Seeing that Jiraiya had finally been convinced, he turned to Tsunade.
"This time, I want to take Sasuke with me as well."
Naruto immediately frowned.
"He's my student too. I can't favor one student over another."
"Perverted Sage, it's not that I won't let you take Sasuke," Naruto said. "But when you talk about not favoring one student over another… hasn't most of your attention been on Sasuke these past few days?"
Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly.
"On the contrary, you've mostly been training on your own!"
"Exactly!"
"Hahaha… I suppose that's true."
Jiraiya gave a helpless smile before continuing.
"But that's mainly because your abilities are already strong enough for you to train independently. Sasuke, on the other hand, still needs my guidance."
After hearing that, Naruto had nothing else to say.
Tsunade suddenly spoke up.
"So, Jiraiya, are you planning to take both Naruto and Sasuke to Mount Myōboku to train in Senjutsu?"
She crossed her arms and smiled.
"If that's the case, you're definitely going to win our bet, aren't you?"
Jiraiya froze.
He had completely forgotten about their bet.
"What bet?"
Tsunade slammed her hand onto the table and stood up.
"Of course, the bet involving our students!"
"Oh, that!"
Jiraiya suddenly remembered and laughed.
"Hahahaha! I thought you had forgotten about it!"
"When it comes to betting, I never forget!"
Tsunade snorted.
"I'm not going to stand by and watch Naruto and Sasuke leave Hinata far behind!"
Jiraiya's expression changed slightly.
"Tsunade, are you saying…"
Tsunade placed her hands on her hips and smiled confidently.
"The Three Great Sage Regions aren't limited to Mount Myōboku!"
Everyone in the room was surprised.
Kakashi, Nara Shikaku, and the others exchanged glances.
"Hokage-sama, do you want Hinata to train in Shikkotsu Forest as well?"
Tsunade laughed.
"Of course! I believe she's already made her decision."
Shizune frowned slightly.
"Lady Tsunade, everyone recognizes Hinata's talent and diligence. But training in Shikkotsu Forest must be extremely difficult, right?"
"Does that mean you want her to learn Sage Mode as well?"
She paused before asking another question.
"Is there actually a Senjutsu tradition in Shikkotsu Forest?"
Her question reflected what almost everyone present was thinking.
Although all three locations were known as the Three Great Sage Regions, Mount Myōboku was undoubtedly the most famous among them.
Jiraiya had trained there, and so had the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Because of that, Mount Myōboku was regarded as a sacred land where the secrets of Senjutsu had been passed down for generations.
Ryūchi Cave was equally mysterious and dangerous. Many reckless ninjas had attempted to explore it, but meeting the White Snake Sage was nothing like meeting the Great Toad Sage.
The moment someone entered Ryūchi Cave, they could be exposed to its powerful Senjutsu chakra. Those who failed to withstand it would lose their sanity, eventually dying and becoming food for the White Snake Sage.
As far as anyone knew, no one had truly mastered Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu in recent history.
But at least everyone knew that such a tradition existed.
Shikkotsu Forest, however, was different.
Most people in the Ninja World knew almost nothing about it.
In reality, the Three Great Sage Regions were far more mysterious than ordinary ninjas realized. Only people with direct connections to them, such as Jiraiya and Tsunade, understood their secrets.
Tsunade smiled confidently.
"All three of the Great Sage Regions have their own sages, so naturally, each of them has its own Senjutsu tradition."
"It's not surprising that you've never heard about the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest. Its teachings have never been widely spread throughout the Ninja World."
Shizune suddenly remembered something.
"I recall that the First Hokage was extremely skilled in Senjutsu. Since he was your grandfather, Lady Tsunade, did he train in Shikkotsu Forest?"
Tsunade shook her head.
"No. Grandfather didn't learn Senjutsu by training in Shikkotsu Forest."
"He studied the records left behind by previous generations and combined them with his own discoveries. He eventually developed his own path through independent training."
"Other than him, I don't think anyone else could have followed the same path."
Tsunade's expression became serious.
"Grandfather possessed an enormous amount of chakra—far more than even Naruto. His body could recover from injuries without hand seals, making him almost impossible to kill."
"More importantly, his body possessed an extraordinary affinity for natural energy. That was one of the reasons he was uniquely suited to mastering Wood Release and its secret techniques."
"His massive chakra reserves, incredible regenerative abilities, and natural compatibility with energy all came together to create a monster like Grandfather."
"That was how he was able to comprehend the mysteries of Senjutsu by himself."
She shook her head.
"That is a path we cannot inherit or reproduce."
Shizune frowned.
"Then isn't that even stranger?"
"The First Hokage didn't train in Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu, and you didn't either, Lady Tsunade."
"If Shikkotsu Forest really has its own Senjutsu tradition, does that mean nobody has ever successfully mastered it?"
Tsunade nodded.
"That's essentially correct."
"To put it simply, no one has ever successfully mastered the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest."
Everyone fell silent.
Shizune immediately looked toward Hinata.
"Then what about Hinata…?"
Tsunade smiled.
"Hmm. I think there's a very high possibility that Hinata could become the first."
The entire room was stunned.
Naruto, however, was overjoyed.
Hearing Tsunade praise Hinata so highly made him feel strangely proud, as though he had personally contributed to her achievements.
Deep down, he had already begun to regard Hinata almost like his own daughter.
"Grandma Tsunade! I believe Hinata can definitely do it!"
Shizune glanced at Naruto and smiled faintly before turning back to Tsunade.
"I believe in Hinata too. But Lady Tsunade, what exactly makes you so confident that she can succeed?"
Tsunade smiled.
"I began thinking about it after I saw her develop that unique Taijutsu technique."
"It surprised me greatly."
Jiraiya looked confused.
"Unique Taijutsu technique?"
"What technique?"
Tsunade glanced toward Hiashi.
Hiashi stepped forward and calmly explained.
"It is a technique Hinata developed by combining the Gentle Fist of the Hyuga Clan with the powerful physical strength taught to her by the Hokage."
"It combines both softness and hardness, creating a completely unique form of Taijutsu."
"When it is used, the technique releases a brilliant light like the sun."
"The power combines both gentle and explosive force, allowing the user to inflict tremendous damage on an opponent from both the outside and the inside."
Hiashi spoke calmly, but the pride in his voice was obvious.
Jiraiya's expression became serious.
"She really developed something like that?"
"If so, that girl is truly extraordinary."
"That kind of talent is almost unprecedented."
Tsunade nodded.
"Exactly."
She looked toward Jiraiya.
"But don't you find something strange about it?"
"Why does the combination of hard and soft power produce such dazzling light?"
Jiraiya scratched his head.
"I have no idea."
Tsunade smiled.
"Hiruzen-sensei, you were known as the Professor of Ninjutsu. What do you think?"
Hiruzen had deliberately kept a low profile since Tsunade became Hokage. He wanted her to establish her own authority, so he rarely offered his opinions unless necessary.
However, theoretical questions about chakra and ninjutsu were among the subjects he was most knowledgeable about.
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled a large ring of smoke.
"I remember reading about something similar."
"It was an attempt to represent vitality itself."
"Throughout the long history of the Ninja World, there have been ninjas who researched this concept, but none of them ever truly succeeded."
"The theory involves transforming and combining chakra in a unique way."
"Such a transformation can produce terrifying destructive power while simultaneously generating an unimaginable amount of vitality."
"It represents both destruction and rebirth."
"And its most obvious characteristic is that the resulting chakra emits an incredibly dazzling light."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
"From what you've described, it seems Hinata may have achieved that impossible feat without even realizing it."
Tsunade nodded admiringly.
"As expected of you, Hiruzen-sensei."
"I only discovered this after recognizing Hinata's uniqueness and consulting numerous secret scrolls and historical records."
Jiraiya finally understood the connection.
"So, because Hinata can achieve something like that, you believe she can also master the special Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest?"
"Absolutely."
Tsunade's confidence was unwavering.
"The Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest is fundamentally different from the Senjutsu of Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave."
"It represents destruction and regeneration."
"The Slug Sage possesses a unique body and abilities capable of destroying everything while simultaneously healing all living beings."
"I believe Hinata is destined to inherit that legacy."
Tsunade paused for a moment before smiling.
"And when she does…"
"She will become an existence that surpasses even her master."
Everyone was completely stunned.
Naruto, meanwhile, could barely contain his excitement.
"Awesome!"
"If all three members of Team 7 master Senjutsu, we'll become invincible!"
Tsunade smiled.
"Don't get carried away, Naruto."
"You still have to actually master it."
Naruto clenched his fists, his eyes filled with confidence.
His confidence wasn't only in himself.
He also believed completely in Sasuke and Hinata.
"Team 7 will definitely succeed!"
With their plans finalized, Tsunade immediately began arranging the necessary preparations.
After leaving the Hokage's office, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Naruto summoned Sasuke and Hinata.
Naruto excitedly told them about the decision.
Sasuke's heart immediately began pounding.
"Senjutsu from Mount Myōboku?"
If he could master the same power that his master, one of the legendary Sannin, regarded as his greatest trump card, his chances of defeating Uchiha Itachi would undoubtedly increase dramatically.
His eyes burned with anticipation as he clenched his fists.
Hinata, on the other hand, was both excited and nervous.
"Master…"
"I'm truly honored that you trust me this much."
"But… I'm a little afraid."
Tsunade gently placed a hand on Hinata's head.
"Hinata, you're good at almost everything except one thing."
"You lack confidence in yourself."
"You're already so talented and have achieved so much. Why don't you have more confidence in yourself?"
Hinata lowered her head.
Tsunade wasn't wrong.
In terms of strength, Hinata was already second only to Naruto. Depending on the situation, she might not even be far behind Sasuke.
But changing one's personality wasn't as simple as increasing one's strength.
After a moment of silence, Hinata slowly raised her head.
"Master is right."
"I… shouldn't be afraid or hesitate simply because I'm your student."
"I'll prove my strength."
"And I won't disappoint you, Master!"
Tsunade smiled warmly.
"Hmm. That's my good student."
She turned toward Jiraiya.
"Then let's begin."
"Let's see whose student can master Senjutsu first!"
Jiraiya laughed confidently.
"Then you'll probably lose, Tsunade."
"After all, the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest has no predecessor who has successfully mastered it."
"The Senjutsu of Mount Myōboku, however, has been passed down from generation to generation."
Tsunade smiled.
"That might not necessarily mean anything."
The moment she finished speaking, she formed a series of hand seals.
A powerful summoning technique was activated.
Boom!
With a sudden burst of smoke, a gigantic creature appeared in the middle of the area.
It was Katsuyu, the Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest.
Her enormous body towered several meters above the surrounding buildings.
Naruto stared upward in amazement.
"So big!"
Tsunade smiled.
"And this is only one percent of the Slug Sage's main body."
Although this Katsuyu was only a fragment of the Slug Sage's enormous body, she possessed an independent consciousness.
Her voice was gentle and pleasant.
"Lady Tsunade, is there something you need me for?"
Tsunade nodded.
"Yes."
She looked toward Hinata with a confident smile.
"I've found an unprecedented and perfect successor for Shikkotsu Forest."
Katsuyu's attention slowly shifted toward Hinata.
And at that moment, the fate of Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu began to change.
________________________________________
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