Return to the Shinobi World

It had taken the Slug Sage a thousand years to grow to such a size. If the Red Slug relied on ordinary training, he would need at least a thousand years too.

But with the help of a Snake Cypress Seed, that time would be greatly shortened.

Rich in Natural Energy, the seed could accelerate a spirit beast's growth.

That was a major reason why both the toads of Mount Myoboku and the great snakes of Ryūchi Cave longed to obtain one.

Sure enough, the Red Slug froze when Long Ye brought it out.

When they first met five years ago, Long Ye had offered a Snake Cypress Seed as payment for Rin's training in Shikkotsu Forest, but the Slug Sage had refused it.

The Red Slug had been there too. Watching that happen had nearly broken his heart.

But with the Slug Sage present, he had no place to speak. However badly he wanted the seed, he could only watch it slip away before his eyes.

Now that Long Ye had brought it out again, the Red Slug had no power to resist.

Everything that followed went smoothly. Under the Slug Sage's orders and tempted by the Snake Cypress Seed, the Red Slug obediently signed a Summoning Contract with Rin.

With that done, Rin said goodbye to the Slug Sage and followed Long Ye out of the place where she had spent five full years.

Once the two had vanished, the Red Slug looked up at the sage and asked cautiously:

"Master, you never allowed me to sign a Summoning Contract with a human before. Why this time...?"

He was the most unusual being in Shikkotsu Forest, the only slug there who had not come into existence by splitting off from the Slug Sage.

His abilities included splitting his