Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Sage Arts, Not Just a Clap Away
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"Hello? Is anyone there?"
Amidst a dense tropical jungle, Hashirama looked like a lone adventurer braving the wilderness.
And without any protective gear, no less.
If someone were to set up a camera to film him, he might very well have the potential to become the top influencer across the Five Great Nations.
[P.S: Hahahahah 🤣🤣]
According to the records preserved within his clan, he had found the entrance to the Shikkotsu Forest three days ago.
His goal was straightforward—locate the Slug Sage as quickly as possible and begin his training in the Sage Arts (Senjutsu). However, for three consecutive days, he found himself wandering in circles through this dense jungle.
"Ahh, I'm going to die, I'm going to die…" Hanging his head low, Hashirama shrugged, feeling as though he might spend the rest of his life here, all alone.
At this point, let alone finding his target, he couldn't even figure out where the entrance was anymore.
If it were someone else, they might have already unleashed Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to bulldoze their way through, forcing the Slug Sage to reveal itself.
But Hashirama refrained from taking such an approach. He had a hunch—if he did act in such a manner, he might never be able to learn the Senjutsu in his lifetime. [P.s; Protagonist gut feeling hmm...]
"Man, sometimes I really envy Kyosuke," he muttered, staring at the small river ahead. Spreading his arms wide, he plunged into the water with a splash.
Since he couldn't find his target anyway, he decided to let the current take him wherever it flowed.
He was exhausted.
It was unclear how much time passed, but when Hashirama awoke from his deep, snoring slumber, he found himself in a vast canyon.
Around him, there wasn't even a puddle of water, let alone the river he had just been in.
Scratching his head in confusion, Hashirama rose to his feet. Suddenly, as though sensing something, he abruptly looked upward.
Above the canyon's rocky surface, the walls were dotted with numerous small caves resembling honeycombs. Within these cavities dwelled countless blue-and-white creatures, each about a meter long.
According to the records, these were likely all clones of the Slug Sage.
As for why it had split into so many, Hashirama could not guess.
"Hello, Honored Slug Sage, I am Senju Hashirama. Following the ancient contract my clan has with you, I have come here seeking to learn Senjutsu," he declared.
Plop!
A chubby, white slug fell right in front of him.
"Welcome, Clan Leader Hashirama."
After offering a simple greeting, the slug began slowly inching deeper into the canyon.
"Follow me."
"Though we are all part of the Slug Sage, the abilities of each segment vary significantly depending on size," the small slug explained.
"If you want to learn Senjutsu, you must seek out the largest one among us."
"I see," Hashirama nodded, though curiosity got the better of him. He asked, "When you say the largest, does that mean it isn't the Slug Sage's true body either?"
"You mean the main body?" The small slug turned around, tilting its head in thought before replying, "Of course not. Although we are all part of the same being, each of us retains unique memories."
"I suspect the main body is deliberately keeping some kind of secret from us," the small slug added, sounding rather gossipy.
"As for where our main body is…"
Using its feelers, the small slug gestured toward the ground and, in a soft, childlike voice, it said, "Everything you see here is actually part of the Slug Sage's true body."
"…What?"
"To put it simply, Shikkotsu Forest is a…birthmark on the Slug Sage's body." [P.s.;😳]
A birthmark?
What on earth?
After spending so much time with Kyosuke, Hashirama occasionally found himself blurting out some rather peculiar remarks every now and then.
As the small slug marveled at the grandeur of its true body, it continued to lead the way deeper into the canyon. Before long, they arrived at its deepest recess, where an enormous slug, towering over a hundred meters high, came into view.
"Uh…hello," Hashirama hesitated.
"There is no need for excessive words. I already know why you're here."
The small slug at his side shook its head, sighing as it remarked, "Didn't I already tell you? We can share memories in real time."
What an idiot. It refrained from saying the last part aloud.
Memories that sync but still limit what each individual knows? What kind of species are you, exactly?
Hashirama's inner monologue was becoming increasingly sarcastic.
The towering slug, its massive form reaching the clouds, continued its explanation. "Learning Senjutsu carries great risk. A single mistake, and your body could dissolve entirely, turning into liquid."
"I've made up my mind." Hashirama smiled faintly, his calm and composed demeanor leaving the small slug slightly impressed.
"Maybe he's not as foolish as I thought," it mused, silently reconsidering its opinion.
In truth, from the moment Hashirama had set foot in Shikkotsu Forest, he had been under the watchful gaze of the Slug Sage.
When faced with despair and solitude, a person's true nature and character are revealed most clearly.
The Slug Sage had to admit, the reincarnations of Asura were truly remarkable—worthy of trust and recognition in every lifetime.
Indeed, Hashirama wasn't the first reincarnation of Ashura to find this place.
Over the past millennia, many others had come before him, each seeking to inherit and master Senjutsu.
Having done this countless times, the Slug Sage skillfully lowered its enormous body and swallowed the utterly bewildered Hashirama whole in a single gulp.
To learn the Senjutsu of the Shikkotsu Forest, one must train inside the Slug Sage's body.
Otherwise, even as a reincarnation of Asura, the chances of failure would still exceed 80%.
"Calm your mind and focus. Feel the natural energy flowing within me," the Slug Sage instructed.
And so, Hashirama began his journey into Sage Mode training.
Meanwhile, the giant Sage found itself lost in memories of the past.
"I believe he's the eighth reincarnation of Asura to come to Shikkotsu Forest," it mused.
"Throughout all these years, only about a dozen humans have successfully mastered the Sage Arts."
"The fastest one, as I recall, took three weeks?"
The sheer passage of time had blurred its memory, but it was confident about the general timeframe.
Judging by this boy's naïve and somewhat silly demeanor, the Slug Sage estimated it would take him at least a month to grasp the basics.
Hmm, wait...?
The Slug Sage blinked—figuratively, of course—but what it saw shocked it.
The normally wild and violent natural energy, upon entering Hashirama's body, behaved as meekly and docile as a tamed animal.
Far from causing chaos or overwhelms his body, it showed not even the slightest hint of resistance.
"What's going on? Could it be that this boy has already trained in Senjutsu before?"
"No, that's not the case. His behavior clearly shows this is his first time training."
Carefully observing the changes within its body, the Slug Sage found itself utterly baffled.
An hour passed in silence.
Suddenly, the enormous slug shuddered, then promptly spat out Hashirama from its body.
Cough, cough, cough!
Shivering with disgust, Hashirama rubbed at his arms as if to rid himself of goosebumps. He swore to himself that he would never set foot in there again.
Never again!
At that moment, Hashirama's eyes bore strange markings, and his body brimmed with explosive power.
That's right, in just one hour, Hashirama had successfully entered Sage Mode.
"...Three weeks." The Slug Sage remained silent for a long time before finally giving an instruction. "Disperse the Senjutsu chakra in your body and try gathering it again."
"Alright," Hashirama replied casually. The markings on his face gradually faded.
"During his second attempt, his speed should improve further…"
Clap!
Hashirama clasped his hands together, recklessly absorbing the natural energy around him.
In merely a second, he re-entered Sage Mode.
Unaware of the Slug Sage's horrified expression, Hashirama examined his body with satisfaction, delighted by the surge in strength.
"With this, I think I can finally hold my own against Kyosuke."
"But honestly, this isn't as hard as I thought!"
..
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[IMAGE]
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[Chapter End's]
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