Just as I thought, Jiraiya told himself, hurrying forward to help the Great Toad Sage out of the coffin.
"Oof, I never thought I'd have to play dead for so long... These old bones have gone limp."
"The toads were crying their hearts out."
"I heard them. What a racket..."
"You're telling me. If I hadn't understood the message you passed to the two Sages, I would've left long ago."
The Great Toad Sage scratched himself, then reached around behind him. Finding he couldn't reach, he turned to Jiraiya. "Give me a hand. Peel off the piece of Talisman Paper stuck to my back."
Jiraiya walked over to look and only then noticed the piece of paper stuck to the Great Toad Sage's back.
Once Jiraiya had peeled it off, the Great Toad Sage waved a hand, indicating that he could keep it. Then he draped his forelegs over the rim of his bowl, crossed his legs, and let out a contented sigh.
So that's what the bowl is for.
Jiraiya put the paper away as he watched the Great Toad Sage settle in as though he were sitting on a sofa.
The natural energy he had just seen on the Talisman Paper was quite distinct. It was clearly a treasure, though he had no idea what it did.
The Great Toad Sage noticed the curiosity in Jiraiya's eyes, however, and cheerfully pointed at the talisman paper in his hand. "That's a secret treasure of the Toad Clan. As for what it does... stick it on a toad's back, and they'll be no different from a corpse. No form of sensing will detect anything... Ah, but every one we use leaves us with one less. The one I gave Hagoromo back then was probably the best spent..."
Jiraiya glanced at