Shikkotsu Forest! Wood Release, Here I Come!

"Ugh..."

Liuxia furrowed his brows, eyes fluttering open in a daze as his gaze slowly focused on the familiar ceiling above. A wave of regret washed over him; he remembered passing out during Tsunade's test yesterday.

"Why was I so impulsive back there? That was Tsunade!" he muttered to himself, feeling deeply annoyed by his own behavior. Yesterday, he had naively assumed Tsunade was going to engage in a real man-to-man duel with him, never expecting it to be a trap. Tsunade's real body had been hiding behind him, delivering a strike so heavy that his back still throbbed with a dull ache.

Liuxia felt uneasy, unsure if the incense stick from yesterday had finished burning or if he had even passed the test. He struggled to sit up, but suddenly felt his arm pinned down by something. Turning his head, he was greeted by a shock of vibrant, bright red hair.

"Brother Liuxia! You're finally awake!" Kushina, who had been fast asleep, was startled awake by Liuxia's movement. Seeing him conscious, a joyful smile immediately bloomed on her face.

"How long have I been asleep? And why did you fall asleep here? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?" Liuxia asked with concern. He was filled with confusion, yet also surprised by Kushina's presence.

"A whole night has passed, Brother Liuxia. It's okay, though; Sister Tsunade said you only fainted, but I couldn't help but worry..." Kushina's voice grew quieter, sounding a bit embarrassed. Liuxia gently stroked her fiery red hair, expressing his gratitude.

Just then, a crisp shout broke the peace: "Yo, kid, you're finally awake!"

"Liuxia! Thank goodness you're safe! I was terrified when I saw you suddenly collapse yesterday. Why did you have to confront Sister head-on? She's so..." Nawaki, usually known as a "master of courting death," was uncharacteristically sharp this time; he caught the threatening glare from Tsunade and wisely cut himself off.

"Sister Tsunade, you hit way too hard! My back is still killing me!" Liuxia rubbed his back and complained to Tsunade.

"You have the nerve to say that! Do you have any idea what kind of dangerous ninjutsu you used yesterday? I never realized you were so ruthless, even daring to use a technique like Water Severing Wave! I remember clearly that I haven't taught you such dangerous arts passed down by the Second Hokage yet! And that ball-like ninjutsu that requires no hand signs—where did you learn that?" Tsunade's tone was stern and laced with reproach; she was clearly dissatisfied with Liuxia's actions yesterday.

Liuxia scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his eyes drifting toward the sweating Nawaki. A shy yet proud smile appeared on his face as he whispered, "Actually, I just stumbled upon them, hehehe... Sister Tsunade, you're so strong, I knew I wouldn't stand a chance against you, and I was right. As for that signless ninjutsu, I thought of it when I saw a whirlpool spinning by the water. I named it Rasengan!"

Tsunade glared fiercely at the culprit, Nawaki, before turning back to Liuxia with a serious expression: "That kind of technique is far too dangerous for you lot. You are absolutely forbidden from using it at the academy, understand?" Liuxia nodded hurriedly, agreeing and promising not to use such powerful ninjutsu unless absolutely necessary.

Then, Tsunade's tone softened, her eyes sparkling with admiration: "But, Liuxia, you really are a genius! Based on my observations yesterday, the Rasengan is at least an A-rank ninjutsu! And if you can incorporate chakra nature transformation into your future training, its potential will be limitless!" Her words revealed her recognition and expectations for him.

"Alright, sign this first. Remember, you must use your own blood! Once you're done, I still have to go find that old man and explain what happened yesterday. Ugh, causing such a commotion in the middle of the village—just thinking about it gives me a headache! It's all your fault, you brat!" As she spoke, Tsunade bit her thumb without hesitation and performed the hand signs with lightning speed. She slammed her hand onto the ground and shouted, "Summoning Jutsu!"

As Tsunade performed the technique, a thick cloud of white smoke erupted. Before it could even dissipate, a sweet, melodic female voice rang out.

"Lady Tsunade! Did you summon me for something important?" Unexpectedly, this sweet and adorable voice belonged to a massive, slimy, pale-blue slug. This sight nearly made Nawaki and Kushina's jaws drop.

"Bring out the summoning scroll. This kid is going to sign a contract with Shikkotsu Forest," Tsunade said calmly.

"Hai, Lady Tsunade!" As she spoke, a giant slug crawled slowly out of Shikkotsu Forest. Its body was a peculiar green, covered in a layer of viscous liquid. The slug opened its mouth, spat out a mysterious and ancient scroll, and carefully delivered it to Liuxia.

Liuxia looked at the mysterious scroll with curiosity. He noticed the surface was covered in strange symbols and patterns, forming complex sealing formulas that were entirely foreign to him. Realizing the scroll must contain immense power, he thanked the slug gratefully and reached out to take it firmly.

When he opened the scroll, he was surprised to find it densely packed with names. After careful observation, he deduced these were the marks left by ninjas who had previously contracted with the slug. Among the many names, the two most recent were clearly Tsunade herself and the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Though he didn't recognize the others, he keenly noticed that the majority of the names belonged to the Senju clan!

Liuxia took a deep breath, bit his index finger without hesitation, and neatly signed his name—Liuxia—in the blank space after Tsunade's. Finally, he pressed a clear handprint beneath his signature. This was more than a formality; it represented a bond connecting him to Shikkotsu Forest and the slug. As he finished, a mysterious power surged into his heart, as if he had established a special connection with something profound.

"Alright, please reverse-summon this little one to Shikkotsu Forest to pay respects to the Slug Sage. I need to get to the Hokage's office and explain yesterday's events to that old Third Hokage," Tsunade said, her tone somewhat urgent.

"Understood, Lady Tsunade! Little Liuxia, get ready!" The giant slug nodded at Tsunade's command and whispered a reminder to Liuxia. It then released the summoning, and with a puff of white smoke, its figure blurred and vanished.

Not long after, Liuxia felt a mysterious and powerful force attempting to connect with him. He realized this must be the reverse-summoning from Shikkotsu Forest. He took a deep breath, trying to relax his body. A violent spatial fluctuation struck, and his figure vanished instantly.

Nawaki and Kushina watched as Liuxia disappeared into thin air, a sense of indescribable loss washing over them. Yet, they knew he was off to seek greater power, and they looked forward to him becoming even stronger!

When light returned to his vision, Liuxia found himself in Shikkotsu Forest, as if he had stepped into a dreamlike fairyland. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the lush canopy, casting colorful rays onto the thick carpet of fallen leaves, which felt like a soft velvet rug. Everywhere he looked, towering, straight trees stood tall, their crowns intertwined to weave a canopy of emerald green. Squirrels leaped joyfully between branches, and birds sang, their crisp, melodic songs echoing in the air. A crystal-clear stream flowed slowly, its water biting cold, while lush aquatic plants and vibrant wildflowers bloomed along the banks. Liuxia took a deep breath of the fresh air, feeling the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere wash away all his worries. It was a scene of vibrant life and flourishing nature.

"Ding... Host has arrived at Shikkotsu Forest. Achievement completed: Check-in at Shikkotsu Forest. Reward: Nature Affinity Physique." Suddenly, an electronic voice echoed in Liuxia's mind.