The Prophetic Snake, Chaos in Kumogakure

In the Shinobi World, within a vast valley surrounded by a sea of forests.

Lush grass covered the ground, flowers bloomed in dazzling profusion, and mushrooms of every color grew everywhere.

These plants all shared one trait: they were enormous, extraordinarily enormous!

Even a single weed stood at least as tall as a one-story building, while one mushroom could rival a studio apartment in size.

The air was saturated with dense Natural Energy.

If Shiraha came here, he would surely marvel at the Energy Particles, so rich they were intoxicating.

This was Mount Myōboku, the Summoning Beast holy land that had left countless legends in the Shinobi World, yet remained beyond the reach of almost everyone.

Together with Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave, Mount Myōboku was known as one of the Three Great Sage Lands. Countless powerful Summoning Beasts sought after by shinobi lived here—the Toad Clan. It was also one of the three Summoning Beast clans that possessed a Sage Art inheritance.

Since the Warring States Period hundreds of years ago, countless shinobi had sought to obtain Sage Arts.

Countless powerful figures had fallen on the path of cultivating Sage Arts.

The legends of Sage Arts had always circulated throughout the Shinobi World, but it was the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who truly showed the world their power.

This man, called a "god" by shinobi, had fought a world-shaking battle against Uchiha Madara and turned the largest mountain range in the Land of Fire into what was now known as the Valley of the End.

The temple at the heart of Mount Myōboku was where the Sages lived. On the open ground outside stood a ring of enormous stone toad statues, traces left behind by humans who had failed in their Sage Art training.

At that moment, a toad roughly the size of a one- or two-year-old child appeared at the temple entrance. Its skin was light green, its beard and hair were both white, and it looked very old.

It brought its front limbs together before its chest, then formed hand seals like a shinobi.

Poof!

A cloud of smoke rose, and a yellow-skinned toad around half a meter tall appeared within it.

"Lord Fukasaku." The yellow toad respectfully bowed to the old toad.

"Shin, go notify little Jiraiya. Tell him to come to Mount Myōboku. The Great Toad Sage has a new prophecy."

Fukasaku spoke in a grave voice.

Mount Myōboku had existed for over a thousand years. The most revered figure there was the Great Toad Sage, who had lived in the same era as the legendary Sage of Six Paths. Next were Fukasaku and Shima, the husband and wife who had lived for centuries.

The Great Toad Sage was advanced in years and had difficulty moving. Most of the time, he remained asleep, while Fukasaku and Shima managed Mount Myōboku in his stead.

Jiraiya was Mount Myōboku's current inheritor in the Shinobi World, and Fukasaku was Jiraiya's Sage Art teacher.

"Yes!" Gamashin accepted the order and immediately left Mount Myōboku to notify the communication toads outside.

Less than an hour later, a tall white-haired young man appeared in the valley. He was Jiraiya, one of the Three Ninja.

Jiraiya had taken in three orphans in the Land of Rain—Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan—and carefully taught them for three years. However, when war between Sunagakure and Konoha reignited, he received word and could only part ways with his three beloved disciples.

He had not expected that, shortly after entering the Land of Fire, he would receive news that Nawaki had been severely injured.

Jiraiya had originally planned to return to the village first and comfort Tsunade, but then he received a message from Mount Myōboku.

Jiraiya had absolute faith in the Great Toad Sage's prophecies.

After all, his previous prophecies had all been remarkably accurate.

So Jiraiya gave up on returning to the village and headed directly for Mount Myōboku.

"Lord Fukasaku." Jiraiya came before Fukasaku and respectfully bowed.

"Little Jiraiya, come with me. The Great Sage is waiting for you."

Sage Fukasaku smiled faintly and led Jiraiya into the temple.

Deep within the open-air temple stood an incomparably enormous throne shaped like a bowl, with the character for "Sage" written across its front.

A gigantic toad as large as a small mountain reclined against the throne. His eyes were somewhat cloudy, his skin sagged slightly, and his face was full of wrinkles. He looked as though he was not far from drawing his last breath.

This was the founder of Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage who had lived for over a thousand years.

"Great Sage, little Jiraiya has arrived."

Fukasaku led Jiraiya beneath the throne and spoke respectfully.

Yet the Great Toad Sage looked drowsy, as though he was exhausted.

"Old man, wake up!"

At that moment, an elderly toad with curly purple hair hopped out from beneath the throne. It was Sage Shima, Fukasaku's wife.

"Old man!"

When Sage Shima saw that the Great Toad Sage was not responding, she raised her voice.

"Mm? Mm?" The Great Toad Sage woke from his nap and glanced down at Jiraiya. "Oh, it's Jiraiya. Who are you?"

"...Great Sage, I'm Jiraiya." Jiraiya's mouth twitched. After not seeing him for a few years, the Great Sage's memory had gotten even worse.

"Right! You're Jiraiya." The Great Toad Sage nodded, then froze for a moment. "Why did you come here?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

If he had not witnessed this scene before, Jiraiya might have thought the Great Toad Sage was putting on an act.

Yet this Great Toad Sage, who looked like he had dementia, had never once made an incorrect prophecy.

"Great Sage, didn't you have a new dream prophecy? That's why you summoned Jiraiya."

Fukasaku reminded him.

"I remember now." The cloudiness in the Great Toad Sage's eyes suddenly cleared considerably. He looked solemnly at Jiraiya. "Little Jiraiya, I dreamed of a snake."

"A snake?!"

Jiraiya immediately thought of Orochimaru, because Orochimaru had formed a contract with Ryūchi Cave, one of the Three Great Sage Lands.

"What kind of snake?"

"A snake so large it had no end. It swallowed the entire world."

"How could this be?!" Fukasaku and Shima cried out together. Could it be those foul snakes from Ryūchi Cave?

"Whether the Child of Prophecy brings disaster or peace to the Shinobi World, there is still hope for the world.

"But if the snake from my dream appears, no one knows what the consequences will be.

"Jiraiya, this matter can only be left for you to investigate."

The Great Toad Sage's words made it feel as though Jiraiya had taken on a burden weighing a thousand pounds.

He had only just discovered the Child of Prophecy and guided him onto the right path, yet now another "snake" had appeared.

Could it really be Orochimaru?!

Orochimaru might be a little cold, but he was definitely not a bad person. Jiraiya was certain of that. But the prophecies had never been wrong.

What should I do?

Outside Kumogakure, in the Land of Lightning.

A heaven-shaking explosion rang out from the direction of Kumorai Gorge.

Flames shot into the sky!

This was followed by the savage roars of a wild beast.

And the screams of shinobi—

"Ah!"

"Don't let Blue B escape before Raikage-sama arrives!"

"Why has the Eight-Tails gone out of control?!"

"Blue B! Wake up! Damn it!"

More than a dozen Kumogakure Jonin arrived first and surrounded Blue B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

Blue B's entire body was wrapped in a black-red Chakra Cloak. His eyes were clouded, and he had completely lost his mind.

Then he suddenly let out a miserable scream. His body rapidly swelled, shifting directly from human form into a complete Tailed Beast Transformation.

Boom!

A small Tailed Beast Ball exploded nearby.

At the estuary opposite Kumorai Gorge.

A slender young man with long black hair suddenly emerged from the turbulent sea, clutching a half-meter-long horn in his hand.

"Cough, cough."

Orochimaru's face twisted in pain as he covered his mouth and coughed violently.

His fair face was deathly pale, almost no different from a corpse.

He had not expected that after the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki took his specially made Genjutsu Pill, even the Eight-Tails would lose control. Before going mad, it had suddenly attacked him, and that strike had nearly taken half his life.

Orochimaru cast a deep look toward Kumorai Gorge. Listening to the thunderous explosions, his eyes held a trace of frenzied delight.

Then he put away the horn in his hand and left.

Three days later, shocking news spread throughout the Shinobi World.

Kumogakure's Eight-Tails had inexplicably gone out of control.

In that battle, Blue B, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, died on the spot. Eight Elite Jonin were killed, while dozens of Jōnin suffered injuries of varying severity.

The Third Raikage fought the Eight-Tails for an entire day and night, and in the end, both collapsed unconscious from exhaustion.

Only then did the others successfully seal the Eight-Tails once more.