Monsters, I Need Your Help with My Training!

Gamakichi looked at the group of monsters behind Menma, all radiating formidable auras, and became even more respectful. "Yes, Lord Jiraiya mentioned you before. Judging by your imposing bearing and your aura of looking down upon the world, you must be Lord Menma Namikaze.

Lord Menma Namikaze, I am your most loyal subordinate, Gamakichi!

May I ask why you summoned me? Is there something you need me to do?

Please rest assured, your subordinate Gamakichi is willing to brave fire and water for you, generation after generation!"

"Gamakichi, there really is something I need you to handle!" Menma looked at the little toad before him and briefly explained the current situation.

After explaining everything clearly, Menma handed Gamakichi several containers filled with monster blood. "In a moment, cancel the summoning and return to Mount Myōboku. Then ask the Great Toad Sage to make me a Summoning Scroll.

Oh, and tell Master Jiraiya not to worry. I'm fine, and I'll be back in a few days.

Also, at this time three days from now, I'll summon you again. Remember to bring the scroll with you. Understood?"

"Yes, I will complete the mission!" Gamakichi promised loudly.

With that, Gamakichi canceled the summoning.

After Gamakichi left, Menma could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground.

Tengu hurried forward to support Menma and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Are you alright?!"

Menma forced a smile and gestured for Tengu not to worry. "It's nothing. I just used too much Chakra at once, so my meridians were slightly damaged, and I'm a little exhausted. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Only then did Tengu relax and have Snow Woman carry Menma to a room inside the residence to rest.

After Snow Woman left with Menma, the monster who had once served as a Shikigami sighed. "What an incredible human. From so far away, he actually managed to use the Summoning Technique successfully!"

Tengu asked, "Shuten-dōji, you were once human, and after becoming a monster, you had plenty of dealings with humans. Have you ever seen anyone like him?"

Shuten-dōji shook his head. "Whether it was the eminent monks and virtuous masters I encountered as a human, or the onmyōji I met after becoming a monster, none of them could compare to him!"

Tengu asked doubtfully, "Not even Abe no Seimei?"

Shuten-dōji answered firmly, "Not even Abe no Seimei!"

Tengu sighed. "If it's him, then perhaps he really can help us fulfill our long-cherished wishes of revenge and returning home!"

Meanwhile, after Menma was carried into the guest room to rest, Gamakichi also canceled the summoning and returned home to Mount Myōboku, finally allowing the worried Sage Shima to breathe a sigh of relief.

The moment he appeared, Gamakichi called toward Sage Shima, "Grandma, I found Jiraiya's disciple, Lord Menma!"

Shima's expression changed at once. "Nani? What did you say?!"

Gamakichi said, "Grandma, the one who summoned me just now was Jiraiya's disciple, Lord Menma Namikaze!"

Only then did Shima react. She immediately grabbed Gamakichi, leaped swiftly out the window, and rushed toward the Great Toad Sage's palace.

Upon reaching the Great Toad Sage's residence, Sage Shima roared at Sage Fukasaku and Jiraiya, who were studying the Summoning Scroll and trying to figure out a solution, "Old man, Little Jiraiya, there's news of little Menma!"

The man and the toad immediately put down what they were doing and looked toward Sage Shima.

Sage Shima set Gamakichi on the ground and ordered, "Gamakichi, tell them again what happened just now!"

"Yes!" Gamakichi did not dare delay and quickly recounted what had happened after he was summoned.

After finishing, he took out the containers holding the blood of several great monsters and told the two sages about Menma's request for Mount Myōboku to create a Summoning Scroll.

"What about Menma? Is Menma alright now? Why didn't he come back?" Jiraiya asked worriedly.

Gamakichi described everything he had seen and heard in detail. "Lord Menma is not only fine, he has also subdued several powerful summoned beasts! Every one of them had an aura even stronger than Dad's and Grandpa's!

Besides that, Lord Menma told us to wait three days. After three days, he'll summon me again and have me bring the new Summoning Scroll over!"

Hearing this, the heavy stone weighing on Jiraiya's heart finally lifted. If something had happened to Menma under his watch, he truly would not have known how to face Minato and Kushina.

Fortunately, Menma was safe now.

"Honestly, now that he's been found, he should just come back properly. Why wait another three days?" Jiraiya was delighted inside, but he still complained aloud.

"Alright, Jiraiya. Menma being safe is what matters most. Besides, since Menma can summon Gamakichi, we can similarly bring Menma back through Reverse Summoning, so stop worrying needlessly.

For now, all we need to do is wait quietly for three days. When Gamakichi goes over, have Menma prepare himself, and we'll summon him back!

Also, didn't Menma ask us to make a Summoning Scroll? Jiraiya, don't just stand around. Help gather the materials for the scroll!"

Jiraiya nodded and turned to head outside.

After an unknown amount of time, Menma woke from the darkness.

He quietly checked his condition and found that the Chakra he had exhausted when summoning Gamakichi had mostly recovered. Even his injured meridians had completely healed.

But he was so hungry...

Menma clutched his growling stomach, got out of bed, and left the room. He found Tengu in the shrine courtyard and told him about his current predicament.

Upon hearing this, Tengu immediately arranged a meal. Fortunately, the High Plain of Heaven was vast and sparsely populated by monsters, and a large portion of them did not need to eat, so supplies were plentiful.

Even so, Menma ate enough food to last great monsters like Tengu three full days, leaving Tengu clicking his tongue in amazement. "Those who accomplish extraordinary things must possess extraordinary traits!"

After Menma finished eating and sat on the ground burping, Tengu brought over a tea set and brewed tea for him to aid digestion.

With movements entirely too elegant for his size, he rinsed the teacups. After pouring Menma a cup and another for himself, he casually asked, "How is your recovery, sir?"

Menma replied, "Thanks to all of you, I've completely recovered!"

"What remarkable recovery ability," Tengu exclaimed. "Then what are your plans from here on?"

Menma slowly sipped his tea, thought for a moment, and said, "If possible, I'd like all of you to guide my training! Also, it's time to put your own training on the agenda as well!"

Tengu set down his teacup and carefully examined Menma. "The Monster Clan's methods of cultivation differ from those of humans, so I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to guide you.

Besides, our monsters' cultivation has already reached its limit. Even if we begin training now, I'm afraid our strength will be difficult to improve significantly."