Mount Myoboku—
Great Toad Sage half-opened his eyes, and confusion seemed to show on his aged face.
Of course, this was nothing unusual. Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima had long since grown accustomed to it. Sometimes Great Toad Sage simply wanted to say something, then suddenly forgot what it was.
Sage Shima's mouth moved. Though she made no sound, Sage Fukasaku, who had been watching her, could clearly tell that she was mouthing, "Senile old fool."
Still, Shima could hardly be blamed. Great Toad Sage had summoned them, and the two of them had been standing there for nearly a quarter of an hour. If his eyes had not still been open, they would have suspected that he had fallen asleep again.
Finally... "Fukasaku, Shima, something major has happened in the Ninja World recently. I can see that the development and repercussions of everything are converging in the Land of Fire."
Perhaps because of his age, Great Toad Sage paused for a while before continuing, "However—this time, even I cannot see where the road ahead leads. It is as though the road suddenly ends partway through..."
"What?!"
Hearing this, Fukasaku and Shima both realized the gravity of the situation. Great Toad Sage's previous prophecies had only ever been unclear or vague; there had never been a situation where the future was completely impossible to foresee!
Sage Fukasaku frowned. "What about the Child of Destiny?"
"The danger facing the Child of Destiny is even greater than what I previously foresaw. The crisis has arrived early. Clearly, before..." As Great Toad Sage spoke, his eyelids slowly began to droop, as though he was about to fall asleep again.
Seeing this, Fukasaku quickly shouted, "Before what?"
Great Toad Sage's drooping eyelids paused, but he did not elaborate. Worry for the future showed in