Jiraiya's "Fate"

Senju Nawaki sensed something strange about the toad. He recognized that look—it seemed familiar, with its lecherous, sleazy expression.

When he had just come out of Wood Release Mode, he had clearly sensed a surge of chakra nearby, but it had quickly disappeared.

A name surfaced in his mind—Jiraiya!

The man's summoning beast was a toad from Mount Myoboku, and he had developed many ninjutsu that he could use alongside toads.

These included hiding himself inside a toad, gathering information through one, and using ninjutsu through one.

The scene before him was just like when he had first entered the Akatsuki's base in the Land of Rain.

The Land of Rain's unusual weather made this method of concealment somewhat effective.

Beside a pond in the rain, no one would pay any attention to a toad.

The situation now was so similar.

The green toad sensed Senju Nawaki's gaze and let out a series of croaks.

A hint of confusion remained in Senju Tojian's eyes. Following Senju Nawaki's gaze, he spotted something odd about the green toad.

He brought his hands together and used Wood Release.

"Bind!"

A rustling sound came from the earth...

The pond's surrounding weeds began to grow wildly.

Their roots twisted forward like venomous snakes, strangling the green toad.

Poof...

The green toad turned into a cloud of smoke, leaving half a log behind.

"Substitution Technique!"

Senju Tojian spat out the words coldly. His eyes darted around, searching for anything out of place.

As an old hand and an experienced shinobi, he had only noticed the anomaly after Senju Nawaki. Embarrassed, he wanted to see which bastard had put him in this position.

That Substitution Technique and Transformation Technique were so well practiced, and so cleverly combined with Summoning Technique, that their user had to be at least an elite jonin.

And the technique felt familiar. It was the Substitution Technique Senju Tobirama had introduced at the Konoha Ninja Academy, using a log in place of the user.

That sudden Substitution Technique had been the one the user knew best, practically instinctive. The one hiding here was likely a shinobi from Konohagakure.

More advanced substitutions, like using a rabbit, a puppet, or a clone, required more preparation.

Senju Tojian had a suspect in mind: the one he disliked most among the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's loyal dog.

"Overgrown Weeds!"

He used Wood Release again, making the weeds sprout.

The weeds around the pond grew wildly, spreading outward.

Rustle...

Every suspicious object they found was slashed by the sharp leaves, leaving cut after cut.

Yet they couldn't find a hiding shinobi anywhere in the area around the pond where Substitution Technique could be used.

Not until...

They checked the place most likely to be overlooked.

"Found you, Jiraiya!"

Senju Tojian growled, elated that he wouldn't have to lose face in front of Senju Nawaki.

He clasped his hands, and the weeds formed a cage that closed around the spot where the toad had been.

Jiraiya had never left his original position. He had only hidden himself more deeply, sinking to the bottom of the pond.

Whoosh...

Whoosh...

Ropes slapped against the water.

White and green cords tangled together across the pond.

The green ones were Senju Tojian's Wood Release vines.

The white ones were Jiraiya's hair.

For a moment, neither side gained the upper hand.

Jiraiya's appearance was absurd. A red toad was pressed mouth-to-mouth against him.

While Jiraiya had been hiding in the pond, that toad had been supplying him with air.

Senju Tojian was stunned. Even though he had used Wood Release in a hurry, Jiraiya's secret hair technique had managed to hold its own against him. It was not to be underestimated.

As expected of one of the Konoha Sannin, alongside Tsunade.

He decided to stop holding back.

When the Senju Clan had left, Jiraiya had been the only one among the Konoha Sannin to show open hostility.

To him, Jiraiya was Sarutobi Hiruzen's most loyal lackey.

"Stop!"

Senju Nawaki called off their fight. He stared intently at Jiraiya, wanting to know what he was after.

Perhaps Jiraiya could answer the questions troubling him.

Senju Tojian immediately stopped and stood behind Senju Nawaki, keeping his eyes on Jiraiya.

"Nawaki, I just happened to run into you. I wanted to ask how Tsunade was doing and give you some advice while I was at it."

Jiraiya released his Summoning Technique and sent the toad pressed against his mouth back to Mount Myoboku.

He laughed awkwardly as he explained himself to Senju Nawaki.

Senju Nawaki studied Jiraiya carefully. After a long pause, he spoke.

"You're lying. You've been investigating me. There's a smell on you that I recognize. You went to the battlefield where I was ambushed."

In the gaps in Jiraiya's battle armor clung red soil. It carried Senju Nawaki's own scent.

That soil was unique to the place where Senju Nawaki had buried himself after his legs were broken, fearing Sarutobi Hiruzen might have another trick up his sleeve. Back then, Senju Nawaki had awakened Wood Release and left behind traces of his chakra.

Jiraiya must have spent a long time there!

He had been to the pit where Senju Nawaki was buried.

"Nawaki, you found me out. I won't hide it any longer. You've strayed from your destiny. Returning to Konoha will set everything back on the right path. That will make this world a better place and reduce the sacrifices."

Jiraiya shook his head and flicked away the leaves tangled in his hair. His expression was one of solemn conviction.

He carefully checked himself for anything that might have given him away, wondering how Senju Nawaki had tracked him down. Then he saw the soil on his armor.

He had received instructions from the Toad Sage. The prophecy about the Child of the World had changed. The whole world would be plunged into war, swallowed up and fused into one.

Rebirth and destruction were separated by a single thought, and this would affect the Child of the World's growth.

It all began with Senju Nawaki.

He had to set everything back on the right path. Only then could this world be saved.

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

He found the place where it had happened and did his best to reconstruct what Senju Nawaki had gone through.

That was when the marks on his armor had gotten there.

"You found out the truth about my ambush? And you want me to return to Konoha? All because of some vague destiny? Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't send you, did he?"

Senju Nawaki peppered him with questions, trying to glean information from his reaction.

Jiraiya's face twisted with conflict. At last, he looked as if he were seeing something sacred, and a relieved smile spread across his face.

Senju Nawaki fell into thought, his mind in turmoil.

The person behind Jiraiya wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hiruzen wouldn't have sent him to bring Nawaki back to Konoha now.

Thinking of what Jiraiya had said about destiny, Nawaki found the answer: the Great Toad Sage, the summoning beast that had once helped the Sage of Six Paths seal Kaguya Otsutsuki.

That old toad had the power to prophesy.

Having it set its sights on him was a problem.

Jiraiya's expression just now had left him deeply uncomfortable.

It was like when his graduate advisor had squeezed him for everything he was worth, always coming up with one excuse or another.

Was my future already set in stone?