Mount Myoboku, the Great Toad Sage's Prophecy!

Ninja World, Mount Myoboku.

Before a waterfall made of toad oil.

Jiraiya sat cross-legged.

Beside him, Sage Fukasaku wore a grave expression and held a wooden staff, ready for anything.

"Lord Fukasaku, I'm starting."

Jiraiya looked at Sage Fukasaku, then directly smeared toad oil over his body and began spontaneously absorbing Natural Energy through it.

Jiraiya was training in Mount Myoboku's Sage Mode.

Several days earlier, just as Ato brought the Third Shinobi World War to an end, Sage Fukasaku had suddenly summoned him back to Mount Myoboku.

Then, Sage Fukasaku had told him that the Great Toad Sage was making a new prophecy and instructed him to wait at Mount Myoboku.

During the wait, Sage Fukasaku had also continued guiding Jiraiya's Sage Mode training.

Although Jiraiya was known as the Toad Sage, his Sage Mode was the most imperfect.

Not only did he require Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to help stabilize the Senjutsu Chakra within his body, but his body also took on toad-like traits.

"Little Jiraiya, don't get distracted. Focus on sensing Natural Energy."

Just as Jiraiya's mind began to wander, Sage Fukasaku's voice exploded beside his ear.

Bang.

What followed was a wooden staff close behind.

The staff, infused with Senjutsu Chakra, struck Jiraiya so hard that he was left reeling.

However, the gradual trend of his body Assimilating into a toad due to his distraction came to an abrupt halt.

"Natural Energy may be powerful, but it is also highly corrosive. The slightest carelessness will let Natural Energy Assimilate you and turn you into a part of Natural Energy."

Sage Fukasaku gave him an earnest reminder, then said with frustration, "Little Jiraiya, take this seriously! This is training that could cost you your life at any moment!"

"Lord Fukasaku, I'm truly sorry," Jiraiya said apologetically.

Then Jiraiya closed his eyes again and began absorbing Natural Energy.

This time, a ring of golden eyeshadow appeared around his eyes, and as the Natural Energy within him increased, his chakra transformed into Senjutsu Chakra.

A minute later, Jiraiya's body began turning into a toad.

Sage Fukasaku swiftly raised his wooden staff and began striking Jiraiya.

Bang, bang, bang.

After training for only ten hours, Jiraiya was already covered in injuries.

"That's enough. Rest for a while and eat something, Little Jiraiya."

Sage Shima, wearing an apron and carrying a plate of bugs, appeared before Jiraiya.

Jiraiya looked miserably at the plate of green bugs in Sage Shima's hands. Though this was not his first time eating them, he still could not accept it.

"Lord Fukasaku, when will the Great Toad Sage's prophecy end?"

After swallowing Sage Shima's Bug Cuisine with great difficulty, Jiraiya turned to Sage Fukasaku and asked.

"I don't know. The Great Toad Sage's prophecies are usually very brief, as though he has merely taken a nap.

But for some reason, this prophecy has lasted a full eight days."

Sage Fukasaku shook his head helplessly.

Jiraiya's brow furrowed slightly. Although he was at Mount Myoboku, he knew Konoha's current situation very well.

He also knew about Ato holding the Martial Arts Tournament.

That was why he was training so diligently in Sage Mode.

"Jiraiya, Jiraiya, can you hear me?"

Just as Jiraiya was preparing to continue his Sage Mode training, the Communication Frog in his Pocket rang.

"Sensei!"

Jiraiya took out the Communication Frog and sent chakra into it, immediately seeing a familiar face.

It was his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi!

"Jiraiya, when can you return? Konoha needs your strength now." Seeing his disciple, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally revealed a faint smile.

"I still need to wait for the Great Toad Sage's prophecy," Jiraiya answered.

"Jiraiya, is prophecy really that important? Don't lose yourself over some vague and illusory prophecy." Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly and spoke with some displeasure.

"Sensei, this is my Ninja Way!" Jiraiya interrupted Hiruzen Sarutobi and spoke with utter seriousness.

"In any case, Jiraiya, return to Konoha as soon as possible. The Five Great Shinobi Villages have now formed a complete alliance. As a participant, whatever Kekkei Genkai or Secret Jutsu you want, you can tell me."

The alliance of the five villages did not surprise Jiraiya.

After all, they were facing Ato, a Saiyan from beyond the stars.

Even if the entire Ninja World had formed an alliance, he would not have found it strange.

"I understand, Sensei."

Jiraiya nodded, acknowledging Hiruzen Sarutobi's expectations.

"Jiraiya, I plan to bring Tsunade back."

Seeing that Jiraiya was unmoved by his proposal, Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed his true purpose.

At the mention of Tsunade's name, her familiar face immediately surfaced in Jiraiya's mind. But then he gave a bitter smile.

"Tsunade won't concern herself with these matters."

"That's why I need you to bring Tsunade back to Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke earnestly.

Jiraiya froze for a moment. After a brief silence, he ultimately agreed to his teacher's request.

"I understand, Sensei."

After agreeing to Hiruzen Sarutobi's request, Jiraiya thought of his close friend Orochimaru.

"Sensei, I heard you and Orochimaru had a falling-out?"

"Cough, cough. Jiraiya, you know that Orochimaru is conducting Human Experimentation."

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly, attempting to explain, but before he could finish, Jiraiya interrupted him.

"Wasn't Orochimaru's Human Experimentation ordered by you, Sensei?"

Jiraiya's words silenced Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Sensei, you really have grown old!" Jiraiya sighed, then directly cut off the communication.

Standing before the Toad Oil Waterfall, Jiraiya felt somewhat sorrowful.

He felt that the teacher he had once respected was drifting farther and farther away from him.

"Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima, Jiraiya..."

Just as Jiraiya sank into sorrow, a massive toad leaped down from afar.

"Gamabunta?" Jiraiya recognized the toad that appeared before him.

"Bunta, why have you come here?" Sage Fukasaku looked at Gamabunta in confusion.

This was where Sage Mode was trained, as well as Mount Myoboku's forbidden ground. Ordinary toads would never appear here.

"Lord Fukasaku, the Great Toad Sage has awakened." Gamabunta's words brought delighted expressions to the faces of the two Toad Sages and Jiraiya.

"Wonderful, the old man is awake!"

Without another word, Sage Fukasaku grabbed Jiraiya and rushed toward the Great Toad Sage's residence at high speed.

Several minutes later, Jiraiya stood before the Great Toad Sage.

Upon a massive stone chair sat an enormous toad with a huge necklace bearing an oil character bead around his neck, resting with his eyes closed.

Below him was the character for sage.

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

At that moment, sensing Jiraiya's arrival, the Great Toad Sage slowly opened his eyes.

His slit-shaped pupils were somewhat unfocused, taking a long while before finally settling upon Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya, I had another dream."

Upon seeing Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage spoke in an ethereal tone and began recounting the dream he had experienced for eight days.

"I saw that, in the near future, the Ninja World would be destroyed by a person with a tail.

I also saw many people with tails destroying planets everywhere, leaving countless lives in ruin.

An unimaginable, terrifying calamity is descending."

The Great Toad Sage's prophecy weighed heavily on Jiraiya's heart.

People with tails—wasn't he talking about Saiyans?

"Could the Ninja World truly be destined for destruction at the hands of the Saiyan Ato?" Jiraiya murmured softly.

However, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy was not yet over.

"Jiraiya, I also dreamed that somewhere beyond the Ninja World, there exists something miraculous called the 'Dragon Ball.'

As long as all seven Dragon Balls are gathered, any wish can be granted!"

After speaking, the Great Toad Sage's aura suddenly weakened, and he fell asleep once more.

"Dragon Balls? Any wish granted?"

Jiraiya stared at the Great Toad Sage in shock. Clearly, the prophecy that gathering seven Dragon Balls could grant any wish had utterly stunned him.

"Does something capable of granting every wish truly exist in this world?"

Jiraiya's gaze flickered. He held a blind trust in the Great Toad Sage's prophecies.

But gathering seven Dragon Balls could grant any wish...

Could such a thing truly exist?