Katsuyu looked down at the human, as small as a pebble on the roadside. In its eye, Hakushi's body indeed seemed as small as a pebble on the roadside.
"Human ninja, who are you? I sensed something abnormal with the Summoning Scroll that was left in the outside world earlier. I remember it was a Contract Fuinjutsu of the Uzumaki Clan."
Katsuyu's voice was a soft, gentle female voice, with a very calm tone that made one feel like a spring breeze.
"May I ask if you are the Katsuyu Sage of Shikkotsu Forest?"
Hakushi looked up and asked with a respectful attitude.
"Just call me Katsuyu. That's my name. Also, I'm not really a sage, just a slug capable of Immortal Technique."
The gigantic slug named Katsuyu, continued to speak in a gentle and kind voice, with very modest and restrained words.
Even though the other party was a weak human, it would show the utmost respect to them.
Hakushi breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, realizing that he had previously misjudged the noble with a petty mindset. The Katsuyu Sage meant no harm, and seemingly was unbothered by the contract Hakushi obtained by cheating.
"Then from now on, I'll just call you by your name, Katsuyu."
"Alright, as you wish. So, can you introduce yourself?"
"I'm Chiba Hakushi, previously a Konoha Ninja."
"Previously? So, are you now a Renegade Ninja?"
Katsuyu asked curiously.
"Although I don't consider myself one, according to the current rules of the Five Great Ninja Villages, I am indeed considered a Renegade Ninja of Konoha Village."
Hakushi replied like this.
It seemed to have noticed Hakushi's concerns, and Katsuyu just gently said, "Don't worry, human rules cannot apply to me. Although I have a contract with Lady Tsunade of Konoha as well, that doesn't mean I belong to Konoha. By the way, I'm curious why Lord Hakushi defected from Konoha. Of course, if you don't want to answer, that's fine. I'm just interested in understanding the situation."
Hakushi could already tell that this Katsuyu was a Summoning Beast with a completely neutral attitude towards humans.
Considering it had been alive for a thousand years, it likely had seen everything by now.
Having outlived the age of striving for supremacy, it also had no interest in power.
Among humans, only the contractor could influence its stance, but the stance itself was an ambiguous concept.
If no one in Konoha contracted with it, then Konoha's issues would not concern it.
What it cared about was the stance and attitude of the contractor.
"It's not really anything hard to admit. Konoha's ideals didn't suit me, so I left. I plan to do something interesting in the Ninja Realm, but in Konoha, I always find myself tied down. That's the reason I left Konoha."
Hakushi answered Katsuyu's question according to his will.
He had just learned from Katsuyu's words that his contract with it was indeed valid.
"Going separate ways due to differing ideals is indeed something unavoidable."
Katsuyu, seemingly reminded of some past events, agreed much with Hakushi's words.
People with different ideals often have significantly different paths and ways of thinking. Forcing them together only leads to conflict.
Such situations, Katsuyu had seen countless times before, and among its many past contractors, similar issues had arisen.
Humans are always troubled by various matters.
Love, family, money, power, religious beliefs, war, and so on.
"Although I don't mind Lord Hakushi contracting with me in that manner, it's only limited to this once."
Katsuyu, knowing what Hakushi had done to the Contract Scroll it had left in the Ninja Realm, was reassured that the previous contractor, whose name had been erased, had died hundreds of years ago, thus there was no breach of contract.
Hakushi used the Contract Fuinjutsu of the Uzumaki Clan to forcibly dissolve the summoning contract between that contractor and itself, then filled in his new name. Such unexpected contract situations had never occurred before, and Katsuyu planned to adhere to this agreement but only for this instance.
If Hakushi intended to do the same next time, tampering with the nearly abandoned Contract Scroll, then Katsuyu would consider such a contract invalid.
"Understood, I was just trying to see if it would work. I didn't expect it to truly succeed."
Hakushi nodded, indicating he wouldn't tamper with the Contract Scroll's contents again.
"Here's a new Contract Scroll, Lord Hakushi. Please remember to bring back the discarded one next time. Even a Contract Scroll with its slots filled seems to pose risks."
Hearing Katsuyu say this, Hakushi stood there awkwardly scratching his head.
At that moment, a huge Summoning Scroll emerged from beneath Katsuyu's body, writhing its way to Hakushi's side and stopped.
Hakushi opened it and found a brand new, blank Contract Scroll, on which he rewrote his name with his own blood and pressed his blood seal.
After reestablishing the contract, Hakushi intended to inquire about certain matters from Katsuyu, as a being that had lived for millennia could be considered a living history book.
This would contribute significantly to the educational development of the Land of Demons.
If possible, Hakushi wanted to invite Katsuyu to teach history at the Ninja School he established.
"Katsuyu, I want to know more about..."
Hakushi was about to speak when suddenly, a figure flew through the white mist behind him, with a fist aimed straight at his back.
Before the fist could reach Hakushi's back, the person was unable to move any further.