"You're too kind. Even as a part of Sage Katsuyu, I should still address you as Lady Katsuyu," An Yan said with a smile.
Sage Katsuyu had the personality of a gentle girl, and like most girls, she appreciated compliments.
Hearing An Yan's words, Katsuyu was clearly pleased. This young man was much more pleasant to talk to than Tsunade, the descendant of her old friend.
Seeing Katsuyu, An Yan suddenly remembered something.
"Lady Katsuyu, do you know about dark chakra?"
Katsuyu's soft voice replied, "I have not heard of dark chakra. Little An Yan, could you describe its properties?"
An Yan gathered his thoughts, looked around to make sure no one was nearby, and began to explain.
"It's like this, Lady Katsuyu. Our Second Hokage has been researching artificial tailed beasts. He believes that tailed beasts might be born from the resentment, despair, pain, and other negative emotions of the ninja world. So, he has been trying to collect the dark energy formed from these emotions, hoping to create a tailed beast.
"This dark energy, which the Second Hokage calls dark chakra, has a corrupting effect on the mind. It can easily change a good person's nature, turning them into a great villain. It can also darken the physical materials that carry its power, and these dark materials also have a corrupting effect on the mind. So far, we haven't discovered any other properties.
"But a while ago, a creature was born from the condensed dark chakra. This thing is immortal; no ninjutsu can destroy it. The Second Hokage had no choice but to seal it away. I think this thing is a menace, and I was wondering if you knew of any way to destroy it."
After listening to An Yan's long explanation, Katsuyu pondered for a moment before speaking. As an immortal sage who had lived for countless years, she had seen many things.
"What you're describing sounds like an evil being. In the era before chakra, these evil beings survived on the suffering of the world and were known as evil gods. Later, the Sage of Six Paths wiped them all out, and they ceased to exist. To destroy such a thing, you would need advanced Yin-Yang Release, or the spiritual power possessed by the shrine maidens and onmyoji of a thousand years ago. But it seems such people no longer exist."
An Yan's face fell. "It seems there's no way to destroy it then. We can only seal it away for a future generation to deal with."
Tsunade looked at him with concern. "Are the things you're researching that dangerous? You have to be careful. Don't get yourself killed."
An Yan nodded seriously at her. "Don't worry, Tsunade. I plan on protecting you in the future. I won't die so easily."
Katsuyu waited for them to finish before adding softly, "There is a way to destroy such an evil being, but it's a bit troublesome."
Tsunade's eyes lit up. She picked up Katsuyu and shook her. "What is it? What other way is there?"
Katsuyu seemed a little dizzy from the shaking and took a moment to recover.
"The simplest way is to find a volcano and throw it in. There are no people living around a volcano, so there won't be any dark chakra gathering. After it dies and revives a few times, it will truly die."
"What's the other way?" Tsunade interjected.
"The second way is to try and learn sage art. Natural energy can destroy many immortal things. After all, there is nothing greater than nature itself."
"What's sage art?" An Yan asked curiously, pretending to be ignorant. If he didn't ask, Tsunade might change the subject.
Katsuyu was silent for a moment, thinking of how to explain. An Yan and Tsunade waited patiently.
"Sage art, generally speaking, is the perfect fusion of natural energy, physical energy, and spiritual energy in a one-to-one-to-one ratio, creating sage chakra. The state of being able to master and maintain this stable sage chakra is called Sage Mode."
"In Sage Mode, a ninja's physical abilities are enhanced across the board, the power of their ninjutsu is greatly increased, their sensory abilities are heightened, and their body's healing ability is significantly improved. That's about it."
Tsunade raised her hand. "I remember my grandfather practiced sage art, right?"
Katsuyu nodded. "Yes. Lord Hashirama's strength was extraordinary, and after using sage art, he possessed world-changing power."
Tsunade became interested. "Can An Yan and I learn sage art?"
Katsuyu looked at them and said with some difficulty, "The sage art training of the Shikkotsu Forest requires immense chakra and life force. Your life force is a little lacking. It would probably be very difficult for you to learn."
Tsunade was disappointed. "Oh, I see. What a pity."
An Yan patted her shoulder to cheer her up. He looked at Katsuyu. "Lady Katsuyu, would it be possible for you to tell us how to sense natural energy? I could try to research it myself."
Katsuyu shook her head. "For a human to learn the sage art of the Shikkotsu Forest, they need to soak in a pool of acidic water to feel the natural energy. Without a strong life force, it's impossible. The acid would corrode your body. Back then, Hashirama Senju was hit by my slime during a battle and comprehended Sage Mode on his own. You can't learn it that way."
An Yan nodded, understanding. He thought of Orochimaru's research on natural energy—the curse mark. If Orochimaru could do it, there was no reason Tobirama couldn't. He must have something similar. An Yan decided to ask him later.
Tsunade was disappointed. Sage art seemed very powerful, but she couldn't learn it.
After chatting with An Yan a little longer, Katsuyu disappeared, returning to the Shikkotsu Forest.
An Yan then performed the Summoning Jutsu again and successfully summoned a small slug.
"Okay, looks like there's no problem. Thank you for your trouble, Lady Katsuyu."
The small slug shook its head. "No trouble at all, little An Yan. If there's nothing else, I'll see you next time."
An Yan waved. "Goodbye, Lady Katsuyu!"
The small slug nodded happily and disappeared with a puff of smoke.
An Yan turned to Tsunade. "So, what should we do now?"
Tsunade rubbed her hands together and took out two dice. "How about a bet?"
An Yan grinned arrogantly. "You're just asking for it. Let's go, we'll find a restaurant and play there."
The two of them slid down from the Hokage Rock and headed straight for a barbecue restaurant. Ever since he became a ninja, An Yan no longer had to worry about the cost of food. Ninja earned so much money it was impossible to spend it all.
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