Kimimaro, the One Who Would Approach a God

Toad Copper Hammer was so moved that tears streamed down his face.

Long Ye was doing this partly because they were friends, but he had his own reasons too.

Toad Copper Hammer was hardly among the strongest on Mount Myoboku. Many of his peers surpassed him, so when the Toad Sage received the seeds and distributed them, Copper Hammer would almost certainly get none.

By giving Copper Hammer a seed now, Long Ye was effectively giving it to Mount Myoboku.

And Copper Hammer was on good terms with him. If Long Ye helped him rise through the ranks, Copper Hammer's standing would improve. Any future dealings with Mount Myoboku would be much smoother.

Toad Copper Hammer accepted it without protest, overwhelmed with gratitude.

The Snake Cypress Seed was what he had longed for all his life. He had entered Snake Cypress Valley twice and nearly died both times, only to come away empty-handed. Now, seeing the thing he had dreamed of, he felt as though he must be dreaming.

"Brother, you've saved my life twice, and now you've given me something this precious for nothing. I owe you more than I can say. From now on, your business is my business. Come on, I'll take you to see the chief..."

That was the one thing Toad Copper Hammer could do: take Long Ye to see his own leader. Whether the Toad Sage would receive Long Ye afterward was beyond his control.

Led by Toad Copper Hammer, Long Ye and his two companions reached the back mountain. There they saw the toad chief they had met before, seated against a cliff with two Samurai Swords on his back.

His attitude toward Long Ye was noticeably warmer this time. Evidently, the higher-ups had instructed the toads to treat Long Ye as a