Chapter 8

Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Contract

"No way!" I shouted. 

"Rin?" asked Kaa-chan. 

"All good," I called. 

"Shikkotus Forest?" muttered Isobu, "Like the slug?" 

"Yeah!" I grinned, "This is awesome!" 

I bit my finger and let it bleed. "Wait wait wait," said Isobu, "You're going to sign it? Without permission?" 

"What permission do I need?" I asked innocently, "Plus, I need it to use its power to heal people in the future." 

"How come you sound like you know exactly what's going to happen?" he asked suspiciously. 

"Think of it as intuition," I said, grinning. 

"Wouldn't it be better to sign one with Mount Myoboku then?" he asked, "Can't that big toad also see the future?" 

'-_-' 

"What?" he asked, "Ah, whatever, just sign it already." 

I grinned and wrote my name down in red blood. "Should I try?" I asked. 

"Go outside." 

"Good point." 

…

I grabbed an empty bento box and filled it with the onigiri Kaa-chan had made for lunch. "I'm going out to train!" I called. 

"Be careful!" Kaa-chan replied. 

I started walking towards Training Ground three. "Try Flying Thunder God," said Isobu. 

"Alright," I shrugged. What was the harm in trying? 

I closed my eyes while sensing, trying to sense the seal I had left there since the day I started using it. I could barely feel it, but barely was better than not at all. 

"Ow!" I slammed hard into someone. 

"Rin!" said the voice, surprised. 

"Kakashi?" I looked up and saw silver hair. 

"Him!" growled Isobu. 

'Oh, shut up.' 

"Hey…" he said awkwardly, "See you, I guess."

He had been avoiding me for sure. Today was a lucky coincidence. Whenever I looked for him, he was gone. Even with Guy's help, we couldn't find him. Was he still guilty about the Chidori? 

He disappeared around the corner before I could say anything else. 'Dang it!' 

"What's so special about him?" asked Isobu. 

"He's my teammate," I replied. 

"Oh well," said Isobu, "I know him as the guy who stabbed you in the chest. Now back to teleporting!" he ordered. 

"Hah!" I laughed and went back to sensing, this time with my eyes open. 

"Flying… Thunder… God!" Swoosh! 

I opened my eyes and found myself at the training ground. "Nice," said Isobu, "Now summon a slug!" 

"Slow down…" I muttered. Isobu was such a personal trainer. 

I bit down on my hand, "Summoning Technique!" 

Poof! 

"Did it work?" asked Isobu. 

"Yes," replied an annoyed voice. 

"You can hear me?" asked Isobu, surprised. 

"Yes," said the slug. It was about three or four feet long, three feet tall, and definitely not Lady Katsu. It had green markings on its back, not blue. 

"I'm Rin," I introduced, "The voice is Isobu, the three-tails, and you are?" 

"I am Katsuo, attendant of Lady Katsu," replied the slug, "Tell me, how did you get the contract?" 

"I found it," I replied, "In a library. There was a seal on the medical scroll written by Tsunade-sama." 

"Very well," said the slug, "I will take you to Lady Katsu, she will decide what to do with you." 

"What to do with me-" Poof! 

… 

I opened my eyes and found myself in a forest. "Is this…" I asked, seeing a slug on a tree. 

"Welcome to Shikkotsu Forest!" said Katsuo, "Follow me." 

We walked on a path through trees. The sunlight filtered through the trees. It was beautiful. Before I knew it, I was standing in front of an enormous slug. It looked just like Lady Katsu from the anime/manga. "Lady Katsu," I bowed, "I am Rin Nohara, Jinchuurki of Isobu, the Sanbi." 

She looked down at me, "Have you signed the contract." 

I nodded, "Yes. Please forgive me for signing it without your permission, but I need power." 

"Power?" she asked, looking at me, "What power do you need? You already have the power of a tailed beast." 

I gulped, thinking of how to explain to her. Might as well tell her the truth, "I saw the future." 

She perked up, intrigued. I continued, "I saw bits of the future, where I wouldn't be strong enough. I'm training to be a medic-nin, but I couldn't save them… " 

"I see," she said, "Can you really see the future?" 

"I…" I mumbled, "Yes." 

"Very well," said Katsu, "I will allow you to use our power. Tell me what it is you need." 

"Does…" I stuttered, unsure how to ask. 

"Sage mode?" asked Katsu, "It is dangerous but if you are willing to learn it, I will teach you."

"Really?" I perked up, then thought of how the Strength of Hundreds seal would be more important, "Well… I would love to. But, I actually was wondering if you knew the Strength of Hundreds seal?" 

"Yes," Katsu smiled, "I can teach you both at the same time." 

"Are you sure, my lady?" asked Katsuo. 

"Yes," said Lady Katsu, "Rin, dear, are you willing?"

"Yes," I said with confidence. 

"Good," said Lady Katsu, "Go back to Konoha and settle your affairs," she said, "Katsuo will collect you and bring you back in a week. Is that enough time?" 

I nodded. Minato sensei's inaugural ceremony would be in six days so I wouldn't miss it. "Yes," I bowed, "Thank you." 

With that, I found myself back in the training field. Katsuo disappeared.