Besides, even if he failed today, it didn't an there would never be another chance in the future.
If negotiations truly collapsed, nma would simply turn around and leave. That had been his final line of retreat. However, at this mont, the Suzaku Lizard was clearly shaken.
Just as nma had expected, Suzaku Gosaku occupied an irreplaceable position in the heart of this summoning beast.
No matter how much nma spoke about strength, the future, or companionship, the Suzaku Lizard had remained indifferent. Yet the instant nma ntioned Suzaku Gosaku and the fall of the First Kingdom, the beast could no longer remain unmoved.
The emotional fluctuation this ti was far stronger than before.
For the first ti since the battle began, the Suzaku Lizard slowly turned its massive body. Its enormous vertical pupils locked directly onto nma.
nma felt a surge of joy but he restrained it imdiately, maintaining a calm and steady gaze.
He had no intention of deceiving the Suzaku Lizard. In nma's eyes, exchanging a solemn promise for the absolute loyalty of a powerful summoning beast was not only acceptable it was a deal worth staking his future on.
"Human…"
A deep, hoarse voice echoed through the clearing.
"Are you serious?!"
Two streams of hot air burst from the Suzaku Lizard's nostrils as it stared intensely at nma, its voice carrying suppressed fury and doubt.
nma straightened his posture completely and t that gaze without flinching.
"Of course," he replied firmly. "This is my promise. I swear it on my will as a shinobi. I will avenge the fall of the First Kingdom, and I will do everything within my power to search for the descendants of Suzaku Gosaku and protect them."
Every word was spoken with clarity and conviction.
More importantly, the Suzaku Lizard could feelit.
It could sense the sincerity in nma's chakra fluctuations, in his heartbeat, and in his unwavering eyes. That sincerity struck sothing deep within the beast's heart.
After staring at nma for a long mont, the Suzaku Lizard finally lowered its massive head slightly.
"Human… rember the words you have spoken today."
The next instant
In nma's visibly stunned expression, the Suzaku Lizard opened its mouth and expelled a summoning contract scroll, nearly half nma's height, landing heavily on the ground before him.
"I will rember them."
nma nodded solemnly.
Ignoring the sticky mucus coating the scroll—a trivial matter—he knelt down and opened it. His eyes imdiately fell upon the na already inscribed upon it.
Suzaku Gosaku.
After staring at it for several seconds, nma bit his thumb, allowing blood to flow, and wrote his na neatly beneath it.
The mont the final stroke was completed
The contract was sealed.
nma instantly felt a powerful yet stable connection form between himself and the Suzaku Lizard, far deeper than a simple summoning link. It was as if sothing ancient had acknowledged him.
That sensation caused a realization to form in his mind.
He looked up and asked cautiously, "Are you… part of a tribe?"
"Yes."
The Suzaku Lizard lowered its head respectfully.
"Our clan is known as the Urushi Rock Lizard Clan. Though we cannot compare to the Three Great Summoning Lands, we are still a true summoning tribe. There are dozens of us, though most are still dormant or in their larval stages."
"I am the eldest of the clan."
"My na is Urushi."
nma's eyes widened slightly.
A summoning tribe.
That single revelation was enormous.
"I see… Urushi," nma said, visibly pleased. "But you don't need to call 'Master.' We are companions who fight side by side. Just call by my na. As I promised, I will fulfill my oath."
The joy in nma's heart was impossible to suppress. A summoning tribe ant potential far beyond a single beast it ant future allies, strategy, and influence.
"No, Master," Urushi replied firmly. "Rules are rules. And I believe you will honor your promise."
The Urushi Rock Lizard Clan was clearly a traditional summoning clan, one where hierarchy and respect were deeply ingrained.
nma frowned slightly.
"I'm really not used to being called that."
He waved his hand.
"Then… Master nma?" Urushi hesitated, adjusting quickly.
"…That works," nma nodded.
Though the difference was subtle, to nma, it felt far more acceptable.
Afterward, nma placed his hands gently on Urushi's wounded body and activated the Mystical Palm Technique, providing basic treatnt to stabilize his injuries.
"Release."
With a simple hand seal, nma canceled the summoning technique, returning Urushi to his clan's summoning domain to recover.
The injuries from the earlier battle were not minor.
nma had no intention of summoning Urushi again anyti soon. Recovery would take priority. As for the rest of the clan
That would co later, once familiarity and trust were established.
I really struck gold this ti.
nma smiled to himself.
In the distance, Karin leapt down and hurried over the mont she realized the contract had been successfully completed.
Seeing the rare smile on nma's face, Karin's own expression brightened instinctively. To her, nma's happiness was everything.
"nma, did it go well?" she asked eagerly. "Are we heading back now?"
There was a faint reluctance in her voice.
nma paused for a mont, then chuckled softly.
Orochimaru's domain was cold, eerie, and oppressive. it was only natural for Karin to dislike it.
Still, reality remained reality.
"Yes, we'll go back," nma replied. "But not just yet. We arrived faster than expected, so I plan to take care of one more thing first."
Karin pouted briefly at the first part of his answer, but the mont she heard the second half, her eyes sparkled.
"Really? Then let's go!"
As long as she could stay by nma's side and avoid returning imdiately to that suffocating place, Karin was more than happy.
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