"Slug Sage, teach this kid a lesson."
Tsunade had already spoken to the Slug Sage beforehand, and now she repeated it for Uchiha Shin's sake.
"You guys are something else. The Uchiha and Senju merging together... what a wild world.
I won't get involved in these trivial matters. Let's get to the point. Even Lady Tsunade hasn't mastered Sage Mode yet, Shin, are you confident?"
The massive slug opened its mouth, a crisp female voice emerging from within.
That's right—Slug Sage was female. Or rather, every slug was merely a fragment of her being, all connected as one consciousness. Whether or not they shared the same awareness, Uchiha Shin wasn't entirely sure.
Faced with her question, Uchiha Shin nodded, his confidence unwavering.
"I'm confident. It'd be a disgrace to give up before even trying."
"Hah! That's the spirit! You've got guts for a Kid. Hashirama was far worse than you back in the day."
The Slug Sage regarded Uchiha Shin with admiration. Regardless of whether he succeeded, the will to push forward was essential for a strong shinobi.
Without further delay, she transported Uchiha Shin to the sacred land of the Wet Bone Forest through reverse summoning.
Surrounded by lush greenery, Shin could feel his energy revitalized with each breath. The air was thick with the presence of countless tiny slugs, their eyestalks twitching as they fixated on him. The sight was unsettling, to say the least.
Shin, however, remained unfazed. He knew these slugs were all manifestations of the Slug Sage. There was no need to react.
"Alright, Shin, let's start from the basics."
"To enter Sage Mode, you must absorb the natural energy of the world and merge it with your own chakra to create Sage Chakra..."
The Slug Sage's clone began explaining in detail.
Although Shin already had some knowledge of Sage Mode, he listened attentively. The finer details could make all the difference.
"Our Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode is different from the Toads of Mount Myoboku and the Snakes of Ryuchi Cave. The way of learning and the ratio of natural energy absorbed vary, leading to different effects.
The Sage Mode of the Shikkotsu Forest leans towards Yang Release, prioritizing vitality above all. That said, don't mistake it for being weak—its destructive power is nothing to scoff at."
The Slug Sage spoke with obvious pride in her lineage.
Then, the smaller slugs began writhing and soon crawled all over Uchiha Shin's body.
The sensation of their soft, slimy bodies made him instinctively uncomfortable.
Although there was no unpleasant odor, having slugs all over him triggered a visceral sense of revulsion.
Still, Shin didn't react, simply observing the Slug Sage's clone in front of him.
Seeing his composure, the Slug Sage's tone carried a hint of approval.
"You've got good endurance, Shin. Alright, I won't tease you anymore.
Our method of Sage Mode training isn't easy. These little slugs will help you absorb natural energy. If it spirals out of control, they will expel it before you suffer any serious consequences.
Your first goal: Absorb natural energy without your body transforming into a slug within three days. Only then will you be qualified to proceed."
The Slug Sage laid out the conditions clearly, and Uchiha Shin bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your guidance, Slug Sage."
With that, he sat cross-legged, entered a meditative state, and began attempting to absorb natural energy.
Observing his polite demeanor, the Slug Sage's impression of Shin improved further.
Perhaps because the Shikkotsu Forest was a sacred place, the natural energy here was particularly abundant.
With the assistance of the slugs, Shin quickly perceived the natural energy surrounding him.
"Wild and chaotic... This is the lifeblood of the planet itself."
The deeper he connected with the energy, the more he felt its vastness—and its terrifying intensity.
His thoughts drifted skyward, recalling the Otsutsuki clan and the Divine Trees they planted. Their targets were always planets rich in life. The essence nourishing those trees had to be this very natural energy—the vitality of the world itself.
The more he pondered, the more he strayed from conventional wisdom. He allowed his instincts to guide him, absorbing the energy naturally rather than forcing it into a mold.
Natural energy was unlike his own chakra. It was something to be felt, understood, and merged with—not controlled through sheer willpower.
Normally, this was an arduous process. But Shin's progress was unexpectedly smooth.
"Hmm? Just like Hashirama back then... Could it be the Uchiha bloodline?
No, that's not right. The Uchiha inherited the Sage of Six Paths' eyes, not his body.
This overwhelming vitality... It's the Uzumaki bloodline!"
Slug Sage observed Shin with growing astonishment. Beyond his Uchiha heritage, he possessed something incredibly rare—the Uzumaki Clan's legendary Sage Body.
This wasn't just any enhanced physique. It was on par with the Senju Clan's Sage Body—perhaps even superior. And it had manifested in an Uchiha?
"An Uchiha with Uzumaki blood… Could it be that his lineage has undergone regression?"
She understood the roots of these bloodlines well. The evidence before her confirmed a shocking reality.
At that moment, the natural energy flowing into Uchiha Shin's body began forming distinct black markings around his eyes.
Three hours later, his Sage Mode markings were fully formed.
Then, his eyes snapped open.
A pair of golden irises gleamed with a regal intensity—eyes that exuded dominance.
"My chakra's strength has tripled. My ninjutsu and genjutsu have also received a significant boost… But the real terror lies in my regeneration."
Fascinated by the effects of Sage Mode, Shin wasted no time testing it.
Without hesitation, he shaped his hand into a blade and drove it straight into his own abdomen.
Schlk!
His hand sliced clean through flesh and organs, his internal structure breaking apart.
Pulling his hand free, blood gushed out in a crimson tide.
But within seconds, the tissue in his abdomen began to writhe and regenerate at an astonishing rate.
In mere moments, what should have been a fatal injury was completely healed—leaving no scar behind.
Even the damage to his internal organs had been undone, at the cost of only a fraction of his Sage Chakra.
"Unbelievable. Shin, you actually mastered it this quickly.
And your markings are flawless—no instability at all.
It seems I've found a true genius. You can now move on to the next phase—absorbing natural energy without relying on the slugs."
The Slug Sage was truly impressed. Tsunade had once come here to train.
For three or four days, she sat in meditation—barely making progress.
Compared to Shin's success, Tsunade's efforts looked utterly pitiful.
"I swear, that woman was a disgrace to her lineage..."
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones