"I'll protect you while you're training. If there's any danger of you turning into a stone frog, I'll intervene immediately and stop you.
"However, I can't say that it's completely safe. In short…
"Senjutsu is Senjutsu. It inherently carries risks!"
Naruto, however, couldn't help thinking about Sasuke and Hinata.
"Then what about Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest…?"
Fukasaku Sage understood what he meant and sighed.
"Of course, the situation is similar. Let's not even mention Ryūchi Cave. Almost every ninja who has been bitten by the White Snake Sage and injected with Senjutsu Chakra has failed and eventually become food for the White Snake Sage.
"And then there's Jūgo. As you mentioned, his clan's members are constantly affected by the natural energy of Ryūchi Cave and can easily lose control. You can imagine how dangerous it is!"
Naruto's anxiety grew even stronger.
"Sasuke…"
Fukasaku continued, "As for Shikkotsu Forest, I'm not entirely sure. They don't have any precedent for teaching Senjutsu to humans. The little Hinata you mentioned may be the first.
"But that doesn't mean there are no risks."
Seeing the worry growing on Naruto's face, Fukasaku jumped onto a nearby stone frog, bringing himself to nearly the same height as Naruto.
"All right, Little Naruto. If you believe in yourself, then you must also believe in your comrades.
"Now isn't the time to worry about them. Since developing Senjutsu is so dangerous, you need to be even more focused. You must concentrate on a single goal without allowing distractions to cloud your mind!"
Naruto pushed aside the countless thoughts racing through his head and slowly nodded.
"I understand.
"Sasuke and Hinata are both my comrades and my best friends. I worry about them, but I trust them even more!
"Whether it's me, Sasuke, or Hinata, we'll definitely master the power of Senjutsu!
"Because…"
Naruto clenched his fists.
"Team 7 will always be the strongest!"
Fukasaku smiled and nodded.
"You're absolutely right, Little Naruto.
"Now, let's continue.
"Your chakra reserves are enormous, far greater than those of Little Jiraiya and Little Minato. Because of that, your Senjutsu training should be twice as effective as theirs.
"Of course, that's also a double-edged sword. Your enormous chakra reserves mean you'll have to expend even more effort balancing the three types of energy. That makes it easier for you to lose control and fall into a state of imbalance…"
Fukasaku took out the special frog oil from Mount Myōboku and carefully applied it to Naruto's body.
"Frog oil can help you absorb natural energy more efficiently. It's an excellent aid during the initial stages of training.
"But in the end, you'll have to rely on your own strength."
Naruto clenched his fists and nodded firmly.
"I understand!"
Fukasaku smiled with satisfaction.
"Good. Then let's officially begin!
"The development of Senjutsu!"
…
While Naruto underwent rigorous training on Mount Myōboku, something similar was happening in another of the Three Great Sage Regions.
Shikkotsu Forest.
Hinata stared at the enormous figure of the Slug Sage.
Its true body was so massive that it resembled a snow-capped mountain piercing through the clouds. Hinata couldn't help but turn pale with shock.
"Is this… the true form of the Slug Sage?
"How incredible…"
The split incarnation beside her smiled slightly.
"Our main body is simply too large to be summoned in its entirety. Even Lady Tsunade can only summon a small portion of it—less than one-tenth.
"If you only wish to undergo basic training in Shikkotsu Forest, I can assist you.
"However, only the main body can teach you Senjutsu."
Hinata nodded slightly.
She looked toward the enormous Slug Sage and bowed deeply with solemn respect.
"Slug Sage, my name is Hyūga Hinata. I've come to learn the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest. Please guide me."
The Slug Sage's head moved slightly.
Then, the eyes atop its two enormous antennae slowly opened.
It looked down at Hinata, who was no larger than an ant compared to its gigantic body.
"I already know."
Although the Slug Sage's voice remained gentle, its enormous body made the sound incredibly deep and distant, as though it had come from an ancient era.
"Shikkotsu Forest has never rejected those who wish to learn and inherit our Senjutsu. However, we have never found a truly suitable candidate.
"You were personally chosen by Little Tsunade, and she believes you are an excellent candidate. Therefore, I am very pleased to teach you the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest.
"I hope you can successfully master this technique and allow the Ninja World, as well as the other two Great Sage Regions, to witness the power of Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu."
Hinata suddenly felt an enormous pressure.
However, she quickly nodded.
"I'll do my very best. I will never disappoint you or Lady Tsunade."
"Good.
"Then let us begin."
The Slug Sage's voice remained calm as it explained:
"Although all three Great Sage Regions possess their own Senjutsu traditions, their techniques are fundamentally different.
"Mount Myōboku's Senjutsu is the most comprehensive and versatile. It can simultaneously enhance a ninja's Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and other abilities. It also greatly improves sensory perception and extends attack range.
"Overall, it is an extremely balanced form of Senjutsu with almost no obvious weaknesses.
"Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu, on the other hand, is far more powerful and bizarre. Once successfully mastered, one can control enormous amounts of natural energy, alter the surrounding terrain, transform lifeless matter into organic matter, and utilize extremely unique forms of attack.
"Of course, precisely because of its extraordinary power, Ryūchi Cave's Senjutsu is also the easiest to lose control of."
Hinata immediately thought of Jūgo's clan and involuntarily nodded.
The Slug Sage continued.
"Shikkotsu Forest's Senjutsu is completely different from the other two.
"Little Tsunade should have already told you about this. The Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest is the gentlest and most inclusive of the three.
"It possesses destructive power as well, but its true essence lies in vitality, regeneration, division, and rebirth.
"In some ways, it is almost equivalent to immortality.
"Little Hinata, if you can master this power, your vitality and regenerative abilities may eventually surpass even Little Tsunade's.
"You won't merely be able to protect yourself. You'll also be able to protect your comrades far more effectively."
Hinata became even more excited.
Her eyes shone with joy and determination.
"Is… is that really true?
"If I master the Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest, I'll be able to protect my comrades better…"
She immediately looked toward the Slug Sage.
"Slug Sage, let's begin!"
The Slug Sage smiled gently.
"You hesitated when thinking about yourself, but the moment you heard that you could better protect your comrades, your confidence immediately returned.
"You truly are that kind of person…"
Its enormous body moved slightly, causing vibrations to ripple throughout the entire Shikkotsu Forest.
"The instinct to protect is one of humanity's strongest forces.
"Many people spend their entire lives without understanding this.
"But you, despite being so young, have already understood it more clearly than most."
Hinata's face reddened, and she lowered her head.
"I-I just don't want my friends to get hurt…"
The Slug Sage's enormous body moved again, sending another gentle tremor through the forest.
"Very well.
"Follow me.
"From this moment onward, I will teach you the true Senjutsu of Shikkotsu Forest.
"However, whether you can truly master it will depend on your talent… and perhaps your destiny."
Hinata clenched her fists.
In her mind appeared the image of Naruto.
"Naruto-kun…"
"Even the strongest person can have moments of weakness.
"Even the hardest-working person can become exhausted.
"So whenever you need me…"
"I'll always be there."
With that determination in her heart, Hinata followed the Slug Sage deeper into Shikkotsu Forest.
…
Meanwhile, Jūgo stood silently before the ruins of his destroyed village.
He stared at the remains of the place where he had once lived.
Jiraiya, Yakushi Kabuto, and Sasuke quietly waited behind him.
Of everyone present, Sasuke understood Jūgo's pain the most.
After all, Sasuke had also lost his entire clan.
However, the Uchiha Clan had been slaughtered by his own brother, Itachi.
Jūgo's family, on the other hand, had most likely destroyed themselves through internal conflict.
They had witnessed Jūgo losing control before. Whenever his violent impulses took over, he would become completely irrational, sometimes even fighting his own family members to the death.
A family like that was almost destined to collapse eventually.
Jūgo slowly closed his eyes.
Then he turned away from his distant and irreversible homeland.
"Let's go."
Jiraiya looked at him.
"Don't you want to take one last look at your homeland?"
Jūgo shook his head.
"I don't have a home anymore."
Jiraiya gently patted him on the shoulder.
"I won't use some cliché phrase like, 'Konoha Village is your new home.'
"Only you can find your own sense of belonging.
"Humans are social creatures. In the end, we cannot truly endure loneliness."
Jūgo's heart trembled.
Kimimaro seemed to have said something similar to him before.
When Jūgo was young, his violent nature made even the people in his own village fear and hate him. Eventually, he voluntarily locked himself inside a cave, living a secluded, lonely, and painful existence.
The person who rescued him was Kimimaro.
From that moment onward, Jūgo regarded Kimimaro as his closest confidant and protector. Following Kimimaro's suggestion, he eventually joined Orochimaru.
Unfortunately, both he and Kimimaro had merely become tools and puppets in Orochimaru's hands.
Kimimaro himself might not have realized it.
Or perhaps he knew exactly what was happening but willingly allowed himself to be used by Orochimaru.
Jūgo, however, was grateful to Kimimaro—not Orochimaru.
That distinction allowed him to see the situation more clearly.
It wasn't Uzumaki Naruto who had killed Kimimaro.
It was Orochimaru.
Therefore, Jūgo no longer hated Naruto.
In fact, he believed that Naruto had ultimately brought freedom to Kimimaro.
More importantly, through his interactions with Yamato, Sai, Karin, and the others, Jūgo had gradually come to understand what comrades and friends truly meant.
As Jiraiya had said, overcoming loneliness, dealing with pain, and finding a sense of belonging were ultimately personal choices.
And at that moment, Jūgo finally felt that he truly belonged somewhere.
He was…
Konoha's Jūgo.
Jūgo shook his head with a bitter, self-deprecating smile.
Then he walked away without looking back.
"The village where I was born is here. Ryūchi Cave shouldn't be too far from this place."
________________________________________
⚡ Enjoying the story? Don't stop here!
The adventure continues on Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/Obito_uchiha
🔥 Read up to 50 chapters ahead
📚 Get access to 20+ fanfics with a single membership
Be among the first to experience new chapters weeks before they're released publicly.
Join today and start reading ahead!