"I wonder if this kid has any talent."
Looking at the Slug Sage's enormous form, Tsunade casually found a rock to sit on, waiting for the Slug Sage's answer.
"Even if he doesn't have talent, I'll still sign a contract with this little guy for Lord Tsunade's sake~"
Lying beside Tsunade, looking at its enormous main body, the Katsuyu clone seemed quite content.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you so concerned about young people, Lord Tsunade."
"That's what the Katsuyu said jokingly."
Recalling Hiruzen's earlier words, Tsunade chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Perhaps, as the old man said, people always have such a bias towards geniuses."
Another silence fell.
After waiting for a long time without seeing Kazashiro being spat out by the Slug Sage, Tsunade finally felt relieved. "Looks like that kid's lucky; he was able to absorb Senjutsu Chakra."
Standing up, Tsunade brushed the dust off her clothes. "Speaking of which, the fog here is still as thick as ever, Katsuyu."
"Isn't that great? It adds a touch of mystery."
The Katsuyu didn't seem to sense anything was wrong. It looked up at Tsunade, "Are we leaving?"
"Yes, I also have... things I have to do." Tsunade, who disguised gambling as something important, turned and left without batting an eye.
After remaining in the sticky environment for an unknown amount of time, Kazashiro finally opened his eyes.
"Ah, you're awake."
As soon as Kazashiro opened his eyes, he heard the sound of Katsuyu and felt a sticky sensation on his face.
"..."
I suddenly did a sit-up, and the sticky feeling on my face instantly disappeared, replaced by the sound of a heavy object hitting the ground.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts..."
The little Katsuyu, flung away, let out a pitiful cry.
"Ah? I'm so sorry Katsuyu- sama!"
Only then did Kazashiro realize what had happened. He hurriedly got up and ran towards the direction where the Katsuyu had fallen.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he felt an inexplicable lightness in his body.
And I always feel like there's something behind my head blocking my way.
Picking up the Katsuyu, Kazashiro said apologetically, "I really didn't know that what was on your face was you, Lord Katsuyu. I'm so sorry."
"It's alright, I'm used to it anyway, after all, Lord Tsunade often treats me like this too."
The Katsuyu spoke pitifully, but its swaying antennae betrayed its true nature.
This little guy is so funny, much more interesting than Lord Tsunade.
Hearing the Katsuyu's words, and hearing its voice and tone, Kazashiro was overwhelmed by guilt. He ignored his physical discomfort and held the Katsuyu in his hands, apologizing repeatedly.
Only after the Katsuyu had finished playing did it jump off Kazashiro's hand and slowly lead him forward.
Only then did Kazashiro have time to check what was behind his head, and when he reached out and touched it, he realized it was his own hair.
Her already long hair had grown so long that it resembled a skirt, trailing on the ground.
Seriously? I think I just took a nap, how did my hair get so long?
He looked at the Katsuyu with a questioning gaze. The slug seemed to have anticipated Kazashiro's doubts and said directly, "Let's go, I'll explain it to you slowly."
Upon hearing this, Kazashiro took out Kunai, and with a sudden slash based on his senses, cut off his long hair, which floated to the ground. He then followed the Katsuyu's slow pace.
"Oh dear, what a pity, you're so much cuter with long hair."
Looking back at Kazashiro, the Katsuyu's tone was full of regret.
"Please stop making fun of me, Lord Katsuyu."
Kazashiro chuckled and scratched his head, realizing he couldn't possibly drag his long hair along like that.
The man and the Katsuyu slowly approached the "mountain range".
It was only at this moment that Kazashiro realized that what was in front of him was not a mountain range at all, but Katsuyu so large that its end could not be seen.
"Everyone says the Slug Sage's true form is enormous, and seeing it today, it's certainly true..."
Kazashiro opened his mouth slightly, feeling a sense of shock.
"Heave-ho, heave-ho." Two little Katsuyu pushed a huge scroll in front of Kazashiro.
"Sign it. Sign this Summoning Contract, and you'll be able to summon a part of me."
Psychic communication?
Upon hearing this word, Kazashiro seemed to recall something.
Where is my Baku?
Dad, you said you'd make me sign Summoning Contract with Baku before the war even started, but the war's over and there's still no sign of it.
Wait, where's Isobu?
Is Isobu Isobu?
Kazashiro closed his eyes and entered his consciousness space.
[Isobu:... turns his head away, ignoring Kazashiro.]
[What's wrong?]
Seeing that Isobu was clearly being difficult, Kazashiro cautiously probed.
[Isobu:...]
[Isobu, Isobu, my dear comrade-in-arms, my good partner?]
After trying several different forms of address without getting a response, Kazashiro had no idea what he had done to offend the other party, so he could only keep apologizing.
[Isobu, I'm sorry, please talk to me. You've been silent all the time, and I don't know what I did wrong.]
[Isobu:...]
Unable to sleep due to Kazashiro's annoyance, Isobu finally turned around and looked at Kazashiro directly.
[Isobu: a liar.]
[?]
[Isobu: You big liar! You promised to be my confidant, but you didn't even contact me right away after waking up.]
Is that why?
How old are you exactly?
Although he really wanted to give the other person a good scolding, Kazashiro hurriedly called out to him as he saw Isobu preparing to turn around again.
[I was wrong, Isobu, I was really wrong, I promise I'll never do it again!]
[Isobu: Really?]
[Seriously, I swear on Obito's life, this will never happen again!]
[Isobu: Alright, go and sign a contract with the Katsuyu.]
After being flung out of his consciousness by Isobu 'One-Tails, Kazashiro looked at the scroll in front of him with a wry smile.
"Hmm, is Xiao Kazashiro talking to the Tailed Beast inside him?"
A small Katsuyu had somehow climbed onto Kazashiro's shoulder.
"You know Isobu?"
Kazashiro was somewhat surprised.
"I don't know, but when it was inside me, I sensed that ominous Chakra." The Katsuyu showed a natural fear when the Tailed Beasts were mentioned.
"However, the Tailed Beast within you did not reject Natural Energy, which allowed you to successfully complete your Sage Mode training."
"Oh, really..." Kazashiro replied, biting his finger and pressing it against the skin.
Then he realized the immense amount of information in the Katsuyu's words. "Wait, you said I've completed my training for Sage Mode?"
"Yes?"
The slug shook its antennae Katsuyu: "Calm down and feel it. Can you sense the Natural Energy flowing in the air?"
Upon hearing what the Katsuyu said, Kazashiro quickly calmed himself down and began to sense everything around him.
Sure enough, he could feel a brand new energy surrounding him.
"This is the learning method of Shikkotsu Forest. Within my body, you can calm your mind and become one with nature," the Katsuyu said with some pride.
"It's that simple? Is there absolutely no risk...?"
Opening his eyes, Kazashiro felt that this seemed somewhat childish.
"Is it dangerous..."
The Katsuyu's voice suddenly turned somber, becoming strangely familiar, somewhat like an anime I'd watched in a past life.
The voice sounds a lot like a character named Enma Ai in the show.
"Little Kazashiro Bai, do you know why my true form is so enormous...?"
"Why... why..." Kazashiro swallowed hard, afraid that the other party would say the next second, "This grudge will lead you to hell."
"Because I've absorbed all the losers..."
"Eek!" Kazashiro felt a chill run down his spine. Good heavens, was the Shikkotsu Forest really this dangerous?!
The Katsuyu was pleased with Kazashiro's expression and chuckled softly where Kazashiro couldn't see it.
Just kidding, but the losers really do suffer a lot.
This is why Tsunade didn't leave immediately.