Something

The water supply Hashirama spoke of referred to the amount of chakra one possessed. Senjutsu Chakra formed only when Natural Energy and chakra remained in a certain B. Once that stable B was lost, the Senjutsu Chakra would disappear. More frightening still, if Natural Energy exceeded chakra, the user would instead be consumed by chakra.

With the mental power he had mysteriously acquired, Kazemori Masaki could produce perfect senjutsu chakra without even making a conscious effort to maintain that balance. Previously, he had been unable to control natural energy, so it had continued pouring into him even after all his senjutsu chakra had formed, leaving him bedridden with a serious illness. After learning to control natural energy, however, his insufficient chakra prevented him from producing more senjutsu chakra and thus wielding greater power.

Members of the Kazemori Family were not particularly robust, nor did they possess especially large Chakra reserves. Although Kazemori Masaki was only eighteen, and his Chakra would increase as he grew older, he would probably have to reach thirty or so before it could meet his needs. He could not afford to wait that long.

Kazemori Masaki hurriedly asked Hashirama whether there was any way to increase his Chakra quickly. At first, Hashirama did not understand his urgency in seeking power. But on second thought, Tobirama's other students were all exceptional talents. Apart from his aptitude for Sage Art, Kazemori Masaki did not stand out among them. For a young man, that must have been considerable pressure.

After guiding him for some time, Hashirama was very pleased with Kazemori Masaki's dedication to learning. Because the young man possessed an aptitude for Sage Art, Hashirama also felt as though he were passing on a legacy to him. After a moment's thought, he decided to solve this problem for Kazemori Masaki. It was not as though he had no means of doing so.

"All right. Since you insist, I'll give you a suggestion." Hashirama smiled at Kazemori Masaki. "To increase your Chakra, apart from growing naturally, you can only rely on outside aids. Every clan has some traditions of that sort. Yours should be no exception."

Kazemori Masaki nodded. His family did indeed have Secret Medicine to aid a ninja's training, but he had taken it since childhood, and it no longer did much for him. Other clans' training medicines would probably be much the same, unless they were far more potent drugs. But those would likely do considerable damage to the body, like the Akimichi Clan's Three-Colored Pills.

Could the Senju Clan's Secret Medicine be special? Kazemori Masaki looked at Hashirama expectantly, but Hashirama said, "For a ninja your age, however, Secret Medicine is no longer very effective. Even ours in the Senju Clan is the same. Still..."

The corners of Hashirama's mouth lifted slightly. "A ninja's Secret Medicine can only do so much, but there are things in this world that lie beyond a ninja's imagination."

"What things?" Kazemori Masaki had been somewhat disappointed, but the latter half of Hashirama's words immediately stirred his excitement, and he hurried to ask.

"Wait a moment." Hashirama was in no hurry to explain. He put a finger in his mouth and bit it until it bled, then swiftly formed hand seals and slammed his palm against the ground. In an instant, a mass of tadpole-like markings spread outward, forming a pattern resembling a magic circle. Then, with a poof, a snow-white creature with blue markings appeared before them.

"This is..." Kazemori Masaki recognized her. Wasn't this Katsuyu, the summoned beast of Hashirama's granddaughter, Princess Tsunade?

Katsuyu was a creature that lived in Shikkotsu Forest, a place where Sage Art was passed down. Unlike the other two such places, Shikkotsu Forest had only one living being: the Slug Sage, the progenitor of its Sage Art. The summoned beasts of Shikkotsu Forest were actually all parts of the Slug Sage—her clones.

Although Hashirama summoning Katsuyu surprised Kazemori Masaki, there was nothing strange about him having ties to Shikkotsu Forest, considering that Princess Tsunade would later have Katsuyu as well, and Hashirama himself could use senjutsu. The question was, what did summoning Katsuyu have to do with the things Hashirama had mentioned?

Kazemori Masaki immediately thought of the toad oil at Mount Myōboku, but that should only make it easier to absorb Natural Energy, not increase Chakra. He was less familiar with the other two places. All he knew was that Jūgo's sage physique originated from Ryūchi Cave, while Shikkotsu Forest was a complete mystery.

In the original work Kazemori Masaki had read in another world, at least the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave had appeared, revealing what she looked like. The Slug Sage had never appeared in a single scene. Then again, since Katsuyu was a clone of the Slug Sage, there hardly seemed to be much to anticipate about her appearance.

Hashirama had no idea what Kazemori Masaki was thinking. When Katsuyu appeared, he greeted her, and she looked at him and said, "It has been a long time, Lord Hashirama. I never thought there would be a time when you needed me."

Katsuyu's voice was very pleasant, and simply listening to it felt as though it cleansed the soul. Hashirama laughed. "Even I have times when I need to ask for your help."

"Lord Hashirama, what do you need help with?" Katsuyu was very curious. With Hashirama's abilities, he essentially had no need for a summoned beast's help. If he needed healing, he could do it himself. If he needed a massive summoned beast to fight, his Wooden Figure could battle a fully formed Susanoo. Ever since signing the contract, Hashirama had hardly asked Katsuyu for anything. The sole exception had been when he went to ask the Slug Sage about senjutsu.

"Actually, I was hoping to make use of that thing in Shikkotsu Forest." Hashirama glanced at Kazemori Masaki. "This boy needs it."

Katsuyu turned to look at Kazemori Masaki and dipped her head slightly. "Hello."

"Hello," Kazemori Masaki replied, inwardly marveling at how genuinely good-natured Katsuyu was. Those at Mount Myōboku were either bad-tempered or self-deprecating, while those at Ryūchi Cave hardly bore mentioning—they were essentially a pack of cruel, vicious creatures. Shikkotsu Forest was truly a breath of fresh air.

"Since this is your request, Lord Hashirama, naturally, I have no reason to refuse," Katsuyu said. "Please have this boy sign the contract, then bring him to Shikkotsu Forest."

"Mm." Hashirama nodded. A cloud of smoke suddenly burst into existence in front of Katsuyu, and a huge Scroll appeared. Hashirama promptly unrolled it. Many names were written on the Scroll, and the last was his own.

"Come, Masaki. Write your name in blood, then leave the prints of all five fingers. That way, I can take you to Shikkotsu Forest," Hashirama said.

Kazemori Masaki was rather astonished. He was already about to sign a summoning contract, and with Shikkotsu Forest, a place where senjutsu was passed down, no less. It gave him a rather peculiar feeling. Still, he did not hesitate. He bit his finger, wrote his name on the scroll in blood, and then left his five fingerprints.

"Good." Hashirama nodded in satisfaction. Katsuyu immediately put away the Scroll, saying she would await them both in Shikkotsu Forest and asking them to wait a moment.

After Katsuyu disappeared, Kazemori Masaki asked, "Lord Hashirama, why exactly are we going to Shikkotsu Forest?"

"Because what you need can only be found in Shikkotsu Forest. It can be brought out, but its effects would be greatly diminished," Hashirama said. "All you need to know is that our Senju Clan's Secret Medicine uses it as an ingredient. That should tell you what it can do."

Kazemori Masaki was startled to hear that. The Senju Clan's Secret Medicine surely had outstanding effects. Apart from the clan's naturally strong constitutions, that medicine must have played a considerable role as well. Now he was rather eager to find out exactly what Hashirama was talking about.

After a while, Kazemori Masaki suddenly felt his body grow light. Then came a sensation of weightlessness, as though he were falling, and everything around him was replaced by darkness. Before Kazemori Masaki could react, the solid feel of the ground reached him through the soles of his feet. He hurriedly raised his head and looked around.

Though it was a few minutes late, I still finished it. The second update.

(End of chapter)