"Speech"

'Thought'

Jutsu: Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu

AN: I hope everyone had a nice Fourth of July, I know I did! Here's a chappy to celebrate 4 days after the fact! Better late than never, I always say! I wrote half of this chapter and then just didn't write the other half until now. Shame on me! Hahaha

Note: I don't own Naruto or its respective contents. It's on my list for "things to steal when there's a chance" though.

Akakiryu

On the walk home, it was silent with nothing but the sounds of our Geta clacking. My father then finally spoke, "Son." He stopped walking and looked at me, his Sharingan active. His face was totally expressionless.

I turned to him, putting on my own poker face, "Yeah, Dad?"

He stared at me intently and I could feel a crushing pressure from his stare, "Tell me, what do you really think about the Uchiha?"

I showed nothing outwardly, but I was freaking out inside, "What do you mean?" 'Oh sweet baby Indra, please spare me from that damn fatherly intuition.'

He leaned a bit closer to me, staring right into my eyes, "You have some thoughts that you aren't sharing."

I cracked, "Do you really want to know, Dad?" He nodded. "The Uchiha, are animals forced into a corner, and if we try to bite back, we're going to get eaten."

He maintained his poker face. Hell, not even his eyes wavered. It's almost as if… he knows. My Dad is becoming more and more unfathomable to me. "Alright, with that done, let's go home." He just turned and walked away, as if the bombshell I just dropped was a fucking dud.

I'm confused, did he not hear me? What is this man thinking? What is my father thinking?

We got home, Dad went to bed, and I just spent the night awake with my thoughts overloading my brain.

The Next Day

I met up with Hayate at the training grounds. He just stood there casually with his hands in his pockets and his eyes looking as droopy as ever. The dude always looks like he's either been awake all night or slept all day. It's totally contradictory but that's just how it is. He's just relaxed in such a weird manner.

He immediately noticed my arrival and threw a scroll at me. I caught it and asked, "This it?"

He nodded, "That's right. Now, don't die. A contract isn't worth your life. If it gets dangerous, just leave. I'll meet up with you tomorrow. I want to teach you something new, it should help you immensely." And just like that, he was gone. I've got quite the Sensei. He's always the Individualist.

I sat on a rock and started to study the scroll. Mhmm, yes. I see.

Five minutes later, I stand up and get ready.

I fly through the required hand seals, bite my thumb, slam my palm on the ground, and then I disappear in a plume of smoke.

I appeared in a forest of pure darkness. I could see the woods surrounding me, but I couldn't sense any living being other than plants. I'm supposed to meet my summons here, but even my absurd level of chakra sensing can't feel anything. Did I fuck up the jutsu? Impossible. I'm not tooting my own horn here, but I'm pretty good at this shit. So where are they?

I look around, and I look, and I look. Even my eyes see nothing, and I can see things on a fucking molecular level. I don't understand. WHERE ARE MY FUTURE DOPE ASS SUMMONS!?

I keep frowning as I look and look.

"WHOOOOOO!?" "WHOOOOOOOOOO!?" "WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?"

I find myself suddenly surrounded by a myriad of black birds that range in size from a cat to the size of a bear. Their eyes glow in the forest as they stand along the branches in the forest. I can see them, but I can't sense their chakra at all. I can't even feel their existence, the only thing that tells me that they're real is the pressure of their stares. If it wasn't for my Sharingan, I would probably think that this is a genjutsu.

Owls.

Cool.

I turn on the spot to look all around me and I see that they've totally surrounded me.

Abruptly they all stop hooting at me and they each lift a wing in a single direction. The Owls seem to be guiding me. Hopefully to their leader. I soooo want a contract with Owls. Owls are dope. Definitely underrated birds of prey. Nothing spells death in the dark like an Owl does.

I go to where their wings point and continue walking in the forest as more and more Owls seem to appear around me. As if no matter where I went, they would find me. They seem to be large in numbers, as each bird that I've seen is unique. I know Motoi from Kumogakure had Owls as a summons, but these Owls are clearly different. They seem like… Pure omens of Death. I have no doubt in my mind that if they wanted me dead, I would die. And I wouldn't be able to escape. However, at the same time, I feel strangely comforted by their presence.

Eventually I'm guided into a clearing, but despite there not being any overhead trees, I can't see the moon. I can't even see the stars. As if this whole area just consumes light. If I didn't have the Sharingan, I doubt I would be able to see anything at all.

What I do see in this clearing, is a single tree. It seems to be an Elm tree, but this tree is overwhelmingly bigger than all others in sheer size. It towers above me for what seems like kilometers in length. And its width is easily 300 meters.

But despite the monstrosity of plant life that appears before me, my attention is gathered to a different giant.

Burrowed into the middle of the tree is a massive library that lines the inside of the trunk. And perched upon a pedestal that looks like a cane made of golden wood, is a massive black Owl the likes that I have never seen before. Well, I mean, I've never seen bear sized Owls either, but this bird really takes the title. It was well over 20 meters tall. Gamabunta was only around 17 meters from what I remember.

This giant Elder Bird is staring down at me from atop its golden perch, and he or she (I honestly can't tell the gender), seems rather interested in me. Although its droopy eyes are uncharacteristic of an Owl, I know for a fact that this Owl has keener eyes than any other Owl around here. Eyes that might even be better than mine. For now, anyways.

"Whooooooooooo are youuuuu, boy?" It spoke with a deep voice and drawn out words. I suppose Owls don't lose their verbal ticks. I'm amused, but I don't show it.

I regained my gentle smile and took a deep bow towards this creature that undoubtedly deserves my respect. "My name is Akakiryu Uchiha, oh Great Elder." I maintained my bow as I continued, "How may I address you, Great Elder?"

I couldn't see it, but I could feel it lean towards me whilst never leaving its perch. We're separated by well over a hundred meters in length, but just by the Great Owl leaning closer to me, I feel far more pressured.

"A wise boy, I see. Youuu may address me as the Great Owl Sage. I assumeee youuuu seek a contract, but dooooo youuuuu have the ability tooo doooo what none before youuuu have?" It inquired.

I maintained my bow, "I wish to take your test to prove I am worthy, Great Owl Sage."

"Very well. Raise your head, boy." I straightened up to face the Great Owl. "I will ask youuuu three riddles, get one wrong and your life is forfeit, get them right and youuu shall profit."

Riddles, hmm? Well I suppose that's fitting for an owl. "I accept. Please, tell me your riddles, Great Owl Sage."

Can Owls nod? Well, the Great Owl Sage just nodded so I guess Owl Summons can, at least.

The Owls that were in the forest are all perched on the branches of trees on the edge of the clearing to watch the proceedings. The Owl Sage spoke thus, "I am the black child of a white father, a wingless bird, flying even to the clouds of heaven. I give birth to tears of mourning in pupils that meet me, even though there is no cause for grief, and at once on my birth I am dissolved into air. What am I?" Weird, his verbal tick is gone.

The Owls watching seemed excited as they shook their wings around and hooted to each other.

"The Great Sage's riddle!"

"Truuuuly impossible to solve!"

"The pinnacle of wisdom!"

I couldn't help but let amusement show on my face, "You are Smoke."

The Great Owl Sage nodded. "That is correct."

The Owls in the surroundings all had their eyes open wide and their beaks opened exaggeratedly, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT!?" I don't think these guys get many guests around here.

"Next riddle." The Owl Sage announced, "If 20 blackbirds are on a fence and you hit one with a kunai how many remain?" Does his verbal tick not appear when he does riddles? It's bothering me.

The Owls in the surroundings comforted eachother, "There's nooooo way he can get this one."

I answered, "None, they would all fly away."

The Great Owl Sage nodded again. "That is correct as well."

I just ignored the stunned Owls in the trees. Birds of wisdom my ass. I guess no bird can escape being bird-brained. Except maybe the Great Owl Sage.

"The final riddle," The Great Owl Sage ruffled its feathers. "What is the dumbest animal on dry land?"

I couldn't help but chuckle at that. I can't believe dumbass riddles like these are the key to getting a contract. The only good one was the first one.

I smiled and matched the gaze of the elder owl, "A fish."

The Great Owl's beak formed into a smile. I won't question how that's possible. "Youuuuu pass."

The forest around me erupted in hooooots of disbelief. Bruh, it's just riddles.

The Great Owl Sage didn't even move, but a gust of wind lifted me off my feet and brought me into the Library Burrow. I was dropped at the bottom of his pedestal where a smaller pedestal stood. It was made of gold and textured like wood, the same as its larger counterpart. What it held was different though; it held a pitch black, giant scroll.

The scroll opened up on its own and the end rolled to my feet. It was totally blank. I would be the first contractor of the Night Owls.

A brush and ink flew into my hands from across the room. I assume the Elder gave them to me. I wrote my name in a quick flourish of strokes. My name was written clearly on the first place of the scroll, but the words had a spirit to them. I've mastered calligraphy in this life, so my writing is able to embody my intent.

I bit my right thumb and dabbed my blood on the tips of each finger of my right hand. I pressed my bloody finger prints into the bottom of the scroll below my name. As soon as that was done, the scroll automatically rolled back up and laid still on the pedestal.

I felt a sudden connection with each Owl around me, and I could finally sense their presences. The Owls seemed to realize it too, as hoots rang endlessly throughout the forest.

The Great Owl Sage spoke thus, "Akakiryuuuuu Uchiha, youuuu are now the contractor of the Night Owls, and as such, youuuu are always welcome in the Forest of Eternal Night. Youuuu may summon any of us, including myself, as long as youuuu pay the appropriate sacrifice. Youuuu may doooo whatever youuuu wish with the contract. Youuuuu may leave it here or carry it with youuu, and youuuu may let anyone sign it as long as youuu deem them worthy. Of course, we don't have to follow any orders we don't want to. May youuuu be wise and bring death to your foes."

I bowed to the sage and was sent back.

AN: Tada! Akakiryu the man of the Owls! Owls are cool animals, and their abilities of stealth are renowned in the animal kingdom. Not to mention how they are Omens of Death, Symbols of Wisdom, and just all around cool birds. But will Owls be his only summons? Who knows? They're definitely his main summons, though. Let me know what you guys think.

I feel like there was something I wanted to address with everyone, but I can't remember. Oh well.

Till next time,

~ Seeker