To Forge Peerless Martial Arts, One Must Endure Unbearable Pain

To master peerless martial arts, one must endure pain beyond the reach of ordinary men. Within the forest, thick fog rose in all directions!

Swish—! Swish—! Swish—!

Manji darted through the woods, his sensory perception sweeping the surroundings.

Mount Myōboku is eternally bathed in daylight.

Ryūchi Cave is shrouded in perpetual darkness.

Here in Shikkotsu Forest, however, thick fog billowed everywhere, as if one had stumbled into a level of the Backrooms.

Strange, my perception clearly indicates it's right nearby, so why is there nothing?

Manji felt a flicker of doubt.

The original work stated it very clearly.

The Katsuyu summoned by Tsunade and Sakura was merely a tiny fraction of the Slug Sage's body.

In other words, the Slug Sage must be unimaginably massive.

It should be something visible at a single glance.

Yet, Manji had searched for a long time without catching even a shadow.

And yet, his perception clearly felt that it should be right in the vicinity.

Manji pondered slightly: Strange, Sage perception cannot be wrong... could it be...

As he spoke, Manji seemed to realize something, looking down at his feet with an expression of awe.

"Sage, have you been here the whole time?"

Manji spoke, suddenly enlightened.

No sooner had the words left his lips than the entire ground of Shikkotsu Forest began to quake.

The originally solid earth and the forest itself all transformed into slugs!

So that was it! The entire Shikkotsu Forest was actually the body of the Slug Sage!

Manji leaped into the air, a look of shock flashing in his eyes!

"So that's how it is... truly, it is unimaginably vast..."

As it turned out, from the very moment Manji stepped into Shikkotsu Forest, he had already found the Slug Sage.

The Slug Sage was the very land beneath his feet!

"Hehe... you discovered it quite quickly... You are the first human to set foot in my Shikkotsu Forest. White Eyebrow and Black Snake have already spoken to me; since you wish to learn, I shall grant it to you."

The Slug Sage spoke in a gentle voice.

The next second, a scroll appeared before Manji.

At the same time, a small slug landed on Manji's shoulder.

The small slug spoke softly: "Lord Manji, I shall assist you in learning Sage Art from here on out!"

Manji was slightly taken aback; was this Slug Sage really this easy to talk to?

Just as in the original work, the voice was very pleasant.

"Many thanks, Sage!"

Manji remained true to his word.

Manji: I won't stand on ceremony.

He began his training immediately.

Another month passed.

Sage markings similar to those of Hashirama Senju appeared on Manji's face!

[Note: The original work does not state that Hashirama Senju's Sage Art originated from Shikkotsu Forest, but in this work, we establish that Hashirama Senju's Sage Art comes from Shikkotsu Forest.]

"It really is just like Hashirama Senju's..."

Manji smiled faintly, using Sage Art to condense a water mirror to look at himself.

His face now bore markings almost identical to those of Hashirama Senju.

"However, the Sage Art of Shikkotsu Forest has the same reaction as that of Ryūchi Cave."

Manji sensed it.

That is, the Sage Arts cannot be used simultaneously.

Just like with Ryūchi Cave.

If he wants to use Sage Art, he must choose only one to employ.

For instance, if he wants to use the Sage Art of Ryūchi Cave, he must deactivate the others.

"This is a problem; I need to find a way to fuse these Sage Arts together."

Manji rubbed his chin in thought.

It is hard to imagine just how powerful a Sage Art would be if the three major Sage Arts were fused together with the Monkey Demon Sage Art.

"Take it slow. You've learned so many Sage Arts in just a few months; if you take too big a step, you still need time to digest it all."

Following this, Manji signed a contract with Shikkotsu Forest.

Afterward, he bid farewell to the Slug Sage.

Upon returning to Mount Myōboku, Manji encountered a weeping frog.

"Wuwuwu, Great White-Browed Toad Sage, I beg you to take this frog in. He is homeless, and both his parents are dead..."

A Scarred Toad knelt before the White-Browed Toad, wailing.

"What is going on?"

Manji stepped forward and witnessed this scene.

"Manji, you've returned... It's nothing, just an orphaned frog. It's quite common."

The White-Browed Toad sighed deeply as he spoke.

Manji raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the pitiful little frog, and crouched down to ask, "Little frog, what is your name?"

Seeing this, the Scarred Toad quickly nudged the little frog with his elbow: "Hurry up and speak! This is Sage Manji!"

The little frog looked at Manji and hurriedly replied, "Greetings, Sage Manji, my name is Gamamaru."

"Gamamaru? Oh... hm?"

Manji nodded at first, but then a flash of surprise crossed his face.

Gamamaru?

That name sounded so familiar.

Wait, wasn't the future Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku named Gamamaru?

Thinking of this, Manji looked at the frog named Gamamaru with slight astonishment, needing to confirm it.

"Gamamaru, let me ask you, do you have dreams at night?"

Manji asked calmly.

A look of surprise flashed in Gamamaru's eyes, and he nodded quickly: "Sage Manji is truly unfathomable; I do indeed have dreams! And every dream I have comes true!"

Hearing this, Manji smiled slightly: "What have you dreamed of?"

"I dreamed that I would become the boss of Mount Myōboku in the future."

Gamamaru said truthfully.

As soon as these words were spoken, the Scarred Toad's expression darkened instantly! He rebuked angrily: "Gamamaru, do not play tricks or act mysterious in front of the two Sages!"

"I was wrong, please forgive me, Sages!"

Gamamaru also realized he had spoken out of turn and hurriedly lowered his head to apologize.

Manji smiled faintly and looked at the White-Browed Toad: "Grandpa White-Browed, what do you think?"

"Just the ramblings of a mischievous child, how could one take it seriously? Though, it is rare for a frog to dream."

The White-Browed Toad smiled and waved his hand.

Manji stood with his hands behind his back, sizing up Gamamaru, and then spoke: "Gamamaru, you have no parents. Since that is the case, would you be willing to sign a contract with me?"

When these words were spoken, Gamamaru was stunned!

It wasn't just Gamamaru; even the White-Browed Toad and the Scarred Toad standing nearby doubted their own ears.

One must know that Manji was the second-in-command of Mount Myōboku at this time; aside from the White-Browed Toad, he was the boss of the entire mountain.

Furthermore, Manji had only signed a contract with one frog so far.

That was the leader of Mount Myōboku, the White-Browed Toad!

Those who had signed contracts with Manji were all prominent figures.

The White Snake Sage, the White Ape King, and the White-Browed Toad were all high-level players.

And what about Gamamaru?

A lone frog who only knew how to daydream all day, a nobody standing by the roadside.

Are you saying?

The dignified second-in-command of Mount Myōboku, the contractor of all three major Sage Lands, would sign a contract with an ordinary little frog who only knew how to daydream?

"Sage Manji, this... this isn't appropriate, is it?"

The Scarred Toad also felt this was a joke and spoke up nervously.

Gamamaru dared not speak at this moment, but his eyes shone with anticipation.

He firmly believed that the dreams he had would come true; it was just that no other frog believed him.

Could it be that Sage Manji had a discerning eye and felt that he had potential?

"Of course, come here, Gamamaru."

Manji smiled slightly and took out a scroll.

Just like that, in a daze, Gamamaru signed the contract.

"From now on, move next to me and live with me."

Manji looked at Gamamaru and said.

"Why aren't you thanking the Sage yet?" Scarred Toad hurriedly reminded him.

Only then did Gamamaru snap out of his trance! He hurriedly cupped his hands in a bow.

After Gamamaru left.

White-Browed Toad looked at Manji with a smile: "Manji, why did you sign a contract with this toad?"

Manji smiled slightly: "I just find him interesting."

White-Browed Toad wore a knowing smile: "It seems you have also noticed the difference in this toad..."

Manji raised an eyebrow, then his face darkened: "Grandpa White-Brow, you couldn't have noticed Gamamaru a long time ago, could you?"

White-Browed Toad smiled without a word.

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