Before this, Tsunade had only ever seen small divisions of Katsuyu. She had been far too naive, assuming that those giant segments were the slug's true main body.
She could not have imagined the risks Hashirama Senju faced when he first came here to train. Witnessing attacks of such magnitude, Tsunade doubted how any human ninja could survive. After all, before mastering Sage Art, even Hashirama's Wood Golems only stood around fifty meters tall. It was only after achieving Sage Mode and grasping the essence of Wood Release that his golems exceeded five hundred meters, capable of suppressing Madara's Perfect Susano'o.
Now, as Hiruko was submerged in a literal sea of acid, would he truly vaporize on the spot? Her breath hitched; her heart hammered against her ribs.
Glug, glug. The acid churned. Hiruko's surface was already corroded beyond recognition. This torture was no different from being cast into a vat of boiling oil—an unbearable agony for any living soul.
Yet, within this pain, Hiruko grasped the true essence of the Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode: Adaptive Evolution.
Decades ago, when Hashirama entered the forest, his body was also relentlessly corroded by the strong acid. But with his tenacious will and peerless regeneration, he completed the metamorphosis.
The three Great Sage Regions are revered because they possess unique natural environments that serve as supreme training grounds. Mount Myoboku produces Toad Oil to aid in absorbing natural energy; as Fukasaku told Naruto, the oil evaporates outside that environment, proving that Ryuchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest must also have similarly unique conditions.
The environment of Shikkotsu Forest is the training. As Hashirama was melted by acid, massive amounts of natural energy entered his wounds, reshaping his body. Thus, only a ninja with high acid resistance or extreme regeneration could complete this path. This was likely one reason for Hashirama's short lifespan—such extreme training placed an unthinkable burden on the body. Even the Sannin had their biological limits; they could not breach the "God-tier" constitution Hashirama possessed.
Fast regeneration consumes one's life force, as cell division is finite. Hashirama's early death in his prime likely stemmed from this. When he finally stood before the Katsuyu Sage, the acid had already completed his preliminary tempering.
Hiruko's situation, however, was different. He had cheated. Using the bloodline medicine derived from Mei Terumi, he had reached the Sage without the initial melting.
The Katsuyu Sage realized this "seedling" was even better than Hashirama and decided to accelerate the process. She spat out a specialized mucus to "cleanse the marrow and transform the bones." Once finished, Hiruko's body would be a vessel for Sage Art far superior to Hashirama's.
Glug. The mucus receded, revealing Hiruko. His body was tattered, white bone visible in multiple places. But where the bone showed, Hiruko's miraculous Yang Release began a rapid regeneration. The energy protecting his heart flared. In a flash, his muscles, skin, and hair regrew.
Hiruko took a deep breath, feeling the shift in his biology. "I think... I understand."
"Congratulations," the Katsuyu Sage droned.
Hiruko closed his eyes and clapped his hands. In a split second, his consciousness expanded across the entire forest. His flesh, now fully integrated with Sage chakra, had adapted to the environment. The planet's natural energy surged toward him like a tidal wave, much like the Nine-Tails gathering energy for Naruto in the final battle.
Hiruko churned the clouds, inhaling the natural energy from the earth and lakes. Tsunade watched in awe as the energy of heaven and earth was devoured by Hiruko. His capacity for Sage chakra surpassed even Hashirama's peak.
It wasn't just a quantity increase; it was a total evolution. Hiruko's chakra pool now crushed all Tailed Beasts, swelling toward the level of the Ten-Tails.
"You have succeeded," the Sage's detached voice rang from the sky. To an entity that viewed an ant as an ant, even a human with Ten-Tails level chakra was just a speck. This planet was special; otherwise, the Otsutsuki wouldn't have spent eons plotting here.
Hiruko opened his eyes. There was no Sage face-paint; the natural energy didn't manifest externally. Instead, the Sage chakra was evolving his physical form according to his understanding of "immortality."
Hiruko smirked. Though his soul was a fraction away from perfection, his physical power now crushed almost every Kage-level fighter in the world. Give him a bit more time, and a Six Paths-level body would not be out of reach.
The natural energy felt safe, submissive to his will. His soul expanded with the energy, rising in essence without him even realizing it. His Sage Mode was different from the others; he used the energy to permanently alter his cellular quality. Combined with the Raikage's lightning tempering, his physical ceiling would eventually surpass even the Otsutsuki.
Returning to Konoha with Tsunade, Hiruko possessed absolute power. But he didn't swell with ego or try to crush the world. His "Utopia" required people. Massive population loss would hurt his future plans. Science is the power of the masses; it is no less a path than the solitary pursuit of Sagehood. He needed these "leeks"—at least until he transcended all worlds.
He checked his status panel: 59%. His time in this world was growing shorter.
That night, Pakura and the "little cutie" Maki came to visit Hiruko. With Hiruko's power and authority reaching new heights, Pakura spoke on behalf of the Sand, asking if wood-style or other secret techniques could solve the Land of Wind's environmental issues.
Maki had begged her master to help, and Pakura couldn't refuse. It was a trade of secret techniques, not a handout. Hiruko thought it was a worthy project—diverting the water vapor from the Hidden Rain to the Land of Wind. A massive project, but turning the desert into a paradise was a goal worth pursuing.
Night fell. On the sprawling bed, a sense of suffocating tension filled the air.
Hiruko, Pakura, and Maki stood in a standoff, chakra swirling like a hidden undertow. They were like lithe leopards, eyes full of resolve.
"Pakura, don't think you'll get the upper hand tonight!" Hiruko broke the silence.
Pakura sneered. "Hmph, Hiruko, don't talk big. We'll see who yields first!"
She blurred like a ghost, rushing Hiruko. As they clashed, Maki saw her chance. Her eyes sharpened, and she leaped into the fray. The master and disciple shared a bond that went to the marrow.
Maki's hands were a blur of signs. "Water Style: Wild Water Wave!"
Pakura followed suit, merging her chakra with Maki's. A flood erupted within the room, the impact making the bed frame groan and sway. Water splashed everywhere, soaking the sheets and blurring their vision like a veil.
"Ah!"
"No!"
"Is this all you've got? Pathetic!" Hiruko roared. He gripped his "Vajra Pestle," his chakra surging like a violent hurricane. He waded into the torrent, the Vajra Pestle trailing streaks of cold light as it smashed through their Water Style. With his absolute physical strength, he easily suppressed the pair.
The next morning, Hiruko woke up with Pakura and Maki in his arms. The two were too shy to even look at him, remembering how "unrestrained" they had been the night before—a flood that had truly swept everything away.
As they feigned sleep, Hiruko slipped out. Maki peeked one eye open, only to see her master doing the same. They locked eyes, their faces turning as red as a monkey's bottom.
In the lab, Hiruko contemplated the next move. Capturing the Hidden Sky Village was the priority. Located roughly to the north, they were a tech-focused village that had hidden well since their near-extinction. But science requires resources—steel, coal, oil. They couldn't stay "shut-ins" forever. They had a hidden trade route, and Hiruko intended to find it.
He decided to shift the village's focus toward investigating all trade in that region. If the Leaf made a big enough fuss, the Daimyo would be distracted from other worries. Then, the Leaf would step in as a "peacemaker," taking the Sky tech, satisfying the nobles, and leaving everyone happy.
Naturally, tool-man Minato would handle the details.
Hiruko prepared to head to Loulan as a "Peace Ambassador." He was fascinated by the Dragon Vein and the royal bloodline that could summon its power. He wanted to know if he was truly the only "traveler" in this world—or if a parallel version of himself existed.
With Konoha and Loulan establishing ties, Hiruko's trip served as a high-profile "academic exchange." Near the end of the year, three planes took off from Konoha. In just four months, with the help of Leaf ninjas, airports and roads had been built to connect the high commands of various nations.
Naturally, this was just the beginning.
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