Cloud Village Turtle Island

Mount Myōboku.

Sage Shima brought Hashirama to the Great Toad Sage's temple.

From a distance, Sage Shima shouted, "You old muddlehead, I've brought Little Hashirama. Whatever you want, tell him yourself!"

It was Hashirama's first time seeing the legendary Great Toad Sage. He was an enormous, ancient toad.

He was so old that he could barely open his eyes, dozing with one hand propping up his face.

He looked like an old toad at the end of his life.

Sage Shima shouted for ages without getting any response. Finally, she leaped up and landed a solid punch on the Great Toad Sage's head. Only then did he wake up.

He smacked his lips in a daze, seemingly still savoring his sweet dream, then stretched lazily. "Mmm~ I'm old. No good anymore!"

After lamenting his age, the Great Toad Sage turned his bleary gaze toward Hashirama.

"You... who were you again?"

Sage Shima raised her fist. "You old muddlehead, do I need to give you another punch on the head before you wake up properly?"

The Great Toad Sage shrank his head back fearfully, then came to his senses. "Hashirama, right? Come forward!"

"Yes, Great Sage!" Hashirama stepped forward.

The Great Toad Sage dismissed her. "Shima, heaven's secrets must not be revealed. Leave us for now."

Sage Shima snorted. "You old muddlehead, acting like some mystic again!"

Sage Shima turned and left as the Great Toad Sage had asked.

Before leaving, however, she reminded him, "You old muddlehead, don't casually use your power of prophecy again!"

For some reason, the future had become uncertain. The Great Toad Sage's last prophecy had not come without a price.

He had grown even older than before, and sleepier as well. Sage Shima truly feared that one day, the Great Toad Sage would fall asleep