Naruto, The Frog Summoner

Naruto Uzumaki sprinted down the dirt road, his eyes darting back and forth in fear as he tried to outpace the angry mob behind him. He could hear their shouts and curses echoing in his ears as they chased after him, their hatred palpable in the air.

Naruto had always known that the villagers of Konoha despised him. He was an orphan, and everyone in the village knew that he was the host of the Kyuubii, a nine-tailed fox demon that had attacked the village years ago. The Fourth Hokage, Konoha's leader at the time, had sealed the demon inside Naruto when he was just a baby, sacrificing his own life in the process.

But to the villagers, Naruto was nothing more than a monster. They saw only the demon fox inside of him, not the boy who longed for acceptance and love. Naruto had grown used to their stares and their whispers, but the jeers and threats were a new level of hostility.

Naruto's legs burned with exertion as he stumbled into the forest at the edge of the village. He paused for a moment to catch his breath, glancing back to see if the villagers were still pursuing him. To his relief, they had given up the chase, content to let him escape into the woods.

As Naruto started to walk, he heard a rustling in the bushes ahead of him. He tensed, wondering if it was another angry villager. But to his surprise, a small frog hopped out onto the path, regarding him with curious eyes.

"Who are you?" Naruto asked, his guard still up.

The frog blinked at him, then spoke in a deep, croaky voice. "I am Kaeru, a frog from the frog summon realm. And you are Naruto Uzumaki, are you not?"

Naruto's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know my name?"

"We frogs know many things," Kaeru said with a chuckle. "We've been watching you, Naruto. We know that you seek acceptance and a place to belong."

Naruto's heart clenched at the mention of acceptance. It was something he had always yearned for, but never been able to find. "I...I don't understand. Why are you talking to me?"

Kaeru hopped closer to Naruto, his expression serious. "Because we believe you have potential, Naruto. The frog summon realm is looking for a new summoner, someone who is intelligent and capable, with a strong spirit and a good heart. We think you might be the one we're looking for."

Naruto stared at the frog, his mind spinning. He had heard of the frog summoning before, but he had always thought it was a myth, a legend told to young ninja to inspire them. "Why me? I don't know anything about summoning."

"That's where we come in," Kaeru said with a grin. "We'll teach you everything you need to know. But first, we have a test of courage for you."

Naruto hesitated. He had been running for his life just moments before. Did he really want to put himself in danger again? But something about Kaeru's words resonated with him. He had always wanted to be more than the village outcast, to prove that he was strong and capable.

"What kind of test?" he asked, trying to sound braver than he felt.

"We want you to jump into this ravine," Kaeru said, gesturing to a deep, dark chasm that ran alongside the path. "It's a long way down, but we believe you have the courage,"

Naruto peered over the edge of the ravine, the pit yawning wide before him. The wind whistled in his ears, the sound of the churning river below mingling with the rustling of the trees. His heart pounded in his chest; his palms slick with sweat.

"I don't know," he said hesitantly. "It's pretty far down."

Kaeru regarded him with a stern expression. "If you want to be a summoner, you have to be willing to take risks. We frogs are known for our bravery, and we expect no less from our summoners."

Naruto swallowed hard, his resolve strengthening. He had faced danger before, but always as a means of survival. This was different. This was a choice, a leap of faith into the unknown.

He took a deep breath and stepped back, gathering his strength. Then, with a shout of determination, he ran forward and launched himself off the edge of the ravine.

For a moment, he felt weightless, his stomach dropping as he hurtled towards the water below. Then, with a splash, he hit the surface, the cold shock of the river water enveloping him. He thrashed for a moment, disoriented, then surfaced, gasping for air.

Kaeru appeared on the bank of the river, his eyes twinkling. "Well done, Naruto! That was very impressive."

Naruto treaded water, panting, his heart pounding with exhilaration. He had done it. He had taken a risk, faced his fear, and come out the other side.

"Does this mean I passed the test?" he asked, a smile spreading across his face.

Kaeru nodded. "Yes, Naruto. You have proven yourself worthy of our trust. Are you ready to take the next step?"

Naruto climbed out of the river, his clothes sodden and clinging to his skin. He felt a sense of pride and accomplishment that he had never experienced before. For the first time, he felt like he might be able to prove himself to the people of Konoha, to show them that he was more than just a vessel for a demon.

"Yes," he said, his voice steady. "I'm ready."

Kaeru led him deeper into the forest, their feet squelching in the mud. They passed through a grove of towering trees, the canopy overhead casting dappled shadows on the ground. Then, with a sudden rustle, a massive frog appeared before them.

It was easily the size of a house, its skin rough and warty, its eyes gleaming with intelligence. "So this is the one you've chosen?" the frog rumbled.

Kaeru nodded. "Yes, Pepe. This is Naruto Uzumaki, our new summoner."

Pepe regarded Naruto for a moment, then spoke. "Very well. We frogs are not like the toad summons, Naruto. We are more casual, more friendly. But we expect our summoner to be intelligent and capable, to respect our traditions and to act with courage and honor. Do you understand?"

Naruto swallowed hard, his heart pounding. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for, the chance to prove himself to the world. He took a deep breath and stood up straight, meeting Pepe's gaze.

"I understand," he said firmly.

Pepe regarded him for a moment longer, then nodded. "Very well. I hereby present you with the frog summoning contract. Sign it, and you will become our first summoner."

Naruto's hands shook as he took the contract, his eyes scanning the ancient parchment. He saw the names of legendary summoners who had come before him.

Naruto's hand trembled as he pricked his thumb with a kunai, drawing a small droplet of blood. With a steady hand, he wrote his name on the contract, sealing his fate as the first frog summoner in Konoha's history.

As the ink dried, he felt a sudden rush of energy coursing through his body, a sense of power he had never experienced before. He looked up at Pepe, who regarded him with a solemn expression.

"Welcome, Naruto Uzumaki," the frog said. "You have proven yourself worthy of our trust. We will be at your side whenever you call upon us, ready to aid you in any way we can."

Naruto felt a sense of awe and wonder at his newfound ability, but also a deep responsibility. He had been given a gift, a power that few in Konoha possessed. He would need to use it wisely, to honor the frogs' traditions and to live up to their expectations.

"Thank you," he said, bowing respectfully. "I won't let you down."

Pepe gave him a nod, then vanished in a puff of smoke, leaving Naruto and Kaeru alone in the clearing. The frog regarded Naruto with a smile.

"Well done, Naruto," he said. "You've made us proud. But remember, being a summoner is not just about power. It's about responsibility, about living up to the expectations of those who have come before us. You have a great journey ahead of you, but I know you'll do us proud."

Naruto nodded, feeling a sense of determination welling up inside him. He knew that he still had a long way to go, that he had many trials and challenges ahead. But he also knew that he was not alone, that he had the support of the frog summons at his back.

As he turned to leave, Kaeru called out to him. "Naruto, wait!"

Naruto paused, turning back to the frog. "What is it?"

Kaeru regarded him with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "You know, Naruto, there's one more thing you should know about being a frog summoner."

Naruto frowned. "What's that?"

Kaeru hopped over to him, a sly grin on his face. "You're not just our summoner, Naruto. You're also our friend. And as your friends, we demand that you come visit us in the frog realm sometime. We'll show you all the best fishing spots."

Naruto laughed, feeling a sense of warmth in his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly accepted, truly valued. He had found a home with the frog summons, a place where he belonged.

As he walked back towards Konoha, he felt a sense of purpose and pride, his head held high. He knew that he had a long road ahead of him, that there would be many obstacles to overcome. But he also knew that he had a powerful new ally at his back, a force that would help him to become the ninja he had always dreamed of being.

And so, with a smile on his face, he took the first step on his journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.