The Practice of Senjutsu (2)
"Eat... eat it...?" Sakura Haruno exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, shouldn't it be Combination Transformation Technique?"
The Combination Transformation Technique can merge two beings with Chakra into one, making it a relatively uncommon Ninjutsu. However, Sakura often sees others using this technique: Sasuke's demon form, Naruto's fusion with Toad, and even Kisame Hoshigaki, whom she fought a few weeks ago, who actually fused with a sword.
Combination Transformation can integrate the strengths of both transforming entities, so theoretically Sakura Haruno could also transform with Katsuyu. However, she'd never considered this—what advantages does Katsuyu have, besides its large size?
However, Katsuyu do this, she suddenly realized that this technique might also be feasible for cultivating Senjutsu?
"Hehe, it's different from Combination Transformation Technique." The Katsuyu chuckled, shaking its antennae. "You rarely use this kind of Transformation Technique, so you don't understand it well, do you? Combination Transformation can combine the 'characteristics' of both parties into one, but my ability to use Senjutsu is essentially an experience and insight gained through learning, not an inherent trait of mine... So even if we combine, you can't use Senjutsu."
"Besides, Tsunade and you have never fused with me before. You must have considered the appearance after the Combination Transformation, right?"
"Uh..." Sakura Haruno's face stiffened, and she had to admit that it made sense.
It's not that I dislike my summoned beast; the Katsuyu looks a bit like jelly and isn't bad-looking. You get used to it and it's actually quite cute. But Combination Transformation with the Katsuyu is a different story.
Imagine a dark green, translucent Haruno, soft, plump, and wet cherry blossoms.
Although she still held onto the mindset she'd never changed since her past life—believing that strength was paramount and beauty and ugliness were irrelevant—she would never be like Ino, a typical girl who prioritized aesthetics. However, if a Ninjutsu would make her unbearably ugly and offer virtually no improvement to her strength...
She would absolutely never be interested in using it.
Ugly!
"Just like Toad Oil, while I'm inside you, I can guide Natural Energy into your body, helping you quickly perceive its presence," the Katsuyu patiently explained. "So, let me swallow you!"
"Take off your clothes before you do that. I need to have direct contact with your skin."
Sakura Haruno felt that a strange smile seemed to be appearing on the Katsuyu's expressionless face.
"Uh..." She hesitated for a moment, then stopped worrying about it, "Okay."
After all, there are no outsiders here, only a Sage Katsuyu; for the sake of cultivation, any sacrifice is worthwhile, and there's no need to be sentimental about such a small matter.
On the other hand, Katsuyu are hermaphroditic... or they can be genderless.
That way it won't be awkward.
In short, the Sage Katsuyu's cultivation method may seem strange, but its effects are indeed quite remarkable.
The first time she was swallowed by Katsuyu, and as she began to channel Natural Energy, Sakura Haruno felt a distinct sensation—a strange energy originating from the outside world surged into her body like a tide, and for the first time in her life, she felt the existence of Natural Energy!
This immense energy, originally diffused throughout nature like nitrogen in the air, is ubiquitous and vast, yet imperceptible to humans. The Katsuyu's role is to imbue this energy with a "flavor" or something else, purify and gather it, and then infuse it into Sakura Haruno's body. Then, Sakura Haruno begins to sense something...
It was as if a door to a new world had been opened.
The experience of gaining a new sensation is very difficult to describe.
For example, due to evolutionary limitations of the human eye, there is a blind spot in human vision. That is, if what is seen with the left eye is printed into a photograph, there will be a permanent area in the photograph without any pattern... but people are not aware of this. Natural Energy is actually also a "blind spot" in human perception.
Lying inside the Katsuyu's body, Sakura Haruno was as if her colorblindness had suddenly returned to normal, her blind spot had suddenly disappeared, and the world in her eyes suddenly became rich and complete!
"Is this what Natural Energy feels like?" Sakura murmured to herself.
An endless stream of Natural Energy surged in, Sakura Haruno, captivated by this wondrous feeling of gaining new senses, momentarily lost in thought—
"Lady Sakura Haruno, what are you standing there for?" the Katsuyu shouted immediately upon seeing this. "Quickly control your Natural Energy! Don't forget what I just told you!"
Its reminder came a little too late.
Startled by the Katsuyu's loud reminder, Sakura Haruno snapped out of her reverie and realized she was still in the midst of a dangerous training session!
Natural Energy is not harmless.
Sakura Haruno could already feel it eroding her body!
"Ugh... Damn it, I have to get it under control right away!"
She gritted her teeth, her mind racing as she desperately tried to recall what the Katsuyu had told her about Natural Energy.
"... Remember this! Spiritual energy, physical energy, and Natural Energy must be precisely blended in a one-to-one ratio to achieve perfect balance in order to learn Senjutsu Chakra that can be controlled!"
"Conversely, if you don't control your Natural Energy properly and inhale too much, you will be 'naturalized,' which means... you will die!"
--This is what Katsuyu used to look like.
"A precise 1:1:1 ratio? Tsk... this thing is so hard to control!"
Sakura Haruno's control over her own spiritual and physical energy is probably the best in the entire Shinobi World. She can manipulate it with ease and agility. However, unfamiliar Natural Energy, which comes from the outside world, is extremely difficult to control!
Sakura Haruno frowned deeply.
Although she was inside the Katsuyu's body, she seemed to clearly feel large drops of cold sweat on her forehead.
The Natural Energy was flowing in too much and too fast. She felt like she was driving a speeding truck recklessly on the road, which could veer off the road and crash into a hard boulder at any moment, resulting in a tragic accident that killed her instantly!
The most terrifying thing is that this truck not only had no brakes, but the accelerator was also locked, and it was accelerating wildly!
The rapidly surging energy accumulated within Sakura's body, quickly reaching a critical point—
"I can't control it anymore!"
Within seconds, the Natural Energy had completely spiraled out of control!
Sakura Haruno's eyes widened suddenly, and then the next second—
Puff!
She was spat out by the Katsuyu.
"Cough, cough!" The girl, covered in slime, lay weakly on the Sage Katsuyu's back, coughing incessantly. After a while, she caught her breath and said, "Phew... My first attempt failed as expected."
"It's normal to fail the first time. Even Lord Hashirama practiced many times before succeeding." The Katsuyu slowly moved closer and walked to her side, saying, "You were able to hold it for several seconds, which already exceeded my expectations!"
Sakura Haruno shook her head and smiled slightly.
"Don't try to comfort me... I know I made a serious mistake just now. It was my first time sensing Natural Energy, and I was momentarily stunned. I won't do it again next time."
The girl readily admitted her mistake. She stood up weakly, leaned against the Katsuyu, washed away the sticky liquid on her body with Water Release, and then looked down at her hands and body.
Is this what they call 'naturalization'?
Her hands and feet underwent abnormal changes: her flesh became transparent, and through it, her bones were vaguely visible, which was quite eerie. Her once soft muscle lines also sagged and limp, and dark green stripes were faintly visible on her skin.
In short, the person has a tendency to turn into a Katsuyu.
The thought of turning into a 1.6-meter-long Katsuyu sent a shiver down Sakura Haruno. The image was too horrible for her to bear! Fortunately, as the Katsuyu extracted the Natural Energy, the changes in Sakura's body were rapidly disappearing, and her limp body regained its muscular strength.
"That's right," the Katsuyu replied, "If you absorb too much Natural Energy and can't control it, your body will undergo irreversible changes, eventually losing consciousness and turning into a Katsuyu inside me..."
Those who fail in this transformation ultimately and irreversibly lose their ability to think, so you could also consider --
They are dead.
Sakura Haruno frowned. "If that's the case, there should be other Katsuyu in Shikkotsu Forest, right?"
The Katsuyu shook its antennae.
"Lady Sakura Haruno, you've misunderstood..." it said slowly, staring into Sakura's eyes.
"Those who fail in their cultivation and are transformed into Katsuyu will be merged into my true form, the Sage Katsuyu, and die forever..."
"Ultimately, he became part of the Sage Katsuyu."
The Katsuyu's voice was cold.