Chapter 300: Become Shikkotsu Forest's Successor?
As one of the three great Sage lands, Shikkotsu Forest definitely possessed a Senjutsu inheritance.
Although Tsunade had never personally witnessed Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu techniques, judging from the title "Katsuyu Sage," Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu had to be at least on par with Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave.
Moreover, considering that for millennia, the vast Shikkotsu Forest had only been inhabited by Katsuyu Sage, with no other creatures to share the natural energy, Katsuyu's power level—or at least its Sage Chakra reserves—might be even greater than the Great Toad Sage and the White Snake Sage.
As the current contractor of Shikkotsu Forest, Tsunade didn't actually know how strong Katsuyu Sage truly was.
She only knew one thing: even if she exhausted all her chakra, she could not summon the complete Katsuyu Sage. Every summoning only brought forth a part of Katsuyu's body.
"Speaking of Senjutsu, didn't you give me several Senjutsu scrolls before?"
Tsunade's brow furrowed slightly. Currently, she still couldn't use the Summoning Technique normally.
After all, the Summoning Technique required blood as a medium to activate the contract. Tsunade's hemophobia hadn't healed; the sight of blood made her go weak, so how could she have the drive to use it?
"Besides the Sage Clan Guidance Technique and Sage Clan Breathing Method you mentioned, what about the other Senjutsu? Especially that A-Rank Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill."
"If I were to categorize them based on my personal opinion, those Senjutsu from the Fire Temple should all be classified as 'Pseudo-Senjutsu.' They are just simple manipulations of natural energy."
Nara Keisuke replied logically.
"In my view, true Senjutsu should be like Jiraiya's [Sage Mode], fusing natural energy with one's own chakra to create Sage Chakra, and then using that to enhance all aspects of one's strength.
"A jutsu like Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill still uses natural energy at a very primitive stage. It doesn't allow for efficient, perfect control.
"But speaking of which, Tsunade-nee, have you mastered Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill?"
"I'm not a monster genius like you."
Tsunade pouted and grumbled.
"I just think the name is cool, and it sounds a bit like Great-Grandpa's [True Several Thousand Hands], so I was interested.
"It'll probably be a long time before I master it!"
Of those "Pseudo-Senjutsu" Keisuke had given Tsunade, the low-difficulty Sage Clan Guidance Technique and Sage Clan Breathing Method were mastered quickly. The Iron Fist Style taijutsu, Arhat Fist and Vajra Fist, were also "professionally aligned" and learned quickly.
The only A-Rank jutsu, Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill, had a very high learning curve and strict requirements for natural energy control. Even Tsunade couldn't master this A-Rank jutsu quickly.
"I was planning to give you an S-Rank Pseudo-Senjutsu. You happen to have the aptitude for Lightning Release, and that jutsu would have been a good way to fill a gap in your abilities."
Nara Keisuke looked at Tsunade with a hint of regret.
"But it seems we'll have to wait until you learn Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill...
"Getting back to Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu, Tsunade-nee, your forest does have a Senjutsu inheritance, right?"
Nara Keisuke was asking the obvious.
He wasn't curious if Shikkotsu Forest had Senjutsu, but whether Hashirama's Senjutsu came from Shikkotsu Forest!
Even after the Fourth Great Shinobi War, when the "revived" Hashirama killed Madara again, many secrets about him remained unexplained.
For example, Hashirama Senju's Wood Release.
And Hashirama Senju's Sage Art.
"Big Pillar" (Hashirama) truly was "clap his hands, get what he wants."
Even Madara Uchiha's growth trajectory was traceable—from Sharingan, to Mangekyo, to Eternal Mangekyo, and finally the Rinnegan before death. Each stage of his power had a rough explanation.
But no matter how much Madara's strength grew, Hashirama was almost always able to suppress him.
The power levels of these two rivals seemed to be completely bound together.
This was especially evident in their battle at the Valley of the End.
Madara controlled the Nine-Tails with his Eternal Mangekyo, fought Hashirama to a standstill, and then got a sword in the back.
If not for the Uchiha's forbidden jutsu being too overpowered and capable of reversing reality, Madara would have truly died at the Valley of the End!
Logically speaking, Madara, the reincarnate of Indra, should have been stronger than Hashirama, the reincarnate of Asura. The power gap between them should have been at least one Nine-Tails.
But the reality was that Madara plus the Nine-Tails was almost beaten to a pulp by Hashirama's [Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands].
Doing a quick conversion, this meant that Hashirama, compared to a normal Asura reincarnate, was stronger by at least two Nine-Tails!
There were too many mysteries surrounding "Big Pillar"; even Nara Keisuke didn't know everything.
But some things could, barely, be explained.
Like Hashirama Senju's Senjutsu.
Nara Keisuke knew there was no evidence that Hashirama's Senjutsu came from Shikkotsu Forest.
But "Big Pillar's" Senjutsu couldn't have just popped out of a rock, right?
Either Hashirama Senju was a peerless genius who comprehended [Sage Mode] on his own.
Or, his [Sage Mode] did come from Shikkotsu Forest!
Who else's fault is it that "Big Pillar" has a granddaughter who is a "Shikkotsu Forest contractor"?
"Shikkotsu Forest, of course, has a Senjutsu inheritance. Katsuyu—although I rarely call her by that title, she is indeed a true Sage."
Tsunade gave a positive answer.
"But Nara, you know my... little problem.
"I can't use the Summoning Technique right now. If you want to see Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu, I can take you there for a look after the war ends."
Go to Shikkotsu Forest after the war?
Nara Keisuke felt like this was a 'death flag' [a common trope].
"Um, well, Tsunade-nee."
Nara Keisuke tried to fix the hole Tsunade had just dug.
"Actually, it's not like you can't use the Summoning Technique right now.
"If you just provide a little blood, I can use your blood as the summoning medium."
Blood, blood... just hearing it made Tsunade's skin crawl.
She really didn't want to discuss this topic.
"Nara, do you want to become the summoning contract successor for Shikkotsu Forest?"
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