The Great Toad Sage’s Prophetic Dream: The World Will Fall

Ninja World.

Jiraiya stood atop a tree, gazing at the bustling Konoha in the distance, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Konoha, I'm back again. I wonder how Naruto's doing now."

A spark of hope flickered in his heart.

*BANG!*

At that moment, smoke dispersed.

A toad appeared beside Jiraiya. "Jiraiya! Jiraiya! The Elder has urgent business with you!"

"The Great Toad Sage is looking for me? Got it."

Jiraiya nodded, and they performed a reverse summoning, appearing at Mount Myōboku.

Jiraiya soon met Fukasaku and Shima, who guided him to where the Great Toad Sage resided.

The ancient, massive Great Toad Sage slowly opened its eyes. "Jiraiya… you've come…"

"Great Toad Sage, why did you summon me?" Jiraiya asked, feeling a bit uneasy.

The Great Toad Sage didn't ask who had arrived?

Fukasaku and Shima acted similarly, but he didn't probe further.

"I… had a dream…" the Great Toad Sage said slowly.

Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima trembled in unison.

"A dream? A prophetic dream?"

"I… dreamt of a world like hell…" The Great Toad Sage's cloudy eyes dimmed, its voice low.

"What?! A world like hell?" Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima were all shocked.

"Black skies… cracked earth… a colossal tree piercing the heavens, draining the earth's nutrients… plunging the entire world into ruin…"

"How can this be? Didn't you say before that the Child of Prophecy would save the world?"

"Before this world-destroying tree… stood a tall, robust man… he… will rule the new world… you… you… cough cough cough…"

The Great Toad Sage spoke as if to itself, breaking into a violent cough.

"Great Toad Sage, why don't you rest for a bit?" Jiraiya said, concerned, as did Fukasaku and Shima.

"Cough cough cough… you mustn't… mustn't…"

"Mustn't what? Great Toad Sage?"

"Mustn't… mustn't… ugh!"

The Great Toad Sage couldn't utter its final word, only groaning before its body slumped back, limbs twitching, then going still.

Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima were terrified.

The man and two toads rushed to the Great Toad Sage's side, discovering it had died!

"How?! The Great Toad Sage is dead?"

Jiraiya stepped back instinctively, his face full of disbelief and shock.

"That old coot was perfectly fine earlier!"

"Could it be the prophetic dream… such dreams drain immense energy and spirit… that's why, despite being one of the Three Holy Lands, the elders of the other two lands live well, but the Great Toad Sage was so frail…"

"What did the Great Toad Sage mean to say before dying?"

"Probably not to let that terrifying enemy succeed?"

"This prophetic dream just happened—doesn't that mean the Child of Prophecy lost against that fearsome enemy?"

"What do we do? Is the world doomed to fall?"

"No! We absolutely can't let this happen!"

"The information the Great Toad Sage gave with its life must not be wasted! I'll prevent this!" Jiraiya's face, as he spoke his final words, was both sorrowful and resolute.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Ninja World Konoha.

The Hokage's meeting room, just concluded.

People dispersed one by one.

Finally, only Ninja World Tsunade and a group of Konoha elites remained.

Their expressions were somewhat grave.

"Tsunade-sama, is it really that simple? Directly contacting the five great nations and waiting for them to be persuaded to surrender… If even one thing goes wrong, it could escalate into a world-level war…" Chōza's chubby face was full of worry.

"Yes, those ninja villages won't surrender easily."

"Of course I know that, but what happens next isn't really our concern anymore. The Empire's people will handle it. Why do you think those from other villages in the Empire came here?" Ninja World Tsunade massaged her temples wearily.

She felt mentally exhausted. The events at Konoha's gate earlier had truly drained her spirit.

Her former teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the three other elders—their actions were one outrage worse than the next. Calling them Konoha's criminals wasn't an exaggeration.

This left her in poor condition, reluctant to deal with anything, her entire being steeped in lethargy.

"The goal must be to have someone step in and mediate when both sides clash? Or… to directly confront the village in question?" Shikaku said.

"Exactly. Only one's own people can be trusted most." Ninja World Tsunade leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling.

"Tsunade-sama, earlier… Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi seemed to disappear. They might…" Shikaku added.

"I know… let them be. The four elders' actions—clan extermination wouldn't be excessive. It's just a pity for so many people. But why… when those four did those things, did they never consider a day like this, never think their kin and descendants might face the same fate?"

Tsunade shook her head.

Thinking of her clan members blending into Konoha, only to be captured for experiments, she too wanted to hack those elders to pieces.

Danzō and the others?

How could the other three not be involved?

Were the Anbu just eating for free?

Damn those cursed old fools!

The other Konoha ninja nodded silently, then took their leave one by one.

"Where's Jiraiya? Why no news until now?" Tsunade wondered tiredly.

Suddenly, she sensed movement at the window, turning to see Jiraiya climbing through.

"Jiraiya, you're finally back." Tsunade smiled faintly.

"Yeah…" Jiraiya replied, his expression growing deeply complex.

"What's wrong? You look so down—completely unlike you." Tsunade said, startled.

"The Great Toad Sage died…"

"Is that so…" Tsunade fell silent for a moment.

"Before dying, it had a prophetic dream."

"A prophetic dream? What did it see?"

"Black skies, cracked earth, a colossal tree piercing the heavens, draining the earth's nutrients, plunging the world into ruin. Before this world-destroying tree stood a tall, robust man who said he'd rule the ninja world, and we must stop him." Jiraiya said with a serious expression.

"World falling apart? A tall, robust man… ruling the ninja world… these terms, why do they…" Tsunade's expression grew odd as she listened to Jiraiya's account.

Robust? Why did those words instantly remind her of that man?

"What's up, Tsunade? Do you have thoughts on this dream? Or… have you seen such a man?" Jiraiya's expression shifted.

"Jiraiya, you've been away from Konoha for a long time; you don't know many things. Let me briefly explain the current situation…" Tsunade sighed, recounting everything.

After listening, Jiraiya's expression changed several times.

"Another world, a Shinobi Empire… and us… is this real?"

"You can visit the residence I prepared for the other world's people. Once you see them, you'll believe." Tsunade sighed.

"If it's all true, that other world isn't as friendly as it seems… Their goal might be to destroy our world!" Jiraiya said gravely.

"Aren't you exaggerating a bit? I've interacted with those people for a long time; many aren't different from us back then…"

Tsunade's face darkened.

"The other world is the other world; we are us. They're fundamentally different… And that Shinobi Emperor, Senju Ryuji. Our world has no such person."

"With someone like that, any change is possible! Plus the Great Toad Sage's prophetic dream… I'm certain they're not good people." Jiraiya said seriously.

"Even if you say that… it's useless. The Empire's strength is beyond your imagination…" Tsunade said helplessly.

"Are they really as strong as you claim?"

"Only stronger, not weaker. Some of their experts could destroy a village single-handedly…" Tsunade said helplessly.

"That's too much; I find it hard to believe."

"Then I'll take you to the back mountain for a spar. You'll feel the power of martial arts and understand the difference." Tsunade said.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Konoha's back mountain.

*BOOM!*

A series of explosions echoed for a while.

Finally, they stopped.

Jiraiya clutched his stomach, his face contorted as if constipated, staring at the approaching Tsunade. "Tsunade… you've really gotten far stronger. I surrender."

"So? Felt the power of martial arts?" Tsunade slowed her steps.

"I felt it… it's incredible, and you're just a beginner…" Jiraiya's expression darkened. "But even so, I won't let them destroy our world!"

"You… it's just a dream… didn't you say before about a savior? If all prophetic dreams are true, why bother? Just let the savior save the world, right?"

Tsunade massaged her forehead, sighing.

"This…" Jiraiya faltered, feeling helpless.

He knew this was a fundamental conflict between both sides; persuading the other was impossible.

"Don't be rash. I've been thinking—if that prophetic dream is true, could our resistance actually cause the world's destruction?"

"This…" Jiraiya froze again, his expression uncertain.