Too weak.
That was the very first thought that crossed Qing Shui's mind.
Wasn't this creature supposed to be the Ultimate Summoning Beast?
Was this really all it could do?
Earlier, when it had taken a Water Dragon Bullet head-on without suffering even the slightest scratch, Qing Shui had assumed that its defensive power was extraordinary.
However, he had never expected it to collapse so easily after being struck by the Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
If it couldn't even withstand that technique, then there was no way it could endure the crushing power of the Seven-Tails' wings.
Qing Shui couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed.
Just as he was thinking this, the red-haired girl stepped forward.
Her expression was filled with reverence and gratitude.
"Judging from your forehead protector… you're a ninja from the Leaf Village, right?"
Because she had once received some education from members of the Uzumaki clan, Honoka possessed a basic understanding of the shinobi world.
She could recognize the Konoha forehead protector immediately.
Qing Shui nodded calmly.
"That's right."
"I'm a ninja from the Leaf Village."
"You can just call me Qing Shui."
The girl bowed slightly.
"My name is Honoka."
"Thank you very much for saving me… and for avenging the people in the research facility."
During the long time she had spent on Summoning Island, the researchers who worked there had treated her kindly.
They had given her food.
They had protected her.
Gradually, they had become like family.
Now that they were gone, Honoka felt a deep sadness.
Qing Shui studied the girl for a moment before asking:
"Honoka… you're an Uzumaki, right?"
"What do you plan to do now?"
He paused briefly.
"If you want… you can come with me to the Leaf Village."
The moment those words were spoken, Honoka hesitated.
Since the destruction of the Uzumaki clan, she had witnessed the cruelty and darkness of the ninja world.
Although she was deeply grateful to Qing Shui for saving her life, the Leaf Village was a complicated matter.
When the Land of Whirlpools had been attacked by multiple enemy nations…
Konoha, its supposed ally, had failed to intervene.
Regardless of the reasons, that fact remained.
Because of that event, many surviving Uzumaki members no longer trusted Konoha.
Even though several Uzumaki still lived scattered across the world, few were willing to return to the Leaf Village.
In their hearts, the alliance between Uzumaki and Konoha had already been broken.
Seeing Honoka's hesitation, Qing Shui spoke again.
"There are two other Uzumaki living in the Leaf Village."
"Their names are Kushina and Yumiko."
"If you come with me, you could live together with them."
He genuinely hoped she would agree.
After all, Kushina had always been somewhat lonely in Konoha.
Having another Uzumaki around would surely make her happier.
As for Yumiko…
Qing Shui silently sighed.
That girl was already being swept away by Minato Namikaze.
At this rate, it wouldn't be surprising if she moved out of the Senju compound within a few years.
Just as Honoka was about to reply—
ROAR!
A furious roar suddenly echoed across the island.
Honoka's face instantly changed.
"How is that possible?!"
"It's still alive?!"
The Ultimate Summoning Beast, whose body had been severed by Qing Shui earlier, slowly stood up again.
But its appearance had changed dramatically.
Its previously bloated body had become leaner.
Several strange tentacles now extended from its mouth.
A twisted horn had grown from its forehead.
Although its shape had changed, it still looked grotesque.
More importantly…
Its aura had become far stronger than before.
Qing Shui immediately understood.
When he had cut the creature earlier, it had seized the opportunity to undergo a metamorphosis.
Just like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
"Honoka, step back."
"I'll deal with this thing."
Qing Shui took a step forward, instinctively shielding Honoka behind him.
Honoka felt deeply moved by his protective gesture.
However, she wasn't foolish.
She understood that staying here would only distract him.
"Qing Shui… be careful!"
After saying that, she quickly retreated to a safe distance.
The Second Battle
Crackle!
The horn on the Ultimate Summoning Beast's forehead suddenly emitted a brilliant silver-white light.
A moment later—
A bolt of lightning shot directly toward Qing Shui.
"So you can use Lightning Release too?"
Qing Shui quickly formed hand seals.
A defensive technique blocked the incoming attack.
"Show me everything you've got."
He looked at the creature with anticipation.
Qing Shui wasn't afraid of powerful enemies.
He was only afraid of opponents who were too weak to be interesting.
Although the Ultimate Summoning Beast couldn't speak, it clearly possessed intelligence.
Qing Shui's tone seemed to provoke it.
WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!
The tentacles around its mouth suddenly extended several times their original length, lashing toward Qing Shui like whips.
However, the attack was too slow.
Qing Shui effortlessly dodged them.
The creature's eyes suddenly flashed with multicolored light.
A strange chakra wave spread outward.
"Genjutsu?"
Qing Shui immediately realized what it was doing.
"Not bad… you can even use illusions."
"But something like this won't work on me."
Almost instantly, Qing Shui broke the illusion.
What followed was another attack.
A wave of purple liquid surged toward him like a flood.
Venom.
Qing Shui used the Body Flicker Technique to escape.
The venom splashed onto the ground and nearby trees.
SIZZLE!
The earth began to melt.
The trees corroded instantly.
Clearly, the poison was extremely dangerous.
Seeing that both its genjutsu and poison had failed, the Ultimate Summoning Beast roared in frustration.
But Qing Shui simply smiled.
"Now it's my turn."
He quickly formed hand seals.
"Let me show you what a real technique looks like."
Then he opened his mouth.
A razor-sharp stream of water shot forward at terrifying speed.
Water Release: Water Severing Wave!
The Ultimate Summoning Beast recognized the technique.
With another furious roar—
Massive wings suddenly sprouted from its back.
With a powerful flap—
It shot into the sky.
The water blade sliced harmlessly through empty air.
"It can fly too?"
Qing Shui raised an eyebrow.
"I'm starting to like you more and more."
If an ordinary ninja had faced this creature, they would have been killed long ago.
Only someone with Qing Shui's strength could dominate the battle so completely.
The Final Move
ROAR!
Flying high in the air, the Ultimate Summoning Beast beat its wings violently.
A powerful wind storm erupted.
It had used Wind Release.
Qing Shui quickly countered with a wind technique of his own.
When the two forces collided—
BOOM!!!
A massive explosion shook the island.
The shockwave snapped nearby trees in half.
Even Honoka, watching from a distance, gasped in shock.
The scale of the battle was far beyond anything she had ever witnessed.
Eventually, the Ultimate Summoning Beast realized something.
It could not win.
Without hesitation, it turned and attempted to flee.
But Qing Shui would never allow that.
"Banshō Ten'in!"
A terrifying gravitational force pulled the creature downward.
No matter how violently it flapped its wings, it could not escape.
CRASH!
The creature slammed into the ground.
"Stay down."
Qing Shui immediately followed up.
He launched Tsūtenkyaku.
His powerful kick struck the beast's abdomen, sending it crashing across the battlefield.
Before it could recover—
Several Black Receivers appeared in Qing Shui's hands.
He thrust them directly into the creature's body.
The Ultimate Summoning Beast froze.
It could no longer move.
Sensing Qing Shui's overwhelming power…
It finally submitted.
Honoka's Decision
The next step was simple.
The Ultimate Summoning Beast willingly signed a Summoning Contract with Qing Shui.
Moments later—
POOF!
With a cloud of white smoke, the creature disappeared.
It had been summoned away by Pain (Hiruko) at a distant secret base.
Honoka walked over in surprise.
"Where did it go?"
"It signed a contract with me," Qing Shui explained.
"I sent it somewhere else."
Then he looked at her again.
"So… what's your decision?"
"Will you come to the Leaf Village with me?"
This time, Honoka didn't hesitate.
"I'll go with you."
She trusted Qing Shui.
He had saved her life.
And she felt safe beside him.
"You won't regret that decision," Qing Shui said with a smile.
Honoka didn't respond to that.
Instead, she asked something else.
"Can you teach me ninjutsu?"
The events of today had awakened a burning desire inside her.
She never wanted to feel powerless again.
Qing Shui nodded.
"Of course."
"You also have talent for sealing techniques."
"And I know quite a few of those."
"I can teach you."
Honoka's eyes sparkled.
She immediately bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Qing Shui!"
"My instincts were right… you really are a kind person."
Leaving the Island
Before leaving, Qing Shui returned to the destroyed research facility.
He carefully collected the documents left behind by the researchers.
These materials might prove useful in the future.
After that, he searched the entire island for additional summoning beasts.
Unfortunately, none were stronger than the creature he had already captured.
Still, obtaining the Ultimate Summoning Beast made the trip worthwhile.
Finally, Qing Shui turned to Honoka.
"Do you know how to walk on water?"
Honoka shook her head.
Even the Ninja Academy in Konoha didn't teach that skill.
And someone like her had never received proper training.
"In that case…"
"I'll carry you."
Qing Shui had originally arrived here by running across the ocean surface using chakra.
The research facility once had a boat…
But it had been destroyed earlier in the battle.
"Come here."
Honoka climbed onto his back.
Her bare feet pressed gently against his sides.
Her red hair brushed against his shoulder.
Her cheeks slowly turned pink.
She had never been this close to a boy before.
Qing Shui, however, was completely unaware of her embarrassment.
With Honoka on his back, he dashed across the ocean at incredible speed.
Their destination—
The small island where Kurenai Yuhi and the others were waiting.
When they arrived, Kurenai and her companions had just finished collecting medicinal herbs.
Kurenai blinked in surprise.
"Big Brother Qing Shui…"
"Who is she?"
"This is Honoka," Qing Shui explained calmly.
"She was shipwrecked and washed ashore here."
The explanation was simple, but Kurenai accepted it without question.
She smiled warmly at the red-haired girl.
"Honoka-sister…"
"Where is your family?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)