Hall of Eternal Life, Mount Myoboku.
The Great Toad Sage lounged lazily against his throne, half-asleep and half-awake as always.
"Eh? Why is there an unfamiliar little fellow here?" he asked groggily as he looked at Yu before him.
"..." Yu merely smiled without speaking. He was used to it—this was the routine that always played out whenever he met the Great Toad Sage!
"Ahem!" Beside Yu, Jiraiya hurriedly reminded him, "Old Master, it's Uchiha Riu..."
"Oh~ Little Riu~! Those eyes have already reached such a level..." No sooner had he spoken than the Great Toad Sage's horizontal pupils glazed over again. "Why is there an unfamiliar little fellow here??"
Jiraiya emphasized again, "Old Master, it's Uchiha Riu!"
"I'm not asking about Uchiha Riu. I'm asking... who are you?" The Great Toad Sage stared at Jiraiya.
"Uh... this..." Jiraiya's eyes turned into tiny dots, and for a moment, he had no idea how to answer.
After that little interlude, the Great Toad Sage fixed his gaze on Yu. "Little Riu, judging by your Soul Rings, you already have one hundred and thirty-seven of them—more than a hundred more than last time. That's why I didn't recognize you at first. My apologies."
"Soul Rings?" Yu was surprised. He had not expected the Great Toad Sage to bring up a concept he himself had never even heard of upon their reunion!
"Very well. It is time to tell you the truth of life..." The Great Toad Sage's gaze was profound, his voice weathered with age.
"Trees have growth rings, and humans have Soul Rings. Both are indelible marks. Even if every means is used to restore youth, however many years a person has truly lived are etched into their soul. You now have one hundred and thirty-seven Soul Rings, proving that your