The stone door slid inward. Dry, warm air spilled through the gap, carrying a strange smell, like the bitter scent of leaves baked crisp in the sun.
The two stepped over the threshold. Their feet touched the floor inside the stone chamber with two soft taps.
The chamber was enormous.
The vaulted ceiling rose too high to see. Glowing minerals were set into all four walls, casting a dim but even light.
At the center, a giant toad reclined on a stone platform, his back against the wall and his forefeet folded over his belly. His eyes were half-open, their golden-red pupils ringed with fine lines like the rings of a tree.
Sasuke and Naruto stared, eyes wide with disbelief.
He was huge!
The Great Toad Sage's gaze swept over them. He looked Naruto up and down, then did the same to Sasuke.
Then he spoke slowly, his voice heavy with the weight of a thousand years.
"Uchiha Yongye."
"He will bring about the destruction of the Shinobi World. Only you two can stop him!"
Naruto frowned and protested loudly.
"But I heard the villagers say he's a really good person."
"They all call him an Upright Magistrate."
"Danzo experimented on villagers, and Yongye cut him down!"
Sasuke whipped his head around. The tendons in his neck stood out, his jaw tightened, and he fixed Naruto with a fierce glare.
"Good person, my ass!"
"Uchiha Yongye beat up my brother! He even captured him!"
"He's the worst bastard there is!"
Naruto stiffened, but he met Sasuke's glare without backing down.
"Your brother's a madman! He slaughtered his entire clan!"
"Lord Yongye captured him because it was the right thing to do, even if they were family!"
Sasuke's fists clenched. He lunged half a step forward, his shoe scraping sharply against