Hokage: Immortal, I Open Unlimited Eight Gates

Tsunade's Office

As soon as Chiba arrived, Tsunade wasted no time. She took out a summoning scroll and placed it in front of him.

"Once you write your name on this scroll, you will become a descendant of Shikkotsu Forest and gain the ability to summon Katsuyu for healing and combat."

"However, Katsuyu's true form is enormous, so we usually summon only her clones. Additionally, we can travel to Shikkotsu Forest using the Reverse Summoning Technique."

"I understand." Chiba nodded.

Without hesitation, he picked up the brush Tsunade had prepared and signed his name on the scroll.

Afterward, he glanced at the list of those who had previously signed the contract. Besides Tsunade, he didn't recognize anyone, but they were all from the Senju clan.

Curious, he asked, "Sister Tsunade, didn't the First Hokage sign a contract with Shikkotsu Forest?"

Tsunade fell silent for a moment, lost in thought. Finally, she said, "No, I remember my grandfather once said that he was born with a Sage Body, so he didn't need to learn Sage Mode from any of the three great summoning realms."

Hearing this, Chiba suddenly understood.

No wonder Senju Hashirama was so powerful. However, he didn't believe that his strength solely relied on his Sage Body—it was simply an added advantage. Hashirama himself was already an exceptional ninja.

"Alright, now that you are a descendant of Shikkotsu Forest, I'll first teach you the hand signs for the Reverse Summoning Technique. After that, we'll head to the forest together."

Seeing Chiba lost in thought, Tsunade brought his attention back to the matter at hand.

"Understood. Thank you, Sister Tsunade."

Tsunade demonstrated the hand signs for the technique. Once she finished, she turned to Chiba.

"Do you remember the sequence?"

"Yes."

"Good. Now form the hand seals with me, and we'll teleport to Shikkotsu Forest."

Chiba nodded.

In an instant, both of them vanished in a cloud of smoke.

Shikkotsu Forest

For a brief moment, Chiba felt disoriented. When he opened his eyes again, he was no longer in Tsunade's office.

It was his first time visiting Shikkotsu Forest, and as he looked around, he found that the place lived up to its name.

Towering ancient trees surrounded the area, and the atmosphere was damp and misty.

"The environment here isn't bad, right?" Tsunade's voice came from his right.

"It's nice, just a bit humid," Chiba replied.

As soon as he finished speaking, a pillow-sized white Katsuyu slowly approached them.

"Tsunade-sama, is this the one you mentioned yesterday—the one who wishes to learn Sage Mode?"

"Yes," Tsunade confirmed.

She then turned to Chiba. "After you told me you wanted to learn Sage Mode, I informed Katsuyu in advance."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Chiba said with a smile.

He looked at Katsuyu with curiosity. Despite lacking a mouth, she was able to speak.

"Hello, Katsuyu-sama. I am Uchiha Chiba. I appreciate your guidance."

Facing a being that had lived for thousands of years, Chiba felt it was best to be respectful.

"Hello, Chiba," Katsuyu responded.

Then, turning around, she said, "Follow me. I will take you to see my true form."

After half an hour of travel, the dense forest thinned out, revealing a vast open area.

There, a colossal Katsuyu, spanning over a thousand meters, lay across the clearing.

As soon as she noticed them, her deep voice resonated through the forest. "Welcome, Tsunade."

However, her voice was so powerful that Chiba had to cover his ears to block out the deafening sound. Tsunade, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed.

"Katsuyu-sama, I'd like you to determine whether this child has the potential to learn Sage Mode," Tsunade requested.

At her words, Katsuyu slightly shifted her massive body, causing the ground to tremble like an earthquake.

When the shaking stopped, Chiba could feel Katsuyu's scrutinizing gaze upon him.

After a long silence, he couldn't hold back his impatience.

"Katsuyu-sama, can I learn Sage Mode?" he asked eagerly.

Still, there was no immediate response.

Just as he was about to ask again, Katsuyu finally spoke.

"You can."

Chiba sighed in relief. If Katsuyu had refused, he would have had no choice but to seek out Orochimaru or Jiraiya instead.

Although he wasn't particularly interested in Sage Mode, he was eager to sense and absorb natural energy. Without proper guidance, it would be impossible.

"When can I begin training?" he asked.

"You may start at any time," Katsuyu replied. "However, you must meditate while practicing Sage Mode. Otherwise, the difficulty will increase significantly, and you will place yourself in extreme danger."

She then added a grave warning.

"If your mind is not completely calm while absorbing natural energy, the energy may spiral out of control, and you will turn to stone instantly. Even if I am watching over you, I won't be able to save you."

"Therefore, before you begin, settle any unfinished business so that you can train without distraction."

Chiba nodded.

He knew Katsuyu was only looking out for him, but he wasn't an ordinary person. However, he couldn't afford to reveal his secrets.

He turned to Tsunade.

"Sister Tsunade, let's head back for now. I'll return after I take care of everything."

"Alright, it's your choice," she agreed.

Chiba then bowed slightly to Katsuyu's massive form.

"Katsuyu-sama, I'll take my leave for now. I'll return soon."

"Very well."

Back in Tsunade's Office

Once they returned, Tsunade looked at him with concern.

"Chiba, let me know when you're ready to return to Shikkotsu Forest. I'll go with you to ensure your safety."

Chiba was secretly delighted.

A private training session with Tsunade? Sounds perfect.

"Katsuyu doesn't count—she's not human, after all," he thought.

"Alright, I'll inform you when the time comes," he replied with a smile.

As he made his way home, he pondered how to balance his training schedule.

He couldn't afford to neglect his swordsmanship. If he did, he would suffer for it later.

His only option was to master Hatake Sakumo's techniques as soon as possible before starting his Sage Jutsu training.

However, the thought of spending the next two months in relentless training made him sigh.

"This is going to be tough."

One Month Later – The Forest Above Hokage Rock