"My dear Shin~ Didn't you say you wanted to master Sage Mode from both Mount Myoboku and Ryūchi Cave?"
"I think you've already perfected the Sage Mode of the Shikkotsu Forest quite well!"
Tsunade leaned against Uchiha Shin, burying his face into her ample chest. She gently rubbed his shoulders, coaxing him with a sweet tone to push forward in his training. Calling him "dear" at her age felt embarrassing, and she had no idea where he had picked up this habit. But if it meant getting a few days of rest, she was willing to toss her pride aside.
Uchiha Shin, whose head rested against the softest pillow imaginable, felt invigorated by Tsunade's sultry voice.
"Alright, I'll handle them all at once."
Hearing his agreement, Tsunade smirked and pulled him into an even tighter embrace. The next moment, Shin was practically smothered, his vision and breathing both compromised.
Like a drowning man clawing for the surface, he finally broke free, gasping for air.
"It definitely reached a new level."
Looking at the heaving beauty before him, Uchiha Shin confirmed his suspicion—his training was indeed paying off.
As he sighed, a sudden thought crossed his mind.
"How's the front-line battle between Konoha and Sunagakure?"
Tsunade's playful expression faded as she processed the question.
"It's at a stalemate. Orochimaru joined the battle, but the Sand's puppetry techniques have grown stronger. Even with focused assaults, victory isn't in sight yet. Luckily, the other villages are still watching from the sidelines and haven't gotten involved."
She summarized the situation, believing this deadlock would persist.
Unlike Amegakure, Sunagakure was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Despite its barren land, it produced formidable shinobi. Sand ninja, excluding a few exceptions, were generally stronger than Konoha ninja of the same rank.
As she pondered further, Tsunade recalled an unsettling detail.
"The Sand's puppetry has advanced in a strange way. Even broken puppets can reassemble themselves. I don't know how they pulled it off, but if they keep this up, we might see a serious shift in the war. If manpower runs low, that old man, the Third Hokage, will probably drag us into the field again."
Tsunade scowled at the thought. She knew Sarutobi Hiruzen was actively suppressing both her and Uchiha Shin's influence. Over time, the reputation they had built in Amegakure had diminished, with public attention shifting toward the ongoing war.
Though she didn't care much about politics, being secretly undermined left a sour taste in her mouth.
Shin narrowed his eyes.
"Self-repairing puppets?"
From his knowledge, Sunagakure's puppets didn't have such capabilities. Something wasn't adding up.
But there was no point in speculation. If he wanted answers, he needed to see it firsthand.
"I'll go investigate. I'll be back soon."
"..."
Tsunade wanted to yell at him to slow down, but the words never left her lips. Before she could react, Shin unsealed a pre-prepared summoning scroll and teleported away.
"Damn it, Shin! If you can master Sage Mode, I refuse to fall behind!"
"Katsuyu, I'm training too!"
Summoning the legendary slug, Tsunade made her resolve clear.
The ever-patient Katsuyu merely sighed and agreed to her request.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shin arrived at Ryūchi Cave, the sacred land of the White Snake Sage.
The three Great Sage Lands—Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myoboku, and Ryūchi Cave—each had their own strengths.
The Slug Sage had explained it best:
Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode greatly enhanced vitality, chakra reserves, and recovery speed, making its user incredibly resilient. Death became highly unlikely, as their chakra pool vastly outclassed others. However, its learning requirements were strict, usually limited to those of Uzumaki or Senju lineage.
Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode, the easiest to learn, granted balanced enhancements to ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu.
Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, on the other hand, was the most dangerous. Those who mastered it underwent a physical transformation, stepping closer to a higher form of existence. It was deeply tied to Yin Release, altering one's very being.
Having already progressed far in Yang Release through Shikkotsu Forest training, Shin now aimed to master Yin Release via Ryūchi Cave.
With this, he would wield all five nature transformations alongside Yin and Yang Release, a crucial step toward his ultimate goal.
Upon arriving via reverse summoning, Shin found himself in a dense, fog-covered landscape. Towering stone pillars and ancient trees surrounded him, obscuring vision beyond twenty meters.
"A test, huh? They're really underestimating me."
Three shadowy figures emerged atop a nearby tree. Wearing elegant kimonos, they watched him with slitted eyes, forked tongues flicking as they whispered amongst themselves.
"So, he's the one the White Snake Sage wants to test."
"Still looks like a kid. His life force is so rich… makes me hungry."
"Let's see if his will is strong enough."
They remained perched, observing whether Shin would aimlessly wander or retreat.
But their expectations were misplaced.
Although his eyesight was limited, his sensory perception was not. [Kagura's Mind Eye] ensured he could pinpoint every presence around him with perfect clarity.
Their plan to toy with him was meaningless.
Bang!
In an instant, Shin clapped his hands together, shocking the three snake women.
Then, a deep voice rumbled from his throat.
"Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees!"
"What?!"
The ground trembled violently as towering trees erupted from beneath, rapidly transforming the misty cave into a sprawling forest.
The three snake princesses gawked in disbelief as Shin reshaped their sacred domain in an instant.
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Bonus Chapter - 150 Power Stones