Slug Sage!

"Beep... The host has arrived at Shikkotsu Forest and completed the achievement—Visit Shikkotsu Forest. Reward: Nature Affinity Physique."

Suddenly, an electronic voice rang out in Liuxia's mind. The sound was both familiar and strange to him, because he hadn't heard the system's notifications in a long time. Over the past few years, Liuxia had completed some achievements, but most of the rewards the system gave him weren't very important.

For example, when Liuxia first came top of his grade, the system rewarded him with tens of millions; when he received a girl's confession for the first time, it added some charm points to his stats, and so on. These rewards might have seemed tempting, but they didn't do much to improve his strength.

Only when he'd advanced in rank twice had the system given him especially impressive rewards. As a Genin, Liuxia had received a boost to his chakra recovery speed; then, as a Chunin, he'd obtained the A-rank seal-less ninjutsu Rasengan. Those two rewards, more than anything, had shown Liuxia just how powerful the system was.

But this time, the achievement reward was incredible! It had directly granted Liuxia an affinity for Natural Energy, giving him a solid foundation for learning Senjutsu. Liuxia was secretly delighted. He knew this reward would have a huge impact on his future growth. With an affinity for Natural Energy, he'd be able to communicate more easily with the elements of nature and absorb more Natural Energy, thereby growing stronger. But he'd already arrived at Shikkotsu Forest, so why hadn't Wood Release awakened yet? Just as Liuxia was about to consult the all-knowing system, Big Sister Slug interrupted him with her rich, resonant voice.

"Little Liuxia, welcome to Shikkotsu Forest! Come along and meet the Slug Sage. She's waiting for you." Her sweet, melodious voice was positively enchanting.

"Thank you, Big Sister Slug. Shikkotsu Forest is truly beautiful! But I don't see many slugs around."

"Oh, my, Little Liuxia, you certainly know how to flatter a girl! This is only the outer edge of Shikkotsu Forest. The scenery is lovely, but the Natural Energy here isn't much different from the outside world, so the slugs don't particularly like coming out this way."

"I see. The system told me before that my Wood Release could only awaken where natural power gathers," Liuxia murmured to himself.

Sure enough, as the Slug Sage led Liuxia closer to the central area, he could clearly sense the Natural Energy growing denser around them. At the same time, more and more tiny, adorable slugs began to appear.

It seems all the slugs in Shikkotsu Forest are split off from the Slug Sage herself. That old sage really is something, Liuxia thought.

After a long journey, they finally reached their destination. The Natural Energy here was so dense that it seemed to be drawn to Liuxia's Nature Affinity Physique. It began to flow toward him on its own, and his body started communicating with the chakra within him.

"Beep... The host has arrived at a convergence of natural power! Kekkei Genkai: Wood Release awakening accelerated!"

As if drawn by the system, a vast amount of natural power surged toward Liuxia like a flood. He felt a strange energy stirring inside him, as though a long-dormant power was being roused. Liuxia sat quietly in a lush green forest, eyes closed as he regulated his breathing. His body began to tremble faintly, and green light shimmered across his skin. The trees around him seemed to respond to the power, their branches swaying gently as if cheering him on.

Liuxia's consciousness sank deeper into that power. He seemed able to hear the trees whispering and feel the breath of nature. As his awakening continued, the sphere grew larger and larger, then finally burst apart, dissolving into countless green sparks that flowed into his body. He opened his eyes, confidence and determination shining in them. At last, he had awakened the power of Wood Release within him.

"Oh? What's happening to Little Liuxia? Why has he suddenly stirred up such a huge wave of Natural Energy?"

"I know not. I have never seen Natural Energy behave like this before. This is my first time encountering such a thing, though he seems to have gained some sort of benefit." A massive shadow fell over the area. The Great Slug Sage had sensed the disturbance in the Natural Energy outside.

The boy stood with his eyes shut, green light shimmering around his body, as if he had become one with nature. His breathing was steady and deep, as though he were absorbing the life force all around him.

"It's been a long time since anyone as special as little Hashirama appeared in the Senju Clan. It seems little Tsunade has brought us a truly remarkable boy!"

"Beep... Wood Release awakening complete! Beep, achievement 'Kekkei Genkai' completed. You have taken your first step. Reward: Passive Seal-less!" A mechanical voice rang out in Liuxia's mind.

"Great Slug Sage, hello! I'm Liuxia, the new contract holder of Shikkotsu Forest."

"Little Liuxia, you're an interesting person. Would you like to try learning Senjutsu?"

"Great Slug Sage, what is Senjutsu? Is it a special kind of ninjutsu?" Liuxia pretended not to know, wearing an expression of desperate innocence.

"You could say that. Senjutsu is ninjutsu released using Senjutsu Chakra, which is formed by balancing and combining the Natural Energy found everywhere in nature with the chakra inside your body. You should be able to sense Natural Energy, right? It's the energy you just felt. So, what do you think? Want to give it a try? It's quite powerful!"

"Um, isn't it dangerous?"

"It can be a little dangerous for other people. They just turn to stone, and it doesn't hurt! Little Tsunade chickened out back then. She was nothing like little Hashirama, who started learning as soon as he heard what it was. Such a brave child!"

With the way you put it, who'd dare to learn it except for the idiots reincarnated from Asura? You turn to stone! It's not like going bald! Liuxia was practically bursting with sarcastic thoughts.

"Don't you have any precautions? Couldn't you absorb the Natural Energy for me?"

"Now that you mention it, I suppose I could. Shall we try?"

"Maybe another day? I just remembered I have something to take care of. Sorry for the trouble, Sage. I'll be going now!"

Seeing how unreliable the sage was, Liuxia immediately—and decisively—chose to make a run for it. What was she thinking? Could he really try something like that? Try it and die!

"Don't rush off. I'd like to get to know you better, Little Liuxia. It's been a long time since anything this entertaining happened here. Don't worry. With your affinity for Natural Energy, you definitely won't turn to stone!"

The Great Slug Sage had finally found such an interesting contract holder; she couldn't let him get away. Little Tsunade truly had no talent for it, but this plaything—no, contract holder—standing before her was sure to inherit the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest perfectly.

Liuxia was restrained by one of the Great Slug Sage's wondrous techniques, unable to move. All he could do was watch as she packed a ball of Natural Energy and shoved it into his body!