I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 251 Humans have all sorts of fears, such as deep-sea monsters and the uncanny valley.

Upon hearing Tsunade mention Shikkotsu Forest, Orochimaru fell silent. As for whether Shikkotsu Forest could cure Tatsuma, Orochimaru was unsure, but if it was just a matter of probability, Shikkotsu Forest was undoubtedly more likely than other places.

After all, each slug clone from Shikkotsu Forest is, in a sense, comparable to a medical ninja, and in some cases, even more valuable than a medical ninja.

Many of the medical ninjutsu developed by Tsunade bear the imprint of Shikkotsu Forest. It can be said that Tsunade's current medical achievements are inseparable from the assistance of Shikkotsu Forest.

Seeing that Orochimaru did not object, Tsunade began to work, pulling out the syringe and various patches used for testing from Tatsuma's hand.

"Should I prepare a backup plan?"

Only after all the attachments to Tatsuma were removed did Orochimaru ask in a hoarse voice, "Yes." Tsunade paused for a moment, then nodded and said, "Yes."

If even Shikkotsu Forest can't solve Tatsuma's current problem, Tsunade can't just watch Tatsuma slowly deplete the last of his energy.

Seeing that Tsunade had relented, Orochimaru nodded and asked, "How long are you going to be gone?"

"I don't know. You can go and talk to the old man about the rest. I'm leaving now."

With that, Tsunade formed hand seals and summoned a slug. Then, she had the slug use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon her and the unconscious Tatsuma to Shikkotsu Forest.

After Tsunade left, Orochimaru originally intended to go directly to Hiruzen Sarutobi, but considering that Dan Kato was also one of his patients, he went to Dan Kato's ward instead and gave him a brief explanation.

Tsunade, who was summoned to Shikkotsu Forest, was still shocked by the scene around her, even though it wasn't her first time there.

The dappled light and shadow on the ground are the source of illumination for the Wet Bone Forest, while the surrounding land is extremely damp, with some surfaces even covered with a thin layer of white substance.

Large numbers of bone-shaped coral reefs piled up into mountains, their vibrant colors carrying a touch of the eerie. Many slugs inhabit the coral reefs, seemingly drawing nutrients from them.

Looking up, patches of light shone through the trees, creating ripples like water. From a distance, the Damp Bone Forest resembled a world within a bubble.

Beyond the foam lies the sea.

That seemingly fragile layer of foam is a crucial barrier that has protected Shikkut Forest for thousands of years. The foam is not as solid as a rock, and countless foreign objects enter it every year.

It could be the body of someone who fell into the sea, or a fish that wandered in, or rocks, seaweed, or coral reefs brought by ocean currents.

These things could pass through the foam barrier and enter the Wet Bone Forest, ensuring that there were enough supplies in the Wet Bone Forest.

Tsunade actually visits Shikkotsu Forest very rarely because she dislikes the seemingly overly beautiful but actually oppressive environment there. Only slugs can live in this environment for a long time and maintain a good mindset.

This time, however, Tsunade had no choice but to come for Tatsuma's sake.

Carrying Tatsuma on her back, Tsunade walked deeper into the Shikkotsu Forest. Sometimes, when she lost focus and came back, the coral reef branches looked like corpses and skeletons, making Tsunade gasp from time to time.

Tsunade mustered her strength and focused her attention to counteract the shock of the bizarre and fantastical scenery of Shikkotsu Forest.

"Tsunade."

Suddenly, a gentle voice attracted Tsunade's attention. She looked in the direction of the sound, found the source, and forced a smile, greeting, "Slug."

The slug moved its seemingly fat and clumsy body toward Tsunade. The light was not very good here, and it was only when it got close that the slug noticed Tatsuma on Tsunade's back.

The slug asked gently, her voice tinged with worry, "What happened to Tatsuma? Is he badly injured?"

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's face showed distress, and she said, "His chakra is depleted, and he is on the verge of death. I have no way to save him, so I came to find the Slug Sage."

Although the slugs of Shikkotsu Forest are all split bodies of the Slug Sage, the size of the split bodies is different, and their intelligence is also different. Some small slugs can only understand the commands of the large slugs or the psychics, but do not have enough subjective consciousness.

Giant slugs like the live slug not only possess intelligence comparable to humans, but also have a certain degree of independent thought, having developed their own consciousness, cognition, and thinking; they cannot be simply regarded as a separate entity.

Moreover, Tsunade had known the slug for many years and considered it different from other slugs, regarding it as her friend and partner.

Upon hearing this, the slug became somewhat anxious, lowered its body, and said, "Come on up quickly, I'll take you to find the Slug Immortal."

Tsunade didn't mince words and jumped directly onto the slug's back. She knew the slug well enough to know that its seemingly clumsy body could unleash a speed that was by no means low.

Moreover, in the Shikkotsu Forest, the live slug is faster than Tsunade in terms of familiarity with the terrain and its crawling speed on slippery surfaces and coral reefs.

During their journey, slugs even transform a part of their bodies into smaller slugs to reduce their weight and size, allowing them to move more easily through complex terrain.

After a long journey, the slug's speed finally slowed down. Ahead lay a plain made of coral reefs, and in the center of the plain were two pillars that reached a thousand meters into the air.

Like a white jade pillar reaching to the sky, or a purple-gold beam spanning the sea.

But Tsunade knew that those were just two tentacles of the Slug Sage, the founder of Shikkotsu Forest.

Tsunade had never seen the Slug Sage in full, but she had calculated that even in her best condition, including the chakra from releasing the Yin Seal, she could only summon less than one-tenth of the Slug Sage's chakra.

No one in the ninja world has enough chakra to summon the Slug Sage's true form. Tsunade guessed that even her grandfather's chakra wasn't enough.

The slug moved forward at an extremely slow pace for a short distance before coming to a complete stop. Tsunade, carrying Tatsuma on her back, leaped off the slug and shouted towards the two heavenly pillars:

"Slug Sage! I am Tsunade!"

As if afraid that the Slug Sage wouldn't hear her, Tsunade used almost her loudest volume.

A few seconds after the sound spread, the two pillars of heaven began to tremble and then fell towards Tsunade, causing the coral reef plain to shake violently, just like an earthquake.

Looking at the two pillars that seemed to be falling down, Tsunade felt an immense sense of oppression. Fortunately, the two pillars did not actually fall, stopping several tens of meters above the slug's head.

Perhaps it was afraid that if it really fell, it would crush its own clones to death.

Meanwhile, in the center of the coral reef plain, the base of the two pillars gradually arched up, and a majestic mountain slowly rose, with countless coral reefs cascading down like a waterfall.

The surrounding light also dimmed as the mountains rose.

The mountain stopped rising, and a voice, similar to that of a slug, gentle yet with a rougher, more aged quality, rang out.

"Xiao Gang, it's been a long time."

Hearing the Slug Sage's reply, Tsunade breathed a sigh of relief, put Tatsuma down on the now-stagnant coral reef plain, and then said:

"Slug Sage, this is my disciple, Sakamoto Tatsuma, also the successor of Shikkotsu Forest. Please take a look at his injuries."

"You have disciples?"

The Slug Sage's voice carried a hint of surprise, followed by a touch of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and reflection), as he said, "So you've become a remarkable ninja after all?"

As the Slug Sage spoke, the tips of her two tentacles began to approach and soon touched each other. A chakra that was almost tangible slowly descended, like viscous oil, and enveloped Tatsuma's body.

"The situation is really bad."

Even though it was clearly a murmur, it became crystal clear through her massive body, and Tsunade's face showed tension upon hearing the Slug Sage's words.

"Is there any way?"

Tsunade asked, but the Slug Sage did not answer immediately. The chakra wrapped around Tatsuma continued to flow, as if he was trying something.

After a long while, the Slug Sage finally said, "Medicines, food, and chakra have no effect on him anymore."

Upon hearing this, Tsunade nodded. The Slug Sage's judgment was the same as Orochimaru's, but her face became increasingly serious. She was afraid that even the Slug Sage would be helpless.

After another moment of silence, the Slug Sage finally spoke, "Whether it's medicine, food, or chakra, the energy concentration is insufficient to awaken his body's vitality. There's only one way."

Tsunade involuntarily took a deep breath, raised her head to look at the slug sage's head, which resembled a mountain range, and blurted out, "What method?"

"Use the water from Shikotsu Forest."

Hearing the slug sage's words, Tsunade was somewhat stunned. The slug then added, "Water that is full of natural energy. Natural energy can exist in the air, the land, and the water."

The three sacred sites have different ways of preserving natural energy. The snakes of Ryuchi Cave hide natural energy in the land, but the land cannot preserve natural energy well. The overflowing natural energy has created a special race.

The toads of Mount Myōboku do not employ many methods to conserve natural energy, allowing them to roam freely in the air. However, the excessively high concentration of natural energy in the air can cause ordinary people to fall into a semi-conscious state, which is the origin of the outer labyrinth mountain of Mount Myōboku.

Our Shikkotsu Forest stores natural energy in water. The Slug Sage's words likely refer to using this natural energy to stimulate Tatsuma's body, restoring sufficient vitality.

Tsunade nodded, but then suddenly realized something and said, "But... isn't this Grandpa's... Sage Mode?"

"Um."

The Slug Sage confirmed Tsunade's guess. Tsunade said anxiously, "But isn't it said that this method has an extremely low success rate? Once it fails, the body's cells will be eroded by natural energy, causing death."

"Um."

The Slug Sage hummed again, raising its two tentacles, which resembled pillars of heaven. Thick chakra, along with Tatsuma, clung to it. The Slug Sage slowly spoke:

"I hope this child likes water."

(End of this chapter)