Senjutsu-couldn't you learn it just by clapping your hands?

"Hello, is anyone there?"

In a tropical jungle, Hashirama resembled a wilderness survivor.

And without any protective measures whatsoever.

If a camera were set up to film him, he would definitely have a chance to become a top internet celebrity in the Five Great Nations.

According to the clan's records, he found the entrance to the Shikkotsu Forest three days ago.

He wanted to find the Slug Sage as soon as possible to complete his cultivation of Senjutsu, but unexpectedly, he just wandered around this tropical jungle for three days in a row.

"Ah, I'm going to die, I'm going to die." Hashirama slumped his head, feeling that he might end up alone here.

Now, let alone finding his target, he can't even tell where the entrance is.

Anyone else might have already paved the way by Birth of the Tree World, forcing even the Slug Sage out.

However, Hashirama did not do that. He had a premonition that if he did, he would probably never learn Senjutsu in his lifetime.

"Sigh, sometimes I really envy Kyosuke." Looking at the small river in front of him, he opened his arms and jumped in with a splash.

Since I can't find my target anyway, I might as well just drift away with the current.

He's tired.

After an unknown amount of time, Hashirama awoke from his deep sleep, he found himself in a wide canyon.

There wasn't even a puddle around, let alone a river.

Scratching his head in confusion, Hashirama got up from the ground. Suddenly, as if sensing something, he abruptly raised his head.

Above the canyon, there are numerous small caves resembling a honeycomb, and blue-white creatures about a meter long can be seen everywhere on them.

According to records, they should all be the incarnations of the Slug Sage.

As for why so many parts split off, Hashirama had no idea.

"Greetings, Slug Sage. I am Hashirama Senju. I have come here to learn Senjutsu in accordance with the ancient covenant between my clan and you."

Thud! A plump, white Katsuyu fell in front of it.

"Welcome, Hashirama Clan Leader."

After a brief greeting, it slowly crawled into the depths of the canyon.

"Come with me."

"Although we are all split versions of the Slug Sage, our abilities still differ considerably depending on our size."

"If you want to learn immortal Senjutsu, you must find the biggest one."

"I see." Hashirama nodded, then asked with a hint of curiosity, "You mean the biggest one? It's not the Slug Sage's true form either."

"You mean the original body?" The little Katsuyu turned its head, tilted its head, and thought for a moment before saying, "Of course not. Although we are all born from the same source, each individual has different memories."

"I suspect the main body is deliberately hiding some secret," the little Katsuyu, quite gossipy.

"As for our true form..."

Pointing to the ground with its antennae, the little Katsuyu said in a childish voice, "Everything you see is actually built upon the Slug Sage's true form."

"... What do you mean?"

"Simply put, Shikkotsu Forest is a... birthmark on the Slug Sage's body?"

What the hell is that birthmark... After hanging out with Kyosuke for a while, Hashirama would occasionally utter a few unusual exclamations.

While marveling at the magnificence of its own form, the little Katsuyu led the way and soon arrived deep in the canyon, where it saw a giant Katsuyu that was over a hundred meters tall.

"Um, hello..."

"No need for further explanation, I already know why you've come."

The little Katsuyu shook its head and said with a sigh, "Didn't I tell you? Our memories can be shared in real time."

What an idiot... It didn't say that out loud.

You can share memories, yet you can restrict what each individual knows—what kind of species are you?

Hashirama's ability to make sarcastic remarks is constantly improving.

The colossal Katsuyu, towering into the clouds, continued its explanation, "Learning Senjutsu carries a high risk; the slightest mistake will cause your body to dissolve entirely like liquid."

"I've thought it through." Hashirama smiled slightly, his calm and composed demeanor infecting the little Katsuyu beside him.

"It's not as silly as I thought." It quietly changed its mind.

In fact, from the moment he stepped into Shikkotsu Forest, Hashirama was under the observation of the Slug Sage.

In despair and desolation, a person's character and personality will be revealed to the fullest extent.

It must be admitted that Asura's reincarnations are indeed quite remarkable, each one being highly trustworthy and worthy of affirmation.

That's right, Hashirama wasn't the first Asura reincarnation to find this place.

Over the past thousand years, many people have come here, all hoping to learn the secrets of Senjutsu from it.

The Slug Sage, already an expert in the art, skillfully lowered his body and swallowed the astonished Hashirama.

To learn the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest, one must be inside its body.

Otherwise, even if it were the reincarnation of an Asura, the failure rate would be over 80%.

"Concentrate and calm your mind, feel the Natural Energy flowing within you."

And so, Hashirama began his training in Sage Mode.

As for the giant Katsuyu, it was lost in memories of the past.

"I remember, he should be the eighth reincarnation to come to Shikkotsu Forest."

"Over the years, there have probably only been a dozen or so humans who have successfully learned Senjutsu."

"The fastest it seems to have taken was... three weeks?"

Because so much time has passed, its memory is bound to have flaws.

However, the approximate timeframe should be correct. Judging from the kid's silly appearance, it will probably take at least a month for him to grasp the concepts.

Huh?

It would have been better if he hadn't looked, because once he did, the Slug Sage was immediately startled.

The originally violent Natural Energy became as obedient as a grandson once it entered this kid's body.

Not only did it not assimilate into the body, but it didn't even show the slightest unusual movement.

"What's going on? Could it be that this kid has studied Senjutsu before?"

"That's not right, judging from his appearance, this is clearly his first time practicing."

Carefully observing the changes within my body, an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, the giant Katsuyu's body writhed, and it spat out Hashirama from its body.

"Cough cough cough." Rubbing the goosebumps on his arms, he swore he would never go in again.

No way!

At this Hashirama, strange patterns were etched at the corners of Hashirama's eyes, and his body was filled with explosive power.

That's right, he completed the training of Sage Mode in just one hour.

"... Three weeks." The giant Katsuyu remained silent for a long time before suddenly ordering, "Disperse the Senjutsu Chakra within your body and try to reassemble it once more."

"Oh." Hashirama responded simply, the patterns on his face gradually fading away.

"His speed should increase even more during the second condensation..."

Snap!

Hashirama clasped his hands together, absorbing the surrounding Natural Energy in an extremely ferocious manner.

In a mere second, he activated his Sage Mode once again.

Oblivious to the Hashirama's horrified expression, Katsuyu smugly surveyed his body, extremely pleased with the increase in his power.

"Now, I should be able to hold my own against Kyosuke."

"But this thing... doesn't seem too difficult?!"