The Third Hokage put down his long pipe as he spoke. Then, he took out an ancient-looking scroll, its surface filled with a deep sense of history.
"This is the contract scroll between the Senju clan and the Shikkotsu Forest."
"After the Senju clan disbanded, it was placed in the Hokage treasury."
"Whenever an outstanding ninja appears in the village, they are given the opportunity to undergo the test of the Katsuyu Sage and potentially become a summoner of Shikkotsu Forest."
Minato looked at the scroll and asked, "So, Senior Tsunade also made her contract with Shikkotsu Forest using this scroll?"
The Third Hokage nodded slowly and explained:
"The process is simple—just press your bloodstained handprint onto the scroll."
"However, only those whose character is approved by the Katsuyu Sage will receive an invitation to Shikkotsu Forest."
Rei nodded, feigning an indifferent attitude.
"Tsk, so it's the legendary sage. Sounds pretty powerful."
Minato and the Third Hokage exchanged glances, watching Rei's careless attitude.
They silently wondered if he would get crushed by the Katsuyu Sage the moment he entered Shikkotsu Forest.
The holy land contracts were not granted randomly.
Each sacred place had its own requirements, and personality played a crucial role in being accepted.
Mount Myōboku constantly spoke of destiny, always asking Jiraiya to search for the "Child of Prophecy."
Ryūchi Cave, on the other hand, valued strength above all else.
Whether it was Orochimaru or Kabuto in later years, both had their... eccentricities.
Even if Rei had talent, the inhabitants of Ryūchi Cave would likely ignore him.
Otherwise, Jiraiya would have already taken Rei to Mount Myōboku to sign a contract.
Only Shikkotsu Forest, where the Katsuyu Sage resided, remained quiet and uninvolved in worldly conflicts.
In that regard, it was a perfect match for Rei.
After all, Rei loved nothing more than taking it easy.
"Alright, let's do this!"
Without hesitation, Rei opened the scroll, bit his finger, and pressed his bloody handprint onto the parchment.
A soft green glow emanated from the scroll.
Rei could immediately sense the immense vitality within the energy.
It was warm, comforting, and almost made him feel sleepy.
The contract was complete!
Just as Rei was about to summon Katsuyu, he suddenly found himself surrounded by a thick cloud of white smoke.
"Reverse Summoning, huh?"
Rei immediately spread out his Observation Haki to scan his surroundings.
"As expected of a sage—transporting me here instantly."
As the smoke cleared, Rei saw towering trees stretching endlessly into the sky.
Unlike normal trees, these had no leaves or branches. Their bare trunks glowed with a pale, almost bone-like sheen.
Yet, despite their eerie appearance, Rei could feel an overwhelming sense of life radiating from them.
The energy was not just in the trees—it pulsed through the lakes, the ground, and even the air itself.
Everything here was brimming with vitality.
Rei took a deep breath, feeling his body relax as a soothing warmth spread through him.
"As expected of a holy land. This place is truly a hidden paradise."
"The Katsuyu Sage must be a terrifying existence."
With his Observation Haki, Rei quickly sensed a calm yet terrifying presence deep within the forest.
It was like a vast ocean—serene on the surface, but capable of unleashing violent storms at any moment.
At that moment, he sensed movement nearby.
From within the woods, numerous blue-and-white Katsuyu of varying sizes peeked out.
A larger Katsuyu, slightly bigger than the rest, slithered forward.
With a soft, gentle voice that didn't match its appearance, it spoke:
"Excuse me, are you Hanyu Rei?"
Rei waved dismissively and replied, "Oh, no need for formalities. I'm just a lowly Genin from Konoha."
Well... a Genin who could casually kick a Jōnin across the battlefield.
"It would be nice if the Katsuyu Sage just called me Rei. Or better yet, Kizaru."
As one of the oldest sages, the Katsuyu Sage practically was Shikkotsu Forest itself.
Its power was beyond comprehension.
Yet, despite its ancient and immense strength, the Katsuyu Sage was known for its extraordinarily gentle nature.
It never meddled in the ninja world's conflicts.
In fact, it almost never participated in battle.
Even when summoned, it was usually by Tsunade for healing purposes.
Completely harmless.
"Kizaru..."
"I shall remember that, Mr. Kizaru."
Rei grinned in satisfaction.
Look at this—powerful, peaceful, and lazy. Katsuyu was a perfect match for him!
"Please, Mr. Kizaru, there's no need to call me 'sage.' I'm merely a Katsuyu who has lived long enough and happened to pick up a little Sage Art along the way."
Right... just an ordinary slug who had lived for thousands of years and created an entire holy land.
"Is that so? Katsuyu, you're really humble."
"You as well, Mr. Kizaru."
As they looked at each other, Rei suddenly felt a rare sense of kinship.
A kindred spirit.
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