Great Toad Sage, "Old Fool"

Deep within Mount Myoboku, the air is filled with rich Natural Energy, and various exotic flowers and fruits rarely seen elsewhere can be found everywhere.

The Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima, who had just returned, sat facing each other on a giant lotus leaf, surrounded by flowing water and strange plants, but their minds were not on the scenery before them.

"Mother of my child," the Sage Fukasaku's long white eyebrows trembled slightly, breaking the silence, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief and solemnity.

"That kid named Taichi Matsushita — his First Shinobi World War today was truly astonishing. Jiraiya activating Sage Mode and our help, we still couldn't suppress him."

Sage Shima nodded in deep agreement, and the frog's face was also full of seriousness. "Yes, my child's father. Not to mention that Jiraiya, that kid—I think he probably hasn't even used 80% of his strength."

His final Water Style: Water Style: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave, with its immense volume of water, was as if a great river had been created out of thin air. He used it with such effortless ease, Chakra Quantity and mastery of Water Style were in no way inferior to his Fire Style.

"That's not what concerns me most," Sage Fukasaku eyes narrowed, his tone full of inquiry, "Did you feel it? That faint, almost imperceptible aura emanating from him?"

Sage Shima immediately replied, "The aura of Senjutsu! My husband, you sensed it too? I thought it was my imagination! If that's the case, then it can't be wrong, there is indeed the aura of Senjutsu Chakra within that child."

Sage Fukasaku thought, his white eyebrows almost furrowed, as if he were desperately searching for something in the sea of memories. "That's right, it's the fluctuation of Senjutsu Chakra, but... that feeling is too unfamiliar."

It is neither as gentle and lingering as the Shikkotsu Forest Katsuyu Sage Forest, nor as cold and eerie as the stinky snake of Ryūchi Cave, and it is completely different from our Mount Myoboku.

Whose lineage is this? Besides our Three Great Sage Regions, is there a fourth source of Senjutsu Mode in the Ninja World? I have absolutely no recollection of it!

Sage Shima's eyes were also filled with confusion and a hint of barely perceptible worry. "This is absolutely impossible. There are only three universally acknowledged Great Sages in the Ninja World: the Toad Great Sage of Mount Myoboku, the Great Katsuyu Sage of Shikkotsu Forest, and the White Snake Sage of Ryūchi Cave."

There are only three lineages of Senjutsu. Even Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi once dominated the ninja Ninja World, his powerful Senjutsu were fundamentally derived from the Sage Art of Shikkotsu Forest, only he modified them beyond recognition, making them even more powerful. At their core, they did not deviate from the category of the three great Senjutsu.

She paused, her voice lowering, "But now, this completely new Senjutsu aura emanating from Taichi Matsushita —it doesn't belong to any particular school! Moreover, from occasional mentions by Jiraiya and Minato, it seems this Senjutsu was something that kid figured out on his own..."

It was pioneered!

"A human being—can actually forge a completely new path of Senjutsu all by himself?" Sage Shima's tone was filled with shock.

The Sage Fukasaku sighed heavily, "If that's truly the case—its significance is extraordinary. A completely new system of Senjutsu, potentially more suitable for human cultivation and requiring no sacred land pact—will be a tremendous shock to the millennia-long status and significance of our Three Great Sage Regions!"

"Impact?" A glint flashed in Sage Shima's eyes as he suddenly remembered something. "My dear father! Do you remember the Great Toad Sage's vague prophecy? The one about the 'Child of Prophecy' whose trajectory had drastically deviated, making the future of the Ninja World uncertain?"

Sage Fukasaku's body trembled, and he suddenly realized. "You mean—the person the Great Toad Sage prophesied would completely change the landscape of the Ninja World? The prophecy itself seems to have become blurred due to the intervention of some powerful force?"

"Yes!" Sage Shima said with absolute certainty, "Perhaps, this variable, this person who brings a brand new Senjutsu, is Taichi Matsushita!"

Regardless of the origin of this Senjutsu, its very existence is a massive variable capable of overturning all understanding! This matter is of utmost importance and must be reported to the Great Toad Sage immediately!

The two frogs had made up their minds and immediately set off, hopping and skipping through the strange jungles and streams of Mount Myoboku, heading towards the deepest part of the sacred site, towards that ancient and solemn temple.

Before even stepping across the grand threshold of the main hall, deafening snoring echoed like muffled thunder, reverberating through the empty valley.

"My dear husband," Sage Shima said, his frog-like face filled with worry as he gazed at the deep entrance to the main hall, "The Master was sleeping so soundly today. That snoring... did we arrive at the wrong time?"

Sage Fukasaku paused slightly, but his eyes hardened immediately. "This is of utmost importance. Since we're already here, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy concerns the fate of the entire Ninja World. We must try to awaken him."

The two frogs cautiously entered the main hall. The hall was dimly lit, with only a few ever-burning lamps casting a faint glow.

At the end of the hall, on the huge throne with the word "immortal", the huge Immortal Toad is tilting his head, deep in sleep, snoring like thunder, as if even the air in the hall is shaking.

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. Sage Fukasaku breath, mustered his strength, and respectfully and loudly called out towards the throne, "My lord! My lord! Wake up! There is something extremely important to report to you!"

No response.

"My lord! Please wake up! This is a major event concerning the future of the Ninja World and a brand new Senjutsu!"

The snoring continued.

The Sage Fukasaku called out five times in a row, his voice growing louder and his tone more anxious with each call, but the enormous figure on the throne remained motionless, and the snoring seemed to grow even louder.

The Sage Shima, who was watching from behind, was furious. She was straightforward and hot-tempered and couldn't stand this kind of dawdling.

She shoved Fukasaku, who was still calling out Fukasaku vain, aside, took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, and with all her might, roared at the sleeping Great Toad Sage, "You senile old fool!! Wake up!!!"

Wake up!!

The enormous Frog Song collided and echoed violently between the empty stone walls of the hall, forming a continuous echo that shook the dust off the ceiling.

This volume, loud enough to wake the entire Mount Myoboku, vanished without a trace, having no effect whatsoever on the one on the throne. The Great Toad Sage remained fast asleep.

Fukasaku and Shima were completely dumbfounded. They looked at each other, both seeing the astonishment and confusion in each other's eyes.

"This—" Sage Fukasaku shook his head helplessly, "It seems that the Master is indeed lost in a very deep dream today, perhaps—is making some kind of important prophecy again? It would be bad if we forcibly disturb him. Never mind, we can only wait for next time."

He pulled the resentful Sage Shima, who kept turning back to look at him, and slowly led him out of the main hall. As Sage Shima was being led away, he couldn't help but mutter to himself, "He's getting more and more senile with age! Now he's unresponsive! How can he possibly uphold the prophecy—"

The heavy stone doors of the main hall slowly closed behind us, shutting out outside light and sound.

Shortly after the doors closed, the enormous figure on the throne, with eyes that seemed to see through the river of time, slowly opened its eyes.

There was not a trace of initial confusion upon awakening, only a profound clarity as deep as an abyss, imbued with the weight of time.

He gazed silently toward the empty palace gate, where not a single frog remained, and a fine layer of cold sweat slowly seeped from the enormous frog's face.

He slowly lifted one of his webbed feet, wiped his forehead with lingering fear, and involuntarily replayed the dream from not long ago in his mind.

That was no ordinary dream. It was a prophetic dream filled with chaos and fragmented light and shadow, the trajectory of the world as if stirred into a chaotic mess by an invisible giant hand.

As he tried to see more clearly through the chaos, he clearly "saw" a pair of eyes behind the layers of confusion—eyes that transcended endless time and space, cold, indifferent, yet containing a grave warning!

That gaze was not an illusion, but carried a substantial mental pressure, piercing through the barrier of dreams and striking the depths of his soul.

That was an unequivocal warning: Do not spy! Do not interfere! Otherwise—

Even now, recalling it, the Toad Great Sage still felt a chill run down his spine, and the tremor that originated from the depths of his soul lingered for a long time.

He sighed almost inaudibly, his voice sounding particularly desolate in the empty, deathly silent hall. "Alas—truly a time of great turmoil."

In Konoha Hidden Village, the sun shines brightly and a gentle breeze blows.

After bidding Jiraiya, who was embarking on a dangerous journey, Taichi Matsushita's life seemed to return to its usual routine.

Teaching disciples, handling official duties, and studying Ninjutsu —a peaceful and fulfilling life.

Such is the nature of a ninja's life; every mission could be a farewell, whether it's a simple D-Rank Mission or an S-rank reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines.

Broken legs and arms are commonplace, and dying far from home is a normal fate. From the day they become ninjas, the seed of this resolve has already been planted in everyone's heart.

That afternoon, Taiichi was teaching a group of children who had chosen the Medical Ninja specialization at the Ninja Academy. Outside the window, the shadows of the trees swayed gently, and the atmosphere was peaceful.

Suddenly, the classroom door was flung open, and an Anbu Ninja wearing an animal mask flashed in like the wind. Ignoring the surprised looks from the class, he rushed straight to Taiichi, his voice urgent yet respectful. "Lord Taiichi! Urgent mission! Please come with me to Konoha Hospital immediately!"

"Konoha Hospital?" Taiichi frowned slightly, quickly assessing the situation. "Are there seriously injured people who need emergency treatment?" He glanced at the anxious Anbu without hesitation.

"Understood." He responded in a deep voice. He quickly made a simple "we" seal on his chest with one hand.

"Bang!" A puff of white smoke dissipated, and a Shadow Clone identical to Taiichi's original body appeared beside the podium. It nodded to the original body and naturally took over the teaching task.

Taiichi's true form immediately followed the Anbu Ninja, transforming into a blurry black shadow, and sped out of the classroom at an astonishing speed, heading straight for Konoha Hospital.

When Taiichi arrived at Konoha Hospital, the scene before him startled him slightly.

A large number of people had gathered at the entrance of the hospital treatment room and in the corridor, creating a somber atmosphere.

What was particularly striking was that a significant number of them were wearing the high-necked trench coats that were the hallmark of the Aburame Clan) and sunglasses.

At the front of the crowd, a composed middle-aged man in similar attire stood out—he was none other than Shibi Aburame Clan. His personal presence indicated the seriousness of the situation.

Taiichi's arrival immediately attracted everyone's attention.

"Lord Taiichi!"

"It's Lord Taiichi!"

"Great! Shisei is saved!" A low, hopeful murmur arose from the crowd.

Shibi Aburame was the first to come forward. Even though he was usually calm and composed, he could not hide his anxiety and earnestness on his face.

He reached out and grasped Taiichi's wrists tightly, his voice trembling slightly. "Taiichi! You've finally come! Shisei —I'm entrusting Shisei to you! Please, you must save him!"

Taiichi was somewhat confused by the scene and Shibi's excitement.

"Shisei?"

This name didn't leave a special impression on him.

Fortunately, a quick-thinking nurse stepped forward and whispered in Taiichi's ear, "Lord Taiichi, Shisei Aburame is Chief Shibi's eldest son, and he's only five years old. He's today's emergency patient."

Shibi Aburame's son—shouldn't he be called Shino Aburame? The future Konoha 12 should only have been born by now, right?

Who is this "Shisei"? Could it be that his appearance altered certain timelines, creating a butterfly effect?

Or was there originally an unmentioned eldest son in the Aburame Clan, who simply died prematurely due to some unforeseen event?

A fleeting doubt crossed his mind.

But now is not the time to think about these things; saving lives is the priority.

He immediately composed himself, a reassuring calm expression appearing on his face. He gripped Shibi's hand firmly with both of his, his voice resolute and powerful. "Clan Chief Shibi, rest assured! No matter who the patient is, as long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will do everything in my power! I will go in and find out the situation right away."

After saying this, under the expectant, even pleading, gazes of the Aburame Clan, he turned and pushed open the tightly closed door to the treatment room.

Inside the door lies a completely different world.

The smell of disinfectant was mixed with a certain indescribable, faintly sweet, fishy odor.

A massive sealing array almost enveloped the entire treatment room. Taiichi only glanced at it twice before understanding its purpose: it was a seal used to suppress life force, usually used to block vitality and buy time for treatment.

Under the bright operating lights, on a small hospital bed, a thin figure was curled up, twitching occasionally, with various monitoring instruments connected to his body.

Several Medical Ninja surrounded the bed, their expressions solemn, and fine beads of sweat glistened on their foreheads.

Tsunade was also among them, her brows furrowed, her hands covered in a dense green Chakra aura, pressed against the child's abdomen, her expression more severe than ever before.

Seeing Taiichi enter, Tsunade looked up, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deeper worry.

She spoke in a deep voice, maintaining the spell in her hands while explaining the current situation to Taiichi.

"Taiichi, you've come at the right time! The situation is very serious. I just stabilized the child's vital signs. He became like this because he suffered a backlash from the secret technique of the Aburame Clan while practicing it."

The secret technique of the Aburame Clan —isn't that the Insect Technique?

Secret Technique Backlash?

Taiichi at the child on the hospital bed, and combining that with the age the nurse had told him earlier, Taiyi already had a rough idea of what was going on.