Chapter 38 : Battle for Ranking!

[Nightmare-Eater, Baku: Danzo, I think 60 is not bad!]

[Danzo Shimura: Hmph, you unabitious fellow, only 60th rank is enough? Remember, once you get the reward, pass it on to me!]

[Nightmare-Eater, Baku: Understood!]

[Fourth Raikage: Danzo, you are a bit shameless. Although the Summoning beast can pass on the reward, it is too much for you to ask for it directly!]

[Terumi Mei: Konoha's Danzo Shimura's shamelessness, I've heard about it for a long time; it's not surprising at all!]

[Third Tsuchikage: As expected of Danzo Shimura, even if you ask for a reward, you have to talk about it in private, not directly in the live broadcast room; it's as if you're afraid others won't know your shamelessness!]

[Danzo Shimura: Hehe, don't mock me. Could it be that you don't want the rewards of Summoning beasts? I don't believe you don't!]

[Killer Bee: I don't want it!]

[Fourth Raikage: Danzo Shimura just got slapped in the face!]

[Danzo Shimura: A bunch of hypocritical guys!]

[Hanzo the Salamander: When it comes to insidiousness and hypocrisy, no one can compare to you, Danzo Shimura!]

[Nagato Uzumaki: Hanzo, you're almost as hypocritical as your previous ally, Danzo.]

[Danzo Shimura: A member of the Akatsuki dares to call me hypocritical?]

Unconsciously, the pet list ranked 50th.

[No. 50 in the pet list: Sage Shima, owner: Jiraiya]

[Jiraiya: Shima is ranked 50th?]

[Sage Fukasaku: Old woman, you're only ranked 50th; not very good!]

[Sage Shima: Damn you, old man, how high do you think you can rank? Maybe the next one is you!]

[Manda: Hehe, Mount Myōboku's toads aren't much to boast about. They're ranked quite low, far inferior to the snakes of our Ryūchi Cave!]

[Gamabunta: Manda, you dare to ridicule Mount Myōboku? Come on, let's settle this head to head.]

[Manda: One-on-one, one-on-one. Afraid you won't measure up?]

[Gamabuntai: Manda, it's been a while since I've seen you. The next time we meet, I'll make sure to cut you into three pieces!]

[Manda: Hehe, I almost swallowed you up!]

Mount Myōboku.

"It's no surprise that Shima and Fukasaku have low rankings. They are Sage toads, after all. While they excel in Senjutsu, they aren't battle-ready toads, and their combat abilities are limited," the Great Toad Sage mused.

Aside from him, Mount Myōboku boasted one of the most formidable fighting forces among the Summoning realms. 

Its size was immense, second only to the Katsuyu.

Of course, Gamamaru's colossal toad had a penchant for long naps, sometimes spanning a decade or even decades, making his reputation less well-known.

Soon, the forty-ninth pet on the list was revealed, and it was Sage Fukasaku, whose ranking was just one place ahead of Sage Shima.

[Sage Shima: Hahaha, old man, what's the matter? I told you that you'd only be one rank above me!]

[Sage Fukasaku: Cough Cough]

As the list continued, the next pets were mostly summoning beasts owned by former leaders of major ninja villages, each with its own renowned reputation, but now rare to find.

Before they knew it, they reached the thirtieth position on the list.

[Pet Rank 30: Gamabunta, Owners: Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Naruto]

A summoning beast often had multiple owners, and Gamabunta was no exception. Several people could summon him, technically giving him several owners.

As long as Gamabunta was willing, he could transfer the reward to anyone.

[Manda: Hahaha, Gamabunta, you're ranked 30th. No matter what you say, my rank should be higher than yours. What do you have to say now?]

[Gamabunta: Is this list wrong? Am I really lower than you? Besides, that Katsuyu should be weaker than me, right?]

[Manda: Gamabunta, are you daft? Katsuyu is a clone of the Katsuyu Sage. Are you comparing yourself to the Katsuyu Sage?]

[Gamabunta: Well, I might not be as good as Sage Katsuyu, but I refuse to believe I'm lower than you!]

[Manda: Refuse to believe? This is the Golden List ranking. You can't argue with it. Don't ever claim to be stronger than me again. This list is proof that you're weaker!]

[Gamabunta: Just wait. Next time, I'll be ahead of you!]

[Orochimaru: Hahaha, Manda, you've done well. You're stronger than Jiraiya's big toad. You've earned me some respect!]

[Jiraiya: Orochimaru, you may have Manda, but I can summon many Toad Sages on Mount Myōboku too.]

[Orochimaru: It's a pity that none of them can match my Manda!]

Following that, Tagitsuhime of Ryūchi Cave appeared on the list, securing the 29th position.

After the Tagitsuhime, it was time for the Manda.

[Pet Rank 28: Manda, Owner: Orochimaru]

[Gamabunta: Not much higher than me, and we're only in the 28th position. Our strength must be similar!]

[Manda: Maybe not much higher, but still higher!]

[Orochimaru: My summoning beast  is only ranked 28th. How formidable are the pets ranked above?]

[Senju Hashirama: There are countless summoning beasts in the ninja world, but no one knows their exact numbers. Manda's performance last time was quite ordinary. To be ranked 28th is a generous placement!]

[Orochimaru: As far as I know, Lord First Hokage doesn't possess summoning beasts even stronger!]

[Senju Hashirama: Hehe, those little guys couldn't assist me. I can handle even the Nine-Tails with ease. Summoning beasts? Orochimaru, are you trying to provoke me?]

[Orochimaru: Lord First Hokage, I wouldn't dare. I'm just stating facts.]

Then, the 27th position on the list was unveiled.

[Pet Rank 27: Giant Clam, Owner: Second Mizukage Gengetsu Hōzuki]

[Second Mizukage: Hahaha, my summoning beast Giant Clam made it onto the list, and its ranking isn't bad!]

[Second Tsuchikage: Second Mizukage's Giant Clam summoning is indeed quite potent, capable of casting wide-ranging illusions. It gave me a lot of trouble back in the day.]

[Second Mizukage: Second Tsuchikage, my Giant Clam is indeed powerful, but remember, I used it to defeat you. If you hadn't caught me with your last move, I wouldn't have perished!]

[Second Tsuchikage: Nonsense! I clearly defeated you first; then, I met my end!]

[Second Mizukage: You're just spouting nonsense. Could you really have defeated me before your own demise?]

While Second Mizukage and Second Tsuchikage argued, the 26th position on the list was revealed.

This time, it was Hanzō of the Salamander's summoning beast!*

**********

Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.

patreon.com/PirateKing24