There is only one existence in the entire Shikkotsu Forest.
The Slug Sage.
The entities summoned by Shikkotsu Forest's contractors are always merely her clones.
"Slug Sage, this is Kakashi and his wife."
Tsunade pointed at Kakashi and Hikari with great familiarity.
"Slug Sage."
Kakashi greeted the little slug before him, and Hikari hurriedly followed suit.
She could tell that Kakashi's attitude toward this slug was actually quite good.
"Lord Hokage."
The Slug Sage seemed to always have this gentle and soft demeanor, using honorifics with everyone, even though her seniority and age far exceeded any existence in the ninja world.
"Is there something you need from me, Lord Hokage?"
As an old relic who had lived for a thousand years, the Slug Sage could tell at a glance that the person in charge here was Kakashi.
"It is like this, Slug Sage. I want to learn Sage Mode, and I hope you will teach me."
Kakashi spoke respectfully, stating the purpose of his visit.
"Sage Mode?"
The Slug Sage looked at Tsunade with some hesitation, as if asking her, Haven't you told this Hokage yet?
"This guy definitely won't give up until he sees it with his own eyes. He insisted on coming, so I couldn't help it."
Tsunade waved her hand, somewhat speechless.
"Since that is the case, then please come with me, Lord Hokage."
The Slug Sage sighed softly, then led the way forward.
Not long after, led by the Slug Sage across ground covered in pebbles, the trio arrived at a place dense with water vapor.
Through the layers of mist, Kakashi seemed to see a pool of water ahead.
Only...
Kakashi looked at his own palm.
A slight stinging pain.
This place was full of acid mist.
Before even getting close, Kakashi could already feel the stinging sensation caused by the corrosion of the acid mist.
From this, it was obvious what lay ahead.
At this moment, Hikari also realized this and looked at Kakashi with some concern.
"Ahead is the Sage Pool I have spent a thousand years creating."
"As long as one enters the Sage Pool and allows the water to bathe their whole body, during the process of the pool water corroding the body, the natural energy within it will merge into the entrant's flesh."
"As long as one can survive it, even someone without a shred of talent for cultivating Sage Mode can naturally master Sage Mode."
"Moreover, the more times one bathes in it, the more proficient their mastery of Sage Mode becomes."
The Slug Sage's words rang out leisurely, causing Kakashi's brows to furrow tightly.
The prerequisite was: to survive it intact.
The Slug Sage seemed to already know what Kakashi was thinking and continued:
"It is not just about surviving. More importantly, the entrant must possess powerful regenerative abilities. Otherwise, even if you withstand the corrosion of the Sage Pool, your whole body will be covered in scars, or your limbs might even melt inside it."
Corrosion and recovery, time and time again, allowing natural energy to spread throughout the body and completely integrate into one's flesh.
This was the training method of the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Pool.
It was also the cruelest and most unsolvable training method among the Three Great Sage Regions.
Who would have thought that while the Slug Sage appeared to have such a gentle personality, her Sage Mode was actually this terrifying.
"Is this the only way...?"
Looking at the pervasive mist ahead, Kakashi frowned deeply.
"If we speak of the safest Sage Mode training, Mount Myōboku's training is the safest. Why do you not choose them, Lord Hokage?"
At this moment, the Slug Sage looked at Kakashi with some confusion.
"Hah, this kid was rejected by the toads of Mount Myōboku."
Tsunade glanced at the frowning Kakashi, then related what Kakashi had told her earlier to the Slug Sage.
"Gamamaru actually did that...?"
The two tentacle-like eyes on the Slug Sage's head swayed, seeming somewhat puzzled.
"Not only that, the Great Toad Sage also made a prophecy about me."
Kakashi then told the Slug Sage about the prophecy the Great Toad Sage had given him.
The Slug Sage, who had been quietly listening to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, sighed and said:
"Gamamaru is always like this, thinking that nothing can escape the palm of his hand."
"Although I harbor some small grievances in my heart, even I have to admit the accuracy of his prophecies."
Hearing the Slug Sage's words, Kakashi felt a sense of trouble in his heart.
Could it be that this Slug Sage would also choose the same path as Gamamaru...?
"Lord Hokage, you do not yet have a summoning beast capable of frontal combat, do you?"
The Slug Sage suddenly spoke, which surprised Kakashi slightly.
"What does the Sage mean?"
Looking at the Slug Sage before him, a guess formed in Kakashi's heart.
"Lord Hokage, would you be willing to sign a contract with me and become a contractor of Shikkotsu Forest?"
The Slug Sage spoke gently, looking at Kakashi.
These words surprised Tsunade; she hadn't expected the Slug Sage to make a completely opposite choice to the other party while still acknowledging Gamamaru of Mount Myōboku's prophecy.
"Can you tell me why?"
A contract with Shikkotsu Forest—since the Slug Sage was willing, Kakashi certainly wouldn't be pretentious enough to refuse.
It was a consensual arrangement.
But just like Tsunade thought, he wanted to know what the Slug Sage's motive was.
"Really, you know, toads counter slugs~~"
"Since that prophecy is so clear, would you be willing to let me stay together with the toads, Lord Hokage?"
For some reason, Kakashi suddenly felt that her attitude regarding the issue of the Mount Myōboku toads was a bit passive-aggressive.
But... Kakashi liked it.
"Since the Slug Sage has extended such a gracious invitation, I naturally will not refuse."
In that so-called prophecy, it was clearly stated that no one could stay out of it, so the Slug Sage naturally made her choice as well.
She chose the Fifth Hokage of Konoha, Kakashi Hatake.
Without seeing the Slug Sage make any movement, a puff of light smoke rose before Kakashi.
A giant scroll appeared in front of him.
This was unmistakably the Slug Sage's summoning contract.
"Just write your name on it, okay."
Following the Slug Sage's size, Kakashi opened the scroll and saw that the very last name was indeed Tsunade.
As for before that...
"Why isn't Hashirama Senju's name here?"
Looking at the string of unfamiliar names, Kakashi was somewhat confused.
"Show some respect to my grandfather!"
Tsunade, who had originally thought to step aside for a moment, heard Kakashi's words and immediately shouted angrily.
"Lord Hashirama was not my contractor. Back then, it was Lord Hashirama who found me and then had Lord Tsunade, who was only six years old, sign the contract."
The Slug Sage spoke with some confusion.
She didn't know why Kakashi would have that idea.
"Then... how did the First Hokage cultivate Sage Mode?"
Kakashi voiced the confusion in his heart.
He had originally thought Hashirama Senju was also a summoner of Shikkotsu Forest.
After all, with Hashirama Senju's super-strong regenerative abilities, it wouldn't have been impossible to complete the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode training.
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