Welcome everyone to another chapter, please enjoy. I do not own Naruto or its characters, I own Shenlo Otsutsuki as an OC, and I own the summoning clans near the end of this chapter. Please DM me if you want to use them within your stories.
The Next Morning
I woke up in the forest. The ground was damp and wet, the air cold and fresh. The crisp crunch of the leaves as I worked my way out of the forest. I was nearly out of the forest when I noticed a young woman kneeling over a shrub of herbs. I slowly walked over, and spoke, "Excuse me miss, do you need any help?"
"Hmm? Oh! Sure, of course, I am collecting herbs for my brother." The woman responded, flustered.
"Very well," I spoke. I kneeled down and started to collect herbs with the woman. She broke the silence by asking a question.
"Are you a shinobi?"
"Yes, I am. I am a shinobi of Konohagakure." I responded, putting some herbs in the basket the woman had brought.
"That is a very dangerous job," She spoke.
"I suppose it is. I haven't been killed yet," I responded.
"Yes, that's good I suppose. Tell me, do you have anyone you would call important or special to you?" She asked.
"A few, not many, only two," I responded.
She was silent for a moment, "Let me ask another question. What do you believe is the source of personal strength? What defines the ability to become strong, truly strong?"
"Hmm, that is an interesting question," I say contemplating my own answer.
"Some would say it is, but I am interested in what your answer is," She spoke.
"I would have to say a multitude of things. I would say that it steams from six things. The first, important people or people you care for. The second, beliefs, standing for what you believe in, and not giving an inch when someone challenges your belief. The third is the focus, focus requires a large amount of commitment and dedication. The fourth would have to be knowledge, with knowledge comes power, and with power comes strength. Fifth would be self-talk, self-talk determines your outlook on life. Finally, the sixth source of strength would be mental models of things, ranging from simple ideas, or even your ideal life. Any of these could be someone's source of strength, I suppose mine would both be the people important to me and knowledge." I lectured on.
The woman looked at me with a slight bit of respect. "I am under the belief that protecting the ones you love is what gives you true strength."
She got up picking up her basket, all the necessary herbs gathered. "I thank you, sir, for helping me collect these herbs," She called out as she began to walk away.
Before she could get too far away I called out to her, "How long until Aoi is healed?"
She immediately froze facing away from me. "How did you know?" She asked.
"When you appeared you were dressed as a hunter nin. Your distinct smell caught my attention along with your chakra signature. Your smell was of dandelions and medicinal herbs. Not a typical smell found with hunter-nin. Hunter-nin are often smelling of blood and death. Answer the question, how long until Aoi is healed?" I asked getting slightly mad.
"He will be ready in three days."
"Much sooner than Kakashi thought. Hmm, very well, you can go now," I told her.
She quickly left toward wherever she had come from.
I started back toward Tazuna's home. I stumbled upon Kakashi sitting upon the front porch, an orange book in hand.
As I walked toward him I coughed loudly. Kakashi's lone eye peaked up at me and widened. Immediately the book disappeared and he sat straight up.
"Kakashi-sensei, while I was out training last night, I fell unconscious from exhaustion, when I woke up I discovered a woman collecting herbs. She maintained a conversation with me about the source of personal strength, we had both similar and views on the topic, but I digress, she was the hunter-nin from two days ago. She told me that Aoi has three days left to heal," I spoke to the grey-haired cyclops.
"Hmm, as much as I want to lecture you on the habits of overuse of the body and its negatives, I won't due to the fact that Aoi's recovery so soon will put a damper in our plans," He spoke.
We quickly went inside to talk with Sasuke and Naruto as Tazuna had stayed home for the day.
Kakashi and the rest of us sat around a small table within Tazuna's living room. Kakashi spoke in a hushed voice, "Okay, our plans have been shortened. Aoi will heal in three days, Naruto finishes your training. Sasuke, I need you to up your game on chakra control. You won't succeed if you don't have good enough control. Shenlo, do whatever you need to do to finish your training. We need to work quickly."
We all nodded and left out to the forest to resume our training. Kakashi stayed behind to guard our clients.
Ancient Ruins
While I was out in the forest I received the memories of one of my clones. It had found the building where Gato stayed at. Planning to tell Kakashi about it later, I continued into the forest.
As I was walking I kept hearing the crushing of leaves behind me. I would see large shadows shaped like animals dance through the trees. I eventually stumbled upon an old set of ruins. It seemed old, older than the time of Shinobi, maybe even Samurai. It looked like it had faced a large siege, broken statues lay on the ground. One building remained relatively intact while the rest were caved in. Piles of rubble could be seen as I walked through the ruins, in some places skeletal remains could be seen scattered along the floor.
The buildings seemed to be made from a mix of stone and wood, the wood had already been well past the age of decay. Wildlife had almost completely overtaken the flooring, vines ad branches of small trees had lined the buildings.
I turned my focus to the demolished buildings, the broken and scarred statues giving the setting a sinister look and feel. I had walked around the entirety of one of the buildings when I came across a dark hole in the moss-covered stone flooring. I jumped down into the hole feeling as if something called me to jump in.
The air was stale, the dim light provided by the hole in the ceiling made the air look green. I was in a tunnel of sorts, torches lined the sides in both directions. They were currently unlit. Dim darkness filled the hallways. However the darkness didn't affect me, I could see just as well as during the day.
I walked down the tunnel the echo of my light footsteps rebounding all across the tunnel. The occasional drip of water from an inexistent source. The tunnel seemed to go on forever.
After another twenty minutes of walking through the stale and musty air of the tunnel, I finally walked into a room so large it could be classified as a cavern. The air was cleaner, fresher, light trickled in through the very top of the cavern where a small hole opened to the world above.
The cavern walls towered over me with great height, likewise the walls descended further than even the byakugan could see. Darkness surrounded the bridges connecting the walls of the cavern.
I started to follow the bridge, following my gut instinct. The echo of my footsteps on the stone of the bridge faintly echoed upon the empty chasm of the cavern. I eventually found a small gateway with very intricate inscriptions of a nation, with greater technology than our time. They used odd technology some were handheld projectile launching devices, some were mounted to metal beasts. Even in the sky they flew, fire reigned in the sky as bodies lay across a large battlefield. Flags of color stood engraved, one with a strange symbol surrounded in white black, and red. The other stood with multiple stars, red and white stripes, and a blue block in the corner.
Continuing my journey through this strange place I began walking into the new tunnel. After five hundred yards I stumbled into a large room. It had multiple chests along the walls, piles of gold in the corners. A necklace with an emblem of an owl rested on a marble perch. Next to the perch stood a small bronze pedestal, upon it lay four rings, each with a symbol of a different wolf on it.
Deciding that since no one was around to claim the Items that I would take them, they seemed to have a sense of divinity to them.
Placing my hand on my hannya mask I took it off and set it on the alter that the perch and pedestal stood. I placed the necklace around my neck. I donned my mask once more and placed two rings on each hand. I opened the two chests on the floor in front of the alter. Each had a rather large scroll, which I assumed to be a summoning scroll as one had the image of an owl, and the other a wolf. Storing the scrolls in a seal, for a separate time, I quickly looked for an escape as I felt rumbling in the ground. I noticed a ladder on the wall next to me leading up into a hole that I hadn't seen before.
I looked back down the tunnel, then to the ladder, and back to the tunnel. I pondered which I should take for a quick moment, however before I could develop any thought the ceiling had begun to crumble. Small sections of rock and stone fell from the ceiling, clattering on the floor, dust falling down filling the air with a sense of acrid smell. I quickly chose the ladder and began to climb quickly.
Soon darkness claimed the chute I was in, I still could see so I wasn't worried. I then had a thought to use my wind element to make myself hover and shoot myself up the chute I was in.
Doing so, I balled the wind beneath my feet, getting the air compact enough to step on. I stepped on the air and began to lift myself up the chute. After another five minutes, I noticed that a light source was quickly approaching. Another few moments and I was now flying into the air, my compact disc of air now non-existent.
I was now approaching the ground at a very fast pace. I counted down in my head as I fell to the ground.
Five. The air rushed past my ears. My eyes closed, smells of fresh air and autumn leaves filled my nose.
Four. The sound of branches swaying in the breeze entered into my ears. I opened my eyes, I was close to the top of the many trees on the mountainside.
Three. The first of the branches started to touch my body as I descended toward the ground. The sound of birds chirping reverberated into my skull.
Two. The branches tore into my body as I fell, the branches snapping with a resounding snap. Leaves crumbling down. Flapping wings of scattering birds. The scurrying of squirrels on the trees.
One. My body flipped through the air offset by the branches. Blood trickled slowly down my body despite the centrifugal force of my body turning in the air. The force of my body slamming into the thicker branches of the tree began to damage my body.
Zero. I closed my eyes tightly as I neared the ground. The tumbling sound of my body through the branches of the tree had ceased to sound off. I did my best to brace myself for the impact.
Then with a sudden force that left me breathless, I slammed into the ground. My eyesight turned dark for a good amount of time. The world spun around my head as I lay on my side. Beneath me was a large number of stones covered in mossy grass.
"Oaoagh, gods that hurt. Fuck," I spoke to myself.
"Well, I might as well take a look at the summoning contracts." I thought to myself.
I pulled the said scrolls out of the seal I had put them in.
Flashback three years and two months
"Shenlo, come here," Mangetsu spoke.
Walking over curious I raised my eyebrow signaling Mangetsu to continue speaking.
"I will teach you how to sign a contract, specifically a summoning contract. First, you roll the scroll out obviously. You sign your full name in blood, along with a fingerprint. Afterward, the scroll will close and poof back to its realm. Then you must make these hand seals with a blood offering at the end you will slam your hand to the ground, resulting in the summoning of the contract you signed. Firstly, Boar, then Dog, then Bird, then Monkey, then the last hand seal ram." Mangetsu explained to me.
Flashback end
I rolled out the scrolls before me, noting the warning that told me to beware that If I was found unworthy then my life would be forfeit. I signed both contracts with my blood, instead of a fingerprint I decided to put my entire handprint to show my willingness to prove myself.
After both scrolls disappeared I made the necessary hand seals for the summoning jutsu.
I cut my thumbs on my canines and slammed both hands on the ground. Two large poofs of smoke appeared. After the smoke cleared, two very large animals stood before me. One an owl, the other a wolf. I assumed that these were the leaders of the two summoning clans.
The owl stood at a height of thirty meters, with brown and light grey feathers. The owl seemed to give off a radiance of intelligence and knowledge.
The large wolf stood at a height of twenty-seven meters on all fours, with golden red fur. The wolf gave a radiant feeling of overwhelming strength and power.
"Ah, Phantom-san, a pleasure to see you after so long," the owl spoke his voice surprisingly
"Yes, it is. A pleasure to see you again Qhoocciesha-san.(Caw-key-sha)" the newly dubbed Phantom spoke with a surprising amount of bass to his voice.
"However let's get to business as to why we are here," Qhoocciesha spoke.
The two large animals towering above me turned their attention to me.
"Why have you summoned us, young human?" Phantom asked me.
"I wish to be tested, to see whether or not I am worthy of being a summoner of your clans," I spoke.
"Very well. We will tell you, however, the test will not be easy. Not in the sense of skill, or by seeing if you are worthy by memory. But by physical endurance of pain. Do you agree to take the test?" Phantom asked for both himself and Qhoocciesha.
"Yes, I agree," I responded. After responding I lost consciousness.
Warning, Graphic content ahead. If you don't want to read it, skip to the next bold letters.
I suddenly woke up laying on a metal table. I was strapped to the table. I was in immense pain. I could feel cuts all over my body. I felt tentacles of weird animals and surgeons' tools wiggling beneath my skin. Blood eerily flowed from the cuts.
Surgeons stood around me, each with a scalpel in hand. Each stained red with blood. The smell of iron and sweat filled the hot and humid air. A bright light came from a weird machine. One doctor held a large syringe with a very large needle at the end. There was a weird green liquid with odd moving objects in it, it was almost alien-like, slimy green orbs submerged in alight green liquid. The doctor then shoved the needle through my skull and into my brain.
My body convulsed involuntarily as my body was assaulted by the forced intruder. The surgeons then started to burn and cut into my arms and legs more, resulting in a larger amount of blood pooling out. They carved intricate shapes of objects into my skin.
The pain didn't really begin until they began to cut open my torso. The first started out making a vertical incision running from my belly button down to my pelvis. Then they went the other direction going up to my sternum. From there they cut the skin on the center of the rib cage.
They began to use some sort of handheld cordless electrical saw and started cutting into my rib cage. Once they cut through it they began to split it apart using a rib spreader. With each cut, incision, and pull off the spreader, I let out small screams of pain. Yet I didn't lose consciousness.
They then began to start ripping out my organs and tearing them apart. Some of the surgeons actually began eating the organs.
I started to think of reasonable explanations for why this was happening. Nothing was coming to mind. I then realized that no matter what they did to my body, I was still alive and conscious. I was in my mind. Which meant I have power here.
Graphic content end
I quickly concentrated on changing my surroundings. I now stood within a wooden cabin. My body was back to normal, with no sign of blood or anything. I turned around to make sure I was alone, thankfully so I was. I began to fade from reality, worried I tried to hold onto something. My vision began to go dark and light became scarce. All sound crept to a silent halt until I had lost consciousness, traveling back into the land of the living, leaving the realm of the mind.
I awoke in the same spot where I fell unconscious before. Phantom and Qhoocciesha standing before me. Looking up at the two large animals I spoke, "How long was I gone within my mind?"
"Approximately five minutes. It may have felt like hours, but that is because you register time differently while inside your mind," Qhoocciesha explained.
Phantom spoke next his voice shaking the trees and even the land, "You did well young human. You passed our test. You are now a part of my pack and Qhoocciesha's parliament(look it up to its basically the owl version of a flock). You have done well, you should be proud. Before we go we tell you about our clans so that you may figure out how to use our clans to help you in your journeys. Starting with my clan. We are divided into species of wolves. The first is the thorn wolves(most of these species will be found in Dungeons and Dragons 5E). They are fierce and powerful, they focus themselves on skills related to attacking an opponent's weak points before the opponent can act. They are relatively small compared to the rest of us, meaning they are fast, however not the fastest." He took a breath, continuing a moment later, "The second species is the storm wolves. The fastest among us, fierce in their own right. They focus themselves around reconnaissance and stealth, however, don't let this fool you as they are still dangerous in their own way. The third species is the Splinter wolves, they are a mysterious bunch, to say the least. They are extremely loyal and rare in our pack as they have the strongest bite force among us. Their strength is second only to the fourth species, the dire wolf. The largest among our group. They are incredibly strong and fast, they are brutes that are intelligent so do not underestimate them." He took another breath. He made sure that I was listening before continuing.
"The fifth species, not a wolf directly but distantly related to the wolves, as no other clans would accept them as they are the displacer beast. A creature with six legs, two tentacle-like appendages coming out of their backs. They closely resemble a cat more than anything really. The sixth species is called the Kreshnar. They are a species of wolves more closely related to a wild beast more than anything, yet still a part of the pack. They are fierce warriors who do not back down from a challenge big or small. They are tanks on the battlefield and are distinctly defined by the skull armor they wear on their faces."
"The seventh species is Shoosuva, they resemble a hyena animal with a long tail with a barbed tip. They are incredibly loyal and fierce, they do not take kindly to those that insult their summoner or insults toward themselves and those they have deemed worthy of being a part of their pack. Finally, the eighth species, the Fiendish wolves. They are wolves distinctly known for their lack of facial flesh. Their heads are only the bones of their skulls. Despite not having any muscles or organs or tissue on their faces, they still can perfectly see, smell, and taste things. They are fast, devilishly fast, yet slower than the storm wolves. They are known to put fear into their prey before slaughtering them." He took another breath, "Another thing to know about summoning us is that when you summon us, think of the species of wolf you wish for, if multiple then think about multiple, anyway back on track, when you think about summoning us, we will summon in groups of at least three or four wolves at a time. Sometimes in a small pack of different types, you will most commonly see a pack of four made up of a Displacer, Kreshnar, Shoosuva, and a fiendish wolf. Likewise, a thorn, storm, splinter, and a dire wolf will most commonly stick together. That is all from me, I will have three or four wolves pop up later for you as personal summons that will stay with you at all times." With that said Phantom the boss summons poofed back to the realm of the wolves before I could thank him.
"Sometimes that wolf can talk the head off of somebody worse than a squirrel on a caffeine high(hoodwinked reference). Okay, as a new member of my parliament, you will also learn of my clan's workings. You will find that in most cases we as owls are not suited for combat, however, that doesn't mean we are defenseless. We are intelligent creatures and we prefer to keep track and take care of knowledge. We are also experts in aerial reconnaissance. Our clan is comprised up of the Great horns, Northern Hawk, Great Gray, Eastern Screech, and the Eurasian Eagle-owl. Each has its own sense of beauty, each has its own purpose and certain tendencies. The most powerful is the Eurasian Eagle-owl, the Great Horns are good at stealth killing/hunting. The northern hawk owls are good for reconnaissance, and the eastern screech owls are good at psyching out your opponents with their eerie screeches. We honor each other through respect and loyalty. If by anything to show by your test and from what I can sense from you, you will fit right in," She spoke to me.
"Thank you for the opportunity to be your summoner," I said.
"You are very welcome. Two more things before I go Shenlo Otsutsuki, I will have an owl to stay with you at all times, he will be a Eurasian Eagle-owl. Secondly, it has been two days since you entered the ruins, you must hurry back to your team before they get worried. Go back down the mountain in that direction and you will get to where you need to." She spoke wisely pointing behind me to my five o'clock.
"Thank you Qhoocciesha," I spoke before turning to go back.
"He will bring honor to our Clans Phantom Okami," Qhoocciesha thought proudly. She poofed away the next moment in a large puff of smoke.
Thank you all for showing me support by reading the chapters. Don't forget to leave a review and tell me how I'm doing. Stay tuned for the next chapter.