Chapter 33 - Kazan, the King of Kogane Savannah 𑁍༆꧁✧꧂༆𑁍 _____________________________
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"we too, like trees can shake off our dead leaves and begin again" -A.Y. greyson _____________________________
The sun was high in the sky, casting its golden rays over the training grounds a ways outside the Leaf Village. The air was thick with the hum of cicadas and the rustling of leaves in the cool, gentle breeze. The Tsukinaga stood alone in a small clearing in the forest, his white hair gleaming in the sunlight.
After going on back to back missions for months, Tsunade finally allowed the boy a few weeks in summer to train as long as he did extra missions following, which he happily agreed to. Now, after doing lots of research, he gathered all he could on the Summoning Contract he found in the basement of the Heiwakage building.
"Kazan... the mighty lion summon from Kogane Savannah... I only heard whispers of the powerful summon passed down through the Tsukinaga Clan that only Masaki had managed to fully tame but seeing it now, laid out in front of me is something else..."
Satoru slowly opened the scroll, dragging his fingers across the old paper, taking in the names written there.
"Tsukinaga Akihiro, Tsukinaga Rin, Tsukinaga Katsuro, and ... Tsukinaga Masaki."
Satoru reached into his backpack, taking out a small bottle of ink and a pen, before slowly writing his name in the column next to Masaki's. He then bit his thumb, before transferring the blood leaking of it to his other fingers and stamping them on the contract. He took a deep breath, feeling the familiar surge of Chakra as he weaved hand signs. "Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram." He whispered out before biting his thumb once again, drawing blood. With a swift motion, he pressed his hand to the ground, an intricate pattern forming around his palm.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A thick cloud of smoke erupted from the ground and Satoru felt the earth tremble beneath him. As the smoke cleared, a towering figure emerged, its golden fur shimmering and its mane crackling with flames. Kazan, the fiery lion, stood before him, his eyes burning with a fierce intensity.
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For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air was charged with an electric tension, as if the forest around was holding its breath. Satoru could feel the power radiating from Kazan, putting a slight tremble in his his knees that he quickly pushed away.
Kazan's gaze swept over Satoru, his expression a mixture of curiosity and distain. "Who dares to summon me?" He growled, his voice resonating with authority.
Satoru straightened his posture, meeting Kazan's gaze without flinching. "I am Tsukinaga Satoru, a proud Shinobi of the Leaf Village. I um... seek your strength and guidance."
The lion let out a low, rumbling chuckle, his mane flaring up as he took a step closer. "Strength and guidance? From me? You are but a child, unworthy of even a fraction of the power I possess. I am a king. I will not be commanded by the likes of child."
Satoru's heart sped up, but he took a large step forward, his eyes narrowing at Kazan. "I am not a child any longer. I haven't been a child since Tsukinaga Masaki slaughtered my entire clan before I even had a chance to see the world outside my village. You're a Summoning Animal, you've probably faced even more pain and loss I have. I seek your power not to command, but to be a team and to get stronger."
Kazan's eyes narrowed back, his pride wounded by Satoru's audacity. "It's the same with all you Shinobi. You just want to rule over me, but you cannot control a king. All of you see us as just 'Summoning Animals.' I, for one, am so much more than that. So, do not presume to understand my pain, boy. You have summoned me, but I am not here to befriend you."
"I know what you're thinking, but I'm not my father." Satoru spat out, making Kazan's strong demeanor crumble ever so slightly. "I know you're his summon too. I don't know your relationship, but I am different. My entire life has been dedicated to obtaining the strength to kill Masaki. I'll break whatever hold he has over you, and I'll do it as your equal, not your commander."
The lion stared at Satoru for a long moment, the intensity in his gaze unyielding. Finally, he let out a huff, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. "Fine, Tsukinaga Satoru. I will give you a chance. I do not want to be disappointed. Come forward."
"Okay..." Satoru whispered as he slowly moved to stand in front of the towering lion.
Kazan slowly lowered his body to the ground, managing to still keeping his head held high, his fiery mane returning to normal. "Place your hand on me."
The Tsukinaga hesitantly placed his hand on Kazan. He was immediately surprised at the soft texture. He gently ran his fingers through the golden fur. It felt silky, almost like fine velvet.
"You should close your eyes." Kazan growled.
"Huh?" Was all that came out of Satoru's mouth before he saw a bright flash of white, blinding him.
_____________________________ Divine Secrets
—Kazan, meaning volcano
—The four names on Kazan's Summoning Contract are the past Heiwakage of Shinringakure _____________________________ Author's Notes
