Because Hoshiyomi's earlier attempts at Sage Mode had all been incomplete, he had never dared to recklessly use sword energy while in those imperfect states. But now that his Sage Mode had truly reached completion, he could finally test the true power of Nature Transformation: Nature.
Glancing at the Slug Sage beside him, Hoshiyomi asked:
"Slug Sage, I'd like to test the strength of my techniques in this Sage Mode. It might cause some damage to your Shikkotsu Forest—would you mind?"
The Slug Sage was still visibly shaken by Hoshiyomi's transformation, but after hearing his words, she quickly nodded. She was familiar with Hoshiyomi's sword energy—a special way of applying chakra.
Though it broke free from the constraints of hand seals, in her mind, the sword energy's power was still limited. Even with the amplification of Sage Mode, she thought it unlikely that Hoshiyomi's sword energy could cause much real damage to the vast Shikkotsu Forest.
This would even give her a chance to see for herself how strong this unique "Perfect Sage Mode" truly was.
With great anticipation, the Slug Sage watched Hoshiyomi draw into the stance for a Battōjutsu slash.
The next moment, a massive, blinding arc of sword-light split across the air—
and the Slug Sage froze.
If she could have taken human form, her expression right now would have been priceless.
In her heart, there was only one thought: regret. Pure regret.
I may not be human… but Gekko Hoshiyomi, you're a real bastard!
She had completely underestimated the destructive power of Hoshiyomi's sword energy under Perfect Sage Mode.
As mentioned before, Nature Transformation: Nature gave his sword energy a 20% reduction in chakra cost and a 10% increase in power.
For a peak Kage-level fighter, even a single all-out strike was terrifying—and now boosted by another 10%, its force was unimaginable.
Five years ago, Hoshiyomi's Sky-Shattering Sword Draw Slash had already been enough to slice apart the hundred-meter-wide molten iron prison created by Iwa's ANBU captain.
Now, with greater chakra input, more refined swordsmanship, and the additional Sage Mode boost, his slash obliterated everything within a two-hundred-meter radius, leveling it flat.
Stalactites and bamboo groves collapsed in swaths, but the most shocking sight was a nearby artificial mountain.
That entire rock formation had been cleaved in half in a single stroke—and the cut was so smooth, not even a chainsaw could achieve such perfection.
Faced with such destructive power, Hoshiyomi couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. And the best part? He hadn't even used much chakra for it.
That slash had consumed barely one-twentieth of his total chakra reserves—barely anything at all. And with Sage Mode's boost to chakra recovery, he'd probably restore the cost within fifteen minutes.
Content, Hoshiyomi sheathed his sword. But as he turned back, he immediately noticed something off with the atmosphere beside him.
With Sage Mode's perception—among the finest in the shinobi world, second only to the rarest sensory gifts of the Uzumaki clan—he instantly picked up on the dark pressure radiating from the Slug Sage.
Swallowing nervously, he blinked innocently and asked:
"Uh… if I apologize now, will that make you feel any better?"
The Slug Sage took a deep breath, forcing down her fury and heartbreak. After all, this was young Tsunade's fiancé. As her fiancé, she couldn't very well make her contractor a widow.
For the sake of the three years they had spent training together day and night, she decided to reluctantly forgive him.
After a long round of mental self-consolation, she finally steadied her tone and said:
"Only this once. From now on, if you want to test techniques in the Shikkotsu Forest, you'll drag yourself to the back mountains. My home cannot endure your abuse."
The Slug Sage suddenly let out a soft hmm? and instinctively turned her head toward a nearby bamboo stalk. To her astonishment, the bamboo Hoshiyomi had sliced in half had already sprouted a fresh green shoot in less than a minute.
This discovery made the Slug Sage draw in a sharp breath. Such a phenomenon could only be possible through the combined effects of overwhelming vitality and natural energy. In all her long life, she had only ever witnessed such a miracle in Hashirama.
Could it be… under the amplification of Sage Mode, Hoshiyomi's vitality has already reached a level comparable to Hashirama's?
Unable to hold back, the Slug Sage spoke:
"Little Hoshiyomi, try stabbing yourself a couple of times."
"???"
The hell?! Hoshiyomi thought. All I did was wreck a bamboo grove and a fake mountain, and now I've gotta Swiss-cheese myself as punishment?
But after listening to her explanation, he realized he'd misunderstood. And hearing her reasoning, even Hoshiyomi himself couldn't help but feel itchy with curiosity.
He unsheathed Mikazuki Munechika, hesitated for a moment, but in the end couldn't bring himself to stab outright—he merely drew the blade across his own arm.
The sting of steel cutting skin made him grunt. Though he had fought in countless battles, he had rarely been injured. He wasn't one of those pain-numbed lunatics—being sliced still hurt.
But this wasn't the time to focus on pain. Both he and the Slug Sage stared intently at the wound.
Sure enough, just as the Slug Sage had suspected, Hoshiyomi's arm began healing at a speed that left them both dumbfounded.
In barely thirty seconds, the gash—over ten centimeters long and deep enough to expose bone—had already scabbed over. A minute later, even the scab flaked away, revealing smooth, unblemished skin beneath. Not a single scar remained.
This regeneration speed was on par with Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seal technique. Hoshiyomi had every reason to believe that if he suffered an injury as severe as Tsunade's near-bisection, as long as someone reassembled his body, he could fully recover.
Just from his healing ability alone, he had reached Hashirama-level recovery. The boost from Sage Mode was nothing short of terrifying.
And this wasn't an ability that vanished the moment Sage Mode ended. While it wouldn't remain this monstrous in his normal state, Hoshiyomi was certain his natural healing would at least match Naruto's level.
That thought sparked another idea: If Sage Mode could boost even my normally weak regeneration to such insane levels… then what about the jutsu I'm actually good at—Transparent Release?
With that, Hoshiyomi instinctively activated his Transparent Release. His body immediately turned transparent, fading from sight.
His voice reached the Slug Sage's ears:
"Slug Sage, can you tell if my Transparent Release has been enhanced?"
The Slug Sage reflexively turned her head toward the sound—only to find nothing at all beside her.