When Kawakaze opened his eyes, he saw Tsunade's fair face close to his. She was sound asleep.
"She used too much chakra healing your wounds, so don't wake her," Lady Katsuyu advised.
Kawakaze noticed a few Katsuyu slugs still clinging to his face, their cold, slimy touch lingering. His wounds were mostly healed now. What a silly girl.
Gently, he shifted Tsunade, resting her head on his lap. This hard boulder wasn't exactly comfortable. He also brushed her light yellow hair aside to keep it from disturbing her sleep.
"How do you feel now?" Lady Katsuyu asked.
"I still feel a bit weak," Kawakaze admitted, sensing a powerful energy surging within him—the Senjutsu Chakra.
"This is normal. I didn't expect your cells to be so active," Lady Katsuyu remarked. "Lord Hashirama completed the fusion directly, but you managed to turn things around after failing. Today, you've opened my eyes."
Her praise was genuine. Shikkotsu Forest had proven its capability for Senjutsu, contrary to the beliefs of those who favored toads and snakes.
"It was just luck," Kawakaze said humbly. "I almost gave up."
"A person reduced to dust, or even pus, still returns to nature," Lady Katsuyu replied cryptically.
Kawakaze, drenched in sweat, felt the conversation wasn't leading anywhere. "Does this make me a full-fledged Sage now?"
He activated his Senjutsu Chakra, and red markings appeared around his eyes. The newfound recovery and destructive power coursing through him were on an entirely different level.
"You've mastered it," Lady Katsuyu confirmed. "But you'll need to get used to absorbing natural energy. Maintaining Sage Mode isn't easy in the outside world unless you have Hashirama's Wood Release."
Kawakaze sighed. Being reborn as someone like Ashura would have been far more convenient. Born with limitless gifts, summoning and creating at will—it was something to envy. Still, he consoled himself. He had achieved Senjutsu on his own.
"Lady Katsuyu, is there any Senjutsu technique I can learn here in Shikkotsu Forest?"
"Not specifically," Lady Katsuyu admitted. "But Senjutsu Chakra will enhance your existing techniques. Combined with your unique abilities, they'll become even more powerful."
Kawakaze quickly understood. The true strength of Sage Mode wasn't just raw power but how it amplified one's natural talents. Hashirama, Jiraiya, and Naruto all demonstrated this perfectly.
Take Naruto as an example: How many of my Rasengans could you take?
"Okay, I understand," Kawakaze said, signaling the end of the conversation.
Lady Katsuyu seemed to take the hint, falling silent. She continued to work diligently, healing the last remnants of his injuries.
Kawakaze closed his eyes, and before long, the weakness in his body began to fade. The Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest truly lived up to its reputation.
Withdrawing from Sage Mode, Kawakaze resumed absorbing Natural Energy. Though he had taken his first steps in mastering it, there was still a long way to go before he could store enough Senjutsu Chakra. During this process, he grew more adept at balancing and integrating the energy, avoiding further backlash.
It was a process of extremes—either you succeeded or you perished. No wonder Tsunade boasted that her grandfather had learned Senjutsu in just one day. If he hadn't, would she even exist to tell the tale?
Kawakaze concluded his training just as Tsunade stirred, leaning against his leg. Slowly, she woke up. By then, the clone of Lady Katsuyu had vanished, leaving Kawakaze's face healed and his usual calm expression restored.
"You're finally all right," Tsunade said, throwing her arms around him.
Caught off guard, Kawakaze stiffened at first, feeling the softness against his chest. Then, hesitantly, he wrapped his arms around her back, his gaze falling to her neck and shoulders.
"I'm fine now. Thank you for all your hard work," he whispered.
They remained like that for a moment before Tsunade, regaining her composure, pushed him away. Her face flushed as she realized the intimacy of the embrace, while Kawakaze silently savored the moment.
"Have you completely mastered Senjutsu?" she asked, brushing her hair into place to mask her embarrassment.
"Yes. Let's go outside and test its power," Kawakaze replied, taking her hand as they began walking out of the cave.
The journey wasn't long—thankfully, slugs weren't skilled burrowers—and soon they emerged into the sunlight.
The warm sun greeted them as they stepped into an open area. Scattered trees and deep swamps dotted the terrain, making it clear this was not a hospitable place for humans to linger.
"I'll try Sage Mode and see how much it improves me," Kawakaze said, releasing Tsunade. Red markings appeared around his eyes as Sage Mode activated.
With the Eight-Sided Han Sword in his right hand, his body became enveloped in Thunder Attribute Chakra. Kawakaze immediately felt the violent surge of power—his Thunder Attribute had become even more intense under the Sage Mode boost. The tearing sensation in his cells was sharp but fleeting, as the enhanced regenerative properties of Senjutsu Chakra quickly repaired any damage.
He swung the sword in a Quick Draw Slash, and in an instant, he seemed to become lightning itself. When he reappeared tens of meters away, a jagged trail of scorched earth marked his path.
"What speed! What destructive power!" Tsunade muttered. She had faced this technique before, but now, bolstered by Sage Mode, its power was on a completely different level.
Kawakaze teleported to her side, his satisfaction evident. "Not bad." Even a Tailed Beast would have a hard time standing against this.
Tsunade nodded, then pulled out a handwritten scroll from her robes. "I also have a Senjutsu technique from my grandfather. Do you want to try it?"
Kawakaze raised an eyebrow, his initial interest lukewarm. Without Wood Release, he doubted he could use Hashirama's Senjutsu techniques effectively. However, when he opened the scroll, his attention sharpened.
The scroll contained a Sage Art: Gate of the Great God, a powerful sealing technique that Hashirama had once used to suppress the Ten-Tails in Sage Mode. It was a rare technique that required Hashirama to perform hand seals—a testament to its complexity. Kawakaze suspected Mito Uzumaki had a hand in its creation.
"I'll give it a shot," Kawakaze said confidently.
Tsunade smiled and stepped aside to give him space. Kawakaze began forming hand seals, his aura surging with power.
"Sage Art: Gate of the Great God!" he shouted, releasing a massive amount of Senjutsu Chakra.
From the sky, streaks of red torii gates descended, sinking deep into the ground. They locked the area as if forming an unbreakable chain meant to subdue anything within.
"No wonder it's the First Hokage Senjutsu Technique. This is incredible," Kawakaze remarked, genuinely impressed. The technique might not be ideal for smaller enemies, but against something as massive as a Tailed Beast, it would be devastating.
"I'm glad you like it," Tsunade replied, her voice soft, her expression warm.
Kawakaze took her hand, and the two began making their way back into the cave. Along the way, his thoughts drifted to Minato. He needed Minato to begin work on the Rasengan as soon as possible.
With his own highly active cells, Kawakaze knew he had a physical advantage, but when it came to Chakra Shape Transformation, Minato's genius was unmatched. If nothing else, Kawakaze could offer a few ideas and let Minato work his magic.
After all, once Minato perfected it, Kawakaze could simply learn the technique. Then, no matter who faced him, they'd have to contend with the full power of the Rasengan in his hands.
Thinking of this, Kawakaze chuckled to himself.
Tsunade shot a sideways glance, noticing him. This idiot is laughing to himself again.