Sansan, If There's a Next Time, I'll Kill You

"You're the one whose name is Sansan! Your whole family is called Sansan!"

Upon opening my eyes, I found myself in this unfamiliar world, though I had been freed from the seal.

However, he was bound by a so-called Summoning Scroll, otherwise he wouldn't be able to attack the person in front of him.

The cat, Ban, was now only thinking about killing this cunning, fox-like brat in front of it.

"Sake and various foods are served daily, without limit."

Hagoromo said calmly.

"No problem, I'll be called Sansan!" The Cat San San immediately changed its expression and nodded in agreement.

The red bean buns and sake in his hands were truly delicious, touching his very heart.

"Heh." Hagoromo's lips twitched. This fat cat really had no morals when it came to food.

"By the way, could you go back into the scroll later?"

Hagoromo seemed to realize something and asked Sansan.

"A scroll?" Sansan squinted after finishing the last bite of her red bean bun, then nodded and shook her head.

"What do you mean?" Hagoromo asked speechlessly, after all, he really didn't know the answer to this question.

There was no explanation on the scroll, and the system offered no explanation to itself.

"Okay, but I don't want to go back."

The Cat San San front paws, looking completely indifferent.

"Furthermore, when I dispel the psychic connection, I don't return to the scroll, but rather to a place I hid in my past life, which should now be called Sacred Land."

"Sacred Land?" Hagoromo was taken aback, then asked curiously, "So, you also have Senjutsu?"

"Senjutsu?" The Cat San San paws and said nonchalantly:

"If you mean the Symbiosis Technique formed by the so-called Natural Energy combined with the 'Fate Power' of yokai..."

"That's it."

"Take me there," Hagoromo said with a smile.

"I refuse... I agree." Cat San San was originally thinking of refusing, but when she saw the small bottle of sake in Hagoromo's hand, she immediately changed her tone.

--

In a dense forest, Hagoromo looked at a shrine in front of her with the words 'Muku Shrine' written on it.

Turning to the Cat San San, she asked in confusion, "Aren't you a demon? How come you live at the shrine?"

The Cat San San, swayed around and turned around, saying dismissively:

"That's just something passed down from my ancestors; it has nothing to do with me."

Hagoromo nodded and followed the Cat San San's footsteps, observing this Sacred Land.

At this moment, Hagoromo had already arrived at a secret forest above a sea of clouds, surrounded by ancient trees that had stood for thousands of years.

Walking through the forest, the leaves of the ancient trees are like jade bells, ringing when the wind blows.

"This is the Ancient Tree Bell Tone; it can dispel distracting thoughts."

The Cat San San, walking in front of Hagoromo, explained, then turned back to look at Hagoromo again.

"What's wrong?" Hagoromo her head to look at him.

He had just vaguely sensed what the Cat San San was thinking, but it was very unclear.

"Bell Cleansing, if your mind is impure, you will go deaf and never be able to leave this dense forest."

"I want to come to my Sacred Land," said the Cat San San, seemingly unconcerned.

How could there be absolutely no risk?

Hagoromo was speechless; this fat ball was definitely up to no good.

However, having forcibly entered into a contract with someone and being unable to return, Hagoromo could only ignore this trivial matter.

The person and the cat stopped in front of a river, Cat San San, immediately squatted down and licked its front paws.

"What's wrong?"

Hagoromo sat down cross-legged and asked, "The scenery here is truly tranquil."

"You've already passed the first hurdle; the second hurdle is this river right in front of you."

The Cat San San, pointed its front paws at the river in front of it and said slowly.

"That's so simple?" Hagoromo asked, somewhat doubtfully.

After all, compared to the Senjutsu training at Mount Myōboku, isn't this kind of trial for Cat San San a bit too mundane?

"Simple?" Cat San San looked at Hagoromo Yi with annoyance.

What do you think the trees in this forest are like?

Hearing this, Hagoromo thought for a long time before saying, "Besides most of the ancient trees, some trees seem to look a bit different in age."

"These are the trees that some demons or humans who strayed or were exploring before me, and because of their impure thoughts, were assimilated by Lingyin."

"It's best to get rid of anyone who dares to covet my things," said the Cat San San, seemingly unconcerned.

Hagoromo nodded knowingly, then slapped the Cat San San on the head with her right hand.

"Aww!"

The Cat San San, cried out in pain, shook its head for a long time, and then bared its teeth and growled at Hagoromo:

"Hey kid! Why did you hit me all of a sudden!"

"If there's a next time, I'll kill you."

Hagoromo spoke calmly with a smile on her face.

Once she realized what was happening, the Cat San San shut her mouth and nodded helplessly, saying, "You're alright too."

But his tone was surprisingly lacking in confidence.

After all, despite Hagoromo's smiling expression, the Cat San San genuinely thought she might die just now.

"Although you came here because of my Summoning Contract, you also escaped Natsume Reiko's seal because of it."

"Therefore, I hope we can get along well in the future, instead of having to be constantly on guard."

Hagoromo calmly explained that she dared to come over entirely because she was protected by the system's Summoning Scroll.

That's why I'm so carefree and bold, but look at the state of my Cat San San, right now.

He won't let this go on forever; if that's the case, he might as well just kill them.

At worst, he can just go to the Three Great Sage Lands and look for those spirit beasts.

"You actually know Natsume Reiko?!" the Cat San San asked, its face filled with shock.

After all, he hadn't told Hagoromo any of these things.

"Ah, I know everything about you, otherwise how would I know you can Shape Transformation?"

Hagoromo nodded.

The Cat San San had a serious expression on its face, not just because Hagoromo knew his background.

Furthermore, the current Hagoromo made him feel excessively dangerous.

It's the kind of danger that strikes right at the soul.

"Understood, kid. No, Hagoromo, please guide me from now on."

After a long while, the Cat San San finally spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Hagoromo's lips curled into a smile; in the world of Natsume's Book of Friends, names carry a different meaning.

It represents the bond of soul, memory, and emotion.

The fact that the Cat San San now calls out his name signifies her willingness to form a bond with him.

Even if this bond is built on the basis of a life-threatening situation.

"Ah, please guide me." Hagoromo nodded.

"However, I have one request." Seeing that Hagoromo had agreed, the Cat San San resumed its lazy demeanor and said.

"What are the requirements?" Hagoromo asked curiously.

"After you die, set me free. In the meantime, you can have anyone contract me," the Cat San San said calmly.

The existence of summoned beasts is to assist in battle, Cat San San naturally knew Hagoromo's plan.

"Can."

Hagoromo readily agreed, but he didn't know whether Naruto and the others would summon the Cat San San later.

But why worry so much about what happens after you die?