The ruins of Uzushio Village were so vast that the village's original shape was unrecognizable.
Massive irregular stone blocks scattered near the coastline, partially submerged in seawater, covered with thick seaweed and shellfish.
Some vaguely recognizable defensive fortifications and building foundations remained. Occasionally, faded blurred whirlpool patterns could still be seen.
The three stopped at a relatively level area.
Tsunade stood in place, surveying surroundings, gaze sweeping across those ruined walls.
"You want to train in Sage Arts, do it here. Since Uzushiogakure's destruction, no outsiders have come here."
"No one will disturb us."
Shuji did not immediately respond but meticulously inspected all surrounding corners and shadows. Only after confirming no life signs or potential dangers did he slowly sit cross-legged.
The summoning formula flashed across the ground.
A small slug appeared in Shuji's palm. Its soft voice was gently as usual. "Shuji."
"Katsuyu-sama, I'm preparing to begin Sage Arts training."
The small slug's antennae rotated slightly, sensing the surrounding environment's energy flow, then turned toward Tsunade's direction.
"Split off a small one, Katsuyu." Tsunade's tone was direct and crisp. "I need to provide him chakra support shortly."
"Understood. With Tsunade-sama's chakra support, risks will decrease considerably." Katsuyu's voice carried approval. Its body rapidly split off an even smaller individual, wriggling as it climbed onto Tsunade's shoulder.
Shuji closed his eyes, took a deep breath, completely calming the disturbance from exchanging blows with Tsunade along the journey. Spirit sank into his body. Perception followed chakra circulation slowly extending outward, crossing flesh's boundaries, touching that massive primitive energy permeating air, seawater, and rock—natural energy.
He could already clearly sense them. But this time, instead of using the wood clone as a buffer, he directly attempted introduction it with his main body.
Initially just a trace of subtle energy, seeping into his body like a trickling stream.
However, the next moment—
A massive, chaotic energy torrent, as if finally finding an outlet, suddenly flooded into his body!
Shuji fully refined his own chakra, attempting to contend with this raging natural energy.
But the Hashirama cells' hunger for energy far exceeded expectations. Like parched earth, they greedily absorbed all inflowing energy, actually instantly pushing him to the edge of irreversible mutation—skin on his arms and neck rapidly lost moisture, becoming dry and rough, obvious terrifying woody textures emerging!
"Troublesome brat..." Tsunade clicked her tongue, but her movements showed no hesitation.
The Yin Seal on her forehead instantly unsealed. Simultaneously through the Katsuyu on her shoulder, she continuously transmitted chakra toward Shuji.
With Katsuyu on Shuji also slightly expanded, emitting gentle radiance, accelerating absorption of the rampaging natural energy in his body.
With the powerful external chakra support, the woody characteristics were rapidly suppressed and receded.
Shizune held Tonton, nervously standing guard to the side. She watched as black eyeshadow appeared around Shuuji's eyes, and at other times, parts of his limbs became woody; in the worst cases, even tiny twigs sprouted from his fingertips. Her heart pounded in her chest.
The process repeated itself endlessly, fraught with danger. But as time passed, the frequency of the woody appearances gradually decreased, and the duration shortened. A delicate balance of the three energies within Shuuji's body was being painstakingly established.
After an unknown amount of time, his condition finally stabilized. The unusual patterns on his skin disappeared, and the magical eyeshadow around his eyes became clear and stable.
He slowly opened his eyes.
For the first time, natural energy had been introduced, and with external assistance, it had achieved a preliminary stable coexistence within his body.
He had succeeded.
Although this was only the first step, and the balance remained fragile, it was undoubtedly a crucial beginning.
Tsunade cut off the chakra supply: "At least my efforts weren't in vain."
"Thank you very much, Tsunade-sama. And Katsuyu-sama."
The Hashirama cells' excessive greed for natural energy made the training process more dangerous than anticipated. This was the first time since arriving in the shinobi world that he felt such profound fatigue from refining chakra.
"After successfully accommodating natural energy the first time, subsequent training will gradually become smoother, Shuji." Katsuyu gently supplemented.
Shuji thanked them solemnly again.
Tsunade had already turned and walked aside—after unsealing the Yin Seal to supply chakra, if not promptly replenished, she would temporarily lose her youthful appearance, even showing aging far beyond ordinary people. She absolutely did not wish to be seen in such a state.
Shizune timely handed her prepared food.
Just then, Tsunade suddenly felt chakra flowing into her originally somewhat empty body.
"This is..."
"Tch, the brat actually still has this degree of chakra."
Feeling the cheers of the cells in her body, Tsunade smiled.
Looking at it this way, it doesn't seem like a complete loss.
Shuji confirmed his Sage Mode state—no animal characteristics, only black patterns. Pupils had slight changes, but only the outer edges yellowed somewhat.
This was Senju Hashirama's Sage Mode. Not knowing if it was the training method, or caused by genetic information remaining from Hashirama cells.
But fortunately, as a perfect Hashirama cell fusion, Senju Hashirama's face did not appear on his body. Just the Sage Mode being the same was already very good.
The first day's training ended. The three rested on the island.
"Shuji." Tsunade called him by name, a rare occurrence. "What do you know about Uzushio Village?"
"This is a nation established by the Uzumaki clan. They were once Konoha's allies and distant relatives of the Senju clan." Shuji answered. "The whirlpool emblem on jōnin clothing is a symbol of friendship between both sides."
"Yes, grandmother also once came from Uzushiogakure. The Uzumaki clan was indeed powerful." The Senju Princess looked at the remaining whirlpool marks, tone becoming somber. "Do you know why they were destroyed?"
"Please instruct me."
Tsunade said flatly, "Because they were untimely. Even with Konoha as an ally, they still could not preserve themselves in the shinobi world war."
"Konoha has suffered encirclement for years, but supporting Whirlpool Country not far from Fire Country actually didn't require too long."
"Even if forces couldn't be spared momentarily, as long as Uzushiogakure could hold for two or three days, Konoha could always dispatch reinforcements."
"But the village was still destroyed, and this powerful nation vanished just like that."
Her gaze swept across those broken whirlpool patterns. Her voice carried imperceptible sighing.
"With the techniques they possessed, in the end, they couldn't even hold a few days."
"Only then did I truly understand why even great-uncle Tobirama agreed with grandfather's decision to disband the clan."
"A single ninja clan, without grandfather's level of power, cannot survive in the cruel ninja village wars, Shuji."
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