The Reason

Sunagakure

Hokage Office

After Rasa agreed, he continued, "Next, we need to decide who will handle the village's affairs."

Rasa looked at Baki. Steady and composed by nature, Baki was the most suitable candidate.

But at that moment, Yura spoke up.

"Kazekage-sama, I think we need to invite Elder Chiyo back."

Rasa raised a brow. "Why do you say that?"

There were not that many affairs in Sunagakure. In truth, Baki would be enough.

After Elder Chiyo had brought her grandson, Sasori of the Red Sands, back, she had spent every day watching over him, no longer involving herself in worldly matters.

She had already transferred all her authority to Rasa and had essentially retired.

Yura said at that moment, "We don't know how this incident will develop. If it reaches the most ideal outcome—"

"Someone will be needed in the village to oversee the overall situation."

"As Gaara's teacher, Baki has always remained by the side of Gaara and the other two. He can prevent any problems from arising."

Rasa understood. If things developed in the most ideal direction—

Konoha would soon suffer a severe blow. At that time, Sunagakure would need to mobilize its forces.

And the only person best suited to handle such a matter was Elder Chiyo.

Those with ability lacked seniority, while those with seniority lacked ability.

Although Chiyo now looked kind and benevolent, she had once been one of Sunagakure's hawkish representatives.

Back then, she had been ruthless and unscrupulous.

She had led wars of aggression abroad and conducted bloody human experiments within the village.

Only after several wars ended in defeat, and her son and daughter-in-law both died tragic deaths, had her advancing age gradually changed her mindset, leading her to slowly step down.

If things truly reached that point, Chiyo was indeed the most suitable person.

After all, by the time Kazekage Rasa returned to the village with Gaara and began issuing orders, it would already be too late.

Speed was paramount in war.

"I'll stay in the village as well and assist Elder Chiyo."

Yura volunteered.

This made Rasa feel greatly gratified.

"Yura, you've developed such meticulous thinking. You've matured a great deal."

Yura's gaze flickered away, and he lowered his head modestly.

"Not at all. It's all for the village."

Konoha.

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Uchiha Hospital.

Tsunade looked at the Summoning Scroll in Shamu's hand with some surprise.

"Where did you find that?"

"Oh, I found it in Shuzaki Castle in the Land of Heads."

Tsunade suddenly recalled the ability Shamu had mentioned before and understood somewhat.

"It's quite remarkable that you managed to find the Kubisaki Lizard scroll."

Hearing that Tsunade seemed to know something about the Kubisaki Lizards, Shamu asked, "Tsunade, do you know about the Kubisaki Lizards?"

"How strong are they?"

Tsunade gave Shamu a strange look. "You don't know?"

Shamu shrugged.

"I can only learn fragments. I'm not omniscient."

Tsunade let out a breath. That made things somewhat easier to accept.

Then Shamu's ability was similar to that of the toads of Mount Myōboku.

That was something Tsunade could still accept.

Tsunade recalled the old records.

"The Senju once recorded the Kubisaki Lizard clan."

"They were considered a relatively powerful Summoning Beast clan, and their species diversity was quite impressive."

"By coincidence, after the Scroll of Contracts was lost, the lizards were forced into hibernation."

"They've vanished without a trace for many years. I never expected them to be inside Shuzaki Castle."

Although Tsunade knew this secret, she did not lack Summoning Beasts herself.

So she had never considered visiting the Land of Heads.

Too much time had passed, and many secrets had been buried with it.

As for everyone else, they simply had no knowledge of the Kubisaki Lizard clan.

If they had known the Scroll of Contracts was in Shuzaki Castle, someone would have taken it long ago.

Tenten's eyes shone as she listened from the side.

It seemed she might be able to have a Summoning Beast.

And it was even a clan praised by Lady Tsunade!

After hearing Tsunade's words, Shamu felt that things looked promising.

"Then I should be able to sign a contract directly, right?"

Tsunade shook her head. "Not yet. For a Summoning Beast clan that has fallen into hibernation—"

"You need enough Chakra to awaken the contract guardian."

"The contract guardian?" It was Shamu's first time hearing that term.

"Was it the lizard that turned into the castle before?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. You'll know once you try."

Tsunade did not explain much further. She merely had Shamu open the scroll and pour Chakra into the end of the contract scroll.

Shamu had not initially intended to form a contract with the Kubisaki Lizards.

But after seeing the previous previous contractor, he suddenly felt that this clan's potential should be considerable.

Shamu placed his hand on the contract scroll and began channeling Chakra into it.

The lizard pattern on it slowly began to emit a faint glow.

With a bang, a green lizard roughly half a person's height appeared in the room.

His gaze passed over Tenten and settled on Tsunade, surprise filling his eyes.

"Thank you, my lady, for recovering the contract scroll. Are you the one who wishes to form a contract with us?"

Shamu spoke from behind him. "Not her. Me."

The green lizard turned around. The surprise in his eyes became shock when he saw Shamu.

His eyes narrowed, and his pupils became vertical slits.

In the green lizard's eyes, Shamu's life energy was like a massive volcano.

He was so powerful that he barely seemed human.

The green lizard's eyes returned to normal.

In a humble tone, he said, "Honored sir, I am Aokimaru, the contract envoy of the Kubisaki Lizard clan."

Shamu examined the lizard for a moment. An intelligent species. That should be decent.

Shamu did not know much about Summoning Beasts, so he said to Aokimaru, "I am Uchiha Shamu, the current head of the Uchiha clan. Introduce your Kubisaki Lizard clan."

When Aokimaru heard that Shamu was actually the Uchiha clan head, his attitude became nearly ingratiating. He said respectfully, "Yes, honored Lord Shamu."

Aokimaru then began introducing their entire clan to Shamu.

They were called the Kubisaki Lizards because Kubisaki was where they had first formed a contract.

Their clan had actually multiplied for more than a thousand years and had grown quite large. Their home was called Greenwood Forest.

Their top-level combat power could rival that of Mount Myōboku.

It was only because the Kubisaki Lizard clan could not use sage arts that they could not compare to the Three Great Sacred Lands.

Later, because of war, Greenwood Forest, the Kubisaki Lizards' habitat, was destroyed. Rebuilding it required a vast amount of supplies.

But their contractor suddenly disappeared at that time.

They had never been able to find a suitable contractor.

Later, they eventually returned to Kubisaki.

There, they discovered that the descendants of a contractor from many years ago had unexpectedly multiplied once again.

Thus, they formed a contract with Shuzaki Gonzo.

But war happened to break out, and when Shuzaki Gonzo tried to form a contract with his son so that he could escape, he was killed.

The contract scroll was left abandoned outside ever since.