"So this is Shikkotsu Forest?"
Using the spatial ripple created when Tsunade summoned Katsuyu, Kaede opened a portal directly to this place.
Stepping through, the first thing he felt was the dense natural energy, no weaker than that of Mount Myōboku or Ryūchi Cave.
Then, in the distance, stood the thousand-meter-tall main body of the Great Slug Sage.
Kaede couldn't help but sigh. "Truly massive."
Tsunade explained, "Shikkotsu Forest is different from Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave. Here, there's only the Great Slug Sage.
When I use the Summoning Technique, what I summon is always one of the Great Slug Sage's split bodies. The more chakra I use, the larger the split body. Unfortunately, I've never been able to summon the complete form."
Kaede nodded, glancing around, his brows furrowing slightly.
The place was covered in sticky mucus.
Without hesitation, he grabbed Tsunade's hand and instantly teleported them out of the area.
"Let's go meet this Great Slug Sage."
With a flash, the two appeared before the Great Slug Sage itself.
"You have come at last."
A deep sigh echoed as the Great Slug Sage slowly opened its eyes.
Kaede and Tsunade both looked on with wary expressions.
The Great Slug Sage dared not relax in the slightest—its two old companions and their legacies had both perished at the hands of the man before it.
Kaede smiled faintly. "So you were expecting me."
Shaking its massive body, the Great Slug Sage replied, "From the moment the Great Toad Sage and the White Snake Sage died, I knew of your existence.
At first, I thought you acted out of anger toward the White Snake—its temper, after all, I know well. But when you went after the Great Toad as well, I realized your goal was the energy of their entire races."
Though it spoke like an old friend chatting, the slug was secretly gathering all the natural energy it could muster. One slip against someone like Kaede could mean instant death.
Still, it knew it would not survive this day. Unlike the other two Sages, it was not a fighter—how long could it really last against him?
At that moment, Tsunade stepped forward. "Great Slug Sage, would you be willing to abandon this body and live on?"
The slug's heart trembled. "What?!"
"You've partnered with me for so many years and helped me more times than I can count," Tsunade continued. "So I asked Kaede to spare you—let you transfer your consciousness into part of your body. That part could remain by my side and continue working with me."
The Great Slug Sage was stunned.
"Truly…?"
It had thought death was certain, yet Tsunade had brought it such a gift. If it could live on, what did it matter to lose a thousand years of cultivation? It had more than enough time to start over.
Kaede said lightly, "If you're willing, then begin. This is only because Tsunade asked for you—otherwise, your life would mean nothing to me."
"Yes, yes! I will serve Tsunade well in the future!" the Great Slug Sage replied quickly, and immediately used its splitting technique.
A fifty-to-sixty-meter split body detached, carrying its consciousness away. It didn't take much natural energy with it—it understood Kaede's goal. If it failed to read the situation, not even Tsunade's plea would save it.
Exhaling lightly, Kaede looked at the massive, now-lifeless body before him.
Turning to Tsunade, he said, "Take it back to the village. I'll be staying here for a while."
"I'll take care of everything," Tsunade replied.
The Great Slug Sage obligingly opened a portal for her, and she left.
Kaede looked over Shikkotsu Forest with a smile. "With this, it should be enough for the Divine Tree to shed its skin once."
No battle required—saving him quite the effort.
Without hesitation, Kaede slapped the air.
"Summoning: Divine Tree!"
In an instant, the thousand-meter-tall Divine Tree appeared. Its roots immediately spread over the Great Slug Sage's body and burrowed deep into the forest floor, greedily devouring everything.
The weather in Shikkotsu Forest shifted violently as vast amounts of natural energy flooded into the Divine Tree.
"Almost there…" Kaede narrowed his eyes. He could feel the tree was just on the cusp of transformation.
"Right… there's also this."
Remembering the Six Paths power he'd taken from Hashirama, he brought it out. He hadn't dared to absorb it directly—who knew if the Sage of Six Paths had left a trap? Better to have the Divine Tree purify it first.
He tossed the power to the tree, and moments later, it spat it back out.
"It's ready."
Kaede crushed the Six Paths power in his hand. Massive energy poured into him, reshaping his body and rapidly evolving his eyes. His Sage Body and Mangekyō Sharingan ascended to even higher realms.
White light engulfed him.
…
Five days later, Kaede opened his eyes, completely transformed.
First was his physique—his chakra had increased more than tenfold, and he could freely control wind, fire, water, earth, lightning, yin, and yang chakra. He could now form the Truth-Seeking Orbs that marked Six Paths-level power.
Then his eyes—his Eternal Mangekyō had evolved into the Rinnegan, each bearing three tomoe, just like Obito's in the original story.
"Six Paths…" Kaede's face lit with joy. His power now far surpassed the Obito who had been mocked as the Sage's disgrace.
He hadn't expected Hashirama's Six Paths power to be so immense. If he hadn't already been tired of playing and ended things with Kyouka Suigetsu back then, letting Hashirama get used to that power might have forced Kaede into a real fight.
"Next is to wait for the Divine Tree's transformation to finish."
Three days later, the Divine Tree completed its second transformation, draining Shikkotsu Forest of all energy.
Returning to the ninja world, Kaede looked skyward. "Time to deal with it."
His Rinnegan now bore six tomoe. Then his figure vanished.
It was time for the nine tailed beasts to gather and serve their purpose.
(End of Chapter)
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