First Meeting with Minato Namikaze!

"Lord Nara is gone!"

Shibi Aburame cried out in alarm.

Unlike clan-born ninja like Nara Kaikei, who had received a wealth of family teachings;

Or Asuma Sarutobi, the Hokage's own son;

Even Kurenai Yuhi had a jonin father.

Shibi Aburame was an extremely ordinary civilian ninja.

The knowledge about the Summoning Technique that Nara Shikano had just explained was rare, high-level knowledge for civilian ninja like Shibi Aburame, and immensely helpful.

Thus, faced with Nara Shikano's disappearance, Shibi Aburame was the most emotionally agitated.

"Calm down, Chunin Shibi."

Inoichi Yamanaka spoke up to remind him.

"This smoke bears the marks of the Reverse Summoning Technique. It was likely Enma, who had just returned to Konoha, using the Reverse Summoning Technique under the Third Lord's orders to summon Lord Shikano back to the village.

"Lord Shikano may be in the Hokage's Office right now, reporting the mission details to the Third Lord."

After Inoichi Yamanaka's explanation, Shibi Aburame immediately calmed down.

Nara Kaikei continued staring at the spot where the Old Clan Head had just vanished.

I've learned the [Summoning Technique] now, but I haven't mastered the [Reverse Summoning Technique]. I can ask the clan head to teach me later.

Unlike the [Summoning Technique], the [Reverse Summoning Technique] can be used both by Summoning Beasts and proactively by ninja.

From a combat perspective, the [Reverse Summoning Technique] is a very effective way to temporarily avoid battle damage.

Mm, but if you want to learn the [Reverse Summoning Technique], you first need to find a suitable summoning target.

Where is mine...?

A short while later.

Poof!

Another cloud of smoke rose, and Nara Shikano reappeared before everyone.

"I have already reported the specifics to Lord Hokage."

The gravity had left Nara Shikano's voice, replaced by a relaxed tone.

"Per Lord Hokage's orders, we will continue carrying out the original plan to eliminate the Bounty Hunters.

"Reinforcements from the village will arrive soon. There is no need to worry."

Nara Shikano had requested support from the village.

It was not because they lacked the ability to continue completing the B-Rank Mission, [Bounty Hunter].

Even if Pig Deer Butterfly was not in good condition, they were not people any random cats and dogs could challenge.

The only people Nara Shikano was guarding against were Kakuzu, who still lurked in the shadows, and that "invisible ninja" who had yet to reveal himself!

Better safe than sorry.

Nara Shikano did not want to stumble in a gutter during the final mission of his ninja career.

"Mm, right, where was I?"

Nara Shikano did not elaborate on the matter of the "reinforcement teammates," merely returning to the previous topic.

"The Inuzuka Clan's ninja hounds and the Yamakami Clan's crows!" Shibi Aburame answered eagerly.

"Right, that's where we were."

Leaning against the deer cart, Nara Shikano continued at an unhurried pace.

"The Inuzuka Clan and the Yamakami Clan are very special ninja clans in Konoha, specializing in raising Summoning Beasts. Moreover, the Summoning Beasts they breed have already grown into sizable populations.

"The Inuzuka Clan and the Yamakami Clan have limited numbers of members. When the number of Summoning Beasts they raise exceeds the number of people in their clans, how to deal with the excess Summoning Beasts becomes a problem.

"The solution offered by the Inuzuka Clan and the Yamakami Clan is to lease or sell some of their more outstanding ninja hounds and Ninja Crows to the village.

"Ninja hounds' scent-tracking ability and Ninja Crows' flight ability are both special abilities ordinary ninja do not possess, and they are highly practical.

"So the village also allocates an additional sum of money to raise these ninja hounds and Ninja Crows, while issuing them Ninja Headbands and Ninja Designations.

"For ninja outside the Inuzuka and Yamakami Clans, they can apply through special channels for the qualifications to sign Summoning Contracts with those ninja hounds and Ninja Crows.

"Of course, such contracts are mutual.

"Some exceptionally gifted ninja may be able to contract several ninja hounds at once;

"But some ninja are not welcomed by ninja hounds or Ninja Crows, and may not be able to contract even a single Summoning Beast."

After hearing the Old Clan Head's explanation.

Nara Kaikei instinctively thought of Hatake Kakashi's Dog Flow Wall—ah, no, the Eight Ninja Hounds.

Could Hatake Kakashi have gained the qualifications to contract eight ninja hounds through this method as well?

If he remembered correctly, every one of Hatake Kakashi's Eight Ninja Hounds really did wear a Konoha forehead protector.

Those were no ordinary ninja hounds. They were ninja hounds with Konoha ninja designations... ninja hounds?

"Lord Nara!"

Shibi Aburame asked somewhat excitedly.

"If I wanted to form a Summoning Contract with a crow or ninja hound, where should I apply?"

"The Beast Taming and Rehabilitation Class of the Medical Department. For matters related to ninja beasts in the village, just go find them."

Nara Shikano answered calmly.

"Of course, you can also directly seek help from ninja of the Inuzuka Clan or Yamakami Clan. Since their clans run such a business, they naturally will not turn away visiting customers."

Shibi Aburame committed this to memory, intending to give it a try after returning to the village.

For civilian ninja like him, chunin was essentially the ceiling of their careers.

If he learned the Summoning Technique and acquired suitable summoning partners, perhaps he could even try becoming a Special Jonin...

Nara Kaikei was somewhat surprised by the Beast Taming and Rehabilitation Class the Old Clan Head had mentioned.

He had originally thought it was simply a veterinary class. He had not expected it to moonlight in special services...

Unfortunately, he was no longer a member of the Beast Taming and Rehabilitation Class.

And Nara Kaikei truly had little interest in ninja hounds or Ninja Crows.

It would be nice if there were Ninja Deer...

"Right, I recall there is also a very special Old Turtle in the village. It is another potential target for a Summoning Contract."

Perhaps noticing Nara Kaikei's lack of interest, the Old Clan Head stroked his beard and added.

"However, that Old Turtle has a very peculiar temperament and is extremely picky when choosing contractors."

Having listened for most of the day, Asuma Sarutobi could not help asking.

"Jonin Nara, why do you keep talking about dogs and crows? Our Sarutobi Clan has monkey Summoning Beasts too!"

"Just as you said, those are the Summoning Beasts of your Sarutobi Clan."

Nara Shikano replied with complete composure.

"Unless under special circumstances, aside from Sarutobi Clan ninja, it is basically impossible for anyone else to gain the opportunity to sign Summoning Contracts with the monkey clan.

"There are quite a few similar examples, such as Root—mm, such as the Sannin's Summoning Beasts.

"Jiraiya, the toads of Mount Myōboku;

"Orochimaru, the snakes of Ryūchi Cave;

"Princess Tsunade, the slugs of Shikkotsu Forest.

"At the end of the day, these Summoning Beasts can be considered personal contract relationships of the Sannin and have little to do with the village.

"It is simply impossible for ordinary ninja to contract toads, snakes, or slugs."

To put it plainly.

Unless they had a relationship on the level of direct disciple and master.

Otherwise, it was basically impossible to learn another ninja's personal signature abilities from them.

And this was not limited merely to the Summoning Technique. The same applied to all ninjutsu.

"Thank you for your guidance, Lord Nara!"

Shibi Aburame thanked him from the bottom of his heart.

Nara Shikano waved a hand at him, indicating it was nothing.

He had originally intended to exchange a few more pleasantries, but at that moment, a flash of golden light appeared in everyone's Line of Sight.

The newcomer was tall and well-proportioned. A gentle smile rested on his fair, handsome face. Though he wore Konoha's standard-issue vest, his brilliant golden hair still shone as brightly and dazzlingly as a Little Sun.

"Minato, you're still as fast as ever."

Nara Shikano stopped speaking and turned toward the newcomer, his expression full of pleased admiration.

"You flatter me, Lord Shikano."

Minato Namikaze dipped his head slightly, his manner exceedingly polite, then turned to introduce himself to the other chunin.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Minato Namikaze."

Ready to explode...

Nara Kaikei nearly blurted out the next line himself.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Konoha's eternal Yellow Flash.

A living Minato!

What a rare sight!

That blond hair, those blue eyes, that vest, that speed... absolutely wow!

Minato's strength right now definitely isn't as high as it was after the Third Shinobi War ended, but it should not be far off.

Nara Kaikei kept calculating inwardly.

So can Minato right now trigger an A-Rank combat mission?

Unfortunately, the Flying Thunder God Technique is an S-Rank space-time Forbidden Jutsu. It can only be obtained from an S-Rank [Ninja Scroll]...

Minato Namikaze had no idea that someone in the crowd was harboring ill intentions and planning to probe his capabilities.

"Lord Shikano, before I came here, I quickly checked the surrounding area and made a sweep with my senses."

Minato Namikaze's expression turned serious.

"However, I did not detect the Bounty Hunter you mentioned earlier, the one with an exceptionally large Chakra amount.

"Judging by a ninja's movement speed, he should not have gone far yet. Perhaps he is hiding underground, or perhaps he is moving by traveling underground."

"Just as expected of you, Minato."

Nara Shikano praised him.

"Since even you cannot find any trace of him, there is no need to pursue him.

"Let's continue the mission!"

Minato Namikaze nodded, walked over to Choza Akimichi's side, and handed him another scroll.

"Big Brother Choza, this is a Medical Ninjutsu Scroll I just brought from the village. It should be able to help you."

"That's wonderful, Minato! I'm deeply grateful!"

Choza Akimichi was immediately overjoyed. If he could quickly recover from his injuries, who would want to go into battle wounded?

Minato Namikaze's arrival added a powerful sense of security to the team.

The Konoha ninja continued clearing out Bounty Hunters around the Land of Fire's main roads according to the original plan.

Until night fell, and they set up camp.

Nara Kaikei was still hesitating over whether to seek out Minato.

The Old Clan Head came looking for him first.

"Kaikei, I heard Minato say that you seem to have something you wish to discuss with him?"

Regarding Shibi Aburame.

He was a character from the original manga and also appeared in the anime during the Chunin Exam arc.

The original work did not mention Shibi Aburame's childhood.

Based on the timeline he compiled himself and divided by age, the author assigned Shibi Aburame to Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi's team.

In the original work, aside from "Shibi Aburame," there were no other ninja with the surname "Aburame," so he was established as a "civilian ninja."

Furthermore, Shibi Aburame remained only a chunin until the Pain Invasion, at the age of thirty-one.

Perhaps this could also serve as evidence of his civilian origins.

Regarding the Inuzuka Clan and Yamakami Clan leasing and selling ninja beasts.

That is merely this book's secondary setting.

For details, refer to the author's note in the previous chapter.

Konoha does indeed have [dogs], [turtles], and [monkeys] wearing forehead protectors.