https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-239-Something-s-Off-with-the-Big-Boss/12553581/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-241-Secrets-of-Lock-Village-Unveiled/12553583/
Chapter 240: Naruto's Decision Stands Firm, Unchangeable!
Chapter 240: Naruto's Decision Stands Firm, Unchangeable!
"So what if he's getting senile?"
Jiraiya, with a flip of his eyelid, summarized nonchalantly.
"He was muddled and confused before, and now he's just uncomfortable in every way. They say humans tend to get all sorts of muddle-headedness when they get old. It's only natural that the Great Elder, at his age, would exhibit all sorts of befuddled behavior too!"
Tsunade couldn't argue with her husband, so she merely nodded vaguely and, glancing at Naruto who was striving in the distance, furrowed her brows as she thought of something. "Jiraiya also left instructions with me. He wanted me to bring Naruto back to the village once he mastered the sage technique. Perhaps the Great Elder truly had a moment of forgetfulness and issued the order to have Naruto stay."
Jiraiya scoffed, "Then what are we waiting for? Let's wake the old geezer up and have him revoke the order. Oh, and there's also a chance he's forgotten all about it already."
Although Jiraiya often called the Great Elder 'old coot' and wasn't very respectful in their usual exchanges, the Great Elder, as the Great Toad Sage, had lived for a millennium. Even if he was getting more forgetful, he was still the Great Elder of Mount Myoboku, and Tsunade and Jiraiya couldn't go against his will.
Even if the order was mistaken, they would have to find the Great Elder, tug on his beard if they must, and get him to change his mind, but they couldn't directly disobey him.
Tsunade was persuaded by Jiraiya's argument.
Soon, the two of them, familiar with the way, arrived before the Great Elder.
Gamamaru, who had assisted Hagoromo Otsutsuki and played an important supporting role in the Mother and Son Conflict millennia ago, was now revered as the Great Toad Sage.
Compared to his tiny size a millennium ago, his physique had grown considerably. Wearing prayer beads with the character 'Abura' around his neck and a doctoral hat on his head, he sat on a throne with the character 'Xian' (Immortal) inscribed on it.
The arrival of Tsunade and Jiraiya didn't attract his attention.
If one were to approach closer, they would notice his eyes were closed, and a faint snoring sound emanated from his mouth.
"See?"
Jiraiya gave Tsunade a knowing look, as if to say, "I told you so."
Then, ignoring the subtle signals from Tsunade's eyes, Jiraiya jumped a few times and landed next to the Great Toad Sage's ear. In a loud and practiced voice, he shouted, "Great Elder! Great Elder! Wake up! It's an emergency!"
He shouted for a long while.
The Great Toad Sage reluctantly opened his eyes just a slit.
Seeing Jiraiya and Tsunade up close, he mumbled, "Who are—"
Jiraiya sighed, "The Great Elder is getting more and more forgetful!"
"Don't speak of the Great Elder like that," Tsunade said helplessly.
After a while, the Great Toad Sage, now a little more lucid, finally recognized Jiraiya and Tsunade.
He yawned widely and asked, "Oh, it's Tsunade and Jiraiya. What brings you here?"
Tsunade quickly took a step forward and recounted the purpose of their visit.
The Great Toad Sage pondered for a few seconds before speaking, "Who's this Little Jiraiya you speak of? And who's Naruto?"
Tsunade: "..."
Jiraiya, standing beside her, spread his hands out and wore an expression that seemed to say, "See? I told you so."
Then, Jiraiya raised her voice once more and quickly briefed the Great Toad Sage, "Great Elder! You're getting forgetful!"
With Jiraiya's reminder, the Great Toad Sage finally recalled who Little Jiraiya and Naruto were.
Then, there was another long silence.
Just when Jiraiya and Tsunade thought the Great Elder had lapsed back into his muddled state or even fallen asleep again, he suddenly spoke, his tone completely different from his previous lazy and indifferent one. It was calm and carried an air of finality, "Impossible!"
Instantly!
Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged glances, each seeing the surprise and shock reflected in the other's eyes.
Even Jiraiya, who was known for his boldness, dared not act as carefree as he usually did. Instead, he lowered his voice and asked with confusion, "Why?"
The Great Sage Toad, who had been half-squinting, now opened his eyes wide. Unlike his usual casual and lazy self, he shifted in his seat and sat up straight, looking down at Jiraiya and Fukasaku with a serious expression.
For the first time in centuries, the true authority of the Great Elder of Mount Myoboku filled the hall.
Fukasaku and Jiraiya were stunned, not daring to move even as the Great Sage Toad remained silent for a long time.
After an unknown duration, a deep sigh echoed through the hall.
Fukasaku and Jiraiya looked up to see that the Great Sage Toad seemed to have aged significantly, appearing weary and tired.
"I dreamed of a different future," the Great Sage Toad suddenly spoke.
"Dream? A different future?" Fukasaku furrowed his brows.
Of course, he was aware that the Great Sage Toad possessed the ability to foresee the future in his dreams.
While some toads, including Jiraiya, believed that the Great Elder's predictions were nothing more than ramblings from his long slumber, many toads and humans alike respected his prophecies.
Like Young Jiraiya, who had firmly believed in the Great Sage Toad's prophecies from an early age and had been searching for the Child of Destiny all these years.
But now, what did it mean that the Great Sage Toad had dreamed of a different future?
Could it be that the prophecy had changed? Fukasaku's gaze fixed intently on the Great Sage Toad.
Soon, the Great Sage Toad spoke in a deep and trembling voice, chanting:
"I saw blood staining the skies and the full moon falling; I saw the earth crumble and the world wail in despair; I saw the chaos of space-time, and the arrogant beings from the endless void tearing through everything. It's been too long, too far, and too chaotic."
"A great calamity, a catastrophe far beyond the Shinobi World, is about to unfold!"
A new prophecy had emerged!
Although much of it was unclear, Fukasaku could still sense the despair that the Great Elder's words foretold.
Even Jiraiya, who was usually skeptical of prophecies, couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt.
After all, the Great Elder's current state was highly unusual.
In the centuries that Jiraiya had lived, he had never seen the Great Sage Toad like this.
Could it be... true? Fukasaku suddenly thought of something and asked, "So, Great Elder, are you keeping Naruto here because he can resolve the crisis in your prophecy?"
Jiraiya had told him that Naruto was most likely the Child of Destiny from the previous prophecy.
Although Jiraiya had misjudged the identity of the Child of Destiny in the past, he was very confident this time.
After witnessing Naruto's unique abilities and his quick mastery of senjutsu, Fukasaku had also come to accept this belief.
Now, hearing the Great Sage Toad's new prophecy, Fukasaku instinctively felt that Naruto, as the Child of Destiny, was the best candidate to resolve this new foretold crisis.
However, even the Child of Destiny needed to undergo rigorous training.
Would it really be beneficial to keep Naruto on Mount Myoboku for an extended period? Fukasaku's doubts lingered.
The Great Sage Toad did not offer any further explanation. Instead, he looked toward Naruto, who was deep in his training, with a meaningful gaze and said, "Naruto stays on Mount Myoboku."
"This decision stands firm and is unchangeable."
(End of Chapter)
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