Bystander

Mount Myōboku, Toad Sage Hall.

The vast hall was rather desolate. The light was not dim, but neither was it bright, barely enough to see by.

The plump Great Toad Sage sat cross-legged on the throne. Huge scrolls were arranged on either side of him, while a table stood before him, covered with soft velvet. A massive crystal ball rested on the velvet.

The Great Toad Sage's eyes, usually narrowed to slits, had remained open the entire time. He was wholly focused on the crystal ball, which reflected moving images.

"Hmm..."

The scene reflected in the crystal ball was the battle between Minato and Ye Zi. In terms of strength, Minato seemed unable to contend with Ye Zi.

"Black Snake..."

The Great Toad Sage watched Ye Zi, whose entire body was covered in surging black lightning and radiated a chilling aura. His heart sank.

He had been watching ever since the war began. After all, the outcome of this war would affect the future of the shinobi world. How could he calmly await the result without paying attention to the process?

The three great sacred lands and their three sages all possessed overwhelming power, but they had never used their strength to directly interfere with the shinobi world. They were like outsiders, like bystanders.

Through the crystal ball, the Great Toad Sage had seen Ye Zi's power, Minato's resilience, and the potential possessed by Kushina.

In the prophecy, Black Snake used his body to block out the light. To welcome the light, Black Snake had to be toppled. Other than that, if Black Snake could not be toppled, there was another way to welcome the light.

"Alone, one cannot overcome the strength of a group."

The Great Toad Sage's leisurely words echoed through the empty hall.

One of the three