Miki roughly understood the Slug Sage's cultivation method: in the early stages, they risked their lives to adapt to Natural Energy.
It was like how early cells adapted to oxygen's oxidation.
In the later stages, they relied on time; what kind of changes would occur depended on fate.
The longer they lived, the larger their size, and the more powerful they became.
It was a rather primitive way of utilization.
Basically, if you have resources, you can be reckless and evolve haphazardly, as there are no natural predators left anyway.
But...
No.
Natural Energy is a dangerous force. Without knowing what lay ahead, the Slug Sage couldn't have swallowed it.
If it endangered its life, given its timid nature, it would be too late to hide, so it couldn't be crazy, could it?
"Are you crazy?" Miki asked directly, saying, "Why would you swallow Natural Energy?"
The Slug Sage hesitated.
Because...
"I had no choice!"
The Slug Sage said dejectedly, seemingly recalling the bitter years of the past.
"I don't know when, Natural Energy started drilling into my body."
"I couldn't even refuse it!"
"At first, it was very little, and I just felt uncomfortable."
"Later, it became more and more."
"I could only desperately divide."
"And I couldn't resist."
"By the time I came to my senses, I had become like this."
"I defeated Natural Energy!"
The Slug was a little proud, its tone revealing a hint of smugness.
How tragic!
However, Miki knew how other Sacred Lands likely mastered Natural Energy.
Inheritance!
The evolutionary trick Miki had been playing all along.
Just as the Ōtsutsuki Clan absolutely evolved from primitive, amoeba-like organisms.
It was the inevitable result of the immense power of time.
And Hashirama's Sage Mode came from the Divine Tree!
Energy cannot be created out of thin air; it comes from the transformation of matter. A mere few cells could not possess such abnormal Chakra.
The mechanism for converting Natural Energy into Chakra still operates on the genes of Hashirama cells.
So that's how it is.
But it still needed verification.
Miki looked at Tsunade.
Seeing Miki look at her, Tsunade said somewhat dejectedly, "In that case, I won't be able to learn Sage Art."
Tsunade couldn't perform the Great Slug Division.
But...
"No!" Miki said, "To this extent, you can absolutely learn it! Right now, you possess the Ninja World's best Medical Ninjutsu. If you gamble your life, fate is on your side!"
"Eh!?" Tsunade exclaimed in surprise.
"Little Tsunade?" the Slug said, "Lady Tsunade's Medical Ninjutsu is indeed powerful, but..."
This wasn't something that could be solved by just powerful Medical Ninjutsu.
"Slug Sage..." Miki interrupted, "Can you control the intensity of Sage Art energy infused into the body?"
"Yes."
"Then, can it be interrupted at any time?"
"Yes."
"Finally, can you draw out the Sage Art energy from Tsunade's body?"
"No problem," the Slug Sage said. "But the damage caused by cultivating Sage Art is irreversible."
"Tell me about it," Miki said. "Is there no possibility of healing?"
"Lady Tsunade cannot perceive Natural Energy," the Slug Sage said. "I don't know how Mount Myōboku solves it, but I can infuse Natural Energy into others."
"This Sage Art of mine will cause the body to dissolve."
"Even if the Sage Art stops, the dissolution caused will not revert to its original state."
"The body has already dissolved."
"Naturally, it will die."
"During this time, it will cause intense pain, and no one can withstand such pain!"
Thinking of that pain, the Slug felt lingering fear.
"Then, how did you deal with the pain?" Miki asked.
"I don't have pain sensation," the Slug Sage said. "At first, I could feel pain, but later it disappeared."
Pain sensation is a protective mechanism; every creature needs this mechanism to warn them, lest they head towards self-destruction.
But the Slug didn't need pain sensation.
This system had been optimized away.
Now, Tsunade could also do without it.
"Tsunade, block out the pain sensation," Miki said.
"Huh?" Although confused, Tsunade did as told; it was just a simple minor surgery.
Miki looked at the Slug and said, "Begin, the cultivation of Sage Art!"
"Eh!?" The Slug Sage looked at Miki in surprise.
Does this fellow not understand what I'm saying?
I didn't say anything incomprehensible!
The Slug Sage looked at Tsunade, advising her not to seek death.
Not only was Tsunade her backer, but she had also always been very fond of Tsunade.
If Tsunade wasn't around, she would be scared!
After many years, her contractor was a cute, obedient, and vibrant child who had helped her alleviate a lot of loneliness.
But Tsunade looked eager to try.
Had she trusted this terrifying fellow to such an extent that she wasn't even afraid of death?
"Don't worry, Lady Slug, when it comes to gambling my life, I never lose!"
Tsunade said confidently.
Your gambling luck...
The Slug felt it was unreliable.
She didn't want to gamble her life!!!
Miki stared at the Slug.
Stare...
"Then you do it," the Slug Sage said with difficulty.
But the stubborn child could no longer be stopped.
"Lady Tsunade, I will take you into my body," the Slug Sage said. "Inside me is where the concentration of Natural Energy is highest."
"Wait," Miki interrupted. "Let's try a bit first."
Try a bit?
Tsunade and the Slug looked at Miki.
"Tsunade, insert your hand into the Slug's body."
"Slug, you control the influx of Natural Energy, just a little bit."
"Is that how it is?" Tsunade said, enlightened, then squatted down and unceremoniously inserted her arm into the Slug's body.
With a 'plop,' it went in all the way to the root.
"Start now, don't put in too much, just a little bit." Miki extended her hand, gesturing a tiny amount.
The Slug Sage looked at this tiny bit, unsure exactly how much it was, and carefully prepared.
"Then I'll start."
"Begin."
The Slug Sage transmitted Sage Art Chakra.
In just an instant, Miki called a halt to the transmission.
"Stop!"
"Get up, Tsunade," Miki said.
Tsunade got up, her right arm, which had been inserted into the Slug's body, had completely disappeared.
From the severed area, a viscous liquid continuously dripped.
"Wow, that's amazing..." Tsunade said, looking at her severed hand with great interest.
"I told you..." the Slug Sage said, feeling wronged, "it's simply not possible."
Now look, her hand is gone.
"It's possible, very good!" Miki ignored her, crossed her arms, and nodded to Tsunade. "Let Lady Slug witness your new power."
"Hehe!" Tsunade chuckled, then let out a loud shout.
An arm, with a 'whoosh,' grew out.
She didn't even activate the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
The Slug's eyes widened, staring intently at Tsunade.
Is this a monster!?
Is this still human!?
"Tsunade can learn your Sage Art!" Miki affirmed. "Just as you mastered Natural Energy back then, Tsunade can, through healing and time, force her body to learn Sage Art!"
"That's right!!!" Tsunade clenched her fist and shouted excitedly, then burst into hearty laughter.
"What's this! It's that simple!"
"I worried for nothing!"
Inside Tsunade, the Nine-Tailed watched this scene, having a bad premonition!
This is my Chakra!!!
It's too late, I'm delayed today.
I spent the whole day running around for unemployment benefits.
And I still haven't gotten them!
Damn!
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