Myōboku Mountain, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest were collectively known as the Three Great Sage Lands of summoning beasts.
They had existed even before Kaguya Ōtsutsuki descended upon the Shinobi World.
They preserved unique traditions and were the birthplace of a special system: senjutsu.
In the original story, Myōboku Mountain had received the most focus.
The Great Toad Sage in particular could be called the founding father of troublemaking.
It had taught Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki—the Sage of Six Paths—senjutsu.
At the same time, it had bestowed upon him Myōboku Mountain's greatest treasure, the Talisman of the Sage, which saved his younger brother Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
In the end, the two brothers battled Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and sealed her away.
Though the Great Toad Sage had never personally fought, its strength could only be described as unfathomable.
Beyond that, it possessed extraordinarily accurate prophetic abilities.
Jiraiya's search for the so-called Child of Prophecy had been at its behest.
In short, it was the sort of existence that pulled strings from behind the scenes.
Jiraiya walked along a path lined with toad stone statues.
These statues were ninja who had failed in their attempts to cultivate Sage Mode.
He had nearly become one of them himself.
Fortunately, he had been lucky.
"Little Jiraiya, you're here."
A green toad draped in a gray robe appeared.
"Chief Fukasaku."
Jiraiya hurriedly greeted him.
"Come with me to see the Great Lord."
Sage Fukasaku said no more and turned to enter the hall.
Jiraiya immediately followed.
Before long, he met the Great Toad Sage.
It wore a doctoral cap atop its head, its entire body orange, with a string of prayer beads around its neck. The cat's-eye gem in the center was engraved with the character for "oil."
It was enormous.
At the very least, it would not fit