The clearing remained still, the weight of Enma’s revetion settling between them. He let the silence stretch, allowing Hiro and Kaya to fully grasp the significance of what he had just said. Then, with a deep breath, the Monkey King began his story.

  “My story starts with a man named Yasue Shinka.”

  Hiro straightened instinctively at the name, his mind racing. Enma continued, his voice steady and nostalgic.

  “He was the first human to form a bond with me. Back then, I was nothing more than an ordinary monkey—strong for my kind, perhaps, but nothing like the being you see before you now.”

  Yasue Shinka had been a young shinobi, one of many in the Shinka Cn who held a unique gift—the ability to forge a deep and transformative bond with their summons. Unlike the modern blood-pact summoning contracts, the Shinka Cn’s link was something different, something deeper.

  “Over time, through my bond with Yasue, I grew,” Enma expined. “I learned to wield chakra, to mold it as a shinobi would. My body became stronger, my mind sharper, and eventually, I gained the ability to speak.”

  They had walked many paths together, traveled across nds, faced perils and triumphs alike. Yasue’s influence had shaped Enma into the being he had become—the Monkey King, a title earned through years of battle and mastery.

  But eventually, time caught up with Yasue.

  “He passed away, as all humans do.”

  Hiro remained silent, imagining the loss. The end of a bond that had changed both lives forever.

  “When Yasue died, I was released from our bond,” Enma said, his golden eyes momentarily distant. “I was free to go wherever I chose, to find my own path.”

  Unlike many modern summoning contracts, the bond with the Shinka did not extend to another summoner after death—it simply ended.

  “And so, I left.”

  For years, Enma wandered, seeking his own pce in the world. But the strength he had cultivated never left him. The growth he had undergone through his connection with Yasue had become permanent, something that could be passed down to his offspring.

  “This, young man, is the secret of the summoning cns.”

  Hiro’s breath caught. The truth settled over him like a weight.

  “Most summoning cns did not start as powerful beasts,” Enma continued, his tone filled with quiet certainty. “They were normal creatures, given strength through the bond of a Shinka.”

  Kaya’s expression hardened in thought, but she said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

  “The reason why modern summons do not grow stronger just from having summoners is simple—the blood pact system is different. It mimics the bond but does not allow for the same transformation. The true power of the summoning cns comes from their original connection to a Shinka.”

  A chuckle broke the heavy silence as Enma’s rge hand reached out, fingers brushing against Chūta’s head. The flying squirrel had cautiously approached after sensing the shift in atmosphere, and now he chomped away at a handful of sunflower seeds Hiro had given him, attempting to soothe his nerves.

  “Treasure your time with Hiro,” Enma said to Chūta, his voice unusually gentle. “I often miss the bond I had with Yasue.”

  Chūta paused, his ears flicking toward Enma, before continuing to nibble at his food. The moment was small, but Hiro could feel the weight of it.

  Enma took another long drink of sake before finally rising to his feet.

  Kaya stood as well, her brow furrowed. “What will happen to Hiro now?”

  Enma dusted off his robes, looking down at her with a knowing expression. “Do not worry, Kaya. I have an idea on how to make sure Hiro is safe from unwanted eyes in this vilge.”

  Hiro blinked. Safe? From who?

  “There are always those who would take interest in something… unique,” Enma mused. “I should have this taken care of before the next Academy year starts in five months.”

  Kaya bowed deeply. “Thank you, Lord Enma.”

  As she straightened, Enma tossed a small vial toward her. Kaya’s hand snapped up on instinct, her eyes widening when she recognized it.

  Hiro knew that vial. It contained Yamiha’s chakra-infused venom.

  “Venom infused with chakra is highly unusual,” Enma said as he adjusted his staff across his back. “Had Hiruzen not asked me about it, the ANBU would have been visiting the herbalist shop where it was purchased.”

  Kaya’s face tensed in arm. She quickly bowed again. “I apologize. Thank you for intervening.”

  Enma waved her off with a casual motion. “Just be careful. The boy and his summons will be important to Konoha’s future.”

  His golden eyes flicked to Hiro one st time. “Take care of them, young man. Continue growing your strength. The time will come when you will need it.”

  With that, Enma turned and walked into the treeline, leaving Hiro with more questions than answers.