With a dull thud, Tsubasa suddenly appeared in the Shikkotsu Forest. The strong airflow made his clothes flutter and his hair fly wildly. After regaining his footing, he quickly looked around.
Beneath his feet was a vast mountain range of blue and white. Tsubasa looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Katsuyu Sage, but all he could see were the silent mountains and the empty sky; there was no trace of the Katsuyu Sage.
Looking into the distance, a unique scene unfolds. Many tall, towering trees grow among the aquatic plants, their trunks so thick that several people would struggle to encircle them. Their lush foliage intertwines, forming a green dome. Beneath this verdant landscape, the aquatic plants grow freely, swaying gently in the breeze like ripples on a green ocean. Puddles are scattered throughout, their surfaces reflecting the Kageko of the trees and the sky, shimmering in the sunlight.
Looking up, Tsubasa saw towering cliffs standing in the distance, seemingly an insurmountable chasm. The steep walls bore the marks of time's erosion, blocking out most of the sunlight and making the forest dark and damp—perfect for Katsuyu. The air was thick with a damp scent, a blend of earthy and woody fragrance. A thick layer of decaying leaves on the ground, soft and crunchy underfoot, provided an ideal habitat and foraging ground for the Katsuyu.
The occasional whistling of the wind and the sound of dripping water were particularly clear in the quiet environment. Looking around, there was no sign of any animal activity, nor any fish among the water plants. Tsubasa knew that Katsuyu liked to live in such dark and damp places.
Just as Tsubasa was carefully observing his surroundings, he suddenly felt a slight movement beneath his feet. Looking down, he saw a small Katsuyu slowly emerging from under a fallen leaf. The Katsuyu was translucent and covered in mud. It seemed neither afraid nor curious about Tsubasa, this uninvited guest, but its small eyes were fixed on him.
"Little guy, do you know where the Katsuyu Sage is?" Tsubasa asked softly, even though he knew this little Katsuyu might be part of the Katsuyu Sage.
The little Katsuyu wriggled its body and crawled away, seemingly slowly but actually very quickly. "Come with me," a gentle and sweet voice called out.
In the dark and damp Shikkotsu Forest, the air was thick with the smell of decay and dampness. The ground was covered with a thick layer of decaying leaves, and every step Tsubasa took felt like walking on a soft sponge, making a soft "crunching" sound.
Tsubasa gazed at the colossal plants that blotted out the sky, his heart filled with a mixture of tension and anticipation. Tsubasa eyes followed the small Katsuyu ahead, a strange sense of excitement rising within him. He knew that many untold secrets lay hidden within this mysterious Shikkotsu Forest, and his encounter with the Katsuyu Sage might be just around the corner. He took a deep breath, clenched his fist, and strode resolutely deeper into the dark, damp forest.
The little Katsuyu led Tsubasa to a stone platform, its clear, melodious voice ringing out in the silent forest. " Little Tsubasa, this is where Hashirama once trained. You can practice your Senjutsu here."
Tsubasa looked puzzled, scratched his head, and said, "You're the Katsuyu Sage? You're so small, I thought you were some other Katsuyu. Aren't Katsuyu Sage supposed to be very big? I can't see you."
The little Katsuyu raised its head, its eyes full of tenderness, and swayed slightly as it said, "I am a split from the main body. Let me introduce you to the Shikkotsu Forest. We were just standing on the main body."
Tsubasa's eyes widened suddenly, and he instinctively took a step back, staring in shock. He exclaimed, "You mean this white mountain range is the Katsuyu Sage? It's huge!"
The little Katsuyu swayed slowly and said, "My true form is called the Katsuyu Sage. I like to sleep and don't like to communicate. Because my body is so big, I don't like to move much. I just cultivate every day. No other animals dare to approach Shikkotsu Forest. You can ask me anything you need in Shikkotsu Forest."
Tsubasa frowned, looking puzzled, and asked, "Aren't you and the Katsuyu Sage one?"
The little Katsuyu gently twitched its antennae and said softly, "Strictly speaking, no! I'm just a clone of the Katsuyu Sage, like your Shadow Clone Technique."
Tsubasa nodded slightly, a pang of sympathy rising in his heart. He sighed, "That Katsuyu Sage must have it tough! Such a huge body, how boring it must be to stay still!"
The little Katsuyu slowly wriggled around and said gently, "We Katsuyu prefer stillness and don't like to move unless necessary."
Tsubasa looked around curiously, then asked with a smile, "There aren't any other animals in this Shikkotsu Forest. What do you usually eat?"
The little Katsuyu said softly, "We don't eat much; we mainly eat aquatic plants and leaves."
Tsubasa looked puzzled, spreading his hands and saying, "Why aren't there any other animals here? The Katsuyu seem quite gentle, and you're a vegetarian. This place should be suitable for many animals to live in!"
The little Katsuyu sighed softly and said gently, "Thousands of years ago, there were many animals here. Later, I achieved success in my cultivation and ate a red bead. The animals here either ran away or died. Gradually, it became like this."
Tsubasa was startled, his body trembling slightly. He asked cautiously, "Did you kill them all?"
The little Katsuyu gently swayed its antennae and said softly, "Yes and no. Every time I wake up to forage, there's a powerful pressure that kills small animals within ten miles of me, and the stronger animals run away, unwilling to stay with me. Too many animals died back then, and this place became a forbidden area. The animals that ran away called this Shikkotsu Forest."
Tsubasa turned pale with fright, took several steps back, and asked in a trembling voice, "What was that bead you ate? Are there more? Will I also be crushed to death by the pressure?"
The little Katsuyu quickly reassured him, "No, you have Perfect Sage Body; Kamui pressure domains have no effect on you. Hashirama was fine back then. I don't know what that bead is, or if there are any more; I haven't seen it since."
Tsubasa breathed a sigh of relief, patted his chest, and said reassuredly, "Lord Katsuyu, are there any methods for Immortal Cultivation here? Or any Senjutsu or something?"
The little Katsuyu gently swayed its body and said softly, "No, you have Perfect Sage Body, so you're born with the ability to absorb the Natural Energy. Hashirama then. My Senjutsu Techniques are all naturally awakened instincts. There's no method of training them."
Tsubasa bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your explanation, Katsuyu Sage. Katsuyu Sage may rest now; I'm going to begin my cultivation."
Tsubasa slowly sat cross-legged on the stone platform, his hands naturally resting on his knees. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and entered a state of meditation. He carefully sensed the Natural Energy here, and in an instant, a look of surprise appeared on his face. The Natural Energy here was so dense that it was like tangible mist, every strand leaping joyfully, as if warmly embracing him. Compared to the Senju Clan Compound, the density of Natural Energy here was worlds apart, more than ten times that of the Senju Clan Compound. In the outside world, absorbing Natural Energy was like drawing water from a dried-up stream, difficult and slow; but here, it was like being in a rushing river, with Natural Energy continuously flowing into his body.
Tsubasa was overjoyed, his face beaming with excitement. He greedily absorbed the energy of the surrounding water and soil while simultaneously circulating his Pure Yang Art. A miraculous thing happened: he could clearly feel his meridians throbbing joyfully, every cell eagerly absorbing the energy. His cultivation speed was more than ten times that of the outside world, and this rapid improvement filled him with ecstasy. He gritted his teeth, his heart filled with fighting spirit, and devoted himself entirely to cultivation, determined to break through his limits here and explore the mysteries of immortal Senjutsu.
He didn't know how long he had been cultivating when Tsubasa slowly awoke from his meditative state. He felt a sudden hunger in his stomach. So, he took out the sealing scroll and cast Sealing Jutsu. In an instant, all sorts of delicious food appeared before him. He didn't care about anything else and wolfed down the food with great relish. When Qi Refining, he only absorbed the Natural Energy twice a day, and his body needed time to adapt, which made Tsubasa feel extremely bored during his free time.
He listlessly surveyed the plant kingdom shrouded in deathly silence. Sparse sunlight struggled to penetrate the layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, attempting to dispel the omnipresent darkness. Looking at this eerie scene, Tsubasa couldn't help but mutter to himself, "This place would be perfect for filming a horror movie; every corner exudes a chilling atmosphere."
Tsubasa decided to make this place more to his liking. He first looked at the towering trees surrounding the stone platform, their trunks shading the sky. These trees were incredibly thick, each requiring dozens of people to encircle it, their trunks marked with the marks of time. Tsubasa took a deep breath, retrieved a weapon from the sealing scroll, his Chakra surging and gathering in his arms. He leaped high, his longsword gleaming coldly, and slashed fiercely at a tree. With a "crack," the blade pierced the tree, sending splinters flying. The tree was too... The tree was too big; the knife was too small to cut it in one go. With each strike, Tsubasa let out a deep roar, a release of power and will. After a few strikes, the massive tree began to tremble slightly, creaking and groaning as if in its final struggle. Finally, the giant tree fell with a deafening crash. One tree after another, Tsubasa tirelessly chopped them down, treating it as Taijutsu. Sweat soaked his clothes, streaming down his face, but his gaze grew ever more determined.
After felling the trees, Tsubasa began clearing the surrounding vegetation. He swiftly Hand Seals and chanted, " Earth Release — Earth Release: Earth Flow River!" In Setsuna, the earth trembled violently, and a surging torrent of earth, like a rushing river, swept towards the surrounding vegetation. The dense weeds and shrubs were uprooted and swept away by the earth current, quickly disappearing without a trace. The once chaotic and thorny wetland became flat and open. Tsubasa looked at his masterpiece and nodded in satisfaction.
Next, he decided to build a villa. As he used his Ninjutsu, the ground seemed to come alive, automatically gathering and shaping itself. Even the Katsuyu Sage, who disliked conversation, was intrigued by Tsubasa's actions. Its massive body twitched slightly. The Katsuyu Sage was secretly amazed; this child was completely different from Hashirama back then! Hashirama had trained on that rock, finding food when he was hungry. This child's ideas were peculiar; he had actually cleared land and built a house in this Shikkotsu Forest! It was the first time it had ever seen someone build a house. It observed quietly, filled with doubt. Why couldn't he just lie on that rock to sleep? It couldn't understand why Tsubasa was going to such lengths.
As the villa gradually took shape, Tsubasa used his Shadow Clone Technique to create multiple clones, each busy with their own tasks. Some clones inscribed defensive runes, others water runes, and the light runes they inscribed shimmered with a gentle glow. Once everything was complete, a luxurious villa shimmering with various rune lights was finished. Tsubasa lay on a lounge chair by the swimming pool, leisurely sunbathing, thinking, "This is life!"
However, Tsubasa was unaware that, far away, a Katsuyu the size of a mountain range was curiously observing his every move. This was the true form of the Katsuyu Sage, filled with curiosity and curiosity about Tsubasa's arrival and his series of actions.