Shikkotsu Forest and Farewell

A year later.

Land of Fire, Tanzaku Town.

The setting sun slanted westward, dyeing the entire street a warm orange-red. Shops along the road lit their lanterns one after another, and wisps of cooking smoke rose, carrying the aroma of food through the evening air.

This was the busiest district in Tanzaku Town, as well as the headquarters of the Yamada Trading Company.

A three-story wooden building stood there, with a brand-new plaque hanging above its entrance: Yamada Trading Company Main Store.

People flowed in and out without end—merchants, travelers, gamblers, and ordinary townsfolk alike.

The first floor housed the casino and reception hall, the second floor was the office area, and the third floor served as private quarters.

At that moment, a woman at a street-facing window on the third floor was looking through account books.

Achun was now in her early forties, shrewd and capable. Back then, she had recognized talent and partnered with Yamada Sōji, helping him manage the operations of the entire Yamada Trading Company. From then on, her life had taken off.

By now, Yamada Trading Company branches had spread throughout the Land of Fire and even reached the Land of Lightning.

Transportation, gambling houses, medicinal herbs, and grain were its four main lines of business. Every one of them had been built steadily, bringing in considerable profits.

The newly opened branches in the Land of Lightning were especially prosperous. With the Fourth Raikage's subtle patronage, business had gone smoothly, leaving countless competitors jealous but unwilling to make a move.

Achun closed the account book and looked out the window.

On the street, a silver-haired boy was walking toward the building.

He wore a dark gray kimono beneath a white haori. He had grown considerably taller over the past year, his shoulders fully broadened now, no longer bearing the thin, frail frame of a boy.

His short silver-white hair was tied back neatly. A red lotus-shaped mark had appeared on his forehead, especially striking beneath the setting sun.

The black cloth over his eyes remained, as did his cane, but his entire bearing had changed completely.

Dignified, steady, composed—and carrying an indescribable sense of pressure.

Achun watched him, a faint smile appearing on her lips. He was only thirteen or fourteen, yet he often inspired awe in her, a woman in her forties.

She set down the account book and rose to greet him.

Third floor, tea room.

Sōji sat cross-legged on the tatami, a freshly brewed cup of tea before him. Achun sat kneeling beside him, quietly reporting on the trading company's operations over the past year.

Sōji listened, nodding occasionally and asking a question now and then, though he did not truly care much about such details.

He had founded the trading company only to give himself a stable foothold and to accumulate some funds and connections.

Now that it had developed far beyond expectations, it had become an unexpected bonus instead.

"...The gambling houses in the Land of Lightning saw profits rise another thirty percent last month. Several local small trading companies wanted to cause trouble, but the moment they heard we had ties to the Raikage, they immediately backed down."

As Achun spoke, she could not help but smile.

"Come to think of it, the Fourth Raikage seems to have been quietly looking after our business all along."

Sōji lifted his teacup and took a sip, his expression remaining calm.

"Don't worry about him. Just run the business as usual."

Achun nodded at that. "Yes, I understand."

Then she paused and looked at the red lotus mark on Sōji's forehead.

It was an exquisite lotus, its six petals layered one atop another, with a vivid point of red at its center.

In the fading light of sunset, the mark seemed to glow faintly, carrying an indescribable air of mystery.

Achun could not help asking, "Boss, this mark on your forehead..."

Sōji raised a hand and touched the mark, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"A Sealing Technique."

He answered briefly without explaining further, and Achun tactfully did not press the matter.

After that, they discussed the trading company for a little longer. Only when they had run out of things to say did Sōji finally rise.

"You've worked hard all these years. Next, I'll be leaving for a while. Keep handling the trading company as before. You'll have full authority over everything."

Achun froze. "Leaving? Where are you going?"

Sōji did not answer. He simply walked to the window and looked toward the distant street.

At the end of Tanzaku Town, beneath the sunset, was the place where he had first met Tsunade.

"Just going out to see the world. While I'm young, I want to travel through the Five Great Nations and see more of this world."

Achun looked at the overly mature Sōji and said nothing more. She merely nodded quietly. "All right, I understand."

Izakaya.

Three people sat around a table in a booth in the corner.

The table was covered in food and drinks, but no one touched their chopsticks.

Shizune kept her head lowered, her eyes slightly red. Tonton lay across her lap, twisting uneasily and making soft little squeaks.

Tsunade sat across from them, holding a cup of sake without drinking. Her gaze rested on Sōji, and her golden eyes held many complicated emotions.

Relief, reluctance, pride, and a little... something she could not put into words.

The silence lasted a long time before Tsunade finally spoke first, breaking the deadlock.

"You decided?"

Sōji nodded. "Yeah. I decided."

Tsunade stared at him for two seconds, then suddenly smiled.

"Fine. I knew long ago that a brat like you couldn't be kept here."

Her tone was relaxed, but Sōji could hear that something lay buried beneath that ease.

He said nothing.

Tsunade set down her cup, took out a scroll from her robe, and tossed it to him.

Sōji caught it and unrolled it. It was a summoning contract, and three words were written at the top: Shikkotsu Forest.

His pupils contracted slightly.

Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Great Sage Regions. The home of the Slug Sage, and the summoning beast of the Senju Clan.

"Sign it."

Tsunade's voice was casual, as though she were telling him to finish his drink.

"If you run into danger, use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon me. Even if I'm at the ends of the earth, I can pull you back."

Sōji held the scroll and fell silent for a moment. "This contract..."

"Why the hell are you talking so much?" Tsunade interrupted impatiently. "If I tell you to sign, then sign. It's my stuff. I'll give it to whoever I want."

Sōji said nothing more. He decisively bit his finger and signed his real name on the contract—Kaguya Yama.

Blood seeped into the scroll, and the contract was formed. Tsunade looked at the name, the corner of her mouth curving upward.

"All right, get lost!"

Sōji put away the scroll and stood up.

Shizune finally could not hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down her face.

"Sōji... you have to take care of yourself... if you run into danger, summon us right away... don't push yourself too hard... remember to eat on time... don't stay up late..."

The more she spoke, the more she cried. The more she cried, the more she spoke, until she finally collapsed onto the table, her shoulders trembling.

Tonton squeaked along with her, and there were even tears glimmering in her little eyes.

Sōji looked at them in silence for a moment, then bowed slightly. "Sister Tsunade, Sister Shizune, Tonton, take care."

Shizune raised her head, her eyes blurred by tears. "You... you take care too..."

Sōji nodded, then turned decisively and walked toward the door.

Tsunade did not move. She simply sat there holding her cup, watching his figure grow farther and farther away.

Sunset streamed in through the doorway, gilding him in a layer of golden light.