Masaru dangled by the collar of his flak jacket, carried like a misbehaving puppy. His body was unrestrained, but every muscle was taut with the knowledge that one wrong twitch would bring Ronin's teeth sinking into his spine. Ronin was loud and smug, his voice dripping with amusement as he teased Masaru for being "fun-sized."
"Look at this twig-armed human," Ronin jeered, shaking Masaru for emphasis. "Ren, Kiba, and Sachi got outplayed by him. Can you believe it?"
The three younger wolves trailed behind, grumbling and snapping back at Ronin's commentary, their hackles raised but their respect for Ronin was quite clear.
The oppressive forest suddenly opened into a massive clearing. A waterfall crashed down into a wide river that cut the clearing in half, the air alive with chakra that buzzed in Masaru's bones. Around him, dozens of animals coexisted peacefully—deer drank beside foxes, birds perched on lounging bears, and prey mingled with their natural predators without tension.
Masaru's breath caught at the serenity and the sheer density of natural energy. Off to the far side, he spotted white-and-green slugs clustered near a mossy log. His heart skipped—this was Shikkotsu Forest, one of the Three Great Sage Regions.
|AN| Yes I know that this is the slug's territory, but that doesn't mean that lesser clans couldn't coexist near them.
Ronin veered off the main clearing and led them back into the forest, arriving at a massive cave entrance half-hidden by roots and stone. Inside, the tunnels were wide and smooth, carved by generations of wolves. They passed sleeping dens, a communal chamber with pups, and a storage area filled with bones, herbs, and strange tools.
At the entrance to the final chamber, two wolves stood guard. Smaller than Ronin but still imposing, their hackles rose at the sight of Masaru. They stepped forward, demanding why a human was here and whether Ronin had lost his mind.
Ronin growled and shoved past them. "He's a potential summoner. He passed the test. Move."
The guards exchanged unhappy looks but stepped aside.
Inside the chamber, Masaru froze. A massive wolf lay curled in the back—pure white fur, a black nose, and a long, elegant tail. Her size dwarfed Ronin; she was easily the size of a small mansion.
Ronin sat respectfully for the first time. Masaru stayed silent, barely breathing.
"Yukihana," Ronin whispered, the name fitting for the serene, ancient, white-furred matriarch.
Yukihana stirred, lifting her head slowly. Her eyes were a deep, glacial blue—intelligent, ancient, and piercing. She studied Masaru for a long moment before speaking.
"Is this the child who seeks our pact?"
Ronin gave a clear, joke-free report: Masaru's traps, his tactics, his restraint, and his willingness to fight three wolves alone. Yukihana listened without interrupting.
She stepped forward, lowering her head to Masaru's level. "For one so young, you are quite strong, Masaru. Though Ronin captured you, our test has been passed...Bring him the scroll."
A ceremonial scroll was brought out. Masaru signed his name in blood and placed a bloody palm print beside it.
Yukihana explained the rules to him. "The more chakra you put into the summoning jutsu, the stronger the wolf you will summon. Beware however, as strong wolves such as Ronin will require you to prove yourself before they allow themselves to submit.
Masaru bowed deeply to Yukihana. She nodded once—a gesture of approval. Ronin smirked and said, "Try not to die before you visit again, short-stack."
Yukihana tapped Masaru gently with her tail. Reverse summoning activated, and Masaru vanished in a swirl of smoke.
The world snapped back into place with a rush of air. Masaru staggered as his feet hit the dirt of Training Field 57, the last wisps of reverse‑summoning smoke curling off his clothes. His head spun. His stomach flipped. His ears still rang faintly with Yukihana's voice.
He blinked hard, steadying himself, and then he heard it — laughter. Not the wild, echoing howls of wolves. Not the low rumble of Ronin's taunts. Just… kids.
Masaru turned. Under the shade of a broad oak tree sat Haruto, cross‑legged on the grass with three other academy students. A blanket was spread out between them, covered in half‑eaten dumplings, rice balls, and a steaming thermos of miso soup. They were mid‑conversation, Haruto waving his chopsticks around dramatically as the others laughed.
Haruto looked up first, his eyes widening. "Masaru?!"
Three heads turned. Four pairs of eyes blinked at the dirt‑covered, exhausted, slightly smoking boy standing in the middle of the field holding a summoning scroll like it might bite him.
Haruto grinned. "Oi! You look like you got dragged through a chimney. Get over here!"
Masaru opened his mouth. Closed it. Looked down at the Wolf Clan scroll in his hand. He had just met a wolf the size of a house. He had just been judged by an ancient matriarch. He had just survived a trial in one of the Three Great Sage Regions.
And now Haruto was waving a dumpling at him. "Come on!" Haruto called. "I brought extra just in case!"
Masaru let out a slow breath. The tension in his shoulders eased. His heartbeat, still wild from the forest, finally began to settle. He walked toward them.
Haruto scooted over, patting the grass beside him. "Sit. Eat. Tell us why you look like you fought a bear."
Masaru lowered himself onto the blanket, still dazed, still processing everything. "…I just met a giant wolf goddess," he muttered under his breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Haruto shoved a dumpling into his hand. "Eat."
Masaru took a bite. Warm. Soft. Normal. For the first time in a long while, he felt like a kid again. And as the chatter resumed around him, Masaru allowed himself a small, tired smile.
He was home.
|AN| I DeMaNd YoUr StOnEs PeOpLe!
I may not post for a long while. I'm currently stressing over getting my college payments in order and am kinda too stressed to focus on writing right now. I'll come back in like a week minimum cuz I'm actually enjoying writing this, but I need a little time to get things in order.
Also I've seen some of your comments, and I will work on bringing more variety to things. I was thinking of slowing it down now that he's ready for graduation we'll focus on day to day events, sprinkled with action between. It'll be a short slice of life arc before graduation. Let me know your thoughts while I sort out my adult life and get back to yall!
Deuces!