Miki stared at the Slug, while Tsunade glared intensely at Miki, like a mother hen protecting her chick.
This gave the Slug a great sense of security.
"Alright, I'm just here to learn Sage Mode." Miki seemed to compromise, saying to the Slug Sage, "You have to believe me."
What else could the Slug do if it didn't believe her? The Slug just wanted to get rid of this person quickly.
"If it's just to learn Sage Mode," the Slug Sage said, "first, you need to perceive them, the Natural Energy."
Normal humans couldn't possibly perceive them.
What Natural Energy was, even the Slug Sage itself wasn't very clear.
But it could be utilized, instinctively utilized.
In Miki's estimation, these Sacred Lands' utilization of Natural Energy was still at a very rudimentary level.
"I can perceive it," Miki said.
Using the abilities of the Slug on her hand, Natural Energy could not hide from Miki's eyes.
"Eh!" the Slug Sage exclaimed in surprise, "Then use it! Why are you still looking for me!?"
She had just stumbled upon it, vaguely grasping some methods of application.
Expecting her to know the essence of Natural Energy was not reliable.
For example, she didn't know how to degrade Natural Energy into Chakra for efficient use.
The God Tree had a complex conversion system that could transform Natural Energy into more easily usable Chakra.
The Ōtsutsuki Clan was essentially mining in the universe, and the God Tree was a mining machine.
The natural ore extracted needed to be refined before use.
Although she had expected this, Miki couldn't help but feel disappointed.
"So, how do I use it?" Miki asked.
"Eat it into your body and store it!" the Slug said as if it were the most obvious thing.
How else could it be used! This step was enough.
Because the body would digest it instinctively.
"That's truly a beastly method," Miki said.
I also know it can be eaten into the body, but the problem is eating it will kill you.
"Your Sage Mode is different from those toads, isn't it?" Miki asked.
"What is the Sage Mode of those toads like?" the Slug retorted.
"A one-to-one ratio of physical energy, spiritual energy, and Natural Energy."
"Eh!? That's possible too?" the Slug said in surprise.
What do you mean, that's possible too!?
Indeed, the Sage Mode of the Three Great Sacred Lands was different; the differences in their manifestation also implied differences in their underlying utilization methods.
Otherwise, the manifestations would be exactly the same!
Just as with oil, there are different ways of utilization and manifestations.
Natural Energy is difficult to detect, can grant longevity, awaken spiritual intelligence, and is easily influenced and interfered with by individual will.
Ryūchi Cave's characteristic lies in the control of matter, capable of vitalizing inorganic substances.
Making inorganic substances possess some characteristics of living things.
Mount Myōboku's lies in the comprehensive strengthening of physical qualities, capable of forming invisible attacks and invisible armor with the help of Natural Energy, greatly enhancing Ninjutsu power and sensory abilities.
Overall, it can be categorized as an enhancement type.
In addition, there are other manifestations.
Dragon Veins can warp space-time, and Jūgo's clan specializes in manipulating their own flesh and blood for transformation.
Miki lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then said, "So, how do you utilize Natural Energy? One-to-one with Chakra?"
"Why one-to-one with Chakra?" the Slug said, "Just use it directly."
That's not right!
Miki couldn't quite pinpoint what was wrong.
"Wait a minute…" After a moment, Miki asked, "How did your Chakra come about?"
"I learned it," the Slug said, "just like you humans, a mixture of physical energy and spiritual energy."
"Did the Six Paths Sage teach you?" Miki asked.
Did he need to teach me such basic things? It's more like I taught him.
The Slug Sage said nothing.
But its emotions conveyed that meaning.
"You don't have a Chakra seed?" This was the key to the problem.
Although it was a question, Miki affirmed this idea.
Chakra was an external product; humans who could use Chakra were descendants of the former Ninja Sect.
Without exception.
Ordinary humans could not produce Chakra because they lacked the conversion mechanism.
That is, the Chakra seed that the Six Paths Sage shared with humans.
This seed was embedded in the genes.
Miki could use genes to create new species capable of using Chakra.
Miki could spread this seed like the Six Paths Sage.
And the Slug Sage had mastered Natural Energy long before the Six Paths Sage's rebellion.
The problem arises: if she doesn't have Chakra, how does she mix it with Natural Energy to use Sage Mode?
And how does she mix physical energy with spiritual energy to form Chakra?
So she was creating Chakra herself; she decomposed and reused Natural Energy.
Through the reorganization of body organs and genes, a mechanism for converting Natural Energy into Chakra was generated.
Or perhaps it was simply an organ capable of mixing physical energy with spiritual energy to produce Chakra.
This was Chakra that did not belong to the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
There were more things to research.
The universe is vast and full of wonders; Miki had no doubt that the Ōtsutsuki were not the only race capable of utilizing Natural Energy, nor did she doubt whether there were other races in the universe capable of using Chakra.
Perhaps it wasn't called Chakra.
Essentially, this was just a method of energy utilization.
As common as plants absorbing sunlight and converting it into oxygen.
Very good, I've mastered a new way to kill an Ōtsutsuki!
Reverse the process, restoring Chakra to Natural Energy!
Among these, the most special kind was the Insects.
Undoubtedly, they had no Chakra, nor a Chakra seed in their bodies, so they couldn't produce Chakra, but they could utilize Chakra.
Life was adapting and evolving to Chakra.
This is truly…
A miracle of life.
Or rather, it was as if, in order to destroy the God Tree, a primitive insect race evolved spontaneously to devour Chakra.
To cause the God Tree to die through insect infestation and parasitism.
By using Chakra for infinite proliferation, theoretically, the God Tree could not withstand the destruction and gnawing of the Insects.
As long as the God Tree itself could not clear the insect infestation, its death, like any ordinary tree, would be a matter of course.
What kind of rotten luck did the Aburame Clan have!
Miki stared intently at the Slug.
Her desire to dissect it grew even stronger.
But this was useless; the Slug was immune to physical damage, and dissecting it would only yield a pool of cells forming a slime.
The Slug was so unnerved by the stare that it cried out in alarm, "I'll teach you! Sage Mode!!!"
"Swallow Natural Energy into your body and wait for it to change on its own!!!"
What kind of crazy method is this!
This is suicide!
"You can start by eating just a little bit!" the Slug Sage quickly said, "If you feel uncomfortable, spit it out!"
Do you think I haven't eaten it before?
Miki stared dangerously at the Slug.
The problem was that Natural Energy surged in too quickly, leaving no time to react.
The experimental insects would disintegrate at an atomic level, leaving not even a speck of residue.
However, insects with the Slug's genes would not turn out this way; under a massive influx of Natural Energy, they would dissolve, eventually becoming a pool of cellular fluid.
All that could be proven was that the Slug had resistance to Natural Energy, a natural adaptability.
"How do you teach humans Sage Mode?" Miki asked, "Do you also make them eat it?"
"That's right!" the Slug Sage said, "Although none have been successful."
"Why?" Miki asked.
Wait a minute.
Looking at the Slug's size, Miki was thoughtful.
Room for error!?
This creature, capable of infinite division and regeneration, this innate talent of its species, probably existed before it even mastered Natural Energy!
Spit it out if you feel uncomfortable!?
"You mean split off if you feel uncomfortable, right! Hey!" Miki said.
Completely beastly!
Genetic self-evolution forced by environmental pressure!
This creature, it's still evolving now!
"Mm." The Slug said sheepishly, "That's why I said, you humans can't master my Sage Mode."
Except for you.
This giant life form in front of me, just like myself, with countless clones.
"Besides, my Sage Mode doesn't have much combat power," the Slug Sage said quietly, "You don't have to learn it at all; I've already taught you Sage Mode."
The Slug Sage hesitated, wanting to say more.
"Can you leave now?"
The Slug Sage looked nervously at Miki.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"