Temple of Great Toad Sage.
Old rules, dim lanterns, and ancient atmosphere.
The huge Toad is still sitting cross-legged on the high platform with its eyes closed.
"Great Toad Sage." Sage Fukasaku spoke respectfully, "Senju Clan's kid is here again. But this time... the situation is a bit special."
Old Toad on the high platform slowly opened his eyes.
Those old eyes looked at Senju Chen.
I watched it for ten full seconds.
Then--
"You are not the same kid as last time."
Great Toad Sage's voice is old and slow.
"This is... a puppet? A clone? Ten-Tails Tree?"
Senju Chen bowed respectfully.
"Great Toad Sage's Dharma Eye is flawless. This body is Puppet Clone, made of the life essence of Ten-Tails Tree, and can exist independently for a long time."
Great Toad Sage was silent for a long time.
It was so long that Senju Chen thought it fell asleep again.
Finally, old Toad spoke.
"Interesting..."
There was a hint of smile in its voice.
"Use Puppet Clone to practice Senjutsu... In all these years, this is the first time someone has come up with this method."
Senju Chen breathed a sigh of relief.
Great Toad Sage's tone didn't sound like he wanted to refuse.
"But..." Great Toad Sage's eyes suddenly became deep.
"This avatar of yours is practicing here. One of your other avatars is at Shikkotsu Forest. The other one is at Ryūchi Cave."
Senju Chen's pupils shrank suddenly.
Does it know this?
Great Toad Sage actually saw through his third-line operation plan!
"Don't be surprised." Great Toad Sage's voice was slow and flat, "Although I am old and have a bad memory, but... there are some things that you can see at a glance without memorizing them."
Senju Chen was silent for three seconds, then smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Okay. There is really no point in being clever in front of an old monster that has lived for thousands of years.
"Yes." Senju Chen no longer concealed, "Junior wants to practice Three Great Sage Lands's Sage Mode at the same time."
Sage Fukasaku gasped when he heard it.
Three Great Sage Lands? Practice at the same time?
This kid is crazy!
Great Toad Sage just smiled.
"Young man... has a big appetite."
"But..."
"Whether you can digest it or not depends on your ability."
It slowly closed its eyes.
"Fukasaku, let him stay."
Sage Fukasaku was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes."
Great Toad Sage said one last sentence before closing his eyes.
"Boy... remember one thing."
Senju Chen Prick up your ears.
"Different paths lead to the same destination... When you get to the end, you will find..."
"..."
"..."
What did you find???
After you explain it, what do you mean?
But Senju Chen found that Great Toad Sage had completely fallen asleep.
Senju Chen stood there, replaying this sentence repeatedly in his mind.
Different paths lead to the same destination...
He suppressed the problem for the time being and followed Sage Fukasaku out of the temple.
Almost at the same moment.
Shikkotsu Forest.
Senju Chen's figure came out of the white smoke.
The overwhelming green comes into view again. Moss, vines, fluorescent slime, moist and warm air.
Last time I came with Tsunade, this time I was alone.
Senju Chen walked for five minutes along the route in memory and arrived at the open area last time.
The huge light blue Katsuyu is squatting in place, its tentacles swinging slowly.
"You're here." Katsuyu's voice was gentle and soft.
Senju Chen bowed.
"Senior Katsuyu, excuse me."
Katsuyu's tentacles turned towards him.
There was silence for three seconds.
then
"You..."
Katsuyu's voice is still gentle, but there is a hint of fun in it.
"You are a clone."
Senju Chen didn't hide anything and nodded directly.
"Yes. This body is my Puppet Clone. It is made of the life essence of Ten-Tails Tree and can survive for a long time."
The top of Katsuyu's tentacles swayed slightly, as if nodding.
"I know. I felt it when you came last time. Your body's Chakra and this puppet's Chakra have the same underlying structure, but the life fluctuations are completely different."
Kirisame Ryo sighed in his heart.
Sure enough, Katsuyu Sage's perception is stronger than that of Mount Myōboku. They themselves are living beings that share consciousness, and are extremely sensitive to the difference between "individuals" and "doppelgangers".
"Senior Katsuyu, junior come here this time because you want to use this Puppet Clone to practice Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest." Senju Chen said.
Katsuyu was silent for a few seconds.
Then laughed.
"Use Puppet Clone to practice..." Its voice was full of appreciation, "What a smart way."
Senju Chen was stunned.
"Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu practice requires the consumption of vitality. I told you last time. The number of cell divisions of ordinary humans is limited. Once the limit is exceeded, the body will collapse."
"But this puppet of yours-"
The tentacles of Katsuyu point to Kirisame Ryo.
"The cells containing Ten-Tails Tree are born with nearly unlimited potential for division. Use it to cultivate Senjutsu from Shikkotsu Forest, and there is almost no risk of exhaustion of vitality."
Senju Chen's eyes lit up.
He had guessed this before, but hearing the confirmation from Katsuyu Sage made him feel completely different.
"And..." Katsuyu continued, "Even if the puppet's cells really divide to the limit and collapse, your body will not be affected in any way. It is equivalent to using a disposable body to challenge the limit of practice. There is no price for failure."
"Young people have good brains. Your method... is really good."
Katsuyu's tone was full of appreciation.
Senju Chen was stunned for several seconds.
Being praised by an immortal who has lived for who knows how many years as "he has a good brain"...
"Senior... did you agree?"
Katsuyu's huge body moved slowly, leaving a trail of slime in the open space.
"Of course I agree."
"But I have a condition."
"Senior, please speak."
Katsuyu's tentacles are bent at the top, as if they are smiling.
"After successful cultivation..."
"Tell me how you made your puppet."
"I want to study the cell division mechanism of Ten-Tails Tree." Katsuyu's voice became serious, "As a life form with cell division as its core, I am... very interested in this kind of thing."
Senju Chen breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
That's it?
He originally thought that Katsuyu Sage would put forward some outrageous conditions.
"No problem."
"Okay." Katsuyu's voice returned to gentleness.
"Come with me."
"I'll take you to the place where you practice."
Senju Chen followed Katsuyu and walked deeper into Shikkotsu Forest.
At this moment.
Under the watchful eye of White Snake Sage, Ryūchi Cave's clone has begun the first stage of Senjutsu's training.
Under the guidance of Sage Fukasaku, the clone of Mount Myōboku stepped onto the stone platform in front of Toad Oil waterfall.
Shikkotsu Forest's clone, led by Katsuyu Sage, walked to the training ground next to the core pool.
Three Great Sage Lands.
Three clones.
Start at the same time.
And Senju Chen's body is currently sitting in the yard of Konoha Senju's mansion, with his eyes closed, feeling the information sent back by three sensory lines at the same time.
Great Toad Sage Those words were still running through his mind.
"Different paths lead to the same destination... When you get to the end, you will find..."
What exactly will you find?
Senju Chen opened his eyes and looked at the night sky above his head.
"Let's go and see."
No matter where it leads--
He has to go to the finish line to take a look.