Tsunade, who had been laughing hysterically, suddenly froze. Her eyes widened as she stammered, "Slug Sage, are you sure he has a good talent?"
"Yes, his talent is excellent, comparable to Hashirama Senju. If he dedicates himself, he will definitely learn the senjutsu of the Shikkotsu Forest," the Slug Sage confirmed, even invoking the legendary First Hokage for comparison.
Shinki's talent for learning the senjutsu of the Shikkotsu Forest was on par with Hashirama's, making Tsunade's jaw drop. The realization that *she* might be the one lacking stung.
*So, the clown is actually me?*
Tsunade felt her earlier confidence dissolve. She knew firsthand just how extraordinary her grandfather had been—his title as the God of Shinobi was well-earned and undisputed throughout the ninja world.
"....."
Now what? She felt a wave of regret. There was no winning—either the man was untalented, or he was so talented that she felt foolish.
Unlike others who might celebrate such news, Shinki remained calm. He wanted to know what learning the senjutsu of the Shikkotsu Forest entailed. If it meant being swallowed by the Slug Sage again, he would pass.
"Wait, what are the steps for learning this?" Shinki asked cautiously.
The Slug Sage, with its serene, massive presence, replied, "It's quite simple. You meditate on the ground, and small slugs will attach to your body to help you absorb natural energy. They not only aid in absorbing natural energy but also prevent any adverse effects."
To master senjutsu, one must blend natural energy with physical and spiritual energy to reach a perfect balance—a delicate and dangerous process. Most aspiring learners perished at this stage, unable to balance the energies, resulting in petrification.
"Just like the toad oil in Myoboku Mountain?" Shinki asked, recalling the tales of its infamous training methods.
"Yes, but toad oil is harsh on the body. The small slugs here are gentle and will absorb any excess energy to prevent imbalances," the Slug Sage clarified.
Shinki's shoulders relaxed. The thought of being covered in small slugs was bearable, but being swallowed again was not. He had experienced that once, and that was more than enough.
After agreeing to a future training date with the Slug Sage, Shinki and Tsunade were reverse-summoned back to Konoha.
"Ugh!" Shinki slipped the moment he landed, almost falling flat on his face. The sticky mucus that clung to him was unbearable.
Slugs might love their slime, but humans definitely did not. Unless, of course, they were a very particular kind of person.
Without even pausing to grab clean clothes, Shinki darted to the bathroom to scrub himself clean of the revolting slime.
Meanwhile, Tsunade slumped onto the sofa, still in shock. *Is his talent really that exceptional?* she thought, questioning everything.
After spending a year stationed at the border, Shinki needed time to rest, and his duties at the hospital were temporarily on hold. His senjutsu training would commence after the New Year.
---
"Shinki, wake up," Kushina said softly the next morning as she stood by his bed.
Luckily, he hadn't fallen asleep with Tsunade, or Kushina's sudden entrance would have caused quite the stir. Tsunade had chosen to spend the night deep in thought, needing space after the day's revelations.
"Kushina, you're up early," Shinki murmured, ruffling her hair.
"It's not early!" she said, glancing at the window. Tugging on his wrist, she urged, "Get up, Shinki! We need to go to the market and get everything ready for the barbecue. We have to marinate the meat, and it takes time."
Bundled in thick winter clothes, Shinki yawned as he stepped outside, the cold air making him shiver. *Waking up early in winter is rough,* he thought. It was far more appealing to stay wrapped up in bed. But he had promised Kushina a barbecue feast, so here he was.
---
"Kushina, here to shop again?"
"Morning, Kushina!"
It was amusing how well-known she'd become at the market. The vendors' eyes lit up when they saw her, knowing she was a generous customer who bought in bulk and never haggled. To them, Kushina was a little goldmine—adorable, polite, and always willing to spend.
"Hold on!" Shinki interrupted as he noticed her buying more than they could carry. "Are you planning to move the entire market to our house? Even with a refrigerator, we can't stockpile this much."
"The vendors are just so nice," Kushina said sheepishly.
Shinki sighed, tapping her lightly on the head. "Too nice, huh? They'd love for you to buy out the whole market. Follow me, and let me handle the shopping."
"Okay," Kushina said, pouting as she obediently followed behind, her eyes wide with mock disappointment.
With their shopping done, Shinki and Kushina stopped for breakfast at their favorite ramen shop.
---
As expected, Nawaki and Tsunade were still sleeping. Those two would probably remain in bed until late morning if nothing urgent came up.
"It smells so good!" Kushina beamed, her joy evident in the way she devoured her meal.
Being with Shinki seemed to bring out her happiest smiles. After finishing breakfast, she held his hand and skipped all the way home like a little rabbit.
Watching her bounce around filled Shinki with a peculiar warmth, as if he were raising a daughter—teaching her, encouraging her, and spending quality time together.
Once home, Shinki handed Kushina her next task: waking up Tsunade and Nawaki to help prepare for the barbecue.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 130 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss