Who knew that Hashirama Senju's name wasn't even on this scroll.
"Lord Hashirama..."
A trace of reminiscence flashed through the Slug Sage's eyes.
"He was unlike anyone else."
"His Sage Mode was his own original creation, like a pioneer."
"Everything has its origin. Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode was created by Gamamaru, Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode was created by me, and the same goes for Ryūchi Cave."
"But Lord Hashirama pioneered a Sage Mode that was uniquely his own."
Listening to the Slug Sage's words, Kakashi seemed deep in thought, then looked toward Tsunade.
"What are you looking at me for?"
"I don't know about my grandfather's Sage Mode," Tsunade said somewhat grumpily.
To be precise, just a moment ago, Kakashi wasn't looking at Tsunade, but at Tsunade's chest...
...specifically, at the First Hokage's necklace resting on it.
An idea had already formed in his mind.
But right now, signing the contract with the Slug Sage was obviously more important, so Kakashi could only suppress the thought for the time being.
Seeing Kakashi bite his finger, Tsunade's body trembled slightly, and she hurriedly turned her head away to avoid looking at the red liquid that filled her with terror.
Writing the name "Kakashi Hatake" on it, the contract ceremony with the Slug Sage was considered complete.
"Please take care of me from now on, Lord Kakashi."
The Slug Sage nodded gently toward Kakashi.
"Sage, you can just call me Kakashi. There's no need to add 'Lord'," Kakashi reminded her.
"Alright then, Lord Kakashi."
Kakashi: "..."
Seeing Kakashi's reaction, the Slug Sage chuckled softly, then shifted her body to crawl onto Kakashi's palm.
Soft and warm, just like a hot water bottle.
Kakashi felt the Slug Sage's body.
"So this is Lord Kakashi's chakra? It's quite impressive."
"If you went all out, you might even be able to summon one-fifth of my main body~"
Feeling the chakra within Kakashi, the Slug Sage exclaimed.
This actually surprised Tsunade, who was looking away.
Even she couldn't summon one-fifth of the Slug Sage's body.
To be precise, even one-tenth was a struggle.
"Is that so?"
Kakashi nodded slightly.
"But don't mind it too much, Lord Kakashi. I have never had a contractor with such a massive amount of chakra before. You are already very amazing~"
Hikari, standing to the side, looked at the Slug Sage and furrowed her brows.
Why does this slug sound so weird when she talks?
Seeing this, Kakashi didn't continue on that topic. Instead, he gently stroked the Slug Sage's soft body and asked:
"Just now, you said Lord Hashirama pioneered a Sage Mode unique to him. How is that done?"
The Slug Sage on his palm wiggled her body in thought, then spoke:
"Do you know why the mortality rate for humans cultivating the Sage Mode of the Three Great Sage Regions is so high, Lord Kakashi?"
Kakashi shook his head honestly.
"Because the Sage Mode of our Three Great Sage Regions was never meant for humans to practice."
"It is only suitable for our three species. Humans seeking this power naturally have to pay a price."
"Even at Mount Myōboku, the safest of them all, many cultivators have died trying to learn Gamamaru's Sage Mode."
On this point, the Slug Sage was not deceiving Kakashi.
Beside the Toad Oil pond at Mount Myōboku, there stood many toad stone statues—those were the people who had failed their training.
"So, theoretically speaking, none of the Sage Modes from the Three Great Sage Regions should be cultivated by humans."
Kakashi murmured softly.
"That is correct. Failing training at Mount Myōboku turns one into a toad statue; failing at Ryūchi Cave turns one into a giant snake; and failing here results in melting away into nothingness, just like encountering my Sticky Tongue Acid."
"So..."
"So, humans need to pioneer a Sage Mode that belongs to them."
"And Lord Hashirama was that person, but I am not clear on why he did not pass it down."
The Slug Sage's gentle words lingered in Kakashi's ears, making him thoughtful.
"I understand, Sage."
Kakashi nodded.
The plan for now was to find Hashirama Senju and have him explain exactly how to cultivate Sage Mode.
Although Kakashi could probably guess why Hashirama Senju didn't pass down his Sage Mode.
First, the power was simply too astonishing, and he worried that someone might master it and endanger the ninja world.
Second...
Look, you just clap your hands together like pow, and you enter Sage Mode.
Did you learn it?
"Then I wish you good luck, Lord Kakashi."
Hearing the Slug Sage's words, Kakashi carefully placed her on the ground, intending to leave.
He needed to meet with Hashirama Senju.
"What are you planning to do?"
Tsunade looked at Kakashi with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
No matter what, she would absolutely not allow anyone to desecrate her grandfather's remains.
As Hashirama Senju's granddaughter, Tsunade clearly knew that the Hidden Leaf's Scroll of Seals contained a technique called the Impure World Reincarnation.
It was a technique created by her granduncle, Tobirama Senju, to summon the dead.
In the not-so-distant Warring States Period, Tobirama Senju had used this move to summon the enemies' deceased relatives, attach Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags to them, and send them close to the enemy.
Then he would detonate them—hitting the mark every time.
Although even Tsunade herself felt it was somewhat wicked, as a granddaughter, she would absolutely not permit anyone to summon her own grandfather.
"Nothing."
Kakashi smiled and shook his head, saying:
"We're going back now, Sage."
"I look forward to our next cooperation."
Hearing Kakashi's words, the Slug Sage gave an affirmative response:
"Then I look forward to seeing you next time, Lord Kakashi."
With a muffled sound, Kakashi, Hikari, and Tsunade vanished from before the Slug Sage.
Having signed the contract with the Slug Sage, Kakashi no longer needed Tsunade to release the Reverse Summoning Technique; he could complete it himself.
Although this trip to Shikkotsu Forest didn't yield exactly what Kakashi wanted, signing a contract with the Slug Sage was a pleasant surprise.
Furthermore, Kakashi had obtained a clue regarding a Sage Mode belonging to humans themselves.
The final answer pointed to one person.
The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju.
The peerless figure whom Kakashi regarded as the God of War.
Returning to the Senju clan grounds, the three looked at the familiar scene before them.
The messy room had already been tidied up; evidently, Shizune had returned while Kakashi and the others were at Shikkotsu Forest and cleaned the house.
"What will you do next?"
"I'm telling you, if you use the Impure World Reincarnation on my grandfather, I'm never done with you!"
Tsunade furrowed her brows and looked at Kakashi.
————
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