunoichi who never touch Medical Ninjutsu."
Tenten sighed, resting her chin in her hands, eyes shining. "But I want to be as incredible as the legendary Tsunade-sama. Sensei, are there any other stories about her?"
"Well, there's the Summoning Technique," Guy said, setting down his chopsticks.
"She could call forth a giant slug, so people used to call her the Slug Princess."
Mamoru, already squeamish about raw food, felt the word 'slug' turn the sashimi in his mouth into something slimy, as though he were chewing on a garden pest. He fought the urge—then lost.
"Bleeegh—"
Tenten, seated beside him, recoiled. "Gross!"
"Idiot." Mamoru muttered, wiping his mouth.
"Could we not talk about slugs while eating sashimi?"
Neji, who had just lifted a slice to his lips, quietly returned it to his plate and frowned.
One sentence from Guy had ruined two appetites.
Tenten dragged the topic back. "What exactly is Summoning Technique?"
Guy replied, "It's a branch of Space-Time Ninjutsu."
"Sounds amazing." Tenten leaned forward, palms flat on the table. "How do I learn it?"
Guy scratched his chin. "First, you need talent in that area."
Mamoru said, sipping his tea, "I'm sure you've got it."
"Really?" Tenten's eyes lit up, then she deliberately pursed her lips. "Hmph, one compliment won't earn my forgiveness."
Before Mamoru could answer, a slice of sashimi was shoved into his mouth. Instinctively he tried to spit it out, but Tenten warned, "Don't you dare waste it."
He jerked his head aside and spat the fish onto a side plate. "Who cares what you think?"
Tenten squealed theatrically, "Eww, disgusting."
Mamoru shot back, face twisted in disgust, "Drop dead."
Guy demolished the remaining sashimi at whirlwind speed, wiped his mouth contentedly, and neatly set his chopsticks aside.
From the inner pocket of his green flak jacket, he produced a scroll, unrolling it carefully on the table. Inked seals spiraled around a single bold character: Hand.
"Watch closely." Guy said, voice suddenly serious. "The hand seals for Summoning Technique are Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram."
His thick fingers moved with surprising grace, each sign crisp and fluid.
Tenten's eyes widened and she mimicked the sequence, her slender fingers fluttering in the air.
"Finally, press your palm to the scroll." Guy finished, setting his hand firmly over the character.
"See?"
"Yes." Tenten answered eagerly.
"Then give it a try."
Tenten stepped up, inhaled, formed the seals, and slapped her palm onto the paper. Ink patterns flared, smoke burst, and when it cleared, a single dart lay on the scroll.
"It worked!" Tenten cheered, bouncing on her toes.
"Awesome!" Lee clapped wildly.
Even the usually impassive Neji looked impressed.
"Told you she had talent." Mamoru drawled, leaning back with legs crossed, a smug grin tugging at his lips.
"Hmph!" Tenten turned her head, but her eyes sparkled.
Guy beamed, heavy hand dropping onto her shoulder. "Looks like you've got a gift for Space-Time Ninjutsu. Next step: sign a contract with a summon."
He slid his chair aside, clearing the center of the veranda. Guy stepped into the space, bit his thumb, and let crimson beads well up. He smeared the blood across his palm, flashed through seals, and slammed his hand to the floor.
Summoning Technique!
With a thunderous bang, white smoke erupted, then swiftly dispersed. In its place loomed an enormous turtle, thick-limbed and serene, radiating ancient composure.
The red turtle slowly turned its head, surveying the young faces before fixing on Guy.
It rumbled, voice deep and resonant, "Guy, are these your students?"
"It… it talks?" Tenten stammered, stepping back, mouth agape.
"Talking turtle?" Mamoru muttered, equally stunned.
He'd known summons could speak, but hearing human words from a turtle still felt impossible. What kind of vocal cords did it have?
"It's a ninja turtle." Neji stated calmly, the only one unruffled.
"As expected of Guy-sensei!" Lee exclaimed, fists pumping, burning with enthusiasm.
Tenten blinked, disappointment flickering across her face. "Um… no slug?"
She'd clearly hoped for Tsunade's gentle, powerful creature.
"Turtles beat slugs any day!" Guy declared, flashing a thumbs-up and a blinding grin.
Mamoru shrugged, "Kungfu turtle works for me. Use it for now."
"Huh, Kungfu turtles? That's a pretty interesting name."
The red ninja turtle rolled its eyes, looking at Mamoru with interest. "Kid, I like the look of you. How about forming a contract with me?"
"No thanks." Mamoru waved his hands, disgust written across his face. "My dream is to summon a fluffy beast-eared girl. A turtle just doesn't do it for me."
"B-beast-eared girl? That's not even a thing." The turtle's neck snapped back, then it spun toward Tenten in a huff. "What about you, girl? What's your problem?"
"Um... I just think Tsunade-sama's slugs are on a totally different level." Tenten muttered.
"Guy! Your students are so rude!" The turtle fumed.
"I'm not contracting with short-sighted brats like these!"
With a loud pop, it vanished in a puff of white smoke.
"Heh, Tenten scared it off." Mamoru gloated.
"How is that my fault? I just didn't want to sign with a turtle." Tenten protested.
"Tenten, don't be so selfish." Guy said, hands on hips, thick brows knitted.
"Finding a summoning partner is rare." He sighed toward the dissipating smoke.
"Really?" Tenten's eyes widened as the weight of the situation hit her.
"Haa... whatever." Guy folded his arms, brows still furrowed, and shook his head. "No use crying over it, back to practice."
"O-okay..." Tenten lowered her head, voice barely audible.
Mamoru shrugged at her gloom. "It's only a summon. Why so glum? I'll catch you Manda someday."
"A snake..." Tenten grimaced, nose wrinkling. "Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps."
"Ungrateful." Mamoru crossed his arms and clicked his tongue.
Guy cleared his throat. "Manda is Orochimaru-sama's personal summon, one of the Legendary Sannin. Contracting Manda isn't child's play."
"So what?" Mamoru smirked. "Beat him till he begs to sign with me."
"..."
Guy opened his mouth, said nothing, and rubbed his temples.
Suddenly Tenten turned, curious. "Weren't you after a beast-eared girl? What exactly is that?"
"A beast-eared girl? A cute girl with animal traits." Mamoru answered casually. "Cat ears, dog tails—still a pretty girl."
"Pretty girl?" Tenten frowned deeper. "Why summon that?"
Mamoru brightened. "To serve—mmph!"
Before he could finish, Guy clamped a hand over his mouth from behind, bending to whisper sternly, "Don't finish that sentence, there are kids here."
Mamoru blinked, then nodded vigorously. Guy released him but kept a wary eye.
"Hmph, nothing good, I'm sure." Tenten scoffed.
Mamoru ignored her, thinking, 'A man's romance is wasted on girls.'
He changed the subject, "Why obsess over summons? With Space-Time Ninjutsu talent, why not focus on ninja tools?"
"What do you mean?" Tenten tilted her head, intrigued.
He gestured, "Look, use Space-Time seals to stash tons of ninja tools in a scroll, then unleash them all at once—whoosh!"
He corrected himself. "Um, release them. Your family owns a ninja tool shop, so supplies are endless. If your brain's not flexible, let your wallet give you an edge."
Tenten's family runs Konoha's only ninja-tool shop, bluntly named 'Tenten ninja tools'.
Tenten puffed her cheeks. "Good idea, but the last part was rude."
Mamoru shrugged. "Bias. People hate hearing they're dumb. To me—"
"Shut up!" Tenten snapped.
"..."
Mamoru spread his hands. "So bossy."
"Your family owns the shop?" Lee's eyes went wide.
Neji remained calm. "The shop's called Tenten ninja tools. It's obvious."
"So the Tenten in Tenten ninja tools is you!" Lee clapped his fist into his palm, enlightened.
Mamoru burst out laughing. "Tongue-twister much?"
"Come on." Tenten groaned, "Aren't you missing the point?"
She turned to Guy, eyes sparkling. "Any other legends about Tsunade-sama ?"
"Hmm?" Guy pondered.
"Her love of sake and gambling, I guess. But..." He burst into laughter, teeth flashing. "You're a kid—impossible!"
Tenten clasped her hands at Mamoru, eyes pleading.
Mamoru said, "Why look at me? I'm not going, we'll just get kicked out."
"How do you know if we don't try?" Tenten retorted.
Mamoru tapped her forehead. "Copying the bad habits. Donate your brain if you're not using it."
"You—!" Tenten's cheeks flamed red.
"Alright, alright." Guy intervened. "He means well."
Tenten turned away, cheeks puffed like a squirrel's.
White lanterns on the veranda swayed gently, casting flickering shadows along the quiet corridor.