It was about signing a summoning contract—but who was summoning whom was hard to say.
Xia Muyang's golden eyes held a smile, with a trace of cunning flashing deep within its gaze.
For the Hundred Ninja Village mission, besides experience and points, there were two core rewards: the special building, the contract stele, and the racial talent, Human-Wolf Resonance.
Among them, the contract stele could be called a divine artifact.
As long as one signed a contract before the stele, it was equivalent to handing one's life over to the Wolf clan.
After the contract was bound, it would automatically establish a two-way summoning relationship with the Wolf clan—but there was a key prerequisite: summoning a member of the Wolf clan required the other party's consent.
In other words, those Konoha Ninja thought they were "contracting a summoning beast," but in reality...
They had signed themselves up as "reserves" for the Wolf clan.
Xia Muyang's lips curled slightly.
Of course, the contract didn't just take benefits without giving any sweetness.
After binding the contract, the Ninja's Chakra limit would slightly increase, Chakra recovery speed would accelerate, and if fighting alongside a member of the Wolf clan, they could also receive a combat power bonus.
And those who were willing to truly submit could enjoy even more benefits in the future.
As for Human-Wolf Resonance—that was another surprise.
As long as the contracted Ninja and the Wolf clan member fought together, the resonance state would automatically trigger: both sides would share perception, cooperation and tacit understanding would be greatly improved, and combat power would double.
With the two effects stacked together... tsk.
Not only were those fifteen people excited, but even Kakashi and the other four who hadn't expressed their stance revealed looks of eagerness in their eyes.
However, in the end, they still didn't express their stance.
But Xia Muyang didn't care; after those fifteen people signed the contract, it didn't believe Kakashi would be able to resist by then.
As long as Kakashi came here again, everything would be completely secure.
For now, send them back first.
Soon, the group of Ninja had no objections and, led by a group of Ninja Wolves, headed toward the Wolf Ninja Village.
—Outside the Yufu Forest.
The afternoon sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting mottled light and shadows on the edge of the forest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood under an ancient tree, holding a pipe, smoke curling up. His gaze looked toward the depths of the forest, and no expression could be seen on his aged face.
Behind him was a massive procession.
One hundred Wandering Ninja—men and women, young and old, wearing a variety of clothes, all controlled by illusions.
Further back were twenty Root Ninja, each with a huge sealing scroll on their back. These were the supplies for this trade—food, ironware, medicine, and Ninja tools, packed full, enough for a Village to use for over half a year.
Danzo Shimura stood beside Hiruzen Sarutobi, his single eye slightly narrowed as he looked at the deep forest.
"Hiruzen, are you sure that wolf will keep its word?" His voice was low, carrying a trace of doubt.
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn his head. "It is more trustworthy than some people."
A trace of gloom flashed in Danzo's single eye, but he didn't say anything more.
Time passed minute by minute. The sun gradually slanted west, and the light in the forest dimmed.
Finally—from the depths of the forest, there came a rustling sound. Immediately after, a figure walked out from the forest.
It was a black wolf.
Its steps were steady, its fur sleek, and a pair of dark green eyes glowed with a faint light in the twilight. It did not travel in groups like other Ninja Wolves, but walked alone, heading straight toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The Root Ninja instantly became tense, their hands resting on their weapons.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his hand, signaling them not to act rashly.
The black wolf stopped three meters in front of him. It raised its head, looking at this Third Hokage, and then—"Awoo—" it let out a low wolf howl.
The sound didn't seem like a threat, nor did it seem like a warning; instead, it seemed like... some kind of signal.
After howling, the black wolf turned around and walked a few steps toward the depths of the forest. Then it stopped and looked back at Hiruzen Sarutobi. The meaning was obvious. —Follow me.
"Is it going to lead the way?" Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a second, then nodded. "Follow."
The procession began to move. One hundred Wandering Ninja, twenty Root Ninja, plus Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, followed the black wolf and slowly walked into the Yufu Forest.
They walked for about half an hour. The trees in front gradually thinned, and the view suddenly opened up.
A Village appeared before their eyes. It was a Village built on the hillside, surrounded by a fence made of thick wooden stakes, the sharpened tips of which gleamed coldly in the twilight.
A gate tower stood at the entrance of the Village, and a plaque hung on it, inscribed with three large characters—Wolf Ninja Village.
Through the fence, one could see the scene inside the Village. Rows of neat wooden houses were arranged in an orderly fashion, and there was an open space in the center of the Village, which should be a training ground.
A few children were chasing and playing in the open space, their laughter faintly audible. A few adults were sitting in front of their houses, some repairing farm tools, some drying animal skins, and others watering the vegetable plots.
Cooking smoke curled up, and the aroma of food faintly drifted in the air. Everything was so ordinary. So ordinary that it was just like a secluded border Village.
But looking closely, one could find the extraordinary parts—at the Village entrance, a few Ninja Wolves were lying on the ground, basking in the sun with their eyes narrowed. Beside them, several children were petting their heads, and those Ninja Wolves just lazily flicked their tails, looking accustomed to it.
In the center of the Village, on a high platform, stood a stone statue. It was a giant crouching wolf, its silver-white fur carved vividly, and its golden eyes overlooking the entire Village.
The people in the Village saw a large procession coming from outside the Village and stopped their work one after another, looking curiously. But no one panicked, and no one ran away. They just watched.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped and scanned the Village. This was... the Wolf Ninja Village. The Village built by that wolf.
Soon, a figure walked out of the Village with long strides. It was a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a clean and sharp outfit, his back straight, his steps steady and powerful. He had a calm smile on his face, his eyes were bright and confident, and his whole body exuded the aura of someone who was in charge.
Kawajūrō. A former Wandering Samurai, a leader of Mountain Bandits, and now the Village head of the Wolf Ninja Village.
He walked to the Village entrance and stopped three steps in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi, bowing with his fists in his palms neither servile nor overbearing. "The Third Hokage's presence makes the Wolf Ninja Village shine. I am Kawajūrō, the Village head of the Wolf Ninja Village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi sized up the person in front of him. There was no flattery, no tension, and not even the slightest restraint one would have when facing the head of the Five Great Nations. What he had was just—equality.
The person that wolf chose was indeed not simple. He could guess that the other party was just an affiliate of Xia Muyang, and the Wolf Ninja Village was also built by Xia Muyang, not by this Kawajūrō. After all, Kawajūrō didn't have this strength yet.
"Kawajūrō?" "That is correct." Kawajūrō straightened up, turned to the side, and made a gesture of invitation, "The Wolf King has been waiting in the Village for a long time; please follow me."
After speaking, he turned and led the way, his steps calm and his back straight. It was as if he wasn't receiving the Hokage of Konoha, but just an ordinary guest.
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and stepped forward to follow.
"Hmph, Hiruzen, that wolf is too presumptuous. At any rate, we are the number one power in the Ninja World, yet it only sent a small fry who isn't even a Chunin to welcome us!!" Danzo Shimura said with a gloomy face. When had he, Danzo Shimura, ever received such treatment?
"Say less!!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said coldly. Although he wasn't happy either, the most important thing right now was to get Kakashi and the others back quickly.
Afterward, they followed. When passing through the Village entrance, Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed the Ninja Wolves lying on the side of the road—they just looked up once, then lowered their heads again, continuing to bask in the sun.
The children nearby were still petting their heads, completely indifferent to this massive procession.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept over the villagers. There was no fear, no tension, only a little curiosity. Those people did what they were supposed to do; those repairing farm tools continued to repair, and those drying animal skins continued to dry, as if the visit of the Konoha Hokage was not as important as what to eat for dinner.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brows raised slightly. The confidence of this Village... was not faked.
—In the center of the Village, by the training ground.
A huge silver-white figure was lying quietly on a high platform. Xia Muyang.
It looked down at the entire training ground from a high position, with a faint smile in its golden eyes.
On the training ground, twenty-some figures were standing neatly. Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Shino Aburame, and those dozen or so captured Ninja.
They were not tied up, nor were they beaten or scolded; they were just standing there quietly. Their expressions were calm.
Even—a few young Genin, when seeing the procession walking from the Village entrance, flashed a trace of complex emotion in their eyes.
Kawajūrō brought the procession to the side of the training ground and stopped. He raised his head, looked at Xia Muyang on the high platform, and said respectfully, "Wolf King, the people have been brought here."
Xia Muyang slowly stood up. Its four-meter-long silver-white body rose from the high platform, and blue electric arcs leaped lightly around its body. It looked down at Hiruzen Sarutobi, its lips curling slightly. "Third Hokage, we meet again."
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head, looking at this giant silver-white wolf, and then at those unharmed Ninja on the training ground.
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