To Mount Myoboku

Jiraiya studied Shao Nan and found that he looked exactly like the First Hokage on Hokage Rock.

"Stop staring. I'm not Hashirama Senju. I'm Shao Nan Senju!"

"And Jiraiya, give me the key to the Nine-Tails' seal!"

Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat upon hearing that.

"How did you know the key existed?" Jiraiya looked at Shao Nan calmly.

How did I know? I saw it on TV!

Of course, Shao Nan definitely did not say that out loud!

"Hurry up, quit dragging your feet. I want to go back to sleep!

"The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, left behind the key to undo the seal.

"Wasn't it so Naruto could control and use the Nine-Tails' chakra? I can help him now!"

Jiraiya was astonished. He even knew about that!

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Jiraiya, "There really is a key? What he says makes sense. I'm old; I can't protect Naruto for much longer.

"Shao Nan's strength rivals Lord Hashirama's. It may be worth a try!"

After hearing this, Jiraiya considered it and replied, "There is, but old man, are you sure you want to do this?"

"It's just the Nine-Tails, a little pet. A pat on the head and it'll be settled!"

Jiraiya had no idea where Shao Nan got such confidence, calling that embodiment of evil a little pet.

"Old man, do you believe him?"

Seeing that Jiraiya was still hesitating, Shao Nan stepped forward.

He spread his legs and dropped into a horse stance!

He pressed his palms together!

"Wood Release: Sage Mode!"

Shao Nan's immense chakra instantly transformed into senjutsu chakra.

The distinctive markings of Sage Mode appeared as black stripes across Shao Nan's face.

Panda-like rings instantly formed around his eyes. On his forehead, between his eyes, was another black circle surrounding a solid black dot the size of an egg.

"Not only does he have Wood Release, he has even mastered Lord Hashirama's Wood Release senjutsu!

"Jiraiya, listen to him. Letting Naruto control the Nine-Tails would be a good thing for Konoha.

"Besides, Shao Nan is Tsunade's husband!"

Though Shao Nan's Sage Mode had shocked him, the thought flashed through Jiraiya's mind in an instant.

Doesn't I, Jiraiya, have Sage Mode too?!

What truly shocked him was that Tsunade—the woman of his dreams, the woman he had pursued his whole life—was this man's wife?

When did that happen?! How did I not know?!

"Kid, do you know how old Tsunade is? How dare you!" Jiraiya grabbed Shao Nan by the collar and demanded.

In Sage Mode, Shao Nan looked utterly imposing.

Then Senju Monster Strength erupted with overwhelming force, and waves of chakra swept through the surroundings!

Shao Nan merely twitched a finger, sending Jiraiya flying straight to the edge of the flowerbed.

"Does age matter?"

Jiraiya raised his head and asked, "Doesn't it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked over and slapped Jiraiya on the forehead.

"At a time like this, you still have the mood to talk about that? You chased her for so many years. If Tsunade liked you, she would have accepted you long ago! Hurry up, business first!"

"You're the Hokage, so it's your call. But this isn't the right environment. Let's change locations!"

"Where?"

"Mount Myoboku!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment!

"You aren't planning to take only those two with you, are you, Jiraiya?"

Mount Myoboku was one of the Ninja World's three great sacred lands, famed alongside Ryūchi Cave and Shikkotsu Forest!

Every sacred land was overseen by a legendary Great Sage!

Any ninja who could leave a sacred land alive was extraordinary, possessing at least remarkable abilities!

"That's right. I can only take the two of them!"

Shao Nan patted Hiruzen Sarutobi on the shoulder. "Don't worry. When we return, Naruto will be able to control the Nine-Tails!"

Shao Nan also shot Danzo a look before saying, "Old brother, the Nine-Tails is my ancestors' treasure. I won't let anything happen to it, so relax! I'm going to revive the Senju clan!"

Shao Nan emphasized that last sentence!

Danzo remembered that the last time Shao Nan had said those words, he had told Danzo to support him in becoming Hokage!

Danzo immediately understood. "Hiruzen, we have all witnessed Shao Nan's abilities. Besides, he now possesses senjutsu as well! It's settled, then. We only need to wait for their news!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had the nagging feeling that his old friend Danzo had definitely made some sort of deal with Shao Nan!

Danzo was actually willing to let the Nine-Tails out of his sight!

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi said seriously.

"Jiraiya, remember to exercise restraint! Whatever you do, don't let anything happen to the Nine-Tails!"

Jiraiya spoke up. "Since we've decided, let's go!"

Shao Nan looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with some disappointment. No matter when it was, Hiruzen Sarutobi's first concern was always the village! He did not consider Naruto's feelings at all!

Naruto was clearly a hero as the vessel sealing the Nine-Tails, yet he had been called a demon fox since childhood!

Fortunately, Naruto was brimming with positive energy, a true ray of sunshine!

Otherwise, what ordinary person could endure a childhood like that!

Jiraiya took out the large scroll from behind his back, placed it before them, and opened it!

Then he said to Shao Nan, "Sign your name and leave your handprint!"

Afterward, Jiraiya grabbed Naruto's hand and wrote Naruto's name on the scroll first, then pressed down his fingerprint.

Once the preparations were complete, Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku, one of Mount Myoboku's two great elders!

A puff of white smoke rose, and an old green toad with white eyebrows and a white beard appeared.

"Little Jiraiya, why did you summon me at this hour? I just finished eating and haven't even washed the dishes yet! The missus will complain again later!"

"I'm truly sorry, boss, but I need your help with something!"

After Jiraiya briefly explained the situation, Fukasaku leaped into the air on the spot.

"Little Jiraiya, are you trying to destroy Mount Myoboku? Do you not understand what the Nine-Tails is?"

Jiraiya shook his head helplessly and looked at Shao Nan in Sage Mode.

"It's fine. He's got everything under control."

"This is far too shocking. I need to return and report it to the Great Toad Sage. If he agrees, I'll use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon you over!"

After saying that, Fukasaku turned into a puff of white smoke!

Fukasaku returned to Mount Myoboku and quickly hopped into a spacious temple hall.

On the cushion at the main dais lay a massive old red toad asleep! The Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru!

"Great Toad Sage, wake up! I have something to report!"

The Great Toad Sage seemed to hear someone calling him.

His white horizontal pupils slowly opened!

"Ma, ma, ma! It's Fukasaku. What is it?"

"Ah! I know. Go bring them here. I just had a dream and learned that Jiraiya would bring two people to Mount Myoboku!"

Fukasaku was utterly baffled. He had not said anything yet, but Gamamaru already knew that Jiraiya was bringing people!

Then he remembered that this great toad of Mount Myoboku possessed the power of prophecy.

He immediately formed hand seals!

"Ninja Art: Reverse Summoning Technique."

Three clouds of white smoke appeared in the hall.

Jiraiya, Shao Nan, and Naruto, who lay on the ground!

Jiraiya spoke. "Sorry to disturb you, Great Sage!"

The Great Sage opened his eyes and looked at Jiraiya. "Fukasaku, who is this white-haired brat?"

Fukasaku shook his head, silently cursing him. Do you have to tease people like this every time?

"That's Jiraiya, it's Jiraiya, Great Toad Sage!"

"Oh, it's Jiraiya? Right, I just had a dream. In it, Jiraiya, you would bring a man to Mount Myoboku with an exceptionally powerful physique and eyes possessing tremendous ocular power!"

Jiraiya could understand the part about a powerful physique; perhaps it referred to Shao Nan's Sage Mode! But what the hell was ocular power?

Jiraiya muttered softly.

Just then, Shao Nan stepped forward. "As expected of the Great Toad Sage, able to foresee the future!"

After Shao Nan spoke, scarlet flashed through his eyes, and a three-tomoe Sharingan instantly appeared.

It formed a stark contrast with his current Sage Mode.

"The Sharingan, then that's it! You're the one, kid! Step closer. I have something to tell you."

Jiraiya was astonished that Shao Nan not only had Hashirama Senju's appearance, Wood Release, and Sage power.

He even had the Uchiha's Sharingan. Was he trying to defy the heavens?