"Right... you truly don't know where you are. You're on the other side of the world, boy. This land—this continent—is across the great sea. As far as I know, there's been no connection between our two continents for decades, maybe longer," Byakko said, not quite sure himself about the timing, though that was not the point Kaida was concerning himself about.
"Wait, wait, wait, so you are saying that there is a second continent in this world, a continent which we have no idea about?" Kaida exclaimed.
"Hahaha, this is not that shocking, boy. It is just because you were able to teleport that you could come here. If you had decided to take the path of normal people and come to the continent through the sea, you would have easily understood the reason why there is no connection between two continents," Byakko said, for the first time a smile or a smirk coming on his face.
shudder
"Hoh! So you do know about them, huh?" As soon as Byakko saw Kaida getting tense at the mention of the danger of the sea, he easily concluded that Kaida was not in the dark about them either.
"Well, before getting teleported here, I was actually teleported to the sea, where I did meet something I would like to forget. But I don't think I would be able to forget him even if I tried. Just his eyes were larger than my whole house, and the presence..." Kaida stopped, not wanting to continue anymore.
"Oh, so you only met Akkorokamui. I don't know whether you are lucky or unlucky," Byakko said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you met one of the strongest creatures of the sea, who would have definitely killed you if you were weaker. I am sure you somehow ran away, right?" Byakko asked, at which Kaida just nodded his head.
"That's the lucky part in this bizarre situation, because there is still one creature in the sea who even this Akkorokamui fears, and you would stand no chance at even running away in his presence," Byakko explained, like an old teacher. Kaida didn't even want to know about the creature Byakko was talking about, so he decided to change the topic.
"Anyway, Byakko, there is a reason I used such a dangerous jutsu."
"I know. I can tell that you are not a moron who will do something like this just for fun," the tiger said. Since it was time for the serious talk, his demeanor once again went back to the regal authority he demonstrated when he emerged from the cave. Kaida took that as his sign to continue.
"Do you understand what a summon is for us, the people on the other continent?"
"I have an idea," Byakko said, already getting the idea.
"So I recently went to Mount Myoboku," Kaida stopped to see if Byakko knew about them as well. Seeing no confusion on his face, he continued, "There, the toad sage didn't allow me to be a toad summoner, saying that I have someone else as my destined partner. So I decided to use this dangerous method to find that partner... and I think you are the one I have been looking for."
"Is this a marriage proposal? If yes, then let me clarify that I am male," Byakko said with complete seriousness and a little bit of repulsion.
".....No, it was not a marriage proposal. I wanted to ask you to be my summon, that's it," Kaida frantically explained himself, his face going a little red from being judged by a literal tiger of all things for his assumed fetish.
"That's good," Byakko said, visibly relieved. "Now tell me more about this summon thing of yours. I don't actually have that much knowledge about the topic, and from how you are portraying it, this is quite important, I guess."
Kaida took a deep breath, calming himself after the awkward exchange. "Right... so, a summon is a kind of contract. It's a bond between a shinobi and a powerful creature like yourself. Through that bond, we can summon you in battle, ask for your aid, or even learn from you."
Byakko's ears twitched slightly, but other than that, there was no other movement from his side, letting Kaida continue the explanation.
"It's not just about calling for help, though," Kaida continued. "The summoners—like the ones from the Toads, or the Snakes, or the Slugs—they don't treat their summons like tools. It's a partnership. A pact. We share battles when needed, fight together, protect each other... Some even consider their summons to be mentors or family."
Byakko's expression didn't shift, but there was a slight shift in his posture—an almost imperceptible lean forward, like a war general listening to a new strategy.
"So you're saying," Byakko said slowly, "that in your land, people like you bind themselves to beasts like me in exchange for power."
"Not just power," Kaida explained calmly. "Trust. Loyalty. Growth. A summon isn't a slave, a servant, or a weapon. A summon is a partner you can leave your back to in a battle. You don't answer to me. You fight with me."
Byakko huffed, the warm wind from his nose brushing Kaida's face like the gust before a storm. "Hmm. Bold words. Many would dress up their desires with pretty phrases like that—but they usually just want weapons with legs."
"I am not going to lie, there are many who have the same thoughts as that on that side, but I really don't want something like that. Because trust me, I am more than capable of having numerous weapons with legs if I really want to, but I don't want to go down that path. All I want is a partner, a partner whom I can trust."
For a moment, silence.
Then Byakko let out a rumbling, low chuckle, deep in his chest. "Well said, boy. You speak like a fool... or a rare kind of warrior. Either way, I'll humor you. But a bond like that—if you truly want it—won't be given."
Kaida's eyes narrowed slightly. But a gleam of happiness was also present in them, happiness for being given a chance. "Then how do I earn it?"
Byakko's golden eyes gleamed like twin suns. "If you want me as your partner, you first have to prove that you are capable of standing on equal ground as me."
All of a sudden, Kaida felt the air around him gaining weight, like he was standing underwater, and not just weight—it was also getting hotter and hotter.
But it wasn't something he couldn't handle. With a shrug, he coated his whole body in chakra, ready to prove himself WORTHY.
***
(A.N: Akkorokamui is like kraken for Japanese people. Since Naruto is based on Japanese mythology, this just felt right ^~^)