The Child of Prophecy

Jiraiya fell silent.

Did he know how much those two events had devastated Tsunade? He did; he knew it more clearly than anyone else.

So, how could he untie her heart's knots or help her step out of the shadows? He knew that, too—better than anyone.

But why did he not do it? Why had he not stayed by Tsunade's side? Perhaps only he and those few at Mount Myoboku knew the reason.

Once he understood the responsibilities resting on his shoulders, he dared not slacken. He had experienced war himself and had witnessed the disasters it brought. It wasn't just ninjas dying; ordinary people were living miserable lives because of the conflict.

After exchanging letters with Fei Shi, he had traveled to many places, and many had been scarred by war. Those who hadn't died were living lives worse than death.

According to the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage, he was the teacher of the one who would bring peace to the Ninja World; one of his disciples would usher in that peace. He often thought that if his disciple succeeded, he would have them promote the Manifesto of the Worker-Peasant Party and Red Ideology. He wanted everyone in the Ninja World to live a life free from hunger and oppression.

Love was a soft trap; he craved it, yet he was terrified of possessing it. He feared that if he sank into that comfort, he would fail to complete his mission, allowing the flames of war to continue spreading across the Ninja World.

When Nawaki died, he was at Mount Myoboku. He hadn't been by Tsunade's side in time.

When Dan Kato died, he wasn't there for her either. At the most critical moments, when Tsunade needed him most, he was absent. Did a man like him deserve a woman as exceptional as Tsunade? Ha, surely not. Heh, hahahaha...

As he thought, Jiraiya couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

"What the hell are you laughing at! I'm talking to you about something serious, and you're just sitting there laughing your ass off! Huh!"

Jiraiya stopped, his eyes filled with melancholy.

"Do you think I don't know what you're talking about? Do you think I don't know what Tsunade needs? I know! I know it all! But you don't know the responsibility on my shoulders, you don't know what this means. For the sake of this duty, I have to give up my chance to pursue happiness. Unless I succeed, I cannot give her the companionship and happiness she needs. A man like me has no right to give her happiness."

"Tch! I thought it was something else—that's it? Just that! I know about that prophecy too. Hey, don't look so surprised! I know it. And I know it better than you do, how about that! Want to know? Hahahaha!"

Jiraiya was truly shocked. He had never told anyone about the prophecy; not even Tsunade or Orochimaru, who were closest to him, knew. This kid knew? What kind of joke was this! Jiraiya's drunkenness vanished; his eyes cleared, his head stopped spinning, and his speech became sharp.

"How do you know?"

Jiraiya's expression was grave. If this kid really knew more about the prophecy than he did, then perhaps his mission would end sooner, and he might actually have a chance to pursue his own happiness...

"Ahem, one of my Mangekyo ocular techniques is 'Scholar.' It allows me to see the entire past of any non-living object and everything that has happened around it, letting me know what occurred in the past."

"Hiss!"

Jiraiya drew a sharp breath. He was stunned—was it really that heaven-defying?

If that were true, was there anything in this Ninja World he didn't know? He could walk anywhere and know everything that had happened there. Such a god-like ability must have limitations, surely. But even with limitations, the fact remained that it was heaven-defying.

"That is truly a shocking ability. There must be restrictions, though. But what does this have to do with the prophecy?"

Fei Shi stopped stalling and said:

"There are restrictions. I can use it once a month for a duration of one hour. Within that hour, I can know the past of the place I'm observing, no matter how far back it goes. I used this ability while traveling the Ninja World with Tsunade-jie after awakening my Mangekyo. During one experiment, I saw someone."

Jiraiya was curious, sensing that the person Fei Shi was about to name would be astonishing.

"That person was Hagoromo Otsutsuki, known to the world as... the Sage of Six Paths."

"!!!"

Jiraiya was dumbfounded, his sobriety absolute. He was so startled he accidentally knocked over the wine beside him.

"Damn it! You owe me a drink!"

"The Sage of Six Paths—I never thought he actually existed. Heh, hehe, if you hadn't said it, I would have always thought he was just a legend, a fictional character. Don't waste time, hurry! Tell me what else you saw!"

"Tch! If this person didn't exist, would people still pass down his legend? Fine, fine, I'll tell you."

Seeing the murderous look in Jiraiya's eyes, he didn't bother with small talk and continued.

"There was a toad beside him, whom the Sage of Six Paths called Gamarumaru. That Gamarumaru said a lot of things to the Sage, but the most important part was that in the future, there would be a blue-eyed boy who could call the Nine-Tails by their names and play with them. He would bring a miracle to the Ninja World."

"Ah, this... this has some similarities to the prophecy I know, but also some differences. Forget it, I'll tell you too. The prophecy the Great Toad Sage told me was that one of my disciples would bring peace to the world. That's why I've been traveling the Ninja World, searching for that Child of Prophecy. But according to your story, this blue-eyed boy might be my disciple."

"Wait, the Tailed Beasts have names?! How come I didn't know that?!"

Fei Shi let out a cold snort.

"No one else knows either. I learned the names of the nine Tailed Beasts during that conversation I witnessed."

Jiraiya couldn't help but feel amazed. If the news that the Tailed Beasts had names were to get out, it would surely drop the jaws of everyone in the world.

"You know the names of the nine Tailed Beasts—could that Child of Prophecy be you?"

Fei Shi was speechless. Had he not been listening?

"A blue-eyed boy! And he can call the nine Tailed Beasts by their names and play with them—he's likely a jinchuriki. I've investigated the other jinchuriki, and the only boy who fits this identity is your student's son, Naruto Uzumaki!"

"!!!"

"I believe that in the future, he will build a good relationship with the Nine-Tails, eliminate its hatred, and forge friendships with the other Tailed Beasts."

"!!!"

"So, stop wandering around. Stay in Konoha and teach Naruto. I will help you."

After hearing Fei Shi's words, Jiraiya felt a sense of vertigo. The Child of Prophecy had been found just like that. Just... found.

This should have been a happy occasion, but Jiraiya couldn't bring himself to feel joy.

Because the other children he had considered to be the Child of Prophecy were all dead—Nagato, Minato. If... if I hadn't taken them as disciples, would their fates have been better? I... I...

Fei Shi patted Jiraiya on the shoulder.

"It's fine. There's still a possibility for the dead to return. I've heard that the Second Hokage invented a forbidden jutsu called Edo Tensei. If a forbidden technique that can bring the dead back to the mortal realm exists, how could there not be a jutsu to truly resurrect them?"

"Besides, I've preserved the bodies of the Fourth and his wife in special Ice Coffins. Kushina hasn't completely passed on yet, though for Minato, we'll have to find a way."

"Thank you, thank you so much."

Jiraiya didn't know what to say; the deaths of his student and his student's wife were an indelible pain in his heart. Now that there was a glimmer of hope, how could he not be overjoyed?

He wept with joy.

"Don't be so polite. Given our relationship, there's no need for that."

"Hahaha, good. Then I'll skip the sentimental talk and express my gratitude with wine instead. We won't stop until we're drunk!"

"Agreed! We won't stop until we're drunk!"