Beneath the ancient Sacred Tree.
A group of foxes of varying sizes surrounded Akishinomiya Yuri, constantly letting out soft yipping cries. Their orange-red fur gleamed brightly beneath the sunlight.
Grandma Shiori smiled at the scene before her.
"Little Yuri, it seems they're hungry."
"Back when worship at the Sacred Tree was flourishing, these little foxes often came here to beg for food."
"I never thought that after so long..."
Akishinomiya Yuri looked flusteredly at the little foxes gathered around her feet.
She had already finished all her tempura snacks, and it seemed she had no other food on her either.
Just then, Akishinomiya Yuri seemed to remember something and hurriedly took out the rice balls she had stuffed into her shrine maiden robe pocket that morning.
"Mm, you're all hungry, aren't you?"
With a gentle smile, Akishinomiya Yuri half-crouched and carefully broke apart the rice balls in her hands, crumbling them into tiny pieces and scattering them on the ground.
Several larger foxes quickly came forward and lowered their heads to eat.
Hyuga Setsuna stood with his arms folded across his chest, watching the little foxes surrounding Akishinomiya Yuri.
It seemed these foxes were wild animals from the mountains, and they did not appear particularly afraid of people. The commotion earlier had probably been because they wanted to come over and ask for food.
Akishinomiya Yuri looked down at the foxes happily eating and reached out her small hand to gently stroke one of them.
This little fox was only about the size of a palm and had probably been born just a few months ago. When Akishinomiya Yuri touched the loose skin at the back of its neck, its body trembled slightly.
Seeing the trembling little fox, Akishinomiya Yuri hurriedly pulled her hand away.
It immediately lowered its fluffy little head and continued eating the rice ball. Its small ears twitched from time to time, while weak little yips came from its mouth.
"Mm, so cute!"
Akishinomiya Yuri wore a delighted smile as she secretly reached out and gave the little fox another stroke.
Beneath the Sacred Tree, Hyuga Setsuna sat on a branch and watched the foxes, silently thinking.
Should I find a summoning beast too?
But what kind of summoning beast should I choose?
Toads? Slugs? Snakes?
No. They might be from the Three Great Sacred Lands, but if I ran into those sages, it would be dangerous.
After all, the Great Toad Sage of Toad Mountain once helped the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo, seal Otsutsuki Kaguya.
Otsutsuki Kaguya was currently living inside me. If I went to Mount Myoboku, that old toad might notice something.
As for Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest, since they were known alongside Mount Myoboku as the Three Great Sacred Lands, there might be some kind of arrangement between them.
Better not go.
But aside from the Three Great Sacred Lands, what other powerful summoning beasts are there?
Dogs? Turtles? Sharks? Monkeys? Clams? Kamaitachi? Spiders?
No, none of those would do. I'll just leave it to fate...
If all else failed, I could always learn from Uchiha Madara and use tailed beasts as summoning beasts in the future.
Hyuga Setsuna leaped down from the tree branch and came to Akishinomiya Yuri's side.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to make a wish beneath the Sacred Tree?"
As Hyuga Setsuna approached, the foxes eating rice balls all trembled in unison. Though they were frightened, they refused to abandon the delicious food.
Akishinomiya Yuri, who had been engrossed in petting the little fox, stood up and said troubledly after hearing him.
"But there aren't any wish plaques or pens here!"
She had only just realized that although they had come here to make wishes, they had not brought any wish plaques or writing pens.
Hyuga Setsuna looked helplessly at the absentminded Akishinomiya Yuri.
"Your Highness, we're lucky. There's a pile of wish plaques stored not far from the Sacred Tree. They were probably left behind by people in the past."
As for a pen, Hyuga Setsuna casually pulled out a Sealing Scroll and formed the "Horse" hand seal.
"Poof!"
Along with a cloud of white smoke, two writing pens appeared in Hyuga Setsuna's hand.
Looking at the pens that had emerged from the Sealing Scroll, Akishinomiya Yuri asked curiously.
"Yagokoro, is this a ninja's Sealing Scroll?"
"I heard these Sealing Scrolls can seal lots of things!!"
"I wonder if food can be sealed away and then taken out to eat later!"
A look of helplessness and exasperation flashed through Hyuga Setsuna's eyes, but he patiently answered.
"Your Highness, food cannot be put into a Sealing Scroll!"
After saying that, Hyuga Setsuna gave Akishinomiya Yuri no chance to ask further questions. In a flicker, he had already headed toward where the wish plaques were stored.
Before leaving, Hyuga Setsuna made a gesture toward Kakashi, who was secretly protecting them.
He told Kakashi to remain behind and protect Akishinomiya Yuri.
Watching Hyuga Setsuna's figure disappear, Akishinomiya Yuri could only crouch down and resume petting the little fox eating its rice ball.
After seeing Hyuga Setsuna leave, the little foxes no longer resisted Akishinomiya Yuri's touch. Instead, they actively rolled over to expose their bellies, yipping for her to pet them.
Before long, Hyuga Setsuna appeared again.
He held two wish plaques in his hand.
Coming to Akishinomiya Yuri's side, Hyuga Setsuna said softly.
"Your Highness, I've brought the wish plaques."
Seeing that Hyuga Setsuna had returned with the wish plaques, Akishinomiya Yuri reluctantly placed the little fox in her arms back on the ground.
She then stepped forward and took the wish plaques and writing pens.
Holding the wish plaque and pen, Akishinomiya Yuri walked beneath the Sacred Tree, turned around, and said to Hyuga Setsuna.
"You're not allowed to peek. If you see it, the wish plaque won't work!!"
Hearing Akishinomiya Yuri's words, Hyuga Setsuna nodded with a wry, helpless smile.
Who would be bored enough to peek at someone else's wish plaque?
Grandma Shiori floated onto a branch of the Sacred Tree as well. With an indulgent smile, she said to the wary Akishinomiya Yuri.
"All right, little Yuri. Grandma won't look either!"
Once she finally saw that no one was nearby, Akishinomiya Yuri picked up her pen and began writing her wishes on the plaque!
[Sacred Tree, Yuri hopes that the people of the Land of Fire can live happily and no longer suffer the pain of war!]
[Sacred Tree, Yuri hopes that you will bless Father and Mother with lifelong health and peace!]
[Sacred Tree, Yuri hopes that you will let Grandma Shiori stay by my side forever. I know this is selfish, but I truly don't want to be separated from Grandma!]
With a devout expression on her delicate face, Akishinomiya Yuri held the completed wish plaque in both hands. She came beneath the Sacred Tree and carefully hung up her own plaque.
Hyuga Setsuna began writing his own wish as well.
Before writing, however, he said to Otsutsuki Kaguya.
"Grandmother, you can't peek either, or the wish won't come true."
Inside the Sealing Space, Otsutsuki Kaguya replied with pride and displeasure.
"I would never peek!"
This bad child actually dared to doubt me.
Though if Hyuga Setsuna had not said anything just now, she had indeed intended to peek...
Hearing Otsutsuki Kaguya's proud and displeased words, Hyuga Setsuna smiled gently and said softly.
"Then it's a promise, Grandmother~ No peeking!"
Inside the Sealing Space, Otsutsuki Kaguya snorted in displeasure, and several palaces collapsed once more.
Then she directly cut off their connection on her side.
She was not curious about this bad child's wish at all!!
Hyuga Setsuna then began writing his own wish.
[Sacred Tree, please bless me so I can save Grandmother!]
Only a short sentence was written on the small wish plaque, but it was a wish he would definitely fulfill in this lifetime! Definitely!
Hyuga Setsuna then held the wish plaque in both hands and carefully hung it up.
Beneath the Sacred Tree, the two silently clasped their hands and prayed for their wishes.
"..."
After making their wishes, Hyuga Setsuna wore his warm smile again and said to Akishinomiya Yuri.
"Your Highness, it's time for us to head back!"
Akishinomiya Yuri gazed at her wish plaque on the Sacred Tree and nodded calmly.
Beneath the ancient Sacred Tree, the boy in a black kimono and the girl in red-and-white shrine maiden robes began walking down the path home.
From the branches of the Sacred Tree, Grandma Shiori watched the departing boy and girl, humming a beautiful and solemn song.
It was a song composed by people of the old era for worshipping the Sacred Tree!
"The past of the old era shall be buried, the sorrow of the old era shall be covered, the prayers of the old era shall vanish, the destiny of the old era shall sink, and the souls of the old era shall ascend!"
"The Sacred Tree shall carry the children's wishes and longings far away, and they shall ultimately be fulfilled in another way!"
As the beautiful and solemn song resounded, the Sacred Tree's branches and the wind chimes tied to them began to sway.
It was as though they were accompanying the beautiful and solemn song.
La la la, the first update is here... I originally wanted to write 3,000 words, hehe. Please send rewards and monthly votes.
How should I put this? Personally, I felt this chapter flowed very smoothly and I didn't get stuck at all, but it still only reached 2,700 words. It didn't make 3,000 because I felt there was nowhere to revise. Personally, I'm very satisfied with it, super satisfied...
Also, if everyone has spare investment slots, could you invest in this book? ()
There are still 63 investments left until 100. I hope you wonderful readers can help out (ノへ￣,)
For the second update, I'll also try my best to write 3,000 words. Hehe, keep it up, keep it up (づ￣3￣)づ╭~
Before you continue