I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 253 Elders cannot accompany us for a lifetime, but their love can.

"Failed?! How could this be?!"

Tsunade was stunned for a second, then reacted and was about to run towards the pool to check on Tatsuma's condition when a pillar of heaven fell down, blocking Tsunade's path.

The slug immortal slowly said, "His body has been invaded by natural energy. Although we don't know why, he can still live."

However, if he were to leave this place, the consequences would be unimaginable. Overwhelmed by the natural energy, he might also transform into flowing nutrients, like a dissolving slug.

Upon hearing this, Tsunade asked, "Like those toad-like cultivators on Mount Myōboku?"

"You know?"

The Slug Sage was somewhat curious, but said with certainty, "That's right. The toad transformation of Mount Myōboku and the snake transformation of Ryūchi Cave are both manifestations of being invaded by natural energy. Because the characteristics of the three sacred lands are different, their manifestations are also different."

Snakes are greedy, and humans who are corrupted by them will shed their skin and become snakes themselves. Toads are stubborn, and when they are invaded, they will become like a frog in a well, with its limited perspective.

In the Shikub Forest, however, the slugs are dissolved, like slugs wrapped in concentrated salt, dehydrated and dissolved, eventually leaving only shriveled, withered sacs.

The child has been severely afflicted, but his body is resilient and resisting; the breakdown and repair of his body have reached a balance.

Once separated from this natural energy, the balance will be broken, and certain death will ensue.

Tsunade swallowed hard and asked, "What should we do then?"

The Slug Sage was silent for a moment before saying, "I misjudged. I sensed that this child has powerful chakra within him. If that chakra is integrated with natural energy, there shouldn't be any problem."

However, his chakra seemed to remain unactivated; even though his body was collapsing, he made no attempt to save himself.

Upon hearing this, Tsunade suddenly realized and exclaimed, "It's the Yin Seal! It's the Yin Seal left behind by Grandma!"

"Oh? Is it sealed chakra? No wonder."

The Slug Sage then understood, and Tsunade quickly said, "I know how to break the Yin Seal, but I don't know how to break the Yin Seal on other people."

"It's alright, as long as it's a technique, it can be broken."

The Slug Sage's tone was soft and gentle, yet it gave Tsunade boundless strength. She raised her head, looked at the Slug Sage, and asked, "Do you need me to teach you the Yin Sealing Technique?"

"No need, I have a way."

As he spoke, the mountain-like head bowed, and the two pillars of heaven crashed directly to the ground.

"Thump~"

The entire Wet Bone Forest trembled, and the tremor did not stop. The two pillars of heaven probed downwards, as if searching for something, until the two pillars disappeared into the coral reef, at which point the feeling of the earthquake lessened considerably.

However, aftershocks still occurred from time to time, and Tsunade dared not ask, for fear of disturbing the Slug Sage.

After a long while, the tremors began to intensify again, and the slug fairy raised its head once more, its two tentacles, which resembled pillars of heaven, were pulled out.

Two tentacles intertwined at their tips, holding a toothpick? No, given the slug sage's enormous size, the object held by its tentacles was far smaller than a toothpick in an ordinary person's hand.

Tsunade stared at it carefully for quite a while before she could see what it was, as the slug sage's tentacles kept getting closer.

It seemed to be the end of a tree root, the thickest part thicker than a person's waist, and the thinnest part as sharp as a needle.

"What is this?"

Tsunade asked involuntarily, and the Slug Sage paused, just as a person's body involuntarily slows down when thinking. After recalling for a moment, the Slug Sage replied:

"A thousand years ago, a tree grew in the ninja world, and part of it grew beneath the Shikkotsu Forest. This is the root system of that tree."

Tsunade blinked, somewhat confused by the Slug Sage's words. What was she going to do with such a large tree root? Was it for Tatsuma to use for acupuncture?

The ridiculous thought crossed her mind, and Tsunade quickly shook her head, banishing the wild idea, and asked, "What's the use of these tree roots?"

"It seems to have the ability to devour everything. Your grandfather also seemed to have such an ability, but I don't know the specifics. Perhaps there will be more information from Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave."

After the Slug Sage finished speaking, its huge tentacles descended again, subtly adjusting their direction as they pointed the tip of the tree root toward Tatsuma. As it slowly drooped, Tsunade's mouth dropped open.

Is this really a case of using such a huge "needle" to perform acupuncture on Tatsuma?!

Where is the Yin Seal located?

"Slug Sage asked," Tsunade subconsciously pointed to her forehead. Then, the slug sage's tentacles reached down again, and the tip of the tree root pierced into the diamond-shaped mark on Tatsuma's forehead.

The tree was so hard that it could easily pierce a skull without deforming, but this depth... Tsunade swallowed hard. This would be enough to confuse a person's brain, wouldn't it?

But she knew that she shouldn't disturb the people actually performing the surgery, whether they were doctors or patients.

Time passed second by second, and Tsunade's breathing became short. She stared intently at Tatsuma. Suddenly, a black magic seal appeared on Tatsuma's forehead.

The Slug Sage also pulled out the tree root. Tsunade wondered if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the tree root seemed a little more alive.

Before Tsunade could think of anything, the technique on Tatsuma's forehead was fully activated, and the powerful chakra that even Tsunade found unbelievable surged out from the blood-red hole in his forehead.

Orange-red chakra instantly enveloped Tatsuma, who was lying in the water, and a continuous stream of chakra emerged from the blood hole, condensing into a person above Tatsuma.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar person, Tsunade involuntarily took two steps forward and blurted out, "Grandma?"

The person formed from chakra had red hair tied in two buns with talismans hanging from them. Her young and beautiful face was full of a rare heroic spirit for a woman.

Hearing Tsunade's voice, the person turned around. In that instant, Tsunade seemed to see the person in the old family photograph come to life. She called out again, "Grandma!"

"Xiao Gang?"

Mito, whose chakra was condensed, was taken aback. Then she looked down and saw Tatsuma's appearance. Her eyes showed doubt and seriousness.

The hole in Tatsuma's forehead was too big and too deep; you could even see his folded brain inside. Mito Uzumaki frowned and asked, "What happened to Tatsuma?"

"He fought Raikage A and exhausted his chakra twice, leaving his body almost lifeless. I brought him to Shikkotsu Forest to ask the Slug Sage for help."

Tsunade, disregarding the shock and joy of reuniting with her grandmother, succinctly recounted Tatsuma's situation. Mito Uzumaki frowned for a moment, then looked up at the mountain-like black shadow and said:

"You must be the Slug Sage?"

"Um."

Mito Uzumaki's gaze was more quickly drawn to the tree root, and she said, "What's that? It feels familiar."

As she spoke, Mito Uzumaki raised her hand, and the orange-red chakra condensed into an arm that supported the tree root. At the same time, the Slug Sage loosened his tentacles, and the tree root fell into the giant chakra hand.

"As expected, it was only found after death."

Mito Uzumaki murmured twice as she looked at the tree root that the giant chakra hand had delivered to her, then turned to Tsunade and said, "I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

"grandmother."

"I can't stay long, but I will heal Tatsuma. It's just that I never expected he wouldn't be able to see me one last time."

As she finished speaking, Mito Uzumaki condensed another chakra arm, gripped the giant tree root with both hands, and began to form hand seals. As she formed the seals, dark green sap oozed from the tree root.

The juice flowed along the chakra, staining the orange-red chakra a dark green, enveloping Tatsuma and flowing continuously inside and outside his body.

"Thump~ thump~ thump~"

At this moment, Tatsuma's originally weak heartbeat became strong, and the originally pure and viscous water was also stained with the dark green juice within the flowing chakra.

The water, brimming with natural energy, and Mito Uzumaki's chakra were no longer distinct, but rather merged together.

But at this moment, Mito Uzumaki's figure became increasingly illusory, and the blood hole on Tatsuma's forehead was rapidly repairing itself under the soaking of the dark green liquid.

From now on, you'll really have to rely on yourself.

Suddenly, Tatsuma heard something. He tried to open his eyes, but it was like being in a lucid dream, knowing he was in a dream but unable to break free.

Exhausted, Tatsuma finally managed to open his eyes. He saw a woman who seemed strangely familiar and smiled at him.

However, this had exhausted all of Tatsuma's strength, and after only one glance, he closed his eyes again.

Meanwhile, outside, Tsunade's face was unknowingly streaked with tears as she watched her grandmother, who had only existed in photographs and possessed the most beautiful appearance of her youth, wave to her before disappearing.

"Is that your grandmother? She's so strong and beautiful."

The Slug Sage's words brought Tsunade back to her senses. She nodded. Her grandmother deserved this praise, even if it came from the Slug Sage.

Tsunade wiped away her tears and looked at Tatsuma in the dark green pool. Tatsuma's forehead had returned to its smooth state, and his skin had become rosy. The weakness he had shown was completely gone.

"Slug Sage, is Tatsuma alright?"

"It's alright now, but... wait a little longer."

Following the slug sage's words, Tsunade stopped herself from stepping into the pool. She was so eager for Tatsuma to recover that she was being so cautious.

Thinking something unexpected had happened again, she nervously watched Tatsuma in the water. Finally, Tsunade also noticed something was wrong: Tatsuma's blood was flowing too fast, and his heart was pounding wildly.

Gradually, whether it was due to the rapid flow of blood or some other reason, something seemed to appear on Tatsuma's face.

First, a dot appeared on the forehead, followed by a circle around it. Then, the eyelids, under the eyes, and tear troughs gradually showed abnormal colors.

This is her grandfather's Sage Mode! Tsunade recalled what her grandmother and great-uncle had told her about her grandfather when she was a child, but the color of this mark was different from what they had described.

It is bright orange-red.

It's like Grandma's warm chakra.

(End of this chapter)