Chapter 67: Misty Ruins

"Whoo…"

A cool breeze swept by.

Even though it was noon, Shizune and Tonton, one person and one pig, couldn't help but shiver.

The place felt unnervingly eerie.

Ahead, a thick gray fog blanketed the surroundings.

Everywhere was littered with rubble, decaying walls, and ruined debris.

"This is the place…" 

Scanning the surroundings, Kiyoshi let out a smile, saying, "But, Tsunade-nee, the chakra signature I sensed just now suddenly vanished. I can't detect it at all!"

He was genuinely surprised.

The summoned beast bound here by the summoning contract hadn't disappeared. 

Initially, he could feel its presence, but in a matter of moments, it had completely faded.

"Really?"

Tsunade frowned.

She was well aware of Kiyoshi's powerful sensory abilities. 

Even from ten, twenty kilometers away, he could easily sense others' chakra. 

Leading the way, she said in a deep tone, "Since we're already here, let's go take a look first!"

"Could it be that someone was here, Kiyoshi, and you sensed them just before they suddenly left?"

Shizune speculated, hurrying after them with Tonton.

Soon enough.

An ancient castle appeared before them.

"Swish…"

A pair of eyes turned scarlet.

Activating his Sharingan with three tomoe, Kiyoshi examined the castle in front of him, visibly astonished. 

"Even my Sharingan can't see through it, and I can't detect any chakra signatures."

Its level of concealment was indeed remarkable.

He remembered that even the Hyuga clan's Byakugan hadn't detected any abnormalities here.

That a regular Sharingan couldn't pick up anything wasn't all that surprising.

With that thought, Kiyoshi didn't hesitate.

His eyes transformed again, taking on the distinctive, swirling design of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

In an instant, the dilapidated castle before him changed completely.

With the Mangekyo Sharingan's extraordinary perception, 

Kiyoshi saw right through its disguise.

This was no castle.

It was actually a massive summoned creature.

A giant white lizard, camouflaged as a castle.

"Kiyoshi, did you find anything?" Shizune asked, hurrying over.

"Yes, it's a giant lizard. It transformed into a castle, so anyone who wandered in would be devoured, unable to make it out alive." 

Kiyoshi didn't hold back, explaining, "It seems to have a strong concealment ability, hiding even its chakra signature completely!"

"It's likely that someone recently entered it, and as it ate, I detected a sudden surge of chakra."

"Oh?"

Hearing Kiyoshi's explanation,

Tsunade looked intrigued.

"It must be quite weakened, bound here by a summoning contract…" Kiyoshi assessed its state with a shrug, "Most likely, in a few more years, it'll be completely drained."

"Tsunade-nee… How about we try to tame this unique summoned beast?" Kiyoshi suggested.

The lizard's hiding ability was undoubtedly on par with the Second Tsuchikage, Mu.

Whether it was a Byakugan or a Sharingan, they couldn't see through it.

If not for his foresight, he wouldn't have thought to activate his Mangekyo Sharingan for a closer look.

"Boys, they do love the grand-looking summoned beasts." 

Shizune sighed in resignation.

Then, with some concern, she added, "But Kiyoshi, you already signed a contract with Katsuyu-sama. While she is easy-going, isn't this a bit…?"

She glanced over at Tsunade.

"You…"

Seeing Kiyoshi's eagerness, Tsunade felt a mix of resignation and amusement.

"No problem, even if I don't use it, I can always give it to Kurenai-nee, Ino, or Tenten…" Kiyoshi laughed.

With his abilities, he had little need for a beast like this himself.

But he couldn't deny the appeal of this huge lizard.

Wasn't its name Shiromari?

And its previous contract holder… wasn't that Koza Kubisaki?

"Uh…"

Shizune was momentarily speechless at Kiyoshi's response.

From her arms, Tonton let out a soft grunt: "Oink~~~Oink~~~"

"I doubt Katsuyu would mind; do as you please." 

Tsunade folded her arms, sounding indifferent.

Learning that the castle was actually a summoned beast, she had no interest in exploring it.

There was nothing appealing about wandering inside a summoned creature's belly.

She'd seen enough already, like her Sannin teammate, Jiraiya, who'd once summoned the stomach of Toad of Mount Myoboku to trap his enemies. The castle's interior was probably no different.

Though she was unfazed by much as a seasoned medical ninja, there was no need to willingly enter such an unpleasant place.

With Tsunade's permission, Kiyoshi stepped forward.

His eyes radiated a powerful, intimidating aura as he said, "Enough hiding; I know this castle is just your disguise."

"Roar—"

Sensing the strength of the intruder, a low growl echoed from within the gloomy castle.

"You won't be able to hold out much longer, will you?" Kiyoshi crossed his arms and continued, "I can set you free, but you'll have to sign a summoning contract with me."

"Roar…"

"You're silent? I'll take that as a yes."

"Roar…"

Soon—

Under Tsunade and Shizune's baffled gaze, the summoned beast, though feeling the impressive power of someone so young, indicated that it would give him a chance if he could pass its trial.

But Kiyoshi had no intention of going in himself.

Rather lazily, he created multiple wood clones, instructing them to storm the castle.

The lizard, angered by Kiyoshi's casual attitude, immediately tried to redirect the clones, leading them down multiple dark corridors to separate and eliminate them.

It wanted to force Kiyoshi's real body to face the trial.

Yet the wood clones, each holding a portion of Kiyoshi's power, showed no hesitation.

They fearlessly spread out, each taking a different path through the castle.

"Swish…swish…"

The walls of each passage began to transform.

They morphed into unsettling, pulsating flesh.

Tentacles appeared in quick succession, launching frenzied attacks on the wood clones.

But the clones weren't ones to back down.

Massive wooden vines emerged, counter attacking the tentacles.

They even entangled them, absorbing chakra from the creature.

This forced the summoned beast to retract its tentacles, lest it be drained dry.

Every trap was swiftly dismantled by the wood clones.

If Kiyoshi had wanted to kill this summoned beast, he could've drained it with a single Wood Release Jutsu.

After all, even tailed beasts with their massive chakra couldn't resist the Wood Dragon Jutsu.

Much less this exhausted and fading summoned beast.

Soon enough—

A large summoning scroll was retrieved by the wood clones and presented before Kiyoshi.

"Swish…"

Under Tsunade and Shizune's watchful eyes,

Kiyoshi unrolled the scroll.

As expected, the previous contract holder's name appeared that made Kiyoshi's mouth twitch.

Koza Kubisaki.

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