Using the summoning technique without entering into proper contact with the animals tends to have an unexpected result of reverse summoning the user to wherever the animals are, which is a good thing for aspiring summoners lacking physical copies of the contract.
It was not necessarily a good thing if the summoners are all academy children, though. Now Suzume needs to wait for them to return before she can go home, curl inside her blanket in a fetal position, and start crying.
The day started fine enough. It was a sunny bright day with lots of sunshine, perfect for an outdoor class. The problem started when today's guest lecturer ended up contaminating an entire class of impressionable children with YOUTH.
Everyone got excited after a talking tortoise appeared in front of them as a successful display of what summoning technique can do. Unsurprisingly, it was Uzumaki who went missing in a cloud of smoke first. The rest of the class soon followed.
She can only hope everyone returned safely without any piece of their body or soul missing. Especially one Kaina Uzumaki. Kushina might be dead, but death is only a minor inconvenience for a full-blooded Uzumaki. Everyone knows how terrifying they are if someone hurts their precious person.
The older Uzumaki in the Pure Land sneezed.
Her still-living daughter stuck somewhere on the other side of the world sneezed. They had no idea what caused it.
"More tea?"
"You mean I can get all the tea I want?"
"Of course. If only you were a little older, you can get the sake too."
Kaina shrugged, tugging her sleeve free, setting down her teacup and noting the consistency of the liquid in her cup. It was very warm.
It's hard to believe she was watching the Green Beast of Konoha in action a few minutes ago and then having a tea party with this pretty lady in an expensive-looking kimono but that's life, always full of surprise.
Besides, didn't Suzume-sensei told her the purpose of having classes outside is to teach students how to reacts to the unexpected situation?
"Why is that wolf chasing its tail in circles?"
"Oh. That is just ▓▓▓▓▓▓, he is a lightweight." A gust of wind drowned the woman's voice as she said the wolf's name. Where did it come from?
"Please ignore him. I don't recommend speaking to him even if he is sober. He doesn't like humans as much as I do."
"Am I the only human here?"
"Well, you are what you eat. If I eat you, maybe I will become human as well. Who knows?"
For Kaina, nothing is scarier than being the Hokage. If even the most fearsome Bijuu can faze her, what is another monster to her?
"Just kidding. I'm not like those snake women from Ryuchi Cave. They only think about food. Alright. I might be the same. But I don't eat humans and still think about anything else. Like drinks."
"Foods and drinks are nice, but when can I sign the contract?"
"Contract? What contract? Uzushio is gone. I don't serve as their keeper anymore, young Uzumaki. For the first time in centuries, I'm free."
What a waste of time. Kaina thought. She knew she has to leave this place before she felt the urge to strangle her hostess whose smug aura started to mock her.
"Leaving so soon? I'm sorry, but that is impossible. You can't leave once you have consumed something from here. Won't you be a good guest and entertain me for a bit longer? Please?"
"How about no?"
The woman laughed. Covering her mouth with her sleeved hand. A hand filled with dangerously sharp painted nails.
"Let's play a game. If you can get out of this place on your own, I will let you leave. There are only one rules, don't die."
The snow falls, pale and light. First, it snowed on the ground, then on the trees, and finally everywhere. Silver-glittering snow piled up and seemed like it would explode at any time.
The snow helps the scene to bring the dead to life and the living to death. Soft and brittle in places, but that's what human life is. It's like glass, and so it's fragile. Especially for shinobi.
There's nothing to hold the snow back, nothing to contain them. Nothing can stop them from growing.
"Good luck, young Uzumaki!"