"This is the Summoning Scroll for the Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest. Open it first," Tsunade instructed Taiichi.
Taiichi did as told and unfurled the massive scroll. It was densely filled with names from beginning to end, but most were dim and lackluster. Only the very last one—Tsunade's name—still shone.
"Write your name using your blood, and then press your handprint at the end." Saying this, Tsunade turned her back, gazing toward Konoha in the distance.
Taiichi gathered Chakra at his left fingertips, using the Chakra Scalpel to make a cut on his right index finger. Using the flowing blood, he wrote his name—Taiichi Matsushita—in the last column of the scroll, and finally pressed his bloody handprint onto it.
After finishing, Taiichi rolled up the scroll and said to Tsunade, "Master, I'm done."
Hearing this, Tsunade turned back around. Seeing Taiichi had packed everything away, she gave another self-deprecating smile.
"Taiichi, remember this. The hand seals for the Summoning Jutsu are: Boar - Dog - Bird - Monkey - Ram. Do not make a mistake. Now, give it a try." Tsunade stepped back, leaving more space for Taiichi to perform the jutsu.
Taiichi was excited. This was a summon beast from one of the Three Great Sage Regions. In the entire ninja world, only Konoha's Sannin possessed them. Now, he was one of them.
He calmed himself, used the residual blood on his hand, and gathered about one-tenth of his total Chakra. He began forming seals: Boar - Dog - Bird - Monkey - Ram. Then, he slammed his hand onto the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!"
Poof! Black runes flashed, and after a puff of smoke, a large slug over three meters tall appeared on the spot.
Tsunade looked at Taiichi in surprise. This kid had quite a large Chakra reserve.
Two long antennae protruded from Katsuyu's head, moving back and forth between Tsunade and Taiichi, clearly observing them both.
"Lady Tsunade, did you summon me for something?" Katsuyu's antennae finally locked onto Tsunade as she asked.
"Katsuyu, let me introduce you. This is my disciple, Taiichi Matsushita. He is also a contractor of Shikkotsu Forest," Tsunade introduced.
"Lady Katsuyu, hello. I am Taiichi Matsushita. Please take care of me in the future," Taiichi greeted politely.
Katsuyu turned her eyes toward Taiichi, scanning him back and forth as if memorizing all his features. "Okay, Taiichi. But you don't need to call me 'Lady.' Just call me Katsuyu. I prefer that address."
"Okay, Katsuyu." Taiichi followed the advice readily.
"Alright, that's enough for introductions. Katsuyu, you can go back now. Sorry to trouble you," Tsunade interrupted the exchange between human and beast.
"Okay," Katsuyu replied, then turned her antennae to Taiichi again. "Taiichi, if you need anything in the future, just summon me."
With that, before Taiichi could reply, she vanished with a poof.
After Katsuyu left, Tsunade continued to instruct Taiichi: "There is only one Katsuyu in the entire Shikkotsu Forest, and that is the Katsuyu Sage. Every time we summon a Katsuyu, it is actually a clone of the Katsuyu Sage. The more Chakra you use, the larger the summoned Katsuyu will be. You can figure this out slowly later. I've written down other things you need to know in the scroll; just read it yourself when the time comes."
Having explained everything necessary, Tsunade said to Taiichi, "That's all. You don't need to see me off. I'll take Shizune and leave by myself." Waving her hand, she slowly walked down the Hokage Rock.
A faint joy had just risen in his heart, only to be washed away by the sorrow of parting. Watching Tsunade's receding figure, Taiichi shouted out as if possessed: "Master! Come to my house tonight! I'll cook a farewell feast for you personally!"
Tsunade's footsteps paused. Taiichi didn't know if he saw it wrong, but he saw Tsunade gulp. A faint "Okay!" drifted back from afar.
Because he had to prepare the farewell feast, Taiichi canceled all his afternoon training and hurried to the market to buy the necessary ingredients.
Carrying shopping bags, Taiichi rushed through the market. Glossy eggplants, bright red tomatoes, plump saury... He carefully selected each ingredient. As his fingertips brushed over fresh green leaves, he vaguely recalled the first time he cooked for Tsunade. Back then, she had slammed the table shouting "Another bowl!", oblivious to the grease stains on her clothes.
Soon, an enticing aroma drifted from the kitchen. The cutting board was piled with radish shredded as fine as hair. Flames rose from the wok as he stir-fried, reflecting heat onto Taiichi's cheeks. He controlled the heat precisely; golden tempura sizzled in the oil pot, and miso soup bubbled gently. Just as the final dish of teriyaki eel was plated, the doorbell rang.
Tsunade leaned against the doorframe, her loose robe tied casually, the scent of izakaya sake still clinging to her hair. "Quite the spread, kid," she said disdainfully, but her eyes were fixed on the table full of delicacies. Eight-treasure rice balls shaped like playful frogs, three-colored dango skewered like rainbows, and even the ordinary pickled radish was cut into flower patterns.
The two sat cross-legged at the low table. Moonlight wove a silvery gauze on the tatami through the window lattice. Tsunade grabbed the sake bottle and downed it, the clear liquid flowing down her neck into her collar. "Back then, Nawaki always said my rice balls looked like rocks..." She suddenly chuckled, her fingertip tracing the black bean eyes of a frog rice ball. "With your skills, you'd make a killing opening a restaurant."
"I don't know when I'll get to eat this again," Tsunade said reluctantly.
"You could just stay," Taiichi said, seemingly casually.
Tsunade didn't reply, just ate quietly.
Taiichi silently added a piece of eel to her bowl. The fish, coated in amber sauce, glistened like honey in the candlelight. As Tsunade chewed, her eyelashes cast trembling shadows on her cheeks. The sake bottle emptied and filled again, and the table full of delicacies gradually turned into empty plates and cups.
When the moon slanted westward, Tsunade finally fell asleep on the low table. Taiichi walked over softly and covered her with a thin blanket. He then went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes.
Before dawn the next day, Tsunade had already risen. Looking at the tidied room, she quietly left Taiichi's house.
The moment Tsunade left the house, Taiichi opened his eyes. In fact, Taiichi had woken up long ago; he usually trained even earlier than this. He had only stayed in bed not to disturb Tsunade's sleep.
Taiichi got up, tidied himself briefly, and headed straight for the main gate of Konoha. Unexpectedly, he was still a step too late. Tsunade and Shizune had already left the village.
Standing on the village wall, he saw two figures, one large and one small, gradually moving away in the dawn light. Perhaps sensing Taiichi's intense gaze, Tsunade and Shizune turned around simultaneously and saw Taiichi standing on the wall in the distance.
An excited Shizune waved her arm vigorously. Then she took out the medical scroll Taiichi had given her from her pouch and waved it hard, as if saying she would study it diligently.
Tsunade, looking at Taiichi in the distance, smiled faintly and waved as well, then turned and pulled Shizune to continue their journey.
Taiichi watched their actions from afar, a glimmer of tears unconsciously appearing in the corners of his eyes. Watching their figures disappear into the dawn, he jumped down from the wall, preparing for his upcoming training.
Konoha, having been silent all night, woke from its slumber like a giant beast. The quiet streets gradually filled with people. But few knew that the Princess of Konoha had left today—leaving the village that gave birth to her, raised her, and also hurt her the deepest.