"Slug Sage, I've come to see you."
As Shin Uchiha called out, he had already taken flight, heading toward the center of Shikkotsu Forest.
Shin Uchiha had always held the Slug Sage in great respect.
After all, when Shin Uchiha had trained in Sage Mode here in Shikkotsu Forest, the Slug Sage had taken very good care of him. Without her help, there was no telling how much more hardship he would have endured before completing his training.
The Slug Sage was kind to all her summoning contractors, and she treated Shin Uchiha particularly well.
After all, of all the contractors over the generations, only Hashirama Senju and Shin Uchiha had mastered Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode, so she regarded him with particular favor.
Thus, when Shin Uchiha flew over, the enormous Slug Sage had already raised her head and called out cheerfully in a voice like a little girl's:
"Shin, you finally found time to visit me! If you don't have anything urgent to handle outside, you must stay here a little longer."
Hearing the Slug Sage's words, Shin Uchiha raised his eyebrows, looking a little sheepish.
Ever since he had finished his Sage Mode training in Shikkotsu Forest, Shin Uchiha had rarely returned, so her welcoming words left him feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Sorry for intruding, Slug Sage. I've reached a certain stage in my training and need to cultivate quietly somewhere rich in natural energy, so I came here."
Ever since entering Shikkotsu Forest, Shin Uchiha had keenly sensed that his rate of absorbing natural energy had increased at least fivefold. In other words, the World Seed, which would originally have needed three years to advance, might not even need a year here.
The Slug Sage had long since noticed Shin Uchiha absorbing natural energy, but she spoke without