Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

The sky was laced with fine drizzle, and the vibrant green of flourishing life stretched as far as the eye could see. Towering trees pierced the sky, their dense canopies blotting out the sun.

Massive stone statues of toads were scattered among the trees, half-hidden by the towering trunks.

The air was thick with natural energy, abundant and lively. Here, any skilled ninja could distinctly sense the presence of this potent force.

This was Mount Myōboku, the sacred land of the toad clan—one of the three legendary summoning beast sanctuaries.

Throughout the history of the ninja world, the three sanctuaries of summoning beasts had held an unshakable place in legend.

According to ancient texts passed down through generations, their existence predates even the tailed beasts and the ninja themselves.

In every era, powerful ninjas forged contracts with these Three Sage Regions. The summoning beasts aided their contractors in battle, and, on rare occasions, the summoners would assist the sanctuaries in return.

Among those who signed summoning contracts, only the most exceptional and qualified individuals were allowed to request training in the art of senjutsu from the sanctuaries' sages.

However, the path to mastering senjutsu was fraught with peril. The stone statues of toads and the petrified forms of ninja beneath them were tragic reminders of those who had failed during their training in Mount Myōboku's senjutsu, their bodies turned to stone as they were assimilated into the natural energy.

"You've finally arrived, little Jiraiya."

With a puff of white smoke, a familiar voice greeted the white-haired ninja, who had just landed with a confused expression.

"Sage Fukasaku?"

Jiraiya, dressed in his Konoha jōnin uniform, with a Konoha forehead protector tied securely and two bold red lines marking his face, lowered his gaze to the small green toad with a white beard standing before him.

"I'm sorry for calling you over at this time. There seems to be another war brewing in your world, isn't there?" Sage Fukasaku apologized to Jiraiya.

"Yeah, I'm handling some urgent matters in the Land of Rain right now, so I can't stay long," Jiraiya replied with a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head.

"I had no choice; the Great Toad Sage has had another prophecy, and it needs to be shared with you," Fukasaku explained while leading the way.

The toad moved with astonishing speed, leaping great distances with ease. Jiraiya followed closely behind, keeping pace.

"A new prophecy? Is it about the Child of Prophecy?" Jiraiya instinctively connected the thought to the foretold individual who would end the wars and bring peace to the ninja world.

It seemed that only this prophecy could have anything to do with him. After all, according to the Great Toad Sage's vision, the person who would resolve the great conflict in the ninja world and bring lasting peace would be one of his disciples.

From what Jiraiya could see, three of his disciples were the most likely candidates for this prophecy: Yahiko, Nagato, and Minato Namikaze.

While stationed in the Land of Rain, Jiraiya knew he needed to take this time to better understand Yahiko's and Nagato's ideologies.

"No, it's not related to the Child of Prophecy! But I don't know much more about it," Sage Fukasaku shook his head. "The Great Toad Sage has become muddle-headed in his old age and isn't lucid for long each day.

"Little Jiraiya, I think sometimes you put too much pressure on yourself. The Great Toad Sage's cryptic prophecies—some of them don't even come true."

As the two spoke, they stepped into a grand hall.

Inside the hall sat an enormous, ancient-looking toad, sprawled lazily on a massive, soft chair. The toad was so large that its head, topped with a hat, almost touched the ceiling of the hall. 

A necklace with the character for "oil" hung from its chest. Standing beneath the toad, Jiraiya appeared no bigger than a small insect in comparison.

With a strong push from his hind legs, the petite Sage Fukasaku leapt up onto the armrest of the Great Toad Sage's chair. On the other side of the chair stood another toad of equal size, whose head was partly covered with purple markings.

"Great Toad Sage, Little Jiraiya is here!" Sage Fukasaku called loudly to the half-asleep Great Toad Sage, whose eyes were barely open as if caught in a haze between sleep and wakefulness.

The Great Toad Sage didn't respond and remained immersed in his peculiar drowsy state.

"Great Toad Sage, I've arrived!" Jiraiya called out loudly from below. He also took a moment to greet Sage Shima, who stood nearby with her distinctive purple hair.

"Old fool, Little Jiraiya is here!" Seeing that the Great Toad Sage still showed no reaction, Sage Shima raised her eyebrows sharply. Her booming voice echoed through the hall, reinforced by natural energy.

"Oh? Oh! Sorry, I almost fell asleep." The Great Toad Sage suddenly opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream. He glanced around blankly but didn't even bother to change his position as he mumbled.

"Little Jiraiya is already here! Great Toad Sage, if you have any prophecies to share, please get on with it! Once you're done, I still need to prepare dinner. Little Jiraiya is staying today to try my new menu!" Sage Shima called out in her usual booming voice, glancing briefly at Jiraiya below as she spoke.

Though the elderly Great Toad Sage appeared muddled and senile, Jiraiya showed no disrespect whatsoever. After all, the sage's prophecies—apart from the one about the Child of Prophecy—had all come true.

This unwavering accuracy made Jiraiya deeply trust the sage's visions, leaving no room for doubt. He held immense respect for the Great Toad Sage who delivered these prophecies.

"Oh, yes, there's a new prophecy... and it's about Jiraiya... um, what's your name again?"

The Great Toad Sage's abrupt lapse in memory caused Jiraiya, along with the two smaller sages, Fukasaku and Shima, to exchange exasperated looks.

"This is Little Jiraiya! The summoner of Mount Myoboku! Great Toad Sage, you've already made several prophecies about him!" Sage Fukasaku explained, his face filled with helplessness.

The Great Toad Sage often seemed to toy with them by feigning—or genuinely displaying—forgetfulness and confusion. At this point, it was hard to tell whether it was an act or a sign of genuine senility.

"Ah, I remember now! Little Jiraiya, of course," the Great Toad Sage finally exclaimed with a sudden look of realization. "I called you here because I need your help with something."

"Does it concern the Child of Prophecy?" Jiraiya stepped forward, his voice serious. In his mind, only something involving the Child of Prophecy could warrant the Great Toad Sage summoning him so urgently.

"No, it's not about the Child of Prophecy," the Great Toad Sage shook his head. "This time, it's something new. A dream I had—it felt peculiar, very strange."

"Peculiar and strange?" Jiraiya was taken aback, struggling to understand what the Great Toad Sage meant.

"Speak clearly, will you? How is little Jiraiya supposed to understand you if you talk like that?" Sage Shima said in exasperation.

"A devastating war will give rise to immense darkness. The Pure Land will no longer be the only destination for souls.

Restless spirits, unable to find peace, will seek to return to the living world in a new form. They will bring new power to the shinobi world, but they will also bring chaos and widespread death."

The Great Toad Sage spoke in a weak and weary tone. As it spoke, its heavy eyelids, briefly lifted, began to close again. By the time it finished, it seemed ready to drift back into its usual half-asleep, half-awake state.

***

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