The Key to Senjutsu

After the teachers finished praising him, another group of people appeared behind Qingcheng —members of the Publicity Department.

These members of the Publicity Department, each holding a camera, shouted excitedly, "The Fifth Hokage traveled light to visit the young talents of Konoha at the Ninja Academy, putting the Will of Fire into practice. He truly deserves to be the most benevolent Hokage!"

Fujikawa then said with a serious expression, "@All members of the Publicity Department, you must make sure the footage of the Fifth Hokage is aesthetically pleasing. Promote this news tomorrow morning, so that the entire village knows that the Fifth Hokage doesn't engage in formalism."

All the teachers, including Principal Kankan, were completely dumbfounded, thinking to themselves, "The Fifth Hokage may not have brought any guards, but he's brought a whole Publicity Department team with him—he's practically doing this propaganda like crazy!"

Meanwhile, Sanjiao Dagu, a member of the Publicity Department, said with a serious expression, "The Fifth Hokage looks good in every picture; he's photogenic no matter what. I simply don't know which photos to choose to accompany tomorrow's news."

Upon hearing this, Fujikawa exclaimed, "If every photo is good, then we must select the best ones and make sure the villagers see the best photos of the Fifth Hokage!"

All the members of the Publicity Department shouted with serious expressions, "Understood, Section Chief Fujikawa. We will do our best!"

Fujikawa added with a look of disgust, "We also need to bring out indecent photos of Hiruzen Sarutobi and compare them with the Fifth Hokage, so that the villagers can see just how incompetent the Third Hokage really was."

The Publicity Department's content basically consisted of criticizing each of the Third Hokage, praising the Fifth Hokage daily, and Hiruzen Sarutobi as a stepping stone to highlight the Fifth Hokage's strength.

The teachers at the Ninja Academy, including Principal Kankan, were all shocked, and they all thought to themselves, "The Third Hokage's ultimate value was merely to highlight the Fifth Hokage's achievements."

Qingcheng then said with a serious expression, "Principal Kankan, let's go into the school! I also want to see the young talents of Konoha."

Upon Principal Kankan said respectfully, "Fifth Hokage, please come in. The students were overjoyed to hear that you were coming to offer your condolences; they've been eagerly anticipating your explanation of the Will of Fire."

Iruka-sensei said respectfully, "Fifth Hokage, those students greatly admire you and are eager to learn the Uchiha Clan's Fire Release Ninjutsu."

Upon hearing this, Qingcheng nodded directly and said with a serious expression, "Let them study hard and become Konoha's apprentice ninjas. Then they can go to the study room to practice Fire Release Ninjutsu. However, they must first learn the secrecy rules and not reveal Konoha's Ninjutsu to outsiders."

Upon hearing this, Iruka's face lit up with excitement, and he asked expectantly, "Fifth Hokage, if any of our Ninja Academy teachers want to practice Ninjutsu in the study room, do we just need to submit an application form?"

Qingcheng nodded directly and said with a serious expression, "Yes, Iruka-sensei, all the Ninjutsu in the village can be learned. As long as the corresponding conditions are met, you can go to the Ninjutsu Learning Room and choose the appropriate Ninjutsu."

Qingcheng then said with a serious expression, "Although the procedures are relatively troublesome, they are necessary. Konoha's Ninjutsu cannot be passed on to those spies."

Upon hearing this, Iruka respectfully replied, "Thank you, Fifth Hokage. We will abide by the relevant regulations, and I will apply to learn Ninjutsu when school is out for break."

Surrounded by a group of teachers, Qingcheng walked directly towards the school playground.

Just as Qingcheng was walking and talking, the system in his mind beeped again. With a "ding," the system detected four members of the Uchiha Clan, and rated their talent level as A+.

System rewards: Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation +4, Fire Release Chakra Secret Art Technique +4, Heaven's Curse Mark Energy +4, Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, Fire Release: Dragon Fire Blazing Inferno Technique, Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands, Twin Snakes Mutual Death Technique.

Looking at the rewards, Qingcheng exclaimed in surprise, "Anko Mitarashi really didn't grow up for nothing! She's actually quadruplets, and she even managed to unleash the power of four Heaven's Curse Mark. This is simply amazing!"

Qingcheng has removed the negative effects of the Heaven's Curse Mark on Anko Mitarashi's neck, as well as the connection between Orochimaru and the Cursed Seal. Orochimaru can no longer sense the mark within the Cursed Seal and can no longer probe it, but the Natural Energy of the Heaven's Curse Mark still remains on Anko Mitarashi's body.

After receiving the reward, Qingcheng was also shocked. Sensing the natural Chakra energy, he thought to himself, "This Heaven's Curse Mark is the key to unlocking Sage Mode. Once I become familiar with this power, it will be a huge shortcut to cultivating Sage Mode."

Qingcheng muttered to himself, "The Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave, once activated, turns a person into a snake, growing snake horns and snake organs. The appearance is quite disgusting. It's not necessarily stronger than the Sage Mode of Mount Myōboku."

Qingcheng thought to himself, "The most mysterious Sage Mode is probably the technique from Shikkotsu Forest. Shikkotsu Forest trained in Sage Mode Hashirama. Although it's not explicitly stated in the original work, we can infer it from Tsunade."

Hashirama first made a contract with the Slug Sage, which is why Tsunade summoned the Katsuyu. Furthermore, the Katsuyu addresses Tsunade as "Master," suggesting it may have recognized Hashirama as its master and is willing to pledge allegiance to the Senju Clan. Otherwise, Tsunade wouldn't possess the power to make the Katsuyu call her "Master."

Another aspect is that Naruto is also the reincarnation of Asura, and he also possesses a fully-fledged Sage Body. However, in their Battle of the Valley of the End, both Naruto and Sasuke were bruised and battered, and Naruto even lay in bed with Sasuke for a whole day without recovering from his injuries. Naruto didn't seem to recover faster than Sasuke, but it's a fact that Naruto has more Chakra and stronger vitality than Sasuke.

If Hashirama were lying there, he'd be lively and energetic again in the time it takes to smoke a cigarette. Therefore, this Seal-less Healing ability without hand seals must have been developed during training in Shikkotsu Forest, not something Asura was born with. Tsunade also developed the Strength of a Hundred Technique as a fallback, based on the Sage Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest.

All the Qingcheng Senjutsu certain that Hashirama Senju's Sage Mode was trained in Shikkotsu Forest, including his Seal-less Healing, which was a passive application of Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu. Tsunade, due to her physical condition, was unable to train in Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu, Sakura also failed to master it.

Qingcheng muttered to himself, "But I can cultivate it, hehehe. It just so happens that Tsunade has the contract scroll of Shikkotsu Forest. Isn't that a coincidence? It's another time to take advantage of the Senju Clan."

Qingcheng was naturally incredibly envious of this Seal-less Healing, and secretly thought to himself, "The Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest are different from those of Mount Myōboku. The Senjutsu of Mount Myōboku mean that the fewer markings on one's face, the more successfully one has cultivated Sage Mode."

As for the Shikkotsu Forest Senjutsu, it seems the more messy the face is, the stronger the Senjutsu becomes. Qingcheng then complained, "Look at Hashirama's face, look at how messy it is!"

Just then, Kanma, looking at the pensive Qingcheng, said awkwardly, "Fifth Hokage, we've arrived. We can stop now."