The night sky above Shikkotsu Forest seemed even more beautiful than the outside world. Countless stars hung high above, adding to the already tranquil and harmonious atmosphere.
On the grassy field, Hoshiyomi and Tsunade had just completed the most ancient and mysterious of rituals.
Tsunade put her clothes back on, tying the hem of her top into a bow just above her stomach, revealing her flat, smooth abdomen. Lying on the grass, she brushed away Hoshiyomi's wandering hand with a light slap, gave him a sidelong glance, and said:
"You've been in Shikkotsu Forest for more than three years now. Haven't you finished training in Sage Mode yet?"
Hoshiyomi smiled, resting his hand once more on the fullness of her chest, and explained:
"Almost done—two months at most. Why? Can't wait to marry me?"
Rolling her eyes in annoyance, Tsunade didn't push his hand away this time. Instead, she sat up with a helpless sigh:
"I'm not the one in a rush. But mother-in-law and my mother keep pressuring me. You know what mother-in-law's like—she's been wanting a grandchild for years, hoping the Gekko family can carry on its line.
And they're not wrong. Even though we're both shinobi, and high-level ones at that, having children when we're too old really isn't ideal.
I'm 34 already. If we delay much longer, it might not be good for the baby."
Hoshiyomi scratched his head in mild frustration. She wasn't wrong, but his heart carried concerns. It wasn't the youthful hesitation of avoiding commitment anymore.
He knew clearly that a great war was looming on the horizon. And Tsunade, as the Fourth Hokage, couldn't afford to be pregnant in the middle of it all. If she became overworked during wartime, that would be far worse for the baby.
With that in mind, Hoshiyomi hesitated, then sat up and wrapped his arm around Tsunade's waist, speaking with certainty:
"Once I've perfected Sage Mode, we'll marry. But as for having children… let's wait a few more years. It's not that I'm not ready.
You know as well as I do—the state of the shinobi world is unstable. Sunagakure and Iwagakure suffered heavily in the Second Great Ninja War. Once they recover, they'll surely look for revenge.
And Kumo's militarization isn't exactly a secret either. Another great war is inevitable. I don't want our child to grow up barely seeing his parents.
Let's wait until after this war. When it's over, there should be a long period of peace. At that time, you can step down as Hokage and pass the title to Minato.
Didn't you say his mastery of Flying Thunder God is already complete? His grasp of space-time jutsu is even above mine. After this Third Great War, he should be able to break through to Kage-level strength.
Once it's over, let him take the Fifth Hokage's mantle. As for you—you and I will stay home every day, raising kids together. That way, our child will grow up in happiness, peace, and stability. How does that sound?"
When Tsunade first brought up the subject, her heart was filled with faint resentment. She and Hoshiyomi had known each other since they were six. From meeting, to understanding, to falling in love, nearly thirty years had passed.
Among their group of six, theirs was the longest relationship. And yet? Sakumo and Shinku's children were already six or seven years old, while she and Hoshiyomi weren't even married.
Yes, war and her position as the Fourth Hokage played a role, but Tsunade couldn't deny the knot in her heart.
But now, hearing Hoshiyomi's careful consideration—for her, for their future child, even for the state of the shinobi world—her annoyance melted away.
Tsunade was not the soft, gentle "Yamato Nadeshiko" type of woman, but in that moment, moved by Hoshiyomi's words, she couldn't help but show a rarely seen tenderness, revealing a side of herself like a shy young maiden.
Holding Tsunade in his arms, Hoshiyomi couldn't help but feel:
"With such a wife, what more could a man ask for?"
Hoshiyomi silently made up his mind: before the Fourth Great Ninja War began, he would obtain absolute power—power strong enough to defeat Six Paths Madara, strong enough to protect everything and everyone he wished to protect.
Whether it was Six Paths Madara, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, or even Momoshiki and Kinshiki, he would trample them beneath his feet with overwhelming strength.
———
After that night of planning with Tsunade, perhaps because he now had greater motivation to move forward, Hoshiyomi threw himself into Sage Mode training with even more seriousness.
By now, it was Konoha Year 40. Hoshiyomi had been in Shikkotsu Forest for more than three full years. During that time, just as the Slug Sage had said, his ability to control natural energy steadily grew stronger.
His Nature Transformation – Nature Activation Progress continued to rise. Originally, Hoshiyomi had estimated that it would take until Year 41 to fully activate Nature Transformation: Nature.
But as his mastery over natural energy deepened, that timeline shortened dramatically.
At this point, his Nature Activation Progress had already reached 93%—only one final push remained before awakening the ability completely.
By his own estimate, it would take about another month before his Perfect Sage Mode would be born.
Although Hoshiyomi had already entered Sage Mode several times, those attempts were not true perfection. They didn't last long, and their stability was lacking.
Just imagining the true Perfect Sage Mode set his heart ablaze with anticipation.
This would be a mode surpassing both Hashirama and Naruto—how unimaginably powerful could it be?
That expectation alone became his endless drive. In this final month, Hoshiyomi trained nearly to the point of forgetting food and sleep.
Nature Activation Progress: 93… 95… 97… 99…
Then, one morning, staring at the "99%" indicator glowing within his Sword Heart System, Hoshiyomi took a deep breath.
Perfect Sage Mode—today is the day!
Sitting cross-legged, he closed his eyes and carefully felt the flow of natural energy around him.
After three long years of training, his control of natural energy had reached a level close to effortless instinct.
Now he no longer needed to painstakingly pull it in bit by bit with spiritual force. Over time, part of the natural energy itself had chosen to remain in his body permanently.
Like a vortex, it constantly drew its "companions" inward, helping Hoshiyomi absorb more with ease.
All he needed to do was make them obedient, and fuse them in a perfect 1:1:1 ratio with his spirit and chakra.
Finally, the natural energy reached critical mass, and his chakra fused seamlessly with it.
Nature Activation Progress: 100%!