The Toad Sage's Prophecy

"This is the God Tree..."

Standing before the God Tree, Hagoromo gazed at its magnificent form before him and couldn't help but sigh, "So tall..."

After decades of growth, the God Tree was now far more splendid than it had been in the beginning.

Upon the vast wasteland, only this single God Tree stood, yet it gave off an utterly terrifying presence, as if what one faced was not a tree but a towering, earth-shaking deity.

Terrifying chakra flowed within it, carrying immense Natural Energy.

As Hagoromo stood before the God Tree, this aura resonated with the chakra inside his own body.

In a place unseen by anyone, a faint ring of ripples emerged in his eyes, tinged with a pale purple hue.

But the moment Hagoromo turned around, this change vanished completely, as if it had never existed.

"This God Tree—I wonder how much further it will grow."

Beside him, his younger brother Hamura remarked in awe.

As sons of Nanchuan You, they had access to information that was top-secret for ordinary people.

Thus, they also knew that this God Tree grew at a rapid pace every single year.

To sustain it, the Land of Ancestors gathered vast quantities of Chakra Crystals from all over each year.

But from the current situation, the God Tree's growth was far from reaching its end.

The tree before them stretched straight toward the heavens, its peak nearly invisible.

Hamura had no idea when this God Tree would finally stop growing.

Perhaps the God Tree's growth itself had no end.

It was only that, under normal circumstances, a world contained limited energy, which the God Tree would quickly drain dry.

"Is that... the fruit of the God Tree?"

The Hagoromo Brothers looked up at the tree before them.

In their line of sight, they could clearly see a fruit growing atop the God Tree's crown.

That fruit had already taken shape, gradually enlarging under the nourishment of massive chakra, but it had not yet reached full maturity.

The two stood in silence for a long time, then left the place.

This experience had a certain impact on them.

That night, they inexplicably had a dream.

In the dream, they saw a toad.

The toad's body appeared enormous, completely unlike ordinary toads, and it carried a dense aura of Natural Energy.

"Who are you?"

Upon seeing the toad, the Hagoromo Brothers immediately snapped awake.

"Is this genjutsu?"

They quickly realized something was wrong, understanding that they had entered a genjutsu space and were no longer in reality.

"My name is Gamamaru. You two lords may also call me the Toad Sage."

The massive toad before them stared at the Hagoromo Brothers for a long moment before speaking: "I have been waiting for you for quite some time."

"Waiting for us?"

Hagoromo asked in confusion: "Why are you waiting for us?"

"Is there something you want us to do?"

"Yes."

Gamamaru nodded: "A crisis capable of destroying the world has already appeared. In the near future, a great danger will emerge."

"And you two are the Children of Destiny chosen by the world, fated to save it."

"A crisis that will destroy the world?"

Hamura frowned and immediately retorted: "Nonsense!"

"Everything outside is so beautiful now. The world is at peace. Where is this crisis you speak of?"

The current shinobi world was in an unprecedented era of prosperity.

Even an ordinary civilian could grow up smoothly in this age without any mishaps.

This was something the Hagoromo Brothers had witnessed with their own eyes.

Now, suddenly, a random giant toad showed up claiming the world was on the verge of a great crisis—how could they believe that?

"Even if a crisis really appears, Father's abilities and Mother's power are more than enough to handle it."

Hagoromo spoke, full of confidence in his parents.

Throughout the many years of the shinobi world's history, Nanchuan You's capabilities needed no further elaboration. No matter how difficult or troublesome the matter, it seemed to be nothing before him.

As for Kaguya's power, it was the strongest the Hagoromo Brothers had ever seen in their lives.

No matter how terrifying the crisis, it seemed like nothing before these two.

"Could it be the Son of the Land of Ancestors?"

Upon hearing Nanchuan You's name, Gamamaru's face vividly showed deep admiration: "He is truly an extraordinary figure."

"In all the years this world has existed, this is the first time someone has achieved such a feat."

"Not only did he eliminate war, but the demons that ran rampant everywhere have also vanished..."

"Your mother's power is indeed formidable enough to suppress all disasters."

"However, the one threatening the world is none other than your mother herself..."

He spoke softly, letting out a long, drawn-out sigh.

The one destroying the world is our mother herself?

Hearing this, the expressions of the Hagoromo Brothers shifted slightly.

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Otsutsuki Hagoromo's face instantly turned serious.

He stared intently at the Toad Sage before him, as if trying to see through him: "What is your true purpose?"

To barge in before them, drag them into this illusion space, and then spread negative talk about their mother right in front of them.

No normal person could tolerate that.

The Hagoromo Brothers felt the same.

So at this moment, they fixed their gazes on Gamamaru, clearly ready to resort to force.

"What I speak is not false, but a scene of undeniable truth..."

Gamamaru sighed and continued: "Beneath the light of the Land of Ancestors, darkness also lurks. Most of the time, that darkness is concealed by the radiance, making it hard for you to see clearly."

"But fate will guide you to see everything."

"When that time comes, the answer will naturally arise in your hearts."

As his voice fell, the illusion space before them rippled with faint waves, then rapidly shattered.

With a crisp sound, the Hagoromo Brothers returned to reality, breaking free from the previous illusion space.

"The Toad Sage... just who is that guy?"

Hagoromo and Hamura wore grave expressions, both thinking this thought in their minds.

After that day, the Toad Sage did not appear again.

Everything from that day felt like a dream, leaving only faint impressions.

Just as the Hagoromo Brothers were about to forget that dream, a new change occurred.

On this day, the two brothers were patrolling around the God Tree.

A line of prison carts suddenly came from ahead, heading toward the central forbidden area where the God Tree stood.

"Those are... prison carts transporting criminals?"

Hagoromo was surprised: "Why are they here?"