Once again arriving at Shikkotsu Forest, Sarutobi Toru greeted Sage Katsuyu with practiced ease before quickly returning to the pool brimming with Natural Energy.
This time, he first created a Shadow Clone, then tied a rope around himself.
"Eh~, Toru~, what are you doing~?" Sage Katsuyu asked curiously.
"This time, I'm going to submerge my whole body in the pool. The Shadow Clone will pull me back up when the time comes," Sarutobi Toru said seriously.
When refining Natural Energy, Sarutobi Toru in his state of Absolute Reason cut off all five senses. He had no intention of drowning to death.
"Oh~." Though Sage Katsuyu found it strange, she did not ask any further questions.
Stepping into the pool, the water slowly rose over Sarutobi Toru's body until it finally reached his neck.
In an instant, massive amounts of Natural Energy surged into Sarutobi Toru's body and were quickly synthesized into Sage Art Chakra.
Before the amount of Natural Energy completely exceeded the Chakra in his body, Sarutobi Toru had to fully submerge himself in the pool and complete the transformation. Otherwise, the excessive Natural Energy would cause him to turn completely into a slug.
Fortunately, Sarutobi Toru's own Chakra reserves were considerable. Though they could not compare to Tsunade's Sage Body, they still ranked among the greatest in the current Shinobi World.
Thus, even as the Natural Energy in the pool flooded into him wildly, Sarutobi Toru remained unhurried as he slowly sank deeper.
Moreover, he was currently in a state of Absolute Reason, calculating every portion of Chakra in his body and the rate at which Natural Energy entered him. He had long since determined how long he could endure in the pool, so there was not the slightest trace of tension on his face.
Finally, when ninety