Child of Prophecy

Naruto glanced at the glimmer of silver light at Ming Jing's fingertip and asked, "Is this real?"

"Of course. I guarantee it." Ming Jing nodded.

"Alright!" Naruto agreed without hesitation. Ming Jing smiled in satisfaction and touched Naruto's forehead with his finger. In an instant, Naruto fell into an illusion.

"Was this really the right thing to do, little Ming Jing?" Sage Shima appeared on Ming Jing's shoulder. Seeing Naruto's pained expression, she asked with some reluctance. Sage Shima had come with Sage Fukasaku, but when she saw Naruto come out to find Ming Jing, she followed him. What Ming Jing showed Naruto was the scene from the original story where Jiraiya was killed. Only two new figures had been added: Ming Jing and Tsukikyuu Shang Mei.

"Hadn't we already agreed on this?" Ming Jing said with a smile. "When Heaven is about to entrust a great responsibility to someone, it first torments his mind, exhausts his body, starves his flesh, impoverishes him, and disrupts his affairs. Through this, it steels his resolve and increases what he is capable of. Besides, Jiraiya himself already agreed to it!"

"I heard little Jiraiya talk about this child's experiences, so this kind of 'special training' you two arranged does not seem very meaningful, does it?" Sage Shima shot Ming Jing a glare and said irritably.

"How could it not be?" Ming Jing shook his head. "We naturally have our reasons for doing this."

Not long after, Naruto opened his eyes. Tears streamed down his face. "Why..."

"Hm?" Ming Jing turned to look at Naruto, somewhat puzzled.

"Brother Ming Jing is very strong, right? Why... why didn't you save Perverted Sage?" Naruto wiped his eyes and looked up at Ming Jing as he demanded an answer.

Ming Jing gave a bitter smile and explained,