Prophecy

Sage Fukasaku frankly admitted that there was nothing in the field of ninjutsu he could teach Yamanaka Tohru. The only thing he could teach him was the unique taijutsu attack used in Sage Mode at Mount Myōboku—Frog Kumite.

The principle behind Frog Kumite was to use the Nature Energy around him, making it an extension of his body and forming an "invisible" attack.

Frog Kumite was not difficult to learn. He only needed to guide the Nature Energy around him.

Once Sage Fukasaku explained the trick, Yamanaka Tohru quickly managed to use this "invisible" attack while in Sage Mode.

Moreover, Yamanaka Tohru discovered one advantage of Frog Kumite: it did not consume Senjutsu Chakra. In other words, he could use this taijutsu freely while in Sage Mode.

"Yuan-chan, you've finished training in Frog Kumite, too. What are you planning to do next? Are you going back to Konoha?"

"Sage Fukasaku, I don't plan to return to Konoha for now. I'd like to stay at Mount Myōboku for a while."

Yamanaka Tohru planned to continue training at Mount Myōboku for some time. He had prepared plenty of dry rations and Ration Pills, enough to last him several months.

Yamanaka Tohru planned to spend the next few months becoming as familiar with Sage Mode as possible. Besides, he did not know many Water Release Ninjutsu.

His previous Ice Release had consumed a tremendous amount of Chakra. A few simple Water Release techniques had been enough, but now that Yamanaka Tohru had solved that problem, the number of Water Release techniques he could use seemed rather limited.

Jiraiya also had to remain at Mount Myōboku for the time being, so Yamanaka Tohru planned to take advantage of the opportunity and shamelessly ask Jiraiya to teach him a few more ninjutsu.

"I see. In that case, Yuan-chan, don't train too late tonight. My third child, Gamahiro, has returned from outside. You should get to know him." Sage Fukasaku said this.

"All right, I understand. Then I'll be troubling you tonight." Yamanaka Tohru was always very polite to his elders, especially those who had helped him.

That evening, Yamanaka Tohru and Jiraiya went together to Sage Fukasaku's home. Sage Shima had prepared a table full of insect dishes.

When Jiraiya saw the insect feast on the table, he wore a visibly traumatized expression.

"Jiraiya-chan, Yuan-chan, you're here!"

"Greetings, Sage Fukasaku, Boss!" The two greeted Sage Fukasaku.

"You came at just the right time. The children's mother just finished cooking. Come, come, let's eat together."

"No, no, we just ate, right, Yuan?" Jiraiya shot Yamanaka Tohru an exaggerated look. Yamanaka Tohru did not want to eat an insect feast either, so he nodded and said they had already eaten.

"That's such a shame. Hiro-chan, come out and get to know Jiraiya-chan and Yuan-chan." Sage Fukasaku looked regretful before calling toward the inside of the house.

Yamanaka Tohru remembered that Gamahiro's body had also been especially huge in the original story. Compared with Gamahiro's enormous body, Sage Fukasaku's house was clearly far too small.

Before long, a light-blue toad jumped out of the house. He carried two short swords on his back, and his appearance was seven or eight tenths similar to the one in the original story. However, his size was completely different from what Yamanaka Tohru remembered.

At that time, Gamahiro was not even as large as Gama Kichi had been during Naruto's battle with Pain in the original story.

"Hiro-chan, greet the guests."

"Got it, old man. I'm Gamahiro. Remember to call me whenever there's a fight."

"Yamanaka Tohru. Please take care of me!"

"Just call me Jiraiya!"

After the three introduced themselves, Yamanaka Tohru and Jiraiya learned that Gamahiro had previously been searching for a suitable weapon in the Land of Iron. He had only returned after receiving the Great Toad Sage's orders.

Yamanaka Tohru was very curious about the toad who could dream of the future in the original story. However, the Great Toad Sage had a special status, and Yamanaka Tohru had yet to meet him.

"Speaking of the Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya-chan, have you found the Child of Prophecy the old master mentioned?" Sage Fukasaku suddenly asked.

"We've basically confirmed it." Jiraiya's voice was filled with pride. He was clearly very satisfied with this disciple.

"What Child of Prophecy?" Gamahiro asked.

"It's like this. Once, the Great Toad Sage gave me a prophecy that one of my disciples would bring enormous change to the Shinobi World. I just didn't know whether that change would bring stability to the world or destroy it. And I would be this disciple's guide." Jiraiya explained it to Gamahiro.

"That really is important. Although the Great Toad Sage is muddleheaded, his prophecies have never been wrong." Gamahiro said.

"Hiro-chan, how can you call the old master muddleheaded?" Sage Fukasaku reprimanded Gamahiro.

After chatting for a while, Yamanaka Tohru and Jiraiya left. Mealtime was approaching, and neither of them wanted to eat an insect feast.

One day, more than a month later, Yamanaka Tohru was sparring with Jiraiya while in Sage Mode when Gamahiro hurried over.

"Yuan, the Great Toad Sage dreamed of a prophecy concerning you." Gamahiro wiped the sweat from his forehead as he spoke.

"Really? Hiro, take me there quickly."

Gamahiro led the way while Yamanaka Tohru and Jiraiya followed closely behind.

Gamahiro brought the two of them to a house.

"Yuan-chan, Jiraiya-chan, come in quickly! Don't keep the old master waiting." Sage Fukasaku's voice came from inside the house. Yamanaka Tohru did not delay and walked straight in.

"Great Toad Sage, greetings. I'm Yamanaka Tohru."

"Oh, you're here!" The Great Toad Sage slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Yamanaka Tohru.

"I didn't call you here for anything else. It's just that... um, who are you?" Just like in the original story, the scene played out exactly the same. Although Yamanaka Tohru had been prepared for it, he was still struck speechless.

"I'm Yamanaka Tohru, Great Toad Sage."

"That's right, you're Yuan. Just now, in my dream, you led a battle that determined the fate of the Shinobi World." The Great Toad Sage spoke.

"Great Toad Sage, what else?" After waiting for a long time without hearing anything more, Yamanaka Tohru could not help asking.

"That's all. Many things have changed in my recent dreams. I could only see you leading this war."

After walking out of the house, Jiraiya looked at Yamanaka Tohru solemnly. A war that determined the fate of the Shinobi World? Who would launch a war on such a massive scale?

From the Great Toad Sage's prophecy, Jiraiya knew that there would definitely be a major war in the future, and that Yamanaka Tohru would be its leader.

"Hey, kid! The Great Toad Sage's prophecies have never been wrong. Kid, prepare yourself. Since you're the leader of the war that will determine the fate of the Shinobi World, I'll guide you with everything I have."

Jiraiya firmly believed in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. He also believed that Yamanaka Tohru was an inheritor of the Will of Fire. Since that was the case, Yamanaka Tohru must represent Konoha's side. Jiraiya felt it was his responsibility to make Yamanaka Tohru stronger.

Yamanaka Tohru did not believe in anything being predestined. That was even more true in the Naruto world. With enough strength, everything could be changed.

That was why Jiraiya's words just now made Yamanaka Tohru happier than the guidance of the prophecy.

"Then, Uncle Jiraiya, please guide me from now on." Yamanaka Tohru naturally would not refuse the chance to receive Jiraiya's guidance.

Jiraiya was not only the teacher of two Hokage, but also the teacher of the leader of Akatsuki, the greatest rogue-ninja organization in the Shinobi World.

He was the "number-one teacher in the Shinobi World," a ninja who excelled in everything except genjutsu. He was also Yamanaka Tohru's favorite character in Naruto. After receiving Jiraiya's guidance, Yamanaka Tohru began to feel grateful for the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.

Due to work, I won't be able to update at 4 p.m. from now on. The future update schedule will be one chapter before 10 a.m., one chapter at noon, and one chapter before 7 p.m. Today's update was late—sorry about that.