The warm mist curled around Hiro’s face as he stepped into the expansive hot spring resort, the scent of mineral-rich water filling the air. For the first time in days, his body felt truly at ease. No tense readiness for an ambush, no nights spent listening for hidden attackers—just the soft sound of bubbling water and the quiet hum of conversation.

  The entire Summoner Corps had gathered, a mixture of those who had completed the survival training and those who had been eliminated. The atmosphere was anything but hostile. Even those who had failed the tests were welcomed as part of the group.

  Shigeto stood at the front of the gathering, his arms crossed over his chest as he surveyed the assembled shinobi and summons. When he spoke, his voice carried easily over the group.

  “You’ve all done well.”

  Silence fell as everyone turned their attention toward him. “Whether you succeeded or not, every one of you has grown from this experience. You’ve learned not just how to fight with your summons, but how to rely on them, how to listen to them, and how to survive alongside them. That’s what matters.”

  A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd.

  Shigeto continued, “For those of you who passed, your training is just beginning. Moving forward, our hybrid curriculum will begin. You’ll spend two to three days a week in the Summoner Corps, training and developing your skills, while the rest of your time will be spent in the standard shinobi curriculum. This is the first step toward making summoners a recognized force within Konoha’s structure.”

  Hiro listened intently. The idea of integrating their training more formally into shinobi ranks was something completely new. No longer would summoners be scattered across different squads without a clear system for growth. This was the foundation of something bigger.

  Shigeto gave a small nod, a rare look of pride crossing his face. “Keep training. Keep growing. And keep your bonds with your summons strong. You’ll need them.”

  With that, he stepped back, signaling the start of the celebration.

  The tension from the st several days melted away.

  Hiro sank into the warm water of the hot spring, feeling his sore muscles rex instantly. The heat soaked into his skin, washing away the exhaustion of survival training.

  Across from him, Kakashi rested against the edge of the pool, his expression unreadable as always, though Hiro could tell even he was enjoying the reprieve. Further down, a group of academy recruits chatted excitedly, reliving their most harrowing moments from the past few days.

  Even the summons had their own space, a smaller pool where various creatures lounged in comfort. Chūta floated zily atop the water, eyes half-closed as he enjoyed the warmth. Yamiha, ever the outlier, had taken a perch on a rock near the steam, basking in the residual heat but avoiding full submersion.

  Hiro let out a sigh, sinking deeper into the water. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t strategizing, wasn’t worried about the next battle—he was just existing.

  A sudden spsh broke the tranquility, followed by an unmistakable chirping ugh.

  Hiro blinked and turned his head just in time to see a small, red-scaled lizard wriggling through the water, sending tiny waves rippling across the surface.

  The lizard had a wide, toothy grin, its purple-tinted frills fring slightly as it pyfully swam in circles near Hiro’s arm.

  Hiro watched in amusement as it darted forward, tapping its snout against his shoulder before retreating, almost as if it were testing his reaction.

  “Well, you’re an energetic one, huh?” Hiro murmured, reaching out slowly.

  The lizard didn’t flinch. Instead, it climbed up onto his forearm, its warm, slick body pressing comfortably against his skin. It was surprisingly heavy for its size.

  “You’ve taken a liking to me already?” Hiro chuckled.

  Chūta opened one eye from where he floated nearby, giving an unimpressed chirp before rolling back onto his back. Yamiha remained perched on her rock, watching with silent interest.

  Hiro stroked the small lizard’s frill absentmindedly as he closed his eyes, letting himself enjoy the moment of peace.

  Then, a familiar chime echoed in his mind.

  'Would you like to form a contract with Yugama?'

  Hiro’s eyes snapped open.

  The lizard chirped again, nudging its head against his palm.

  Hiro let out a small ugh, shaking his head. “Guess you really have made up your mind, huh?”

  He smiled. “Alright then.”