Chapter 139: The Great Toad Sage
As the scenery before their eyes shifted, Jiraiya and Minato found themselves in Mount Myōboku in an instant.
Jiraiya, long accustomed to the Reverse Summoning Technique, and Minato, a master of space-time ninjutsu, naturally felt no discomfort.
While Jiraiya was already familiar with Mount Myōboku, this was Minato's first visit.
Before them stretched a forest filled with gigantic plants. Vines and leaves rested on the branches, where various frogs and enormous insects lounged. In the distance, a massive waterfall flowed with what appeared to be oil, flanked by numerous toad statues.
Just as Minato was marveling at the beauty of Mount Myōboku, a familiar voice reached his ears.
"You've arrived, Jiraiya, Minato!"
"Fukasaku-sama, it's been a while!"
Jiraiya, as carefree as ever, greeted the small toad, while Minato bowed politely.
"Greetings, Fukasaku-sama!"
The small toad, Fukasaku, couldn't help but tease Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, you should learn a thing or two from your student. Always so carefree—no wonder you still can't master perfect Sage Mode."
With that, Fukasaku turned the large toad beneath him and said,
"Follow me. The Great Toad Sage is waiting for you!"
"The Great Toad Sage!?"
Minato was startled. He knew of the Great Toad Sage's existence—a being said to have lived for over a thousand years, the founder of Mount Myōboku.
Jiraiya was also surprised.
"The Great Toad Sage? What does he want with me and Minato?"
Fukasaku's expression turned serious.
"The Great Toad Sage has had another dream."
!!!
Jiraiya was shocked, his face growing solemn. The last time the Great Toad Sage had a dream, it was about the Child of Prophecy. Minato, who had heard Jiraiya speak of the Child of Prophecy before, quickly connected the dots.
And so, the two followed in silence.
---
Before long, they arrived at a massive palace.
The grand hall was vast and empty, save for a colossal stone throne at the far end. Seated upon it was an enormous, brown-skinned toad wearing a hat and a necklace with the character for "oil" hanging from it. This was the founder of Mount Myōboku: the Great Toad Sage.
Behind the toad throne stood rows of towering scrolls.
When Fukasaku led Jiraiya and Minato into the hall, the Great Toad Sage appeared to be dozing. It was only after Fukasaku's reminder that the Great Toad Sage slowly opened his eyes.
"Ah, it's Jiraiya... and your student, Minato!"
The Great Toad Sage's words shocked Jiraiya. In his memory, the Great Toad Sage's memory was poor, often forgetting his name as if suffering from dementia. Yet this time, not only did he remember Jiraiya, but he also knew Minato's name.
At that moment, Jiraiya felt an unusual tension in the air.
Minato, meanwhile, bowed respectfully.
"Minato Namikaze, at your service, Great Toad Sage!"
"Ah..."
The Great Toad Sage's voice remained aged and trembling.
"What an outstanding young man... I sense a familiar, vast chakra within you..."
!!!
Minato was startled and wanted to ask what the Great Toad Sage meant, but the ancient toad had already shifted his gaze to Jiraiya, ignoring him.
"Jiraiya, I had Fukasaku bring you here to tell you something important."
As both Jiraiya and Minato grew tense, the Great Toad Sage began to recount his dream.
"The dream has vanished."
!!!
The Great Toad Sage's four simple words left Jiraiya utterly bewildered.
"The dream has vanished? What does that mean?"
The Great Toad Sage, however, seemed to lapse into a daze and fell silent.
Seeing this, Fukasaku stepped in to explain on behalf of the Great Toad Sage.
"Jiraiya, do you remember the prophecy the Great Toad Sage once gave you?"
How could Jiraiya forget?
"But recently, the Great Toad Sage had another dream. In this dream, all the visions related to you have disappeared."
Jiraiya was completely stunned. The dreams about him had vanished—what did that mean? Meanwhile, Minato, who had been deep in thought, looked up and asked Fukasaku,
"Fukasaku-sama, does the Great Toad Sage mean that the future has changed?"
Finally, Jiraiya understood.
Unfortunately, Fukasaku shook his head.
"No... The Great Toad Sage's dreams do not necessarily mean the future has changed. But one thing is certain: the future has become unpredictable. Even the Great Toad Sage can no longer see it clearly..."
!!!
At that moment, both Jiraiya and Minato fell into deep thought, and the grand hall fell silent.
After a long pause, Jiraiya took a deep breath and asked,
"What about the Child of Prophecy?"
Fukasaku shook his head again.
Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply. He had spent most of his life searching for the Child of Prophecy, and now the Great Toad Sage was telling him that the Child of Prophecy no longer existed.
Minato, however, saw things more clearly.
"So, is this a good thing or a bad thing?"
It was the Great Toad Sage, seemingly lost in his thoughts, who answered in a slow, trembling voice.
"Hmm... From now on, the fate of the entire shinobi world lies in your own hands."
With that, the Great Toad Sage yawned and fell asleep.
Fukasaku bowed to the sleeping sage and then led the bewildered Jiraiya and contemplative Minato out of the hall.
Once they were back in the forest, Jiraiya couldn't help but ask, confused,
"What exactly is going on?"
Fukasaku sighed and explained,
"I'm not entirely sure myself. The Great Toad Sage suddenly told me that our world has undergone some unpredictable changes."
"Unpredictable changes?"
"Exactly. Half a year ago, the Great Toad Sage sensed it, but the change was so sudden that even he couldn't confirm it. However, last night, that change appeared again, and the Great Toad Sage finally confirmed it. It's a massive energy unlike chakra or natural energy, and its source lies to the west of the Land of Fire."
"To the west?"
Minato was startled, as if he had thought of something, while Jiraiya frowned and asked,
"Even the Great Toad Sage can't pinpoint its exact location?"
Fukasaku shook his head.
"Just like how you, who haven't mastered Sage Mode, can't sense natural energy, this new energy can only be faintly sensed by the Great Toad Sage. Even Shima and I can't perceive it at all."
This left Jiraiya deep in thought.
Fortunately, Fukasaku offered some reassurance.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya, Minato. As the Great Toad Sage said, a change in the future isn't necessarily a bad thing. Whether it's good or bad ultimately depends on your choices. For now, rest up. Your current state isn't suitable for Sage Mode training. I'll come find you later."
"Understood."
After Fukasaku left, Jiraiya turned to his disciple, who had been silent and frowning, and asked,
"Minato, have you thought of something?"
Minato nodded, his eyes lighting up as he said to Jiraiya,
"Jiraiya-sensei, do you remember what Danzo said about being unable to sense the Fourth Kazekage's chakra? And the west..."
Jiraiya's pupils shrank instantly.