The orange-red sunset dyed the rock walls of Mount Myōboku blood-red, and the Great Toad Sage Fukasaku sat on a huge stone seat, his wrinkled eyelids trembling slightly.
A water mirror made of Natural Energy floated in front of him, reflecting the scene from Heavenly Screen sky above the Shinobi World some time ago—the fierce battle between Naruto and Pain.
"This is Jiraiya's disciple... He seems to have a bright future ahead of him..."
Sage Shima Fukasaku, puffed on his pipe and exhaled a string of smoke rings. "Old man, what do you think of this Heavenly Screen? Your prophecies have never been this clear, not even in your dreams."
The Great Toad Sage's gaze pierced through the water mirror, as if looking directly at some higher-dimensional being. "This is not a prophecy... but an observation..."
He suddenly started coughing violently, which startled Shima, who quickly patted his back.
As the cough subsided, a glint of clarity flashed in the old immortal's eyes. "Go and prepare; Little Jiraiya should be bringing him over soon."
Deep within the dark cave, the White Snake Sage coiled atop a massive stone pillar, his golden vertical pupils fixed on the mysterious light screen that had recently been projected into the cave.
Watching the scene in the Heavenly Screen where Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke were fighting against Sage Kabuto.
"Hiss... These two brats have quite the potential..." The White Snake Sage licked his fangs with his long tongue. "It's a pity that these two promising talents are enemies."
Tagorihime chuckled softly, "But that kid named Kabuto Yakushi is even more interesting~ He's clearly human, yet he's more cunning than a snake."
The scene switches to a projection on the Heavenly Screen showing the "future," with Sage Kabuto displaying various Senjutsu.
"Oh?" The White Snake Sage suddenly sat up. "This kid can actually learn so many kinds of Senjutsu?"
Tagitsuhime wriggled her serpentine body as she approached. "Should we make contact with him beforehand? Like when you made contact with Orochimaru back then..."
"No rush..." The White Snake Sage coiled up again, "Let these humans tear each other apart for a while longer. But that Heavenly Screen..."
Her gaze pierced through layers of rock walls, as if trying to see through the enormous screen floating above the Shinobi World: "To be able to predict the future with such accuracy, even my 'Dragon's Prophecy' can't do that... This isn't technology the Shinobi World should have."
From the depths of the cave came the roar of Manda: "To Heavenly Screen! Once I get stronger, I'll deal with those stinking Toads of Mount Myōboku first!"
"Shut up, you idiot!" The White Snake Sage slammed Manda into the rock wall with One-Tail. "You think this is just an internal conflict within the Shinobi World? Those extraterrestrial visitors... are far more terrifying than these ninjas!"
In the damp mist, the Katsuyu Sage's enormous body appeared and disappeared. It had no eyes, yet it could "see" everything in the Heavenly Screen through the perception of its countless clones.
"That's a disciple of Tsunade... they really do have the same style..."
The tiny Katsuyu that split off chattered excitedly:
"That Heavenly Screen display shows that she will team up with Akatsuki to Teuchi Sasori of the Chiyo in the future!"
"But our current strength is still far from sufficient, isn't it?"
"Should we have Tsunade bring her over to see if she's suitable to learn Sage Mode?"
The Katsuyu Sage gently twitched its antennae. "No need to rush... Every era has its own rhythm..."
Mount Myōboku...
The setting sun bathed the waterfall of Mount Myōboku in gold. The Great Toad Sage, gazed at the Heavenly Screen displaying the scene of the Five Kage battling Edo Madara, Fukasaku sighed deeply.
In the scene, Ōnoki's Dust Release flattens the mountains, Mei Terumi's Lava Release corrodes the earth, and Tsunade's Monstrous Strength Fist even shatters Susanoo's armor.
"Just a few short decades..." Fukasaku stroked the insect in his hand, "These humans only took the time it takes us to take a nap..."
Sage Shima exhaled a smoke ring, his tone complex. "Old man, do you still remember watching the various clans of the Shinobi World fight each other decades ago? Back then, there were all sorts of powerful figures emerging one after another..."
The scene in the Heavenly Screen shifted to the Tsuchikage using Dust Release to annihilate the Wood Clone Susanoo. Fukasaku's pupils contracted slightly. "I knew then that the potential of this race... was terrifyingly chilling."
A deep voice, like that of the Iwasuku Great Toad, echoed from the earth, "That's why we chose to become 'Summoning Beasts,' isn't it? Rather than being conquered by humans, it's better to actively form an alliance..."
The three Toads fell silent.
A thousand years ago, when the Sage of Six Paths founded the Ninshu, these strange beasts realized that humans would either become their strongest ally or their most dangerous enemy.
Ryūchi Cave...
In the dim cave, the White Snake Sage's scales stood up slightly in anger.
In the Heavenly Screen, the image of Edo Madara's Susanoo crushing the Five Kage caused her long, serpentine tail to unconsciously slap against the rock wall.
"A mere few decades of lifespan... Her fangs dripped corrosive liquid, yet she could wield such power?!"
Tagorihime cautiously offered a cup of blood wine. "My lord, please calm down... Wasn't that Kabuto in the Heavenly Screen also strengthened by our Senjutsu techniques?"
"Transformation?" The White Snake Sage suddenly burst into wild laughter, "Don't you understand yet? These humans don't need us at all! They can evolve their own power to rival immortal Senjutsu!"
Looking at the powerful Edo Madara, and those Rinnegan, a trace of fear flashed in the White Snake Sage's golden vertical pupils—those eyes were exactly the same as those of the Sage of Six Paths who sealed Kaguya a thousand years ago!
"Notify Orochimaru," she suddenly calmed down, "When you have time, you can bring Kabuto over. Since humans can use us... why can't we use humans in return?"
Tagitsuhime flicked her tongue. "And that Sasuke playing on the Heavenly Screen..."
"Continue to observe." The White Snake Sage narrowed his eyes.
Shikkotsu Forest
In the misty drizzle, the Katsuyu Sage's voice was gentle and clear. "Tsunade's progress... is even faster than I imagined..."
In the Heavenly Screen scene, Tsunade activated the Strength of a Hundred Seal and shattered Madara Uchiha Susanoo a single punch. Countless tiny Katsuyu wriggled excitedly on the fungal carpet.
"Is this the humanity we chose?"
"Tsunade is amazing!"
Will Sakura become this strong in the future?
The Katsuyu Sage gently twitched its tentacles. "Humans are such wondrous creatures... their lives are as fleeting as mayflies, yet they can unleash a brilliance surpassing even Senjutsu in an instant..."
It recalled its encounter with Asura a thousand years ago.
At that time, Shikkotsu Forest was nearly depleted because the God Tree was draining Natural Energy, and it was Asura who used the power of Wood Release to help it regain its vitality.
"Our Three Great Sage Lands have chosen different paths... The Katsuyu Sage split into many clones, Mount Myōboku imparts Senjutsu, Ryūchi Cave tempts and corrupts, while we... choose healing and symbiosis."