Master, Please Become a Hokage

As if the Yellow River's water came from the sky.

The second expulsion was like the Yellow River overflowing its banks.

Just as Sarutobi Ryo was about to unleash Dust Release...

...the Slug Sage's voice followed.

"Do not resist, I will cleanse your marrow and cut your hair for immortality..."

The Slug Sage's intent, in a version Sarutobi Ryo could understand, was directly poured into his mind.

In scientific terms, this was a communication method where chakra electromagnetic waves directly entered the brain.

In an instant, the Slug Sage's vast and mysterious consciousness... and the implications mixed within, allowed Sarutobi Ryo to understand everything.

Sarutobi Ryo: "The Sage strokes my crown, and I receive longevity after binding my hair..."

......

Outside the Shikkotsu Forest.

Uzumaki Mito closely monitored every action within.

She had her sensory abilities fully activated to understand every detail that occurred.

From the initial shock of "seeing" the Slug Sage, being awestruck by its unimaginably massive body.

Came despair at the Slug Sage's formidable strength.

Uzumaki Mito couldn't imagine that there was such a massive monster on Earth.

Even more so, she couldn't imagine the risks Hashirama took when he came here to train before.

"Seeing" that scale of attack, Uzumaki Mito didn't know how a human, a ninja, could survive.

Because back then, Hashirama, who hadn't mastered Sage Mode, only managed to maintain the structure of his Wooden Golem at around 50 meters.

It wasn't until he learned Sage Mode that he mastered the technique 「True Several Thousand Hands」, which allowed the Wooden Golem to exceed 500 meters in height, even overwhelming Madara Uchiha's Complete Body Susanoo.

So, was Sarutobi Ryo instantly evaporated after being submerged in a large amount of strong acid?

Thinking of this, Uzumaki Mito's breathing couldn't help but quicken, and the corners of her mouth slightly curved up, revealing an extremely expectant look...

Chapter 232. Slug Sage, I need your help!

Glug glug.....

Immersed in the strong acid, Sarutobi Ryo's body surface was already completely destroyed.

A granting method that was no less than being thrown into a pot of boiling oil, was unbearable pain for everyone.

However, within it, Sarutobi Ryo comprehended the true essence of the Slug Sage.

Decades ago.

Hashirama Senju walked into the center of the Shikkotsu Forest from the outside.

Just completing this journey allowed Hashirama Senju, whose body surface was constantly corroded by strong acid mist, to complete his transformation.

The Three Great Sage Lands, apart from their different names.

Are revered as Sage Lands because they possess different natural environments.

Which is to say... Feng Shui treasures.

The environment here is extremely special.

For example, Mount Myōboku is rich in toad oil.

Toad oil would immediately evaporate and disappear when it went outside.

Which is to say.

Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest also possess similar environmental characteristics.

The natural environment of the Shikkotsu Forest is originally a part of training.

Hashirama Senju was corroded by strong acid, and while possessing regenerative power, natural energy also entered his body, modifying his physique.

Therefore...

Only ninjas with a certain resistance to strong acid or extremely fast regenerative power can complete the training of the Shikkotsu Forest.

Perhaps this is also the reason for Hashirama Senju's short lifespan.

No matter how powerful a ninja's body is, it cannot surpass some predetermined limitations.

Rapid regeneration also consumes lifespan.

Hashirama Senju died in middle age, and the reason lies in this.

And Hashirama Senju, who walked to the Slug Sage's side, completed "cleansing the marrow and cutting the hair."

Then, as long as the Slug Sage slightly guided him, he would be considered to have completed the acceptance of Sage Mode.

Sarutobi Ryo's side was completely different.

Because he possessed Mei Terumi's Boil Release and Lava Release, the first step of training was equivalent to taking a shortcut.

He arrived before the Slug Sage without being corroded by acid mist.

Therefore...

The Slug Sage immediately began to impart a stronger training method.

It directly spewed out a special concentrated acid to help Sarutobi Ryo "cleanse his marrow."

After this process, Sarutobi Ryo's body would be forged into an even more powerful 「Sage Mode Container」 than Hashirama Senju.

At that time.

The techniques he unleashes would also completely surpass Hashirama Senju, reaching an incredible level.

Therefore...

Glug glug...

The concentrated acid receded.

Revealing Sarutobi Ryo's figure.

Many places where the bones were corroded began to regenerate rapidly.

Sarutobi Ryo, protecting his heart, activated the Strength of a Hundred Seal Technique to help recover.

Almost instantly, Sarutobi Ryo recovered as before, regrowing muscles, skin, and hair.

Bang.

Sarutobi Ryo, kneeling on one knee, took a deep breath, carefully feeling the changes in his body.

"I... comprehended everything..."

Just as the words left his mouth, the moment before the Slug Sage could congratulate him.

Sarutobi Ryo closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.

Clap.

Between flashes of lightning, many things happened.

Sarutobi Ryo's thoughts spread throughout the entire Shikkotsu Forest.

His already transformed Sage Mode container body perceived all the natural energy on the earth.

At this moment.

Like the Nine-Tails in the final Naruto and Sasuke battle in the original story.

Sarutobi Ryo stirred up the wind and clouds, completely absorbing the natural energy from the surrounding earth, sky, and lakes in a way invisible to the naked eye.

!

Seeing Sarutobi Ryo survive, Uzumaki Mito's expression changed.

Then, sensing the environment, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground.

With a desperate face, Uzumaki Mito "saw" things that others couldn't see.

The natural energy in the entire earth, sky, and lakes was being devoured by a giant beast, frantically pouring into the devil's body!

Such a massive absorption of chakra completely surpassed the amount that Hashirama in his prime could contain.

"This chakra..."

Uzumaki Mito was completely despaired by this.

In her perception, Sarutobi Ryo, who had completed this absorption, had a 「total chakra amount」 that was not simply at the "chakra tons" level anymore.

In the original story.

Hashirama Senju's total chakra amount = Naruto Uzumaki + Minato Namikaze + Yin Kurama + Yang Kurama.

After using Sage Mode, the total chakra amount would increase by 「one-third」, which is 133%.

And at this moment.

Sarutobi Ryo's total chakra amount overwhelmed all the Tailed Beasts and ninjas.

Directly increasing to nearly the level of the Ten-Tails.

Sarutobi Ryo, who had completed this amplification, slowly opened his eyes.

"Congratulations... cultivator..."

The Slug Sage's cold voice came from the sky.

Facing a human with a chakra amount close to that of the Ten-Tails.

Her thoughts were unwavering.

After all, even if an ant is increased tenfold, it will still be crushed to death by a human.

That's all it is.

"Then... next..."

Sarutobi Ryo, who opened his eyes, had the facial markings of a Sage appear on his face.

After the marrow cleansing, the total amount of chakra in the body exploded, becoming a Sage Mode practitioner even more excellent than Hashirama Senju.

Coupled with absorbing the natural energy from the surrounding natural world, his chakra instantly approached that of the Ten-Tails.

Sarutobi Ryo, with his hands clasped together, looked up at the top of his head.

The massive black shadow was the true form of the Slug Sage.

Bang!

Sarutobi Ryo suddenly jumped up, his body plunged into the clouds.

In an instant, killing intent arose.

"Sage Art... Dust Release!"

Buzz!!!

A terrifying light broke through the clouds.

A gigantic pillar of light that pierced the sky and earth, like a super laser cannon, directly annihilated a portion of the Slug Sage's body!

The sudden change directly dumbfounded Uzumaki Mito.

Soon, the battle of the century began.

......