Time continued to flow forward.
Yet, the traces of Emiya Shigen never seemed to disappear.
Because the man who once truly existed would always be remembered by the shinobi of Konoha. Just when people began to forget him, he would reappear in their minds.
For example…
In medical ninja courses.
No medical ninja could avoid hearing his name.
Every known disease had a treatment method documented in the case study scrolls he had left behind.
Tsunade grew older.
She became an exceptional medical ninja.
Over the years, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru formed a team and completed numerous missions for Konoha. Her strength continued to grow.
To put it bluntly—
Tsunade was the strongest member of her team. She could stand at the frontlines as a formidable combatant, retreat to heal the wounded as a medical ninja, and even serve as an exceptional sensory ninja.
Because she had once been guided by Emiya Shigen.
Likewise—
Tsunade aspired to become someone like him.
She searched tirelessly across the shinobi world for traces of the Slug.
From her childhood bedtime stories, she believed that a medical ninja should always have a slug on their shoulder. Finally, she discovered the legendary Shikkotsu Forest.
The only problem was…
This Slug wasn't exactly "small."
Although its voice was soft and adorable, and it spoke in a gentle, endearing manner, its body stretched out like an endless mountain range—an overwhelmingly colossal presence.
Fortunately—
The Slug was kind.
Just like in the fairy tales.
Tsunade's nervous heart immediately calmed down.
"So, you're a medical ninja?"
The Slug's voice was soft and pleasant. Noticing the young blonde girl's apprehension, it split off a tiny portion of itself, forming a much smaller slug.
"Yes…"
Tsunade finally relaxed.
Because the small slug was… quite cute.
"Then let me see if your medical ninjutsu is—"
The Slug suddenly stopped speaking.
It had noticed something on Tsunade's forehead—a peculiar, diamond-shaped marking.
The marking was divided into two triangles.
The upper triangle was half-black, and the lower triangle was half-purple, forming a strikingly unique pattern. Yet, it did not seem out of place on Tsunade's face. Instead, it enhanced her beauty.
"That mark… could it be—"
The Slug's voice suddenly became excited.
"This is…"
Tsunade instinctively wanted to avoid the question.
As she grew older and became a full-fledged shinobi, she always felt the need to keep certain things about "him" a secret.
But then, she quickly realized—
The Slug must have known him.
"Maybe I was mistaken…"
The Slug hesitated as well.
Because—
That great man's plan had always been a secret.
For that unknown purpose, he had left behind a pair of his eyes… and a crystal coffin, entrusting it to the Slug for safekeeping.
The crystal coffin remained with the Slug.
And the eyes continued to watch over it.
The Slug had spent over a thousand years in the Shikkotsu Forest, guarding that crystal coffin—or rather, being accompanied by it.
Though it never understood why he left only half a corpse, it obediently trusted him.
He had once said—
One day, they would meet again.
And when that day came, he would no longer be bound by the limits of mortality. At that time, the Slug would return his eyes to him.
The Slug had no idea how to grant immortality to a human, but because the one who raised it had said so, it simply believed and waited.
For over a thousand years, that day had yet to arrive.
It could only stare at the silhouette inside the crystal coffin, reminiscing about its youth.
He had once told it—
Most of life is boring.
If you don't want time to feel unbearably long, you need to do something meaningful for a period—so that, later, you can reminisce about that time with joy.
But…
This wait had been far too long.
Its lifespan was too vast.
The joyful memories from its youth, compared to a thousand years, were painfully short. The more it reminisced, the longer the wait felt.
"Let's first test your medical ninjutsu."
The Slug spoke gently to Tsunade.
"If you satisfy me, you may sign the summoning contract."
The test was easy.
For Tsunade, it was no challenge at all.
As a result, the Slug's smaller form settled onto her shoulder and praised her warmly, "Your medical ninjutsu is exceptional. If one day you improve it even further, you will receive a very special gift~"
"What counts as passing?"
Tsunade asked curiously.
"It's a unique ability," the Slug explained seriously. "The ability to store chakra over time and control it at a minuscule level, keeping your body in peak condition."
"…"
Tsunade fell silent.
The blonde girl slowly raised a hand to touch the lower half of the diamond mark on her forehead.
Because—
She had developed this technique herself.
And—
He had once spoken of it.
By using this method of chakra control, one could maintain their body at its peak and refine their medical skills to perfection.
Only by training in this way for a long time could one become an exceptional medical ninja, capable of performing even the most delicate surgeries.
Tsunade's diamond-shaped mark had two functions—
The upper half was a curse mark, enabling her to harness natural energy in battle.
The lower half was the Yin Seal, storing chakra and refining control over time, to be released in combat.
And—
Natural energy made chakra even more powerful.
"Is this what you meant?"
Tsunade touched the lower half of her forehead mark, slightly embarrassed.
"I only recently mastered it over the past few years, but… I think this is what you were talking about."
"…"
The Slug's tiny form reached out a feeler to touch Tsunade's mark.
It instinctively wanted to touch the upper half.
Because—
It felt… familiar.
Too familiar.
But the Slug remained obedient and focused on its task.
It examined Tsunade's Yin Seal.
And froze.
Yes…
This was it.
The very ability that the great man had spoken of.
He had once said—
Only someone who reached this level of mastery would be worthy of receiving the crystal coffin.
The Slug had once asked—would they reunite then?
He had laughed and said, "Probably."
If something went wrong, at the very least, the crystal coffin could help advance medical knowledge in the shinobi world.
His laughter…
Had always made the Slug sad.
But now…
Was it finally time?
A thousand years should be long enough.
Now that someone had finally mastered the technique, could it finally give away the crystal coffin?
"Wait here. I'll get your gift."
The Slug quickly withdrew its feelers.
"Okay…"
Tsunade was puzzled.
She wondered what kind of gift it would be.
She only hoped…
It wasn't another case study scroll.
Just as she was thinking that—
The ground beneath her began to tremble!
A moment later—
The entire Shikkotsu Forest seemed to collapse!
Because the colossal Slug, stretching as far as the eye could see, began to split into countless smaller versions of itself!
These tiny Slugs moved together like a flowing river, carrying something forward—
"…"
Tsunade had sharp eyesight.
That was—
A crystal coffin.
The coffin was adorned with intricate carvings.
Her gaze was drawn to the familiar silhouette inside.
Within that crystal coffin…
Lay a man she knew.
Legend had it that Emiya Shigen had left behind two crystal coffins.
One remained with the Senju Clan.
The other—its location unknown.
Now she understood.
It had always been here.
This was the last crystal coffin in existence.
And it was the last remaining piece of Emiya Shigen in this world.
"It's yours now."
The small Slug on Tsunade's shoulder whispered.
----------
If you really want to know, Shigen comes back at chapter....
78.
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates