Summon an Egg? Katsuyu Appears! (Continued)

Who was Orochimaru, anyway?

Who cared?

The description of the Snake Summon sounded impressive: a huge, ferocious ninja beast with immense strength. Its contract and taming difficulty ranked among the highest in the Entire Shinobi World.

Taming it would be hard, but Teacher Cangyue had said it would be fine. So it probably would be, right?

But the question was... would a Snake Summon suit her?

"This is so hard..." Sakura Haruno set the Summoning Snake Scroll beside her feet and picked up another Contract Scroll.

She decided to pick out a few favorites first, then choose from those.

Contracting a Summoning Animal was important. She needed one whose abilities suited her and that could help her fight enemies.

"Doesn't seem like there's much to choose from. An eagle...?" Sasuke Uchiha sat cross-legged on the ground, leafing through the mountain of Scrolls until his gaze settled on an Eagle Summoning Scroll.

An Eagle Ninja Beast?

It could share its vision with its summoner for covert reconnaissance?

And it could fight enemies at range and carry its summoner through the air.

Perfect.

It was decided. Eagle Ninja Beast, he chose you!

At first, he had considered a snake or a slug. Snakes had powerful attacks and could even use poisonous Ninjutsu.

Slugs could use Medical Ninjutsu, healing their summoner during a fight. That made them convenient Summoning Animals.

But in the end, he chose the eagle.

An eagle would be more useful to him.

"I've chosen." The corner of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth lifted slightly as he carried the heavy Contract Scroll over to Cangyue.

Hearing Sasuke, Sakura Haruno looked up from her Scroll in surprise. "Already? Sasuke, you're amazing."

Oh my gosh!

Only two minutes had passed, and Sasuke had already made his choice.

He was so decisive!

Clutching a large Scroll, Naruto Uzumaki turned his little foxlike face toward Sasuke Uchiha and scoffed. "Sasuke, are you sure about choosing so fast? Pick carelessly and you'll regret it!"

Sasuke Uchiha glanced at Naruto Uzumaki and snorted. "Hmph. A Summoning Animal only has to suit you. I wouldn't expect an idiot like you to understand."

An anger mark appeared on Naruto Uzumaki's forehead. He clenched his fists and glared at Sasuke. "Why, you smug jerk! I'm going to pick an incredible Summoning Animal and blow you away!"

Damn it!

How dare he look down on me!

Something that suited me?

Bullshit!

If he got to choose his own Summoning Animal, of course he would pick one that was powerful and cool!

Ignoring Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha held out the Contract Scroll and looked coolly at Aogetsu Hyuga. "Teacher Cangyue, this is the Summoning Animal I chose."

"An eagle? Fair enough. Flying is every man's dream." Aogetsu Hyuga took the Contract Scroll and opened it.

He had thought Sasuke would pick a snake.

An eagle wasn't especially useful, but it could be a fun Summoning Animal.

"Yawn." Aogetsu Hyuga yawned, then said in a put-upon tone, "Press a bloody handprint here. The Hand Seals are illustrated on the Scroll."

I'm a Six Paths Level powerhouse, and I'm here helping a bunch of brats with summoning.

This is so boring.

I want something entertaining to do.

"Yes." Sasuke Uchiha bit his thumb, smeared blood across all five fingers, and pressed his palm to the Contract Scroll.

Hum. The Contract Scroll trembled faintly and gave off pale blue Chakra.

"Give it a try. You might surprise us." Aogetsu Hyuga was curious how large an animal a genius of the Uchiha Clan could summon on his first attempt.

"I'm stronger than that idiot Naruto. Watch my summoning closely, Teacher Cangyue." Sasuke Uchiha's voice was cool but confident. He had seen the Summoning Technique used many times.

As an avenger and a genius of the Uchiha Clan, he was certain his first summoning would succeed perfectly!

Sasuke Uchiha drew a line of blood across his palm, rapidly formed the Hand Seals, and slammed his hands onto the ground.

Bang! Black Runes spread across the ground, and thick white smoke blanketed the area, blocking everyone's view.

"What will Sasuke summon?" Sakura Haruno stared at the smoke-shrouded spot, curiosity flashing in her eyes.

There was so much smoke.

Sasuke must have summoned an impressive Eagle Ninja Beast, right?

He was a genius, after all.

"What a show. Did Sasuke actually... Damn it." Naruto Uzumaki studied the smoke covering the area, his expression tense. Frustration flashed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

All that smoke must mean the Summoning Animal was huge, right?

Damn it!

I couldn't lose to Sasuke!

He had to find a Summoning Animal many times stronger than Sasuke's!

"Cough, cough. I can't breathe." Aogetsu Hyuga coughed and waved the smoke away in disgust.

Whoosh. A cool breeze passed through, gradually dispersing the smoke. Everyone stared tensely at the shape emerging within it.

When the wind cleared the last of the smoke, everyone saw the ninja beast Sasuke had summoned.

On the ground in front of Sasuke Uchiha sat a pure white bird egg.

"Pfft." Aogetsu Hyuga couldn't help turning aside and covering his mouth as he snickered. His laugh carried a mocking edge. "Uchiha brat, I didn't know you were such a comedian."

A bird egg?

That was priceless.

"Hahahaha! Sasuke... pfft—hahahaha!" After a stunned moment, Naruto Uzumaki pointed at the white egg and doubled over laughing.

"A genius of the Uchiha Clan... hahahaha!" Naruto Uzumaki nearly laughed himself breathless.

He had expected Sasuke to summon some formidable ninja beast. He had never imagined Sasuke would summon an egg!

Sakura Haruno walked over and crouched beside the egg. She poked it with one finger and, fighting back a laugh, said awkwardly, "The... the egg is cute."

She wanted to laugh so badly.

She wanted to laugh as hard as Naruto.

But she had to hold it in, or Sasuke would hate her!

Still laughing, Naruto Uzumaki said, "S-Sakura, you want to laugh too, don't you? Sasuke looked so smug, and now he's so embarrassed! Pfft—hahaha!"

"Naruto!" Sakura Haruno held back her laughter, clenched her fair-skinned fist, and punched Naruto Uzumaki hard.

Idiot Naruto! He was so annoying!

Bang! Naruto Uzumaki flew backward, tumbled across the ground, and finally slammed into a tree trunk.

Naruto Uzumaki rolled around clutching his head and wailed, "Ow! Sakura, you wanted to laugh too! Why'd you hit me?"

Sakura's punches got harder every day. If she hit him a few more times...

He might die!

Damn you, Teacher Cangyue! What had you been teaching Sakura?

"See? Summoning is useful. If you're starving, you'll have emergency food." Aogetsu Hyuga laid a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, feigning comfort while wearing a mocking grin. "Don't be so discouraged. Little ones are cute too."

"Enough!" Sasuke Uchiha lowered his head, his dark hair hiding his icy eyes and making his expression impossible to read. His face flushed with embarrassment. He slowly clenched his fists, trembling with anger.

Damn it! Damn that Summoning Animal!

How dare it humiliate him like this!

Sasuke Uchiha shoved Cangyue's hand away and looked up at him coldly. "Three days. Give me three days, and I'll master summoning completely."

Honestly.

He wanted to go home right now.

But even if he had to endure the embarrassment, he wanted to see what that colossal idiot Naruto Uzumaki would summon.

How dare Naruto laugh at him?

He was a genius of the Uchiha Clan!

"Mm, good. Let's do that." Aogetsu Hyuga picked up the egg and toyed with it. After a moment, a mischievous smile appeared on his face. "If you haven't learned summoning in three days, I'll swap your egg for this one."

"..." Everyone fell silent. What kind of thing was that to say?

Seriously, was that something a teacher should say?

"Five days. I'll master summoning completely in five days." The corner of Sasuke Uchiha's mouth twitched. He glanced at the white egg and felt a chill between his legs.

"You can show off to other people, but show off to me and I really will swap your egg." Aogetsu Hyuga gave Sasuke Uchiha a flat look, then tightened his grip. Pop! The egg vanished in a puff of white smoke.

Your teacher hasn't even had a chance to show off, and you're already at it?

Do it again and I really will swap your egg!

Still, embarrassment had driven the Uchiha brat's anger nearly to its limit. Push him much further and he might awaken the Mangekyo out of sheer rage.

Aogetsu Hyuga turned to Naruto and Sakura, his patience running thin. "Hurry up and choose, brats. It's just a Summoning Animal. What's taking so long?"

It was only a Summoning Animal. Did they really need this long?

"Okay!" Sakura Haruno stuck out her tongue, then lay on her stomach with her backside raised as she searched through the mountain of Scrolls.

"Tch. Just wait, Sasuke. Mine will be way stronger than yours!" Naruto Uzumaki rubbed the swelling on his head and searched for the coolest Summoning Animal Scroll.

"Come to think of it..." Aogetsu Hyuga suddenly remembered something. Stroking his chin, he watched Sakura Haruno's swaying backside.

A fine backside.

She could really stick it out.

But that was beside the point. What mattered now was...

He had almost forgotten.

The slug Summoning Animal!

There was no need to wait a month before going to Tanzaku Town to find Tsunade. He could have that little Ping Xiong sign a contract with Katsuyu, then ask Katsuyu where Tsunade was.

Perfect!

That settled it.

He had no interest in making a contract with a Summoning Animal himself. If Sakura Haruno could summon Katsuyu, there was no need.

Sensing someone's gaze on her back, Sakura Haruno turned around in confusion and saw Aogetsu Hyuga stroking his chin and staring.

She immediately covered her backside and sat down. Glaring at Aogetsu Hyuga, embarrassed and angry, she snapped, "Teacher Cangyue, could you please stop staring at me?"

Pervert!

Creep!

He was supposed to be their teacher, yet he kept staring at a female student's backside. What kind of teacher acted like that?

"Sorry, sorry. I was thinking." Aogetsu Hyuga glanced at Sakura Haruno's chest, then looked disappointed. "What, did you think I'd be attracted to that scrawny, childish figure? As if."

"It's obvious if you use your head. Or is your brain as small as your chest? That really would be a shame."

"Teacher Cangyue, whenever someone calls you out for doing something wrong, you always have a hundred comebacks! Please take a good look at yourself!" Sakura Haruno slowly clenched her fair-skinned fist, bit her lip, and glared at Cangyue, her face flushed with anger.

Teacher Cangyue was awful!

He had done something wrong, but somehow he made it sound like she was the one at fault.

Whenever someone criticized or mocked Teacher Cangyue, he could always come up with a hundred things to say back.