Shinji stood in the clearing, arms crossed, watching the old man in front of him. Hiruzen Sarutobi adjusted the sleeves of his robes as if this were any ordinary day.
But Shinji knew it wasn't.
For the past week, Hiruzen had been pushing him harder than ever before. And today… something felt different.
"You've grown reckless," Hiruzen said calmly.
Shinji frowned. "I fought Orochimaru."
"Yes," Hiruzen replied. "And you nearly died doing it."
The old shinobi's voice wasn't angry. Just matter-of-fact.
Shinji looked away slightly. "If I didn't fight him, he would've killed the others."
Hiruzen studied him carefully.
"Others?"
Shinji hesitated.
Hiruzen's sharp eyes didn't miss the hesitation. He knew exactly who Shinji meant.
Itachi Uchiha.
Hiruzen slowly nodded. "I see."
For a moment, the old Hokage looked strangely thoughtful. Then he turned and began walking deeper into the forest. "Come."
Shinji blinked.
"…Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
They traveled for nearly an hour. The forest around them grew denser, older. Eventually they reached a massive stone cliff rising from the earth like a wall.
At its base sat a simple shrine carved into the rock.
Shinji studied it carefully. "I've never seen this place before."
"Few have," Hiruzen replied. The old shinobi walked toward the shrine.
"You asked me once what it meant to carry the Will of Fire."
Shinji nodded slowly. Hiruzen placed a hand against the stone altar. "It means protecting the future of the village."
His voice lowered slightly. "Even if that future is not your own."
Shinji felt a strange tension in the air.
Then Hiruzen turned toward him.
"When Orochimaru left the village… I believed I failed as a teacher."
The name hung heavy between them.
Orochimaru.
"My greatest student," Hiruzen continued quietly. "And yet I could not guide him away from darkness."
Shinji didn't speak.
"But when I heard what you did…"
The old shinobi's eyes softened slightly. "You put yourself in front of a monster to protect the next generation."
Hiruzen stepped aside from the shrine. "And that is why I brought you here."
Shinji looked at the altar. Confusion flickered across his face.
"…Sensei?"
Hiruzen reached into his robes. Then he unrolled a long scroll across the stone. The parchment stretched nearly two meters long. Strange symbols covered its surface. And dozens of names written in blood.
Shinji's eyes widened.
"…A summoning contract."
Hiruzen nodded. "The Monkey Contract."
Shinji stared at the scroll. He knew what it meant. Summoning contracts weren't handed out lightly. Only shinobi trusted by a summoning clan were allowed to sign them.
Hiruzen folded his arms. "The monkeys of Mount Enkō are powerful and proud creatures." "They serve only those they respect."
Shinji slowly looked up. "…You want me to sign it?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Not yet."
Shinji blinked. "What?"
A small smile tugged at the corner of Hiruzen's mouth. "You think contracts like this are simply gifts?"
He tapped the scroll with one finger. "These names represent shinobi who proved themselves worthy."
Shinji studied the list again. Near the bottom… Hiruzen's own name. Written in dried blood.
The old shinobi rolled the scroll back up. "If you are going to form a pact with them…" "…you will earn it."
Shinji's eyes sharpened slightly. "How?"
Hiruzen turned and began walking back toward the forest. "For the next three months…" "…you will train harder than you ever have in your life." "And if you survive that training…"
Hiruzen glanced over his shoulder. "Then we will see if the monkeys consider you worthy."
Chp 44
The first week of training nearly killed him. Not because of combat. Because of exhaustion.
Shinji collapsed onto the dirt clearing, chest heaving as sweat soaked through his shirt.
Across from him, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood calmly l The old shinobi didn't even look tired. "Again."
Shinji groaned slightly. "…Sensei, we've been doing this since sunrise."
Hiruzen didn't respond. He simply raised one eyebrow. Shinji sighed and pushed himself back to his feet. For the past week the training had been brutally simple.
However
Every mistake was punished. Every weakness exposed. Hiruzen wasn't holding back.
Shinji rushed forward, throwing a fast combination of strikes. Hiruzen dodged the first punch. Blocked the second. Then lightly tapped Shinji's chest. Shinji suddenly felt the air leave his lungs as he was sent stumbling backward.
He caught himself before falling. "…You're predicting my attacks."
Hiruzen shook his head. "No."
Shinji frowned.
"Then how"
"You're predictable."
That stung more than the hit. Hiruzen gestured for him to attack again. "Your power is excellent for your age. Your speed is impressive."
Then his voice hardened slightly. "But your mind is still that of a young shinobi."
Shinji lunged forward again. This time he feinted. Then shifted his attack mid-strike.
Hiruzen blocked it easily. "You fought Orochimaru and survived."
The old shinobi stepped aside as Shinji attacked again. "But survival does not make you strong."
Another strike. Another effortless block.
"Strength comes from discipline."
Shinji spun into a kick. Hiruzen caught it midair.
"And patience."
With a small movement of his wrist, Shinji was thrown back onto the ground.
Again.
Shinji lay there staring up at the sky. "…I'm getting destroyed."
Hiruzen chuckled quietly. "That is the point."
Two weeks later.
Shinji followed Hiruzen along a narrow mountain path.
Shinji frowned slightly. "Where are we?"
Hiruzen continued walking. "You wanted to know how to earn the Monkey Contract."
Shinji straightened. "This has something to do with that?"
The old shinobi nodded. "Yes."
The path eventually opened into a large rocky plateau.
And the moment Shinji stepped into the clearing…
He felt it.
Eyes. Watching him. Every direction. Figures began appearing along the branches. Dozens of them.
Shinji froze. "Sensei."
Hiruzen didn't seem surprised. "Relax."
One of the larger monkeys dropped from a branch and landed in front of them.
It stood nearly as tall as Shinji. Its fur was dark brown, streaked with gray. "So this is the one."
Shinji blinked. "It talks?"
Hiruzen nodded casually. "Of course."
The monkey stepped closer, circling Shinji slowly.
"This scrawny kid wants the contract?"
Shinji frowned slightly. "I didn't say"
The monkey suddenly jabbed him in the stomach.
Shinji doubled over instantly. The monkey snorted.
"Slow."
Shinji coughed, regaining his breath. "You just sucker punched me."
"Correct."
The monkey grinned. "You failed to react."
Hiruzen watched the exchange calmly.
"This is how the monkeys judge potential summoners."
Shinji rubbed his stomach. "By assaulting them?"
"Among other things."
The monkey hopped onto a nearby rock. "Name's Kenta."
It looked Shinji up and down.
"You're the brat who fought Orochimaru."
Shinji stiffened slightly. "You know about that?"
Kenta shrugged. "News travels."
Several other monkeys leaned closer from the trees.
Kenta scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Surviving a fight with Orochimaru isn't nothing."
Kenta grinned. Before Shinji could react, the monkey vanished. Then appeared behind him.
Shinji barely managed to block the incoming strike. The impact still sent him sliding across the stone.
Kenta laughed. "Better!"
Shinji steadied himself. "So I have to fight you."
"Fight?" Kenta said.
"No."
The monkey cracked its knuckles.
"You have to survive us."
Shinji blinked. "…Us?"
Branches shook all around the clearing. Monkeys began dropping from the trees.
Five.
Ten.
Fifteen.
Shinji slowly turned in a circle. They were surrounding him.
Hiruzen stepped back toward the edge of the clearing.
"Sensei?" Shinji said.
Hiruzen simply folded his arms. "You wanted to prove yourself worthy of the contract."
Kenta grinned wickedly. "Well, kid."
The monkeys crouched into fighting stances. "Show us what you've got."
Shinji exhaled slowly. Then dropped into his own stance.
If this was the test Then he'd pass it. Even if it killed him.