"Mm..."
Liuxia furrowed his brows slightly and opened his eyes, still groggy. His gaze slowly focused on the familiar ceiling above him. Regret welled up inside as he remembered passing out during Tsunade's test the day before.
"How did I get so carried away? That was Tsunade!" he muttered, thoroughly annoyed with himself. Yesterday, he'd naively thought Tsunade really meant to have a proper man-to-man showdown with him. He hadn't realized it was a trap. Tsunade's real body had been hiding behind him and landed a vicious blow. His back still throbbed.
Liuxia felt uneasy. He didn't know whether the stick of incense had burned down yesterday, or if he'd passed the test. He struggled to sit up, then suddenly felt that something was pinning his arm down. Turning his head, he saw a vibrant splash of red hair.
"Big Brother Liuxia! You're finally awake!" Kushina, who had been sound asleep, woke at his movement. When she saw he was conscious, a delighted smile spread across her face.
"How long have I been asleep? And why did you fall asleep here? Aren't you worried about catching a chill?" Liuxia asked with concern. He was full of questions, and a little surprised to see Kushina there.
"It's been a whole night, Big Brother Liuxia. It's all right, Tsunade said you'd only fainted, but I couldn't help worrying..." Kushina Uzumaki's voice grew quieter, as if she were embarrassed. Liuxia gently stroked her fiery red hair, expressing his gratitude.
Just then, a bright call broke the silence. "Hey, kid, you're finally awake!"
"Liuxia! Thank goodness you're safe! I was terrified when I saw you suddenly pass out yesterday. Why did you have to face my sister head-on? She's so..." Nawaki, usually known as a real troublemaker, was unusually quick to notice the threatening look Tsunade shot him. He wisely cut himself off at once.
"Tsunade, you hit way too hard! My back still hurts like crazy!" Liuxia rubbed his back and complained to her.
"You've got some nerve! What dangerous jutsu did you use yesterday? Have you even thought about it? I never would've guessed you could be so ruthless when you got serious. You even used something like Water Severing Wave! I remember very clearly that I hadn't taught you such a dangerous technique from my granduncle this early. And that jutsu that looked like a ball, the one you used without Hand Seals—where did you learn it?" Tsunade's stern tone carried a hint of complaint. She was clearly unhappy with Liuxia's behavior the day before.
Liuxia awkwardly scratched the back of his head, his eyes drifting involuntarily toward Nawaki, who was drenched in sweat. A shy but proud smile appeared on his face. "I actually stumbled across them by accident, hehe... Tsunade, you're so strong, I figured I had no chance against you—and I was right. As for that jutsu without Hand Seals, I came up with it when I saw a whirlpool spinning by the water. I named it Rasengan!"
Tsunade shot a glare at the culprit, Nawaki, then turned to Liuxia with a stern expression. "That technique is far too dangerous for you. You absolutely mustn't use it at school, understand?" Liuxia hurriedly nodded, agreeing and promising not to use those powerful jutsu unless absolutely necessary.
Then Tsunade's tone softened, and admiration shone in her eyes. "Still, Liuxia, you really are a genius! From what I saw yesterday, Rasengan can be rated at least an A-rank jutsu! And if you manage to incorporate chakra nature transformation as you keep training, its potential will be limitless!" Her words made it clear how much she believed in him and looked forward to what he could do.
"All right, sign this first. Make sure you use your own blood! Once you've signed, I still have to go explain what happened yesterday to that old man. Causing such a commotion right in the center of the village is giving me a headache just thinking about it! This is all your fault, you brat!" As she spoke, Tsunade bit her thumb without hesitation and formed Hand Seals at lightning speed. Then she lightly slapped one hand against the ground and called out, "Summoning Technique!"
As Tsunade performed the Summoning Technique, a dense cloud of white smoke burst into existence. Before it had even cleared, a sweet, melodious voice rang out.
"Lady Tsunade! Is there something important you need me for?" To everyone's surprise, that sweet, charming voice came from a gigantic, gooey, pale blue slug. Nawaki and Kushina were so stunned their jaws nearly hit the floor.
"Bring out the Summoning Scroll. This kid is going to sign a contract with Shikkotsu Forest," Tsunade said calmly.
"Yes, Lady Tsunade!" At her words, a gigantic slug slowly crawled out from Shikkotsu Forest. Its body was an unusual shade of green, and it was covered in a layer of slimy fluid. Then the slug opened its mouth, spat out a mysterious, ancient scroll, and carefully delivered it to Liuxia.
Liuxia looked at the mysterious scroll before him, his curiosity piqued. Its surface was covered in strange symbols and patterns that formed a series of intricate Sealing Jutsu, a subject completely unfamiliar to him. Realizing that the scroll must contain tremendous power, he thanked the slug and reached out with both hands to take it.
When Liuxia carefully unrolled the scroll, he was surprised to find it already densely covered with names. After examining it closely, he surmised that they were the marks of ninjas who had once signed contracts with Katsuyu. The two most recent names were obviously Tsunade's and the First, Senju Hashirama's. Although he didn't recognize the other names, he keenly noticed that most of them belonged to ninjas from the Senju Clan!
Liuxia took a deep breath, bit his index finger without hesitation, and neatly wrote his name—Liuxia—in blood in the empty space after Tsunade's name. Then he pressed a clear handprint beneath his signature. The handprint was more than just a formality; it represented the close bond between him, Shikkotsu Forest, and Katsuyu. When he was done, he felt an inexplicable force rise within him, as though he'd formed a special connection with some mysterious being.
"All right, please reverse-summon this little one to Shikkotsu Forest to meet the Slug Sage. I need to get to the Hokage's office and properly explain what happened yesterday to that old Third Hokage," Tsunade said urgently.
"Of course, Lady Tsunade! Little Liuxia, get ready!" The giant slug nodded at Tsunade's request and turned to give Liuxia a gentle warning. Then it released the Summoning Technique. With a puff of white smoke, its form gradually blurred and disappeared.
Before long, Liuxia suddenly felt a mysterious, powerful force trying to establish a connection with him. He realized Shikkotsu Forest was using the Summoning Contract to reverse-summon him. Liuxia took a deep breath and tried to relax. A powerful spatial ripple swept over him, and his figure instantly vanished.
Nawaki and Kushina watched Liuxia disappear into thin air right before their eyes, a sense of loss welling up inside them. Still, they knew he was going to gain even greater power. They looked forward to seeing him grow stronger!
When Liuxia saw the light again, he found himself in Shikkotsu Forest, as if he'd stepped into a dreamlike paradise. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the lush leaves, casting a kaleidoscope of colors over the thick blanket of fallen leaves on the ground. All around him stood trees of every kind, tall and straight, their interlocking canopies forming a vast green roof. Squirrels hopped merrily among the branches, and birds sang from the treetops, their clear, pleasant calls echoing through the air. A crystal-clear stream flowed gently nearby, its water icy cold. Lush river grass and brilliantly colored wildflowers flourished along its banks. Liuxia drew a deep breath of fresh air, absorbing the tranquil atmosphere around him, and felt as though all his worries had been washed away. Before him stretched a scene of vibrant life and flourishing growth.
"Ding... Host has arrived at Shikkotsu Forest. Achievement completed—Visited Shikkotsu Forest. Reward: Nature Affinity Physique." Suddenly, an electronic voice sounded in Liuxia's mind.
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