"Do I need to sign a contract with Shikkotsu Forest? Just so you know, my contract with Ryūchi Cave is still active." Kagetsu put down the experimental data in his hands and looked at Tsunade.
"No need. It's just a temporary contract to serve as a coordinate," Tsunade replied, clearly prepared. As she spoke, she pulled out a scroll and held it in her palm. Then, she looked at Kagetsu and asked, "Are you planning to come with me now?"
"No time like the present. My experiment is on hold anyway, so we both have some free time," Kagetsu nodded.
"Alright, then let's do it. Since it's a temporary contract, you don't need to sign your name—just your blood is enough."
Tsunade crouched down, formed hand seals to activate the scroll, and spread it open on the ground. The surface revealed complex, web-like runes.
Following Tsunade's instructions, Kagetsu bit his finger and pressed a drop of blood onto the center of the scroll's runes. After him, Tsunade did the same, biting her finger, forming hand seals at high speed, and pressing her blood-stained palm onto the scroll.
With a surge of chakra, the summoning technique was activated.
Poof! Poof!
Tsunade and Kagetsu's figures instantly vanished from the laboratory.
Shizune and Anko, who were left behind, exchanged glances in silence, both surprised at their sudden departure.
...
Poof! Poof!
Two figures suddenly appeared in a vast, open area.
Towering trees surrounded them, their trunks piercing the sky like sharp blades.
Strangely, these massive trees had no leaves—only smooth, white bark resembling polished jade, with a metallic sheen that made them look incredibly sturdy.
As soon as they arrived, Kagetsu immediately sensed the difference from the Shinobi World. The atmosphere here was filled with a dense, natural energy—richer than in Ryūchi Cave, yet gentler and more harmonious.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he could feel the natural energy around him surging into his body as if welcoming him. With each breath, his entire being felt lighter and more refreshed.
Even the air here seemed to possess a mysterious healing power, capable of soothing injuries and illnesses. It was truly an extraordinary place!
Although I haven't experienced the natural energy of Myoboku Mountain, the natural energy of the Shikkotsu Forest and the natural energy of the Ryūchi Cave are completely different.
Is it because of the Sages in the Sage Regions that the natural energy is distinguished like this?
Kagetsu silently judged in her heart.
"Let's go." Tsunade checked the direction, then patted Kagetsu's shoulder.
"Do you know the way?" Seeing Tsunade glancing around, seemingly confirming the direction, Kagetsu had a bad feeling.
The sky had no sun, and the surroundings all looked similar. Without coordinates and not knowing the way, it would be easy to get lost in such an environment.
Kagetsu felt a strong sense that Tsunade didn't know the way and was searching for it.
"I don't need to know the way." Tsunade's face darkened at Kagetsu's words, and she immediately took the lead, heading toward the nearest giant tree.
The tree was tall and enormous, standing several hundred meters high.
Although the trees appeared close to each other, there was quite a distance between them. It was like a forest where giants roamed, and they felt like ants that had wandered in.
The two of them quickly ran for a while before reaching the nearest giant tree.
As they got closer, Kagetsu noticed that the giant tree wasn't bare but was covered with slugs, busy crawling up and down the trunk.
Because the slugs were so small, from a distance, it seemed like the trunk was empty.
If you look carefully, you'll notice there are scattered signs of slugs moving around on the ground.
Here, slugs have become an important part of the ecosystem.
When Tsunade and Kagetsu got closer, one of the slugs fell directly from the tree trunk, arching its body as it moved to Tsunade's feet. Its blue-and-white body strained to lift its head and looked up at Tsunade.
Tsunade crouched down, gently picking up the slug from the ground and placing it in her palm.
"Tsunade-sama!"
The slug's voice sounded soft and cute, with two antennae on its head swaying in the air, as if expressing its inner joy.
"Take me to see the slug sage. I've brought Kagetsu here," Tsunade said to the slug in her hand.
"Is this Lord Kagetsu? Please wait a moment!"
The slug in Tsunade's hand turned its head and glanced at Kagetsu, who was standing next to Tsunade, speaking in a soft, sweet voice.
The Shikkotsu Forest has no other creatures, only slugs. These slugs are all offshoots of the slug sage.
Strictly speaking, the Shikkotsu Forest only has one creature: the slug sage Katsuyu. But due to its special nature, each slug that splits off can be considered a new, independent life.
The more slugs gather, the stronger their power and abilities become.
Here, if you want to go somewhere or find something, you just need to ask any slug. They have features like memory sharing and vision sharing."
Tsunade explained to Kagetsu.
While Tsunade was explaining, slugs seemed to respond to some kind of summons, falling from the tree trunks with a soft plop. Then, one by one, they gathered together, moving and merging as they combined into a giant slug about 20 to 30 meters long.
"Climb on, Lady Tsunade, Lord Kagetsu! I'll take you to the temple deep in the Shikkotsu Forest."
The giant slug gently spoke, signaling Tsunade and Kagetsu to climb onto its back.
At this moment, its voice was different from the small slugs' earlier voices. While the small slugs sounded cute and innocent, the giant slug's tone was still soft and cute, but with a mature and gentle warmth.
Kagetsu and Tsunade climbed onto the giant slug's body, and it immediately began moving in a specific direction. Along the way, several other slugs joined in, making the giant slug even larger.
In the end, it looked like a giant blue and white mound of flesh moving through a forest of white bones. The sounds of the massive creature moving through the dead and silent environment created a strange scene filled with vitality.
Although the slug didn't look like it was moving quickly, its speed was surprisingly fast.
"That's the Fountain of Living Fluid, unique to the Shikkotsu Forest. It's a spring that can only be born in an environment full of life like this one.
If you can endure it, you can experience it. The energy of the fountain will cause your body to shed skin and form scabs constantly. It's a painful process, but if you endure it, your physical condition will improve drastically.
These fountains of living fluid are scattered all over the Shikkotsu Forest, large and small.
Depending on their size, they provide different benefits to the human body. But just like with any medicine, if the dose is too high, it can become a burden or even poison.
The larger the fountain, the stronger its vitality and healing power, to the point it can turn a person into white bones.
Bathing in the fountain of living fluid is also an important part of training in Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu! From childhood to adulthood, it's a gradual process.
Those whose bodies aren't strong enough or whose vitality isn't robust enough can't reach the final stage.
The largest fountain of living fluid is near the temple where the slug sage resides. That's where the final trial takes place."
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