Jiraiya's Destiny

Senju Nawaki sensed an unusual aura from the toad. That look in its eyes—he felt he had seen it somewhere before; it had a lecherous, sleazy air about it.

When he had just exited Wood Release mode, he clearly sensed a fluctuation of chakra in the vicinity, though it vanished almost instantly.

A name surfaced in his mind—Jiraiya!

This guy's summoning animals were the toads of Mount Myoboku, and he had developed many ninjutsu techniques to be performed in tandem with them.

These included hiding his own figure through a toad, gathering intelligence through a toad, and unleashing ninjutsu through a toad.

The scene before him was exactly like when he had infiltrated the Akatsuki base in the Land of Rain.

The unique weather of the Land of Rain gave this method of concealment a certain degree of effectiveness.

By a rainy pond, no one would pay any mind to a common toad.

The current situation was hauntingly similar.

The greenish toad, sensing Senju Nawaki's gaze, let out a series of croaks.

Senju Tojian's eyes still held a trace of doubt, but following Senju Nawaki's gaze, he caught the anomaly of the greenish toad.

He pressed his palms together and unleashed Wood Release.

"Bind."

Squelch...

The sound of earth breaking echoed as the water weeds around the pond began to grow wildly.

The roots of the weeds, like winding, slithering vipers, moved to strangle the greenish toad.

Poof...

The greenish toad transformed into a puff of smoke, leaving behind half a wooden stake in its place.

"Body Replacement Technique!"

Senju Tojian spat the words out coldly, his pupils darting within their sockets as he searched for any further abnormalities.

As a veteran ninja with a wealth of combat experience, he felt ashamed that he had discovered this anomaly only after Senju Nawaki. He wanted to see which bastard had put him in such a position.

Such a proficient Body Replacement Technique and Transformation Technique, skillfully combined with Summoning Technique—the culprit had to be at least an elite jonin.

Furthermore, this specific Body Replacement Technique gave him a sense of familiarity; it was the very same one Senju Tobirama had promoted at the Ninja Academy, using a wooden stake to substitute for the user's own body.

The sudden use of the technique just now suggested it was the one the practitioner was most familiar with, almost instinctive. The person in hiding had to be a ninja from Konohagakure.

More advanced versions of the technique, like using rabbits, puppets, or shadow clones, required far more preparation.

A candidate formed in Senju Tojian's mind: Jiraiya, the one he detested most among the Legendary Sannin.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's loyal dog.

"Water Weed Overgrowth!"

He activated Wood Release once more, forcing the water weeds to sprout.

The weeds around the pond grew frantically, spreading outward.

Squelch...

Anything suspicious was sliced by the sharp leaves of the water weeds, leaving behind a trail of wounds.

Yet, within the range where a Body Replacement Technique could be performed around the pond, he found no lurking ninja.

Until.

He checked the most easily overlooked spot.

"Found you! Jiraiya!"

Senju Tojian let out a low roar, his heart leaping with joy; he wouldn't have to lose face in front of Senju Nawaki after all.

He pressed his palms together, and the water weeds formed a cage, shrouding the spot where the toad had been.

It turned out Jiraiya had never left his original position; he had simply hidden deeper, submerging himself at the bottom of the pond.

Swish...

Swish...

The sound of ropes slapping against the water surface rang out.

White chains and green chains churned together above the pond.

The green were Senju Tojian's Wood Release vines.

The white were Jiraiya's hair ropes.

For a moment, neither side could gain the upper hand.

The image of Jiraiya before them was utterly absurd; there was a red toad at his lips, mouth-to-mouth with him.

Jiraiya had been hiding in the pond, and this toad had been providing him with oxygen.

Senju Tojian was shocked. Even though he had used his Wood Release ninjutsu in a hurry, the fact that Jiraiya's hair secret technique could stand against it meant he was not to be underestimated.

He was truly worthy of being one of the Legendary Sannin, alongside Tsunade.

He decided to strike hard.

When the Senju Clan originally departed, Jiraiya was the only one among the Legendary Sannin to show clear hostility.

In his heart, Jiraiya was nothing more than Sarutobi Hiruzen's most loyal lapdog.

"Stop!"

Senju Nawaki called a halt to their battle, staring intently at Jiraiya, wanting to know what he was planning.

Perhaps Jiraiya could unravel the doubts in his own heart.

Senju Tojian immediately ceased his movements, standing behind Senju Nawaki and glaring at Jiraiya.

"Nawaki, it's a coincidence meeting you here. I wanted to ask about Tsunade's situation and, incidentally, offer you some advice."

Jiraiya dispelled his Summoning Jutsu, sending the toad he had been bickering with back to Mount Myoboku.

He laughed it off, offering an explanation to Senju Nawaki.

Senju Nawaki scrutinized Jiraiya carefully, speaking only after a long silence.

"You're lying. You've been investigating me specifically. The scent on you is familiar—you've been to the battlefield where I was ambushed."

In the gaps of Jiraiya's combat armor, there was a trace of red soil, and it still carried Senju Nawaki's own scent.

That soil was unique to the place where Senju Nawaki had buried himself after his leg was broken, fearing that Sarutobi Hiruzen might have had a backup plan. It was there that Senju Nawaki had awakened Wood Release, leaving behind traces of his presence.

Jiraiya must have stayed in that place for a long time!

He had been to the very pit where he was buried.

"Nawaki, since you've discovered it, I won't hide it any longer. You have deviated from destiny. Return to Konoha and let everything get back on track; this will make the world a better place and reduce unnecessary sacrifices."

Jiraiya shook his head, shaking off the leaves his hair had shredded, his face wearing an expression of firm, sacred conviction.

He carefully checked himself for flaws, wondering how Senju Nawaki had tracked him, until he saw the soil on his armor.

He had received instructions from the Great Toad Sage: the prophecy of the Child of Prophecy had changed, and the entire world would fall into war, be devoured, and fused into one.

Rebirth and destruction hung in the balance, and this would affect the growth of the Child of Prophecy.

The origin of all this lay with Senju Nawaki.

He had to set everything back on the right path so that the world could be saved.

He had begun to suspect that Senju Nawaki had died when he was ambushed, so he had investigated the site of the ambush.

He had found the location and tried his best to reconstruct everything Senju Nawaki had experienced there.

The traces on his body had been picked up during that time.

"You found the truth about my ambush? And you want me to return to Konoha? Just for that so-called ethereal destiny? It wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen who sent you, was it?"

Senju Nawaki asked a barrage of questions, hoping to glean some intelligence from Jiraiya's reaction.

Jiraiya's face was filled with immense conflict, eventually settling into a look of pilgrimage, a smile of liberation gracing his features.

Senju Nawaki fell into deep thought, his mind in a state of confusion.

The person behind Jiraiya was not Sarutobi Hiruzen; Sarutobi Hiruzen would not want him to return to Konoha at this time.

Combining this with the destiny Jiraiya spoke of, he had his answer: the Great Toad Sage, that summoning beast who had once helped the Sage of Six Paths seal Kaguya Otsutsuki.

That old toad possessed the power of prophecy.

Being targeted by him was going to be troublesome.

Jiraiya's expression just now had made him very uncomfortable.

It was just like when his graduate advisor would squeeze him for labor under various pretexts.

Could it be that my future destiny is already set in stone?