Whoooosh…
A cold wind blew through the ruins.
Even though it was noon, Shizune and the pig Tonton both shivered.
The place felt eerie.
Ahead of them, a gray fog still lingered.
Broken walls, scattered tiles, and ruined structures covered the ground.
"We're here."
Ren looked around and smiled.
"But Tsunade-nee… the chakra fluctuation we sensed earlier suddenly disappeared."
"I can't sense it at all now."
He looked surprised.
That summoned beast trapped here definitely hadn't vanished.
Yet after sensing it once—
its presence completely disappeared.
"Really?"
Tsunade frowned.
She knew very well how strong Ren's sensing ability was.
He could easily detect chakra from 10 to 20 kilometers away.
Since they had already come this far, she said calmly:
"Let's check it out first."
"Maybe someone came here earlier," Shizune guessed.
"Ren sensed them, but they left again?"
She hurried forward with Tonton.
Soon—
an ancient castle appeared before them.
Ren's eyes suddenly turned crimson.
The three-tomoe Sharingan activated.
He stared at the castle carefully.
"That's strange…"
"Even the Sharingan can't see through it."
"And I still can't sense any chakra."
This concealment ability was extraordinary.
Even the Hyūga Clan's Byakugan had once failed to notice the truth here.
So ordinary Sharingan failing wasn't surprising.
Ren's eyes changed again.
The three tomoe twisted—
transforming into a Mangekyō Sharingan pattern.
Instantly—
the ruined castle in his vision changed.
With the Mangekyō's terrifying perception,
Ren saw through the disguise.
That was no castle.
It was actually a giant white lizard.
A summoned creature that had transformed into a castle.
"Did you find something?"
Shizune asked quickly.
Ren nodded.
"Yes."
"It's a giant lizard disguised as the castle."
"Anyone who enters gets devoured."
"That's why nobody ever comes out alive."
He continued explaining.
"It has extremely powerful concealment abilities."
"It can even completely hide its chakra."
"Earlier someone probably entered it."
"That's when it 'ate', which is why I sensed chakra briefly."
"Oh?"
Tsunade looked surprised.
Ren examined the creature's condition and shrugged.
"It's very weak."
"The summoning contract trapped it here."
"If nothing changes, it'll probably die within a few years."
Then he looked at Tsunade.
"Tsunade-nee…"
"How about taming it?"
This lizard's concealment ability was incredible.
Almost at the level of Mū, the master of invisibility.
Neither Sharingan nor Byakugan could detect it.
Without prior knowledge—
Ren himself might not have discovered it.
Shizune looked helpless.
"Boys really like cool-looking summon animals…"
"But Ren, you already signed a contract with Shikkotsu Forest."
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
She looked toward Tsunade.
Tsunade sighed.
"You brat…"
But Ren just grinned.
"Even if I don't use it, I can give it to Kurenai-nee, Ino, or Tenten later."
Shizune had no reply.
Tonton squealed.
"Boooon~ Boooon~"
Tsunade crossed her arms.
"I doubt Katsuyu would mind."
"Do whatever you want."
She had no interest in entering the "castle".
After all—
it was just a summoned creature's stomach.
She remembered how Jiraiya once used the Toad Mouth Bind technique.
This place was probably similar.
Ren stepped forward.
His Mangekyō Sharingan radiated powerful pressure.
"Stop pretending."
"I know the castle is your transformation."
A roar echoed from inside.
"ROAAAR!"
The creature clearly sensed Ren's strength.
Ren spoke calmly.
"You're almost out of strength."
"I can free you."
"But you must sign a summoning contract with me."
The creature roared again.
Ren shrugged.
"If you don't answer, I'll take that as agreement."
Soon—
under Tsunade and Shizune's speechless stares—
Ren didn't even enter the castle.
Instead—
he lazily created wood clones.
They went inside in his place.
The summoned beast was clearly angered by this disrespect.
As soon as the clones entered—
several dark tunnels appeared.
Each clone was forced into a different passage.
The creature intended to defeat them separately.
But Ren's wood clones weren't afraid.
They split up and entered the tunnels.
Inside—
the walls transformed into disgusting living flesh.
They wriggled like organs.
Countless tentacles attacked the clones.
The clones laughed.
"Competing with tentacles?"
"We've never lost!"
Wood vines burst out.
They fought the tentacles—
even wrapping around them and absorbing their chakra.
The creature had to sever its own tentacles to avoid being drained.
All its traps were broken.
In truth—
Ren could easily drain the creature completely with Wood Release.
Even tailed beasts struggled against techniques like Wood Dragon.
This weakened creature stood no chance.
But Ren didn't want to kill it.
Not long after—
a large summoning scroll was brought out by the clones.
They handed it to Ren.
Ren opened it.
Under the names of previous contractors—
one name appeared before Shusaki Gōzu.
Ren's mouth twitched.
The name read:
Masashi Kishimoto.
And for a moment—
even Ren didn't know what to say.
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