Chapter 6: Bad premonition

The streets of Konoha were heavy with sorrow. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had died, and the weight of his loss could be felt everywhere. The village mourned, shinobi and civilians alike, as they tried to recover from the disaster that had struck just days ago.

Amidst the grieving village, two of the Legendary Sannin had returned.

"Tsunade, long time no see!"

Jiraiya grinned, the same old playful smirk on his face, as if time had not changed anything.

Tsunade, her golden hair tied up, crossed her arms, her sharp amber eyes narrowing.

"What are you doing here now?" she asked. "I thought you were too busy wandering the world, peeking at bathhouses and writing that stupid book of yours."

Jiraiya chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

"Ouch, that hurts, Tsunade! I thought you'd be happy to see me after all these years."

Tsunade clicked her tongue. "Idiot. Of course, I'm happy to see you, but..." Her voice softened slightly, though her expression remained tough. "...Minato is gone."

Jiraiya's playful expression faltered for a moment. His fist clenched slightly. "Yeah... I know. I came as soon as I heard."

For a moment, there was silence between them. Despite their usual bickering, the pain of loss weighed heavily on them both.

Tsunade sighed, looking away. "That idiot Minato... He had a family, a son... Why did he have to go and play hero?"

Jiraiya smiled faintly. "Because that's who he was."

Beside Tsunade, Shizune, her loyal apprentice, gave a polite bow.

"Jiraiya-sama, good morning."

Jiraiya's grin widened. "Oh, Shizune! It's been a while. How have you been?"

Shizune smiled gently. "I've been well. How about you?"

Jiraiya stretched, cracking his neck dramatically. "Still alive and kicking. Can't complain!"

Tsunade sighed. "You never change, do you?"

The two old friends stood there, lost in their own thoughts, as the village mourned its fallen hero.

But before their reunion could continue—

A swirl of chakra surrounded Jiraiya's feet.

Fukasaku's voice echoed in his mind—

"Jiraiya-chan, don't take it to heart. I'm just doing what Lord Gamabunta ordered."

"Wha—?!" Jiraiya barely had time to react before he felt the familiar pull of a reverse summoning jutsu.

Tsunade and Shizune watched as he suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Jiraiya?!" Tsunade's eyes widened in shock.

Shizune blinked. "That was a summoning jutsu… but who—?"

Inside Mount Myoboku

With a sudden flash, Jiraiya landed on the soft, moss-covered ground of Mount Myoboku.

He stumbled slightly before regaining his footing.

"Huh? Why the hell am I here?"

Looking up, he saw Fukasaku standing before him, his small figure tense.

"Jiraiya-chan, no time for jokes! The Great Sage Toad has had a vision—a terrible one!"

Jiraiya's grin vanished.

He straightened up, his usual playful demeanor replaced with seriousness.

"A vision?" His voice was calm, but there was a sharp edge to it.

Fukasaku nodded. "Come quickly. Gamabunta-sama is waiting for you."

Jiraiya took a deep breath.

Something felt off.

If the Great Sage Toad had seen something in a premonition—then whatever was coming was going to change the world.

The air at Mount Myōboku was heavy. The usual harmony of the sacred land was replaced by a sense of impending doom.

Gamabunta, the Great Toad Sage, sat upon his grand throne, his usually fierce expression clouded with worry.

Before him knelt Jiraiya, his eyes sharp, searching.

"Gamabunta-sama, I heard you received a vision."

His voice was steady, but there was an unshakable tension beneath it.

Beside him, Fukasaku and Shima stood, their aged faces filled with concern.

Gamabunta let out a deep sigh, his massive frame shuddering slightly.

"Yes… a terrible calamity is approaching."

Jiraiya's fists clenched.

"What did you see?"

Gamabunta closed his eyes, the weight of his prophecy pressing on him like a mountain.

"The world… will soon reach a crossroads."

His voice was low, almost haunted.

"Either it will be engulfed in light… or consumed by absolute darkness."

A cold wind passed through the hall. The other toads present swallowed hard, their usual light-hearted nature stripped away.

Jiraiya exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

"This is what you told me before."

"Since then, I've searched for the Child of Prophecy!"

Gamabunta's eyes snapped open.

"No… this time, there is more."

Jiraiya's breath hitched as he noticed sweat beading down the Great Toad's massive head—something he had never seen before.

"In both paths—whether the world finds peace or falls into ruin—"

Gamabunta's voice trembled.

"One thing remains constant."

Jiraiya felt his stomach churn.

"What is it?"

Gamabunta's deep voice echoed throughout the hall—

"The destruction of Mount Myōboku."

Silence.

A silence so heavy it felt like the world itself paused.

Even the wind dared not blow.

Jiraiya's pupils shrank.

"What…?"

The usually cheerful and proud toads stood frozen. Fukasaku staggered back, his hands trembling.

Shima covered her mouth, her eyes wide in horror.

Even the strongest among them, Gamabunta himself, looked tired—as if the weight of the vision had drained the very life out of him.

"I saw it." Gamabunta whispered.

"Our home… reduced to nothing but flames and ruin. Our people, wiped out."

His voice cracked, an emotion Jiraiya had never heard from the battle-hardened chief.

Gamabunta… was afraid.

Jiraiya's throat felt dry. His heart pounded against his ribs.

"Is there no way to stop it?"

Gamabunta looked up at Jiraiya—his old friend—his hope.

His eyes, usually sharp and fierce, now held something Jiraiya had never seen before.

Desperation.

"I don't know."

Jiraiya's fists tightened.

"Then I'll find a way."

Gamabunta's eyes widened.

Jiraiya stood, his face no longer clouded by shock or fear—only resolve.

"I will not let that happen."

His voice rang with conviction.

"I failed Minato."

His jaw clenched.

"I let my student die. I have lost too many people I loved."

His fingernails dug into his palms.

"But I will not let Mount Myōboku fall."

He turned toward Gamabunta, his eyes burning with determination.

"You believed in me once."

Jiraiya's breath was steady. His heartbeat calm.

"Believe in me again."

The room was silent.

Gamabunta stared.

Then, slowly, he let out a deep sigh—not of fear, but of trust.

"Jiraiya… you've always been a stubborn fool."

A small, tired smile formed on his massive face.

"But maybe… that's exactly what we need right now."

Fukasaku wiped his forehead, trying to calm his nerves.

Shima let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

A spark of hope had been reignited.

Jiraiya smirked, his usual playful grin returning.

"Heh… looks like I've got work to do."

His eyes shined with the same fire that had once led him to train Minato Namikaze—the same fire that had pushed him to seek the truth behind the Child of Prophecy.

This time, he wasn't just searching for an answer.

He was fighting fate itself.

And he had no plans of losing.