Chapter 248: Parting and Reluctance

"So, Mei Terumi is actually more suited for Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Jutsu?"

Hearing the Great Slug Sage's words, Shishou looked at Mei Terumi in surprise.

"Hmph~" Mei Terumi, feeling Shishou's gaze, hummed proudly, clearly in a good mood.

She hadn't expected that her kekkei genkai would have such an advantage, allowing her to perfectly match Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Jutsu training.

"Indeed," the Great Slug Sage confirmed, then looked at Mei Terumi with a smile and said, "You will stay here in Shikkotsu Forest from now on. I will start teaching you how to practice Sage Jutsu tomorrow."

"This could take quite a long time, at least six months, so be prepared."

Six months!

Mei Terumi's mouth fell open upon hearing this. She wondered if Elder Genshi's old body could survive the heavy workload in the Mist Village for six months...

"Does it really take that long?"

"Tsunade only took a few months. Mei Terumi, who is highly suited for Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Jutsu, should be faster than her," Shishou remarked with a puzzled look.

"Ahem," the Great Slug Sage coughed awkwardly and explained, "She hasn't been exposed to Sage Jutsu before. I need to teach her slowly and carefully to ensure her safety before she can enter the Acid Pool for training."

In truth, these were just excuses.

With Mei Terumi's kekkei genkai, once she learned the secrets of Shikkotsu Forest, entering the Acid Pool would be no different from soaking in a hot spring.

The Great Slug Sage said this simply to avoid being returned to Shishou's insect cultivation space. She planned to extend Mei Terumi's training time to stay in Shikkotsu Forest longer.

The main reason was that the space was just too stifling!!!

"Yes, safety first," Shishou agreed, finding the Great Slug Sage's words reasonable.

To him, it didn't matter whether Mei Terumi successfully learned Sage Jutsu as long as she stayed safe.

He had plenty of ways to help Mei Terumi enhance her strength.

Then, Shishou crouched by the Acid Pool, intending to test the acidity with his hand to see if his body could withstand it.

"Shishou," Mei Terumi called out worriedly, seeing his actions.

"It's fine, I know what I'm doing," Shishou assured her, stretching out his pinky finger to gently touch the surface of the Acid Pool.

Sizzle!

As soon as Shishou's pinky made contact with the pool, it emitted white smoke, and a sharp pain shot through his mind.

"Looks like it won't work," Shishou retracted his finger, shaking his head regretfully at the corroded skin. Although he could heal it without seals, the constant corrosive pain would prevent him from focusing on Sage Jutsu training.

This meant it was impossible for him to train in the Acid Pool like Mei Terumi.

If he couldn't do it, Tsunade certainly couldn't either.

Seeing Shishou give up, the Great Slug Sage said, "You should finish your other tasks first and then use conventional Sage Jutsu training methods. I need to focus on teaching Mei Terumi Sage Jutsu in Shikkotsu Forest. To ensure her concentration, it's best if you don't come to visit us, not even once."

"I'll take care of her food and other needs."

To avoid being put back in Shishou's insect cultivation space, the Great Slug Sage planned to minimize her meetings with him.

Mei Terumi was stunned, "Not even once?"

The Great Slug Sage firmly replied, "Not even once!"

Shishou shrugged helplessly, "Alright, I'll leave her in your care then."

With that, Shishou led Mei Terumi out of the cave to a clearing beside the Great Slug Sage's main body.

Wood Release: Three-room and Two-hall Technique!

Shishou placed his hand on the ground, causing a wooden house to rise from the earth before them.

As soon as the house appeared, Mei Terumi jumped onto Shishou, wrapping her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, whispering in his ear, "Don't hold back today~"

Knowing it would be over six months before she saw Shishou again, Mei Terumi felt a deep reluctance and wanted to make the most of their time together.

"Understood!"

Shishou chuckled, carrying Mei Terumi into the house.

The Great Slug Sage, uninterested in human mating behaviors, jumped off Shishou's shoulder and returned to her main body.

...

The next afternoon.

Mei Terumi woke up feeling sore all over, struggling even to get out of bed. Thinking about her craziness and eventual surrender last night, she blushed.

When she stepped out of the room, she found the house completely furnished with various appliances and living tools, and a Lightning Release generator labeled 'Cloud' in the corner outside.

Seeing these changes, Mei Terumi couldn't help but smile sweetly, knowing that Shishou had set this up for her comfort.

"There's breakfast on the table. You can have some if you're hungry, but don't eat too much. Lunch will be ready soon," Shishou called out from the kitchen, smiling.

Seeing Shishou cooking in the kitchen, Mei Terumi walked over and hugged him gently from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.

This was her man, Shishou!

Holding Mei Terumi, Shishou continued cooking, smiling, "What's up?"

"Nothing, just wanted to hold you," Mei Terumi replied, closing her eyes and savoring the warmth and happiness of the moment.

Shishou smiled and focused on preparing lunch.

After having lunch together, Shishou left Shikkotsu Forest, despite Mei Terumi's reluctance.

Guided by the Great Slug Sage, Mei Terumi began seriously learning Sage Jutsu, motivated by the thought of seeing Shishou as soon as she succeeded.

...

Leaving Shikkotsu Forest, Shishou returned to the Hidden Mist Village, where he found the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, Yagura, and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, through Ao.

Under Ao's watchful eyes, he successfully borrowed the chakra of the Three-Tails and Six-Tails again, increasing his chakra reserves by another 250 Units.

He had already obtained the chakra of the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails from Yugito and Killer Bee during his visit to the Hidden Cloud Village last month.

He then traveled to the Hidden Sand Village, where he met Gaara and his siblings. After teasing Temari and giving Shukaku a lesson, he successfully obtained Shukaku's chakra, adding another 100 units to his reserves.

Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, a month had gone by.

While waiting for Kushina to awaken from her evolutionary sleep, Shishou, accompanied by Hyuga Rimei, finally found the portal to the Moon on a remote island in the Land of Water!

**********

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