"You're asking if there's a special method? Honestly, I don't know," Katsuyu admitted, her tone unhurried. "The waters of Shikkotsu Forest's pool seem to drain moisture from the body on the surface, only to let the energy of sunlight devour you further. But this is a way to attune yourself to natural energy."
She paused, her gaze calm but indifferent. "As long as you can endure the pool's erosion and the relentless scorching of the sun again and again, the sage energy within you will eventually meet the minimum threshold to practice Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu."
Her explanation, however, was hardly comforting. The brutal process of attuning oneself to natural energy was something most couldn't withstand. Even with Kakuzu's enhanced regenerative body, he was only marginally better equipped than an ordinary person. Prolonged exposure would likely overwhelm him as well.
It felt like an unsolvable equation—a challenge meant for someone with the unparalleled recovery abilities of Hashirama Senju. For anyone else, it was nearly impossible to endure.
But after contemplating Katsuyu's words for hours, Kakuzu's mind began piecing together a solution.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kakuzu stood at the pool's edge, silent and resolute, before plunging back into the water. Days passed with him relying on his regenerated body to resist the pool's corrosion and the searing sunlight. His skin began to shrivel, nearing the point of desiccation. Left unchecked, he might as well turn into a lifeless husk of a tree.
Noticing this, Kakuzu took preemptive measures. Using his Earth Grudge Fear technique, he safeguarded his five hearts before submerging again. This time, he devised a strategy—one that would "exploit the system," so to speak.
Though he lacked the regenerative prowess of Hashirama, Kakuzu's secret technique was a trump card. As long as his chakra didn't run dry, the threads of Earth Grudge Fear were effectively limitless. By weaving these threads to insulate his body, he limited the pool's corrosive effects, allowing only small amounts of water to seep through.
In this way, natural energy could steadily accumulate within him without overwhelming his body. It was a painstaking process, one that required patience and precision, but Kakuzu's method proved effective.
Day after day, he adapted to the environment, enduring and learning. As time passed, the natural energy within him grew stronger, gradually transforming his body. Just as Katsuyu had described, Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu emphasized resilience. The stronger one's physique, the greater their strength, and the more remarkable their regenerative capabilities.
Months passed before Kakuzu could truly grasp the essence of Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu. Though his aptitude paled in comparison to a prodigy like Naruto, it surpassed that of Jiraiya, who, Kakuzu suspected, had squandered time on distractions like women and "research."
Finally, after half a year of grueling effort, Kakuzu emerged from the pool. His towering figure stood bathed in sunlight, exuding newfound power. With hands clasped in a meditative pose, he focused. Black markings crept across the sides of his face, and two fine lines on his forehead twisted together like a third eye.
Kakuzu opened his eyes slowly, his expression calm yet resolute. He wasn't a master of senjutsu yet, but he'd gained enough understanding to integrate natural energy into his body.
He clenched his fist experimentally, refraining from using his hardening technique. With a single punch, the ground beneath him split apart, revealing a massive fissure. Even without enhancements, his raw strength now rivaled that of the Senju clan's legendary physical power.
If he added his iron-hard punches into the equation, his attacks would become downright catastrophic.
"Bravo!" Katsuyu's gelatinous body rippled as she clapped her... appendages. "You're officially the second human to master Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu."
"Heh, thanks for the compliment."
"Now then," she continued, her tone playful yet commanding, "let's move on to the practical applications of Shikkotsu Forest's senjutsu."
Kakuzu nodded without hesitation. The sooner he mastered these techniques and signed the summoning contract, the sooner he could leave. Half a year of isolation in Shikkotsu Forest was enough to test even his patience.
Meanwhile, in the outside world, drastic changes were afoot.
...
Sunagakure, Central Meeting Hall
"Lord Kazekage, our frontline forces have clashed with Iwagakure's shinobi at the border," a senior advisor reported, his voice heavy with concern. "We've lost 12 ninjas, with 15 lightly injured and 36 severely wounded. The envoy we dispatched returned with troubling news—Iwagakure claims the conflict was our fault and refuses to offer any compensation."
Hearing this report, the atmosphere in the conference room of Sunagakure became tense, almost explosive. The Kazekage, Shamon, narrowed his eyes, a frosty glint flashing in them. Above his head, the coiled dragon of sand seemed to sway, mirroring his subtle movement.
Conflicts along the border weren't uncommon—it could be their own forces overstepping, or the other side crossing the line. But blood had been spilled, and at this point, it didn't matter whose fault it was. As the Kazekage, Shamon knew he couldn't show weakness. Political correctness demanded a strong stance. Bowing his head now would only dishearten his shinobi.
With a heavy thud, Shamon slammed his pen onto the table.
"Relay my orders: the front-line troops are to hold nothing back. Prepare for a large-scale offensive against Iwagakure's border defenses. If the situation demands it, I will personally lead the charge."
...
Meanwhile, in Iwagakure.
Ōnoki, now in his thirties, was still as short as ever, but the boyish immaturity he once carried was long gone. Hovering in mid-air, he surveyed the assembled divisions of Iwagakure with an intense, focused gaze.
"I trust you're all aware of the situation on the front lines," he began, his voice firm and commanding. "Sunagakure is using every excuse imaginable to provoke us into conflict. As for their true intentions, there's no need for me to elaborate. What matters is this: the land passed down through generations of Iwagakure shinobi will not be surrendered. Not a single inch. Deliver this message to our front-line troops—push them back. Crush them."
...
The tension between the Lands of Wind and Earth had reached a breaking point. A full-scale war between the two nations was now inevitable.
The chaos didn't end there. The Land of Fire, positioned between these two warring nations, couldn't afford to stay neutral. Konoha had to deploy its forces strategically to divert the attention of both nations, ensuring the flames of war wouldn't spread to their own village.
Thus, in the midst of the three-way conflict, smaller nations inevitably became collateral damage. The Land of Rain, for instance, found itself in the crossfire.
However, the Land of Rain wasn't entirely defenseless. It had its own formidable protector: Hanzo the Salamander. Though the country was small and lacked resources, Hanzo's presence ensured that it would not be trampled without consequence. Any shinobi from the larger nations who dared approach his territory would face swift and unrelenting retaliation.
On the eastern side of the continent, tensions simmered between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. These two nations, eternal rivals, saw the growing chaos as an opportunity to settle old scores. It was only a matter of time before war broke out between them as well.
Amid this turbulent period, the world teetered on the brink of widespread war, with no end in sight.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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