Naruto: Faint Smile - CH 95

[Takeshi POV.]

The trial was over, and now… it was time to sign my contract. The entire experience had been fun, and I had to say… I kind of felt this summoning clan fit me better than the toads.

“Are you ready, little cub?” Chanua inquired with a grin full of fangs.

I offered her a faint smile, nodding as we walked back to the home of the clan leader.

The atmosphere inside the cave was heavy as Byakko’s massive eyes bore down on me. His presence was overwhelming, majestic, sure, but also a little terrifying if I’m being honest. The faint glimmer of amusement in Chanua’s eyes wasn’t helping, either. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying watching me react to the power of his leader.

“Little cub,” Byakko’s deep, resonant voice cut through the silence, “the time has come for you to claim your place within the Great Pride. On your trials you have shown your fangs, and have won our respect… in a strange way, but a win is a win nonetheless.”

I regret nothing. Petting them was beyond enjoyable.

I smiled. “I assume this means you will accept me as your summoner?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.

Byakko let out a low rumbling chuckle, the sound vibrating through the air. “Indeed. Petting One. You must sign our summoning contract, and become a part of the pride. Only then will the bond between us be forged.”

I nodded slowly. “Right. And where exactly is this contract?”

Byakko’s massive tail flicked, and Chanua stepped forward, holding a scroll in her mouth. She dropped it at my feet with surprising grace for a creature her size, then stepped back with a slight bow of her head.

I crouched down to examine the scroll, unrolling it carefully. The parchment was old, the edges slightly frayed, but the writing was bold and clear, marked with the names of other shinobi who had apparently come before me.

I couldn’t recognize any of the names that had been marked down in the scroll, and based on the scroll… all of them had been minor summoners, meaning they had limited access to the pride.

“Sign it with your blood,” Byakko said, his tone leaving no room for debate. “As is tradition.”

I… isn’t that how all summoning contracts are signed? You know what? I won’t argue with the tiger who is as big as the Nine Tails.

Smiling, I bit my thumb, drawing a small bead of blood, and pressed it to the parchment, signing my name with quick, precise strokes. As the blood soaked into the scroll, I felt a strange warmth spreading through my body, like a thread of energy connecting me to something… how peculiar.

Byakko’s eyes glowed faintly as he watched me finish. “It is done,” he said, his voice carrying a note of finality. “From this day forward, you are now one of us, Takeshi.”

Chanua let out a soft purr of approval. “Congratulations, little cub. You’re officially part of the Pride.”

I straightened up, wiping my thumb on my sleeve. “So, what happens now?”

Byakko stepped closer, his massive paw thudding against the ground with each step. “Now,” he said, “the bond is forged. You are one of the Great Pride, and we are yours to call upon in times of need. Should you require our strength, we will hunt together, or die together.”

“Hunt together,” I repeated, mulling over the phrase. “I like the sound of that.”

Byakko nodded, his piercing blue eyes locking onto mine. “Remember this, Takeshi: the Pride does not follow the weak. To summon us is to summon strength, to demand the power of the hunt. Do not take this bond lightly.”

I offered a faint smile, “I would never take our contract lightly.”

Chanua circled me, her tail brushing lightly against my arm. “Oh, he’ll be fine,” she said with a smirk. “There’s something... interesting about this one.”

I tilted my head slightly. “Interesting in a good way, I hope.”

She chuckled. “For now, emotionless cub, for now.”

Emotionless? I’m not emotionless… I just don’t let my emotions dictate how I act. Rude much.

Byakko rumbled softly, his version of a laugh, before turning back toward the depths of the cave. “Stop teasing the cub Chanua, as for you cub, you have earned your place among us. So go, Takeshi. Learn, grow, and when the time comes, call upon us.”

I bowed my head slightly, acknowledging his words. “Thank you, Byakko.”

Chanua stepped forward, nudging me with her shoulder. “Come on, little cub. I’ll show you the way out.”

As we walked back toward the entrance of the cave, I couldn’t help but glance back at Byakko one last time. The sheer size of him, the power he radiated, I wouldn’t say he was close to the tailed beasts in raw power, but he was powerful alright, it was something I wouldn’t forget anytime soon.

Chanua caught my gaze and grinned. “Intimidating, isn’t he?”

I shrugged. “I’ve seen bigger.”

She let out a bark of laughter. “Liar.”

I didn’t respond, just kept walking. “So… how do I get back to my sensei?”

“Oh… that… hmm,” Chanua muttered, and her reaction didn’t give me much hope about the matter.

—----------------------------------------------------

[Byakko - POV.]

The cavern grew quiet after the boy and Chanua left, their footsteps fading into the distance. I stood there for a moment, letting out a sigh, before turning and walking deeper into the shadows of the cave.

“Byakko.”

The voice was soft but carried a weight that demanded respect. I glanced down as the elder stepped forward from a side chamber, her sleek black fur blending seamlessly with the dim light. Her name was Nyara, one of the oldest members of the Pride and the keeper of our history.

Her golden eyes met mine, sharp and calculating. “You’ve made your decision, then,” she said, her tone even.

I gave a slow nod, my massive paws silent as I stopped before her. “I have.”

Nyara tilted her head slightly, her tail flicking once behind her. “He is young. Much too powerful. Inexperienced. Reckless, even. Are you certain this is wise?”

Her question wasn’t unexpected. Nyara was not one to mince words, especially when it came to matters of the Pride’s future. I allowed a small grin to spread across my face, my fangs gleaming faintly in the dim light. “Wisdom and strength are not always born in the same moment. The cub has the potential for both.”

Nyara’s ears twitched, a subtle sign of her skepticism. “Potential,” she repeated. “That is a dangerous word, Byakko. Many have had potential, and that’s not always a good thing, potential can bring destruction or growth, it really depends on who carries the burden of being special.”

I chuckled, the sound deep and rumbling. “True. But this one is different.”

Nyara’s gaze didn’t waver. “Because you see yourself in him?”

I barked a laugh, shaking my head. “No, not quite. The cub is... something else. His spirit is fierce, his mind sharp, but there’s more. Something primal lies within him, waiting to surface. The ultimate hunter, The Apex, Nyara. I see it clearly.”

She didn’t respond immediately, her eyes narrowing slightly as she considered my words. “The ultimate hunter,” she murmured. “Do you truly believe that lies within him?”

“I don’t believe,” I said, my voice firm. “I know.”

Nyara’s tail flicked again, her golden eyes narrowing as she regarded me. “You are rarely so certain about anything, Byakko. Indulge an old hag, and tell me… What is it about this one that stirs your confidence?”

I thought for a moment, letting the question settle in the air before responding. “It is not something that can be easily put into words. It is a feeling, a certainty deep within my bones. The cub is not just strong or clever—he is hungry. There is a drive in him, an instinct to rise above, to overcome. That kind of hunger cannot be taught; it is born.”

Nyara studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Finally, she sighed, her posture relaxing slightly. “You have always trusted your instincts, Byakko. I will not question them now. But if you are wrong—”

“I won’t be,” I interrupted, my grin returning. “You’ll see. The cub will grow into a hunter that rivals even the greatest!”

Nyara shook her head, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “You’ve always been an optimist.”

“An optimist with a good track record,” I countered.

She chuckled softly, the sound low and warm. “Fair enough.”

For a moment, the cave fell into a comfortable silence. Nyara stepped closer, her gaze softening as she looked toward the entrance where Takeshi and Chanua had disappeared. “He does seem... resilient,” she admitted. “And calm. That will serve him well.”

“He’ll need that calm,” I said, my tone more serious now. “The world of men is far more cruel than ours. But I have no doubt he’ll rise to the challenge.”

Nyara’s gaze shifted back to me, her expression thoughtful. “You’re placing a great deal of faith in him, Byakko. The toads have their prophecies and so do we… if he’s the one the old sage saw…”

I met her gaze evenly. “He can handle it. I’m never wrong about these things, I can feel it in my whiskers!”

The elder’s tail flicked once more, a subtle sign of her acceptance. “Very well. The cub is your responsibility now.”