The Land of Fire is currently one of the world's foremost great nations. Between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, there is the Land of Waterfall, which consists of many waterfalls. Due to its geographical location, many Ninja died in battle, and the nation declined. However, the Land of Waterfall did have a relatively glorious history, and the Waterfall Village has always controlled a Tailed Beast, making it a medium-sized nation beneath the great nations. Below the medium-sized nations, there are, of course, small nations.
The Land of Pie is one such small nation that would tremble at the sight of the Land of Waterfall.
Small nations with sparse populations and scarce resources find survival difficult. A single large Ninjutsu from warring parties could potentially wipe them out. Over time, those small nations located at strategic crossroads disappeared, with only a few established in remote corners remaining.
Ino, while reviewing Yamanaka Clan data, found a ghost story about the mountains near the Land of Pie. Combining this with some even older rumors, she estimated a five to six-tenths chance of it being true, and so she came to investigate.
Before Ōtsutsuki Kaguya descended, the world below her was a pandemonium of spirits. After she arrived, she swept through everything, overturning the eight horses and pulling back the nine oxen, eradicating all monsters and demons. This was literally true; ninety-nine percent of the "ghosts" and "gods" were dealt with by her. Only the toads, snakes, and Slugs of the Three Great Sage Regions, the Shinigami, the King of Hell, and the Evil God survived to this day. The Yamanaka Clan's old friend, the Flower God, tried to cling to life for over a decade but couldn't make it.
Most of the remaining strange beasts today are descendants of those "ghosts and gods." Those with sentience can become Summoning Beasts, while those with only the instinct for slaughter become materials for various weapons.
Steam Impurities Explosion causes a period of weakness after use due to the separation of a large amount of Chakra. This is unavoidable. The Second Mizukage used genjutsu to conceal his tracks.
Although Ino could learn some genjutsu through Yuhi and Asuma's relationship, she truly didn't have the time and didn't want to invest too much effort in genjutsu. Her method was to find a large Summoning Beast with genjutsu abilities, and eventually, various clues led her to the Land of Pie.
Ninja are not limited to one Summoning Beast, nor are Summoning Beasts limited to one Ninja.
Even after Sasuke signed a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave, he could still summon a Ninja hawk, Garuda. No matter how Shikkotsu Forest thought, it couldn't be more overbearing than Ryūchi Cave, could it?
The Land of Pie is located among mountains.
The people here would never leave their nation in their lifetime; they were born here and died here, never coming into contact with Konoha Village.
Even so, Ino was still worried about revealing her tracks. She transformed into Kakashi, found an inn, and asked the kind-faced owner.
"Old man, I have a question for you. Do you know how to get to Kubisaki Ridge?"
The old man first looked at "Kakashi's" Ninja headband before cautiously saying, "Ninja-sama, you're looking for Kubisaki Ridge? Is that the former capital of the Land of Kubisaki from fifty years ago?"
Despite being warned that there were evil spirits eating people on Kubisaki Ridge, Ino still took a mountain path at night to this ruin called Kubisaki Ridge.
It is said that this haunted place only appears at night. Having practiced Yin Release every day, Ino didn't feel there was any problem with moving at night. After checking her Ninja tools, she followed the inn owner's directions and walked deeper into the mountains.
Ino had beaten up the future Seventh Hokage and the Sixth Mizukage, and might even fight the Fifth Kazekage in a few days, so she was full of confidence at this moment.
After walking for two hours, just as she sat down to drink water, she suddenly saw a rather ancient Japanese-style castle at the foot of the mountain to her side.
The castle had three stories, about ten meters high. A flickering candlelight faintly emanated from within the castle, and a voice vaguely called to her, urging her to enter the castle.
"Sensing!"
Ino used her sensing ability to search at the foot of the mountain. After patiently searching for about five minutes, she finally heard an extremely faint heartbeat.
This invisibility ability is really good, she thought, feeling a little excited.
She stepped towards the castle, and as she reached the main gate, the two wooden doors seemed to sense her presence and slowly opened.
She couldn't foolishly walk in; that would be too stupid.
"I think we can be friends!" Her fingers quickly formed hand signs, creating a series of afterimages. Just like with Little Mustache, her hands were aimed at the castle gate.
"Ninja Art: Mind Confusion Technique!"
The castle was a living entity, with its own physical body and spiritual energy. In terms of sheer life level, it was much more advanced than the Second Mizukage's Chakra remnants.
However, this peculiar life form seemed to be in some kind of dormant state; its heartbeat was slow, and its own consciousness appeared very sluggish. Ino's technique effortlessly penetrated its mind world, after which she made minor alterations.
No matter what the situation was before, we are friends now!
After Ino confirmed that there was a certain degree of goodwill between them, she cautiously entered the castle. Before long, on the third floor of the castle, which was originally the lord's room, she found what she was looking for: a summoning scroll.
This summoning scroll was ancient and had gone through several owners. The most recent owner was named Kubisaki Gosuke, who should have been the lord of Kubisaki Ridge.
Before Kubisaki Gosuke, there was also someone named Saishi, but she didn't look closely.
Kubisaki Gosuke, before his death, issued some unknown command, and the Summoning Beast stayed in this Kubisaki Ridge ruin for fifty years.
"Are you a chameleon or a lizard? Strictly speaking, you're a chameleon, right?" Ino murmured to herself, but the empty surroundings meant no one responded to her.
"From now on, shall we keep each other company? How about it?" The chameleon, thanks to her "Mind Disturbance Technique," had developed a certain level of goodwill towards her. Although most of its consciousness was dormant, it vaguely transmitted a "yes" signal.
Ino bit her finger and wrote her name on the summoning scroll, becoming the scroll's new owner.
"I'll still call you Kubisaki from now on. You've been away from your clan for many years; you must want to go back and see them, right? Go back. If I need you, I will summon you."
Ino said understandingly.
Helping her become invisible during battles, and during outdoor missions, the Summoning Beast transforms, and a castle that can house hundreds of people appears out of nowhere, complete with various living supplies. It allows her to take a bath inside, and Choji to come in and cook. Isn't this better than Yamato's Three Rooms and Two Living Rooms Technique?
The chameleon named Kubisaki transmitted another "good" message. She could sense that it was much happier than before.
It was finally free.
Putting away the summoning scroll, the Summoning Beast Kubisaki vanished in a puff of white smoke, and Ino also left Kubisaki Ridge.
Five days later, the Animal Path, a Ninja from the Fūma clan who had been made into one of the Six Paths of Pain after his death, arrived at Kubisaki Ridge.
This male Ninja wandered around the mountains three times and was utterly dumbfounded.
Where was that huge castle? Where was the chameleon clan's summoning scroll?
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