The sight before him was one Naruto had seen hundreds, if not thousands, of times: countless enormous toads, strange plants, and moist, fresh air.
This was Mount Myoboku, one of the three great sacred lands of summoning, alongside Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave.
"Little Jiraiya, is this the Fifth Hokage you mentioned?" An aged yet vigorous voice rang out.
The two followed the voice and saw Sage Fukasaku, his white beard and eyebrows prominent, sizing Naruto up from head to toe.
Mount Myoboku had countless ties to Konoha, so it naturally kept abreast of all kinds of developments and the latest events in the ninja world.
Sage Fukasaku knew full well the weight carried by the word "Hokage."
Though he had already learned the news from a messenger toad, seeing such a young Hokage in person still surprised him somewhat.
Jiraiya held Sage Fukasaku in great respect. After bowing, he replied, "Yes, Lord Fukasaku. He is Konoha's Fifth Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki, and Minato's child."
"And... I believe he is the Child of Prophecy I have spent my life searching for. So, I would like to take him to meet the Great Toad Sage."
Jiraiya had spent his entire life searching for the Child of Prophecy, yet he had never been able to confirm who it was.
It was not until he met Naruto and witnessed his immense strength, his planning, and his grand vision beyond the times that Jiraiya finally became certain.
Naruto was the one in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy who would bring tremendous change to the ninja world.
And he himself would play the role of guide.
Seeing how highly Jiraiya regarded Naruto, Sage Fukasaku nodded slightly, his tone growing solemn. "In fact, I was just about to find you, because the old master... has made a