The Great Toad Sage's Question

Konoha Barbecue Restaurant.

The Barbecue Restaurant was still open late at night.

When Shirou Emiya and his group entered, everyone at the table looked surprised and wanted to greet them, because apart from Shirou Emiya, whom they did not know, the others were all seniors whom they respected in Konoha Village.

"The Third Hokage!"

"Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya are back!"

"Gai, Kurenai, Kakashi, you're here too—"

A smile appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, but when he saw a mature-looking ninja sitting among the group of young people, his smile immediately turned awkward.

Because this person is his son, Asuma Sarutobi.

However, Asuma Sarutobi was somewhat rebellious from a young age. Sometimes he admired his father, and sometimes he disliked him. He often clashed with his father. Later, he simply left the village and wandered around, eventually joining the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and becoming one of the Daimyo's Guardian Ninja Twelve.

This kind of thing always made Sarutobi Hiruzen, his father, extremely embarrassed.

Logically speaking, the task of protecting the Daimyo of the Land of Fire should be the responsibility of Konoha, which belongs to the Land of Fire. However, Asuma Sarutobi, the son of the Hokage of Konoha, actually joined another organization that was clearly in conflict with Konoha.

Fortunately.

A few days ago, the Guardian Ninja under Daimyo Daimyo's command broke out in a civil war. Asuma Sarutobi must have seen through some things and chose to return to Konoha.

However, the relationship between father and son remains somewhat awkward.

"Asuma."

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, didn't want to lecture his son here, so he simply instructed, "Remember to re-register at the Hokage Building tomorrow."

"Knew."

Asuma Sarutobi angrily lit a cigarette.

"Don't argue with the old man, Asuma— "

Jiraiya warmly approached, patted Asuma on the shoulder, and grinned as he put his arm around one of the silver-haired youths. "Kakashi, how have you been lately?"

Kakashi Hatake glanced at Jiraiya listlessly.

What was his mood?

Obito Uchiha, a former comrade to whom he had once entrusted his life, became missing-nin and, years ago, secretly orchestrated the Nine Tails Riot, killing so many people, making him an object of contempt throughout Konoha.

Kakashi Hatake was silent for a moment, then his gaze fell on Tsunade, and he greeted her, "Lady Tsunade— "

"Long time no see, Kakashi— "

Tsunade waved to Kakashi Hatake. Having just recovered her composure, she simply greeted Kakashi Hatake and followed Shirou Emiya, quietly introducing him. "Kakashi, he's Sakumo- senpai's son..."

Kakashi Hatake subconsciously glanced at Shirou Emiya's back.

"I've seen it."

Shirou Emiya continued walking without looking back, only casually remarking, "His Storm Release is quite well-trained."

"We'll go ahead first."

Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly followed Emiya Tsuchihara's footsteps, seemingly casually remarking, "Everyone, go back and rest early."

"I have to go too."

Jiraiya patted Kakashi Hatake's shoulder forcefully.

Jiraiya knew about Kakashi Hatake's recent situation, which is why he sat down next to him to comfort him. They shared a certain resonance, because Jiraiya believed that his friend Orochimaru had also defected, and that Orochimaru's ability to cause trouble was no less than that of Obito Uchiha.

After the group left.

The young ninjas at the table couldn't help but start discussing it.

Although the main theme of today's gathering was to welcome Asuma Sarutobi, the topic inevitably came up with the matter of his former classmate, Obito Uchiha. This topic made the atmosphere at the table a bit heavy, but fortunately, Shirou Emiya and his group came in and were able to change the subject.

"Is something big about to happen in the village?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked back at Jiraiya's retreating figure, seemingly somewhat surprised by Tsunade and Jiraiya's return. "Both Lady Tsunade and Lord Jiraiya have been recalled. Also, who is that person? It seems the Third Hokage has great respect for him."

"Could it be an envoy from the Daimyo?"

Might Guy immediately touched his chin.

"Definitely not."

Asuma Sarutobi lit the cigarette he was holding in his mouth. He had been by the Daimyo's side for a long time but had never seen Emiya Tsuchihara.

"This is not something we should worry about."

Kakashi Hatake shook his head, not wanting everyone to talk about this topic, because he was Anbu Ninja and knew that Shirou Emiya had an extremely mysterious identity.

Kakashi Hatake stood up and picked up his clothes. "That's about it for today. We all have our own missions tomorrow."

Sitting behind the screen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others remained silent.

They had been waiting for the young people outside to leave.

After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was someone who knew Shirou Emiya very well.

Having spent ten years traveling the Shinobi World together, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that Shirou Emiya might casually reveal earth-shattering secrets.

However·-·

Today is a bit strange.

Because Shirou Emiya really didn't say a word, he just quietly helped Tsunade grill meat and hand her drinks, like an elder taking a child out to play.

Jiraiya, unable to contain himself, spoke first, initiating a question about something he cared about, because he once had a disciple who shared the same eyes. "Speaking of which, Lord Shirou's eyes seem—"

"Don't ask questions that make people unhappy!"

Tsunade glared at Jiraiya and said in a deep voice, "Lord Shirou brought me here to eat barbecue, don't try to find out any damn information here!"

Jiraiya's curiosity was momentarily stunned.

"There's nothing I can't say."

Shirou Emiya reached out to stop Tsunade, and casually said, "I once tried to change the Shinobi World and transplanted the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. Therefore, at some point, my body possessed the Rinnegan. My current Impure World Reincarnation Body just happens to be from that period when I possessed the Rinnegan."

"Woolen cloth-""

Jiraiya wanted to ask something more.

However, Jiraiya saw Tsunade's angry glare and could only lower his head and continue eating his grilled meat.

It was rare for him to see his good friend happy for a period of time.

Never mind.

Jiraiya had made up his mind.

He felt it inconvenient to ask Tsunade anything, so he planned to quietly travel to Mount Myōboku in a few days to inquire about Shirou Emiya's story.

Just.-·

Recently, Jiraiya has been feeling lost because his journey to find the Child of Prophecy has yielded no results. He is trying to see if he can get more guidance from the Great Toad Sage.

Result-

When Jiraiya finally left Konoha and went to Mount Myōboku to meet the Great Toad Sage, he casually mentioned that Shirou Emiya had been resurrected again, and finally obtained some information about Shirou Emiya from the Great Toad Sage once more.

On Mount Myōboku.

Inside the temple at the highest point of the Toad Kingdom.

The Great Toad Sage sat in his seat, his eyes closed, and listened quietly Jiraiya recounted what had happened to Shirou Emiya had been resurrected once again.

"Is it Shirou Emiya, who possesses the Rinnegan?"

The Great Toad Sage's face showed signs of age, and its eyes remained tightly closed, yet it seemed to see the terrifying figure that once stood proudly above the Ninshu Village: "That being who inspired both respect and fear—"

"Fear?"

Jiraiya started acting strangely.

Even though he knew the other party's identity and that the other party's strength was definitely powerful enough, he still couldn't feel any fear from Emiya Tsuchihara.

Beneath that seemingly cold and arrogant exterior, the man possessed extraordinary patience towards everyone.

Even though Jiraiya's relationship with the other party wasn't close, and the other party didn't seem to mind his offense, they would still answer his questions seriously.

"Good."

The Great Toad Sage calmly nodded, its eyes slowly opening, its gaze seemingly returning to the past. "Little Jiraiya, now that you've seen Shirou Emiya, whose Shinobi World has become like this, can you still see the desire to change the world in his heart?"

"Hey, hey, hey, I can't do that—"

Jiraiya thought that the Great Toad Sage was overestimating himself.

Although Jiraiya be considered to have a profound understanding of the world, and his reputation and status in the Shinobi World were not low,

But in front of Emiya Tsuchihara, he was not even a nobody. How could he possibly guess Shirou Emiya's thoughts?

"But we don't have much time left."

A hint of regret appeared on the Great Toad Sage's face. He gently shook his head, as if he were a wise man who had seen through everything. "Little Jiraiya, do you think the Shinobi World needs someone to change it?"

"Of course we need it!"

Jiraiya sat down on the ground, somewhat annoyed, rubbing his temples. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be searching the whole world for that prophetic child. Speaking of which, what does 'not much time left' mean?!"

That prophecy was also the reason why Jiraiya continued to act.

According to the prophecy made by the Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya take on a disciple who will bring about change to the Shinobi World and completely transform Shinobi World. However, it is impossible to determine whether this change will bring stability or destruction to the Shinobi World.

That is why Jiraiya has been searching for the disciple he is destined to meet. He desperately wants to find the disciple who can change the world and hopes to guide that disciple to bring peace to the Shinobi World.

After searching for so many years, wasn't it all for the purpose of changing the world?

As a result, the Great Toad Sage even asked himself whether the Shinobi World needed to be changed.

"No."

The Great Toad Sage slowly but firmly shook his head. His eyes were somewhat aged, yet imbued with the wisdom accumulated over a thousand years. "Little Jiraiya, my question is, if the child in the prophecy doesn't exist, do you, as a ninja, think the current Shinobi World needs to change?"

Let me think about it.

Jiraiya stroked his chin and nodded, saying, "The Shinobi World seems relatively peaceful now, but there's still conflict between ninja villages. Someone definitely needs to change that, right?"

After Jiraiya finished speaking, he recalled the story the Great Toad Sage had told about the Ninja Sect, and a hint of longing appeared on his face. "Ideally, this era could be like the Ancient Era Ninja Sect, where people could understand each other."

In that case, there certainly wouldn't be so much conflict in the world anymore.

The Great Toad Sage fell silent.

Jiraiya looked at the silent Great Toad Sage and suddenly felt uneasy. Had he said something wrong?

"But-"

"Even in that era—"

The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes again, recalling Shirou Emiya's grand ideals. "There are still those who want to correct the flaws that exist in this era."