Slug's Affection

"Plop, plop."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a plume of white smoke. The hazy fog blurred his vision, and as sunlight streamed in through the window, the scene in the Hokage's Office came into view, briefly drawing him into the past.

Back when he had first taken the Hokage Position, Konoha was facing an invasion by outside forces. Yet in his youth, it had had the legacy of the Senju, Uchiha, and others who had survived the chaotic era; in his middle years, renowned figures like the White Fang and the Sannin; and in his old age, the rising Yellow Flash, who struck fear into the Shinobi World. With the Uchiha, Hyuga, Ino-Shika-Cho, and other shinobi clans behind him, Hiruzen Sarutobi had been full of ambition. He hadn't feared Konoha facing four enemies at once.

Back then, only Elite Jonin were qualified to attend meetings of this caliber, and the key decision-makers had to be Kage-level shinobi.

"Lord Hokage, everyone's here."

After his aide reminded him, the Third Generation seemed to come back to his senses. He roused himself and surveyed the room, his heart growing heavier still.

Tsunade, who loved her drink, was now sipping from a bottle while staring at the blank wall opposite her, disdain flashing in her eyes.

Uchiha Fugaku, head of Konoha's foremost shinobi clan, stood alone off to one side. The way everyone around him kept their distance only made his expression more grim.

Standing opposite him was Hyuga Hiashi, whose manner was rigid and whose expression was so blank that no one could tell what he was thinking.

Beyond the three central figures stood the clan heads and the few Jonin Konoha still had. At the very edge were some Special Jonin who had been summoned at the last minute, though they had no say in the matter.

"Knock, knock, knock, knock."

Hiruzen Sarutobi curled his index finger and tapped the tabletop lightly, drawing everyone's attention.

The first meeting since the Nine-Tails Disaster was now underway.

"Senba, m-monsters! Why are there so many monsters in the hospital? Look, it—it's eating someone!"

In the corridor of Konoha Hospital, Iruka watched a patient lying in bed get wrapped up in a glob of slime by a sky-blue slug. He pointed at it with a trembling finger and shouted.

"Mm!"

Senba covered Iruka's mouth, then glanced awkwardly at the displeased expressions on the faces of the medical staff around them. He quickly dragged Iruka aside so they wouldn't be in anyone's way.

After hushing the fussing Iruka, Senba explained the existence of the Summoning Beast Slug and told him not to make a fool of himself again.

"Oh my gosh, that's Lord Tsunade of the Sannin's Summoning Beast, Slug? It's so cute!"

Watching Iruka's attitude change completely, Senba couldn't help twitching the corner of his mouth. So this is the power of an idol?

Meanwhile, Iruka stared at the wriggling Slug with shining eyes. He reached out both hands, eager to give this Split Body of the Sannin's personal Summoning Beast a good rub.

He reached out, but missed. He reached again, and still missed. Then he reached again.

"What are you doing? Don't disturb Lady Slug while she's treating someone!"

A crisp young girl's voice rang out. She had neat, short black hair and a pleasant-looking face with chubby cheeks. Baring her canines, she glared fiercely at the startled Iruka.

The next second, she tugged with her slender arm and flung Iruka aside. He nearly hit the ground.

"She's strong. That must be Shizune, right?"

Senba watched the girl, who was a little taller than him, hold Iruka by the scruff of his neck and scold him. Iruka's feet dangled in the air as he struggled, but the gap in their strength made his efforts seem futile.

Just as Senba was about to help Iruka, a flash of blue streaked past. The Slug that had just been dodging Iruka's embrace hopped onto the windowsill in front of him and stared at him.

Senba found the sight rather amusing. Could I be getting the protagonist treatment too? Is a Summoning Beast going to choose me as its master?

So, ignoring Iruka's pleading look, Senba stared back at the Slug, one standing above the other. A moment passed, but nothing happened. The Slug simply kept staring at him.

Senba's neck was beginning to ache, so he tilted his head to the left to ease the stiffness. To his surprise, the Slug tilted its head in sync with him. Senba found it amusing.

His spirits lifting, Senba began swaying his head from side to side. The little Slug across from him swayed its body in sync, looking adorable.

Then Senba straightened up and extended his palm toward it, trying to make contact. To his surprise, the Slug wriggled over onto his hand. A warm stream of Chakra entered through his palm, then quickly withdrew before he could sense anything unusual.

Looking thoughtfully at the Slug resting quietly in his palm, Senba guessed that his bloodline was making it feel close to him. Though it seemed a little too close. At his side, Shizune stared at his back in astonishment, with a hint of hurt in her eyes.

"What's your name? What are you doing here?"

Shizune casually set down Iruka, whose face had turned red, then walked up beside Senba and looked down at him. Girls often grew taller faster than boys at that age, so she still seemed rather imposing to him.

"Uh, Senba. Aoki Senba. I'm here to see our team leader. He was badly injured during the Nine-Tails' attack."

Only after hearing Senba's answer did Shizune take a step back and look him up and down. She had the feeling she'd seen him somewhere before. That's impossible. I left the village with Lady Tsunade a long time ago. I couldn't have met him.

As they stood facing each other in silence, the Slug perched on Senba's palm slowly crawled up his arm, onto his left shoulder, and then climbed back down.

Senba could clearly sense a chill in the gaze of the person opposite him.

Could it be that Shizune hasn't made a contract with Shikkotsu Forest yet? Senba wondered as he watched.

Meanwhile, Tsunade, unaware that her Summoning Beast Slug was being so affectionate with a stranger, merely watched the people arguing in front of her, a trace of irritation flickering in her eyes.

But when her gaze fell on the wall opposite, her irritation turned to utter disgust.

Just then, a bout of coughing sounded, and the people in the room gradually fell silent. Satisfaction flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.

"Everyone has already agreed on what to do about relief efforts in the village, the first of the three matters for this meeting. Please put the plan into action after you leave."

"Second, Konoha has lost many Jonin this time. So, for the time being, the Special Jonin here will need to take on more missions. This will help you advance to Jonin and also restore the reputation of Konoha's mission system. Konoha won't be brought down by a single Nine-Tails rampage."

"As for the final matter, the mastermind behind controlling the Nine-Tails—everyone saw it at the time. It was indeed the Sharingan."

"Lord Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand to stop Uchiha Fugaku, who looked eager to speak. Then he stood up, surveyed everyone present, and spoke slowly:

"But that doesn't mean the Uchiha Clan was responsible. The Sharingan has been around for so many years. No one can guarantee that it hasn't fallen into other hands. So, I hereby announce that the restrictions on the Uchiha Clan are lifted. However, the clan's Jonin may not leave Konoha for the time being, and those below Jonin rank will need approval before leaving. What do you think, Clan Head Fugaku?"

Hearing the Third Generation express such trust in them, Uchiha Fugaku immediately looked pleased and agreed.

And with that, the meeting ended for the day. Everyone also tacitly accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi's return to the Hokage Position.