Kakuzu took a deep breath, allowing the energy of senjutsu to circulate through his body. When he opened his eyes again, a wave of clarity washed over him. Senjutsu—natural energy. Mastering it meant harnessing the infinite power of nature itself. Perfecting this power would make it the ultimate weapon.
After nearly a year of training in Shikkotsu Forest, Kakuzu had finally grasped the essence of its secrets.
"Clap, clap, clap!"
The sound of heavy, translucent, mucus-coated flesh slapping against the ground echoed in the air.
"Not bad, not bad at all," said Katsuyu, her voice carrying a hint of surprise. "I underestimated you before. Who would've thought you'd master the secrets of Shikkotsu Forest in just a year? Though your senjutsu isn't yet at its peak, it's clear you're on the right path. There's little more I can teach you. You're ready to graduate."
Kakuzu nodded, rising to his feet. He brought his hands together in a respectful gesture toward Katsuyu.
"Thank you for your guidance."
"Enough formalities. Let's go. I'll take you to meet the Slug Sage and finalize your summoning contract with Shikkotsu Forest."
"Thank you," Kakuzu said, smiling as he followed her lead.
Before long, they arrived at the base of a vast mountain range. The sight was awe-inspiring: endless peaks stretching far and wide, with two massive caves near the summit that seemed to house countless slugs.
"The Slug Sage resides up there?" Kakuzu asked, curiosity evident in his tone.
"Yes, wait here," Katsuyu replied. "I'll call for the Sage."
She slithered to the base of the mountain and began making strange noises, speaking in the unique language of the slug clan.
"Ah-ba, ah-ba, ah-ree-ba-ba…"
After what felt like a string of incomprehensible syllables, Katsuyu returned to Kakuzu's side.
Kakuzu stared expectantly at the mountain. He envisioned a majestic figure, exuding an aura of wisdom, descending from the summit in a grand display befitting a Sage. However, after waiting a long while, nothing happened.
"Um… where is the Slug Sage?" Kakuzu asked, puzzled.
Katsuyu raised her antennae and gave him a playful smack on the back with her tail.
"What are you talking about? The Sage has been observing you this whole time!"
"?"
Kakuzu blinked in confusion and pointed toward the mountain. "I don't see anything. I can't even sense a presence."
Katsuyu tilted her head in surprise before responding, "Kakuzu, I've known you for a year. I admit your talent in senjutsu is undeniable, but how have I not noticed how bad your eyesight is? The Sage is right there! Such an enormous presence, and you say you don't see it?"
Kakuzu squinted at the mountain again, still seeing nothing out of the ordinary. But as Katsuyu's words sank in, his perspective began to shift.
If the mountain range itself were a body, then the two massive caves would be the eyes. And the winding river that snaked down its slopes… could that be the mouth?
Just as this realization struck him, a deafening crash shattered the silence.
Whoosh!
A colossal object surged out from the mountain's peak, causing water to cascade like a waterfall. With a thunderous boom, it landed vertically before Kakuzu.
It was a summoning scroll—towering and imposing.
Kakuzu's eyes widened in shock. He finally understood.
"So… the entire mountain range… is the Slug Sage?"
His worldview crumbled under the sheer enormity of this revelation. The scale was unimaginable. If the Slug Sage were to step into the outside world, even tailed beasts would seem like mere ants scurrying about.
"Alright, the Slug Sage has existed since the dawn of this world," Katsuyu explained. "Over countless millennia, it has remained in this form, shedding parts of itself over time. Those parts became us—the slugs of Shikkotsu Forest."
"Oh?" Kakuzu raised a brow. "So, all of you are fragments of the Slug Sage? Does that mean you could… merge back together?"
Katsuyu's antennae twitched in affirmation. "Exactly. The slugs of Shikkotsu Forest are both singular and many. That's our unique nature."
Puffing up with pride, she motioned for Kakuzu to approach the massive scroll.
"Enough questions. Go ahead and sign the contract. It's time to make it official."
"I've told you before, haven't I? I'm the most beautiful being here. The simps lining up to chase me could stretch all the way to Ryūchi Cave. With just a single command from me, I can become an unimaginably powerful existence."
To prove her point, Katsuyu lifted her head high, her mouth wriggling as she made those strange sounds of hers.
"Ah-bah ah-bah, come to me, bah-bah…"
Her haunting voice echoed across the humid depths of Shikkotsu Forest, reverberating as it touched the massive form of the Katsuyu Sage. The sound bounced back, filling the entire forest with a strange resonance.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
"Ah-bah ah-bah."
"I'm here, ah-bah."
"Come, ah-bah."
The male slugs, seemingly driven mad, swarmed in from all directions like an unstoppable tidal wave. They clambered over one another, fusing and growing at an astonishing rate. In mere moments, the once diminutive space was replaced by a towering presence.
Kakuzu tilted his head back, his sharp eyes narrowing as he observed the transformation. Katsuyu's original form had been barely two meters in length, but now her towering figure reached a staggering height of 30 meters.
The new, amalgamated Katsuyu let out a resounding voice:
"Kakuzu, didn't I tell you? I'm the most popular one here." She smirked, or at least gave the impression of it.
"If you ever need support in battle, remember—summon me. I'm incredibly strong, you know!"
Though her colossal body was composed of countless smaller slugs, the dominant consciousness remained Katsuyu's. This was the unique trait of her power—physical fusion with retained individuality. It was somewhat akin to the Shadow Clone Jutsu, but with its own peculiar charm.
Under Katsuyu's persistent urging, Kakuzu unrolled the summoning scroll. As he unfurled it completely, his eyes were drawn to the name inscribed on the very first page.
Senju Hashirama.
(A/N: For narrative clarity, this story attributes Hashirama's sage power to Shikkotsu Forest, as the official lore recognizes only three confirmed Sage regions—Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest—along with the Curse Mark.)
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