After they became sworn brothers, Uzumaki Gamu learned from the Toad King why he had said those things!
The Toad King had a protagonist's defining trait... he was a dead last! (Asura, Naruto, Obito, Might Guy: Yes, we were all dead lasts... Wait, why does one of these guys seem like a protagonist without that trait? Madara: Hashirama!!! Hashirama: Sorry, I've never been weak a day in my life...)
Compared with the toads born around the same time, the Toad King was bad at ninjutsu, bad at taijutsu, and even worse at genjutsu. As for senjutsu, which stood above all of those, he hadn't even reached the starting line... The only thing he excelled at was eating!
So your achievements weren't outstanding, your performance wasn't outstanding, and the only thing standing out was a slipped disc?
Although Mount Myōboku didn't really have a bullying culture, the other toads still occasionally mocked him without thinking. Add in the sense of failure that had followed him throughout his toad life... and it certainly didn't feel good!
Today, however, he had met a human who looked very small, and an idea suddenly struck him-if he couldn't find confidence among the other toads, why not look for it among humans?
And that was how the earlier incident had happened!
"So that's it... Being dead last all the time really must feel awful!" Uzumaki Gamu couldn't help nodding-he certainly could
"Huh? You understand how that feels?" the Toad King asked curiously.
"Nope~" Uzumaki Gamu shook his head. "Even my worst grades have never fallen outside the top ten in my class, so I have absolutely no idea what being dead last feels like~" His grades in his previous life hadn't been outstanding, but they had still been above average. What it felt like to rank at the bottom... he wouldn't know~
"..." The Toad King felt he had picked the wrong boss. I'm grieving here, and you're supposed to be my boss! Why are you pouring cold water on me?!!!
But then Uzumaki Gamu changed tack. "I've never been dead last myself, but I've met plenty of people who were. It doesn't necessarily mean they lack ability; sometimes their potential just hasn't been developed yet. Besides... some people really have become strong through hard work." He was referring to the youth guy and company, of course~
Obito at least had the Uchiha bloodline to try his luck with. Might Guy really had nothing and could only rely on his own efforts to become one of the shinobi world's powerhouses!!
"Huh? There are people like that?" the Toad King asked enviously. Anyone with the dead-last trait probably envied people like that, right?
Uzumaki Gamu continued, "Don't beg. Learn to fight for what you want, and you'll eventually gain something! Hard work might not make you number one, but it'll still bring results... It's fine to be weaker than others, as long as you're stronger than your past self!" In short, he started by serving up the usual helping of motivational soup.
"So I just have to be stronger than my past self? Thank you for the advice, big brother!" The Toad King once again felt as though the clouds had parted to reveal the sun. Of course, mostly he just felt he had chosen the right boss~ (He makes sense, so I'll follow him!)
"Let's put that aside for now. Take me to meet the elders first. I still need to find a teacher and train~" Uzumaki Gamu steered the conversation back. Taking care of business came first, after all!
"Find a teacher, huh... They might not accept a human child as a disciple~ Well, I'll try asking for you, big brother!" After a short rest, the Toad King had recovered from the injuries he had suffered in their fight. (They had only used basic ninjutsu, and Uzumaki Gamu had weakened his attacks, so the damage hadn't been severe.)
He turned his back toward Uzumaki Gamu and said, "Hop on, boss!"
Without another word, Uzumaki Gamu jumped onto the Toad King's back. Then the Toad King carried him away!
Touring the streets on a toad had a charm all its own! (Uzumaki Gamu: Charm, my ass! My guts are about to get shaken into a smoothie!)
After a series of leaps, the human and the toad arrived at a small waterfall outside the Toad Temple deep within Mount Myōboku.
A small green toad with a white beard and eyebrows sat quietly meditating on a rock above the waterfall.
Upon seeing the green toad, the Toad King said respectfully, "Lord Fukasaku, a human child has come to Mount Myōboku to seek a teacher!"
Uzumaki Gamu took the initiative to greet him. "Hello, Lord Fukasaku. My name is Uzumaki Gamu, and I've come to Mount Myōboku to find a teacher and train!"
"The first human to wander into Mount Myōboku in so long turns out to be a child?" The green toad called Fukasaku opened his eyes and looked at Uzumaki Gamu on the Toad King's back. "Oh~ A red-haired boy? I see. So it's you?"
Sage Fukasaku was one of Mount Myōboku's leaders, an elder renowned as a trusted aide of the Great Toad Sage. He possessed powerful senjutsu chakra and was primarily responsible for screening those who came to Mount Myōboku to train.
Hearing this, Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously, "Has the Great Toad Sage made a prophecy about me?"
The Toad King froze at that, then asked curiously, "You actually know about the Great Toad Sage?"
"Yes... There are reasons for that!" Uzumaki Gamu admitted openly.
Fukasaku smiled. "You are, after all, a boy reincarnated from the Other World. According to the Great Toad Sage, you seem to know what happens in the future."
Uzumaki Gamu said, "...As expected, when dealing with someone who can foresee the future... No, a toad who can foresee the future, hiding things seems pretty pointless~ Well, I am indeed a reincarnator~" Now that he had been exposed, there was no point hiding it. He might as well be frank!
"Huh? Boss, you've got that identity too? By the way... what's a reincarnator?" The dead last clearly hadn't understood what that meant.
"Oh... I died once before, then was reborn with my memories!" Uzumaki Gamu answered calmly.
"Holy shit! ...Boss, you're amazing!" Poor old Toad King had no eloquence; "holy shit" was his answer to everything. He couldn't find any better words to describe Uzumaki Gamu, so that was all he could say.
Besides, the Toad King now felt he had chosen the right boss. He wasn't sure whether hard work would lead to success, but... following the right boss was definitely a shortcut toward it...
Were all the toads of Mount Myōboku actually gangsters?
It certainly seemed that way!
"A reincarnator... I see. No wonder the Great Elder made that prophecy!" Fukasaku said thoughtfully.
Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously, "Lord Fukasaku, what prophecy?"
Fukasaku answered, "He told us to guide your training first, and then... have you visit him in ten years. The Great Elder has never made a prophecy pinpointing a particular year before~"
"Oh~~ Then I'm the first? That feels pretty good~" Uzumaki Gamu replied. "Still, that really leaves me hanging... I want to know what the prophecy about me says."
The Great Toad Sage's original name was Gamamaru. He was the founding patriarch of Mount Myōboku and lived in a temple deep within it. A toad who had survived for over a thousand years since Kaguya's era, he was revered as the "Great Toad Sage" and possessed exceptionally accurate powers of prophecy-he was essentially never wrong! In Naruto, he had accurately foretold many people's fates.
Naturally, Uzumaki Gamu was curious about his own future too.
"Though, honestly, the original story won't start for another eighty or ninety years~ What kind of prophecy could the Great Toad Sage have for me?" Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously.
"Eighty or ninety years? Boy, what era did you come from before you reincarnated?" Fukasaku asked curiously.
Uzumaki Gamu explained, "I came from another world. In my world, there's a manga called Naruto. It tells the story of a boy named Naruto Uzumaki, who will be born in this world decades from now. He grows from a genin into a Hokage, then saves the world!"
"...That really is shocking news for a toad." There was so much information packed into those words that even Sage Fukasaku, who had lived for who knew how many years, couldn't digest it all at once.
A boy reincarnated from the Other World who also knew what would happen in the future-it felt as though he carried an important mission!
After thinking for a moment, Fukasaku asked, "From what you've said, you know a great deal about our Mount Myōboku?"
"Yes. You're the protagonist's summoning beasts, after all, so you get lots of scenes~ And... you're very popular too! A lot of people like you~" Uzumaki Gamu answered.
"Is that so? Being popular is good news... But you didn't even think of keeping anything to yourself, boy? You just told us the whole truth? Aren't you worried we might do something to you?" Fukasaku asked.
"...Is there any point lying to someone who can predict the future?" Uzumaki Gamu countered. With the Great Toad Sage's powers of prophecy, there was no way he could hide being a reincarnator. In that case, he might as well be honest and improve everyone's opinion of him~
"That makes sense!" Fukasaku glanced up at the sun, which was about to set. "It's getting late. Why not come to my house for dinner? We can talk while we eat~"
Uzumaki Gamu nodded in agreement. "No problem! I'm pretty curious about how Sage Shima's insect cuisine tastes~"
Sage Shima was one of Mount Myōboku's leaders, an elder renowned as a trusted aide of the Great Toad Sage. She possessed powerful senjutsu chakra and likewise screened those who came to Mount Myōboku to train. She was a small green toad with purple hair and lips. Sharp-tongued but softhearted, she wanted nothing more than to be a good housewife. She could prepare all kinds of colorful insect dishes. Naruto had once unwittingly eaten her food and vomited, but Lord Fukasaku loved it.
"Oh~~ You're actually looking forward to Ma's cooking? She'll be delighted!" Fukasaku said happily.
At that moment, the Toad King asked, "Um... Lord Fukasaku, could I come along for dinner too?" As mentioned earlier, his ability was poor, and so was his appetite! The chance to tag along for a free meal was more than he could ask for!
"No problem. Come along!" Fukasaku readily agreed!
And so the two toads and one human arrived at Fukasaku's home.
After Fukasaku briefly introduced Uzumaki Gamu to Sage Shima, who was cooking at home, she said, "Oh~~ You're the red-haired youngster the Great Elder mentioned! And a reincarnator from the Other World? Interesting!" It seemed Uzumaki Gamu had earned Sage Shima's approval too.
Just like that, thanks to the prophecy, Uzumaki Gamu's quest to find a teacher went exceptionally smoothly. (Setting aside the thirty-eight times he had teleported to the wrong place beforehand.)
Then Uzumaki Gamu began training at Mount Myōboku-wait, what did he think of the insect cuisine?
Uzumaki Gamu said, "It tasted absolutely fantastic, of course!" As a man who liked eating silkworm pupae and had tried fried insects, he naturally had no aversion to insect cuisine. As long as he didn't let it bother him, Sage Shima's cooking was delicious!
Once his training officially began, Uzumaki Gamu didn't forget to inform his family that he had reached Mount Myōboku. He asked Sage Fukasaku to find a messenger toad to carry his handwritten letter back to the Uzumaki Clan Homeland.
Learning that his son had found his destination, Ashina instantly breathed a sigh of relief. At the same time, he marveled, "Isn't that brat's luck a little too good? He just found a legendary sage land like that?" The legendary Three Great Sage Lands were places one could only encounter by chance. That brat had wanted to go and simply found one... His luck was downright frightening!
When Mito learned the news, she too let out a long sigh of relief. She had spent the whole day praying for Uzumaki Gamu~ Now that her prayers had worked, she was deeply grateful for their ancestors' protection. At the same time... she decided that when Uzumaki Gamu returned, she would watch him like a hawk and stop him from running around!
Perhaps anticipating that his younger sister would come after him, however, Uzumaki Gamu went months without returning home. He stayed at Mount Myōboku to train and only returned to the clan grounds when the New Year approached. This wasn't just to avoid his sister; he also wanted to avoid the war!
To live a little longer, Uzumaki Gamu had no intention of risking his life on the battlefield every day before he was strong enough.
And just like that... three years passed!
Thirteen-year-old Uzumaki Gamu was receiving instruction from Sage Fukasaku.
Sage Fukasaku told Uzumaki Gamu, "Well... little Uzumaki Gamu, your training is complete!"
"Oh... That's it?" Once the words sank in, Uzumaki Gamu asked in confusion.
Fukasaku explained, "You've learned everything you need to learn, after all. Now you just need to gradually build up experience!"
Over those three years, Uzumaki Gamu had mastered Mount Myōboku's senjutsu and its accompanying ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu. Apart from lacking combat experience and proficiency with his skills, he had essentially completed his training!
Overall, he had been considerably slower than Naruto, but still faster than Jiraiya!
Of course, over those three days, Uzumaki Gamu had learned plenty of other things besides Mount Myōboku's techniques. Those could be discussed later.
Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously, "Just wondering, would my current strength put me among the best in the shinobi world?" Now that he had learned senjutsu, he ought to be pretty formidable, right?
"Well... You should have no problem making the top hundred. You're still too young!" Fukasaku offered a reasonable explanation.
His technique had reached the required standard, but his physical hardware wasn't strong enough, so his overall fighting power still fell short. There was no helping it; thirteen was simply too young. His body had only just begun developing toward adulthood, and the limitations imposed by his weak body affected every aspect
"That's true~" Uzumaki Gamu nodded in agreement.
Uzumaki Gamu could understand that explanation. Never mind abstract things like chakra; just having shorter arms and legs than an adult was a real pain in the ass. He also lacked practical combat experience. Information was crucial in battles between ninja, and expanding his knowledge through actual combat was something he would have to do next!
That settled his next step: accumulate combat experience while waiting for his body to develop. In that case, it was time to go home and officially begin working as a ninja!
After Uzumaki Gamu decided to return home, the toads of Mount Myōboku gathered to see him off!
Sage Shima waved a handkerchief through her tears. "Remember to come back and visit often~" Over those three years, she had come to regard Uzumaki Gamu as her own child!
Uzumaki Gamu said awkwardly, "I'm leaving, not dying. Isn't this a bit of an overreaction?"
Sage Fukasaku explained, "Ma wears her heart on her sleeve. It's easy for her feelings to spill over... Anyway, little Uzumaki Gamu, once you return to your clan, you'll be a ninja standing on your own. Be careful in everything you do!"
"Yes, I will!" Uzumaki Gamu nodded.
The Toad King told Uzumaki Gamu, "Boss, I'll keep training hard and surpassing my past self!" Thanks to Uzumaki Gamu's efforts, the Toad King had improved considerably over the past few years, though his strength still fell a little short.
Still, as long as he kept working hard, he would make progress... It was just unclear what he would ultimately become.
Uzumaki Gamu offered one last encouragement. "Well, keep at it. I look forward to the day we can fight side by side!" This fellow was essentially Uzumaki Gamu's personal toad now. If he wasn't strong enough, things would get awkward later.
After saying goodbye to the other toads he was close to, Uzumaki Gamu returned to the Uzumaki Clan Homeland using a Reverse Summoning Technique prepared in advance. (He had sent a frog there beforehand to wait for him.)
"Ah~~ The air back home~~ It's been months since I last came back~" Uzumaki Gamu stretched after landing, then said to the messenger toad who had summoned him, "Thanks for your help."
"It's nothing... Just summon me if you need anything. Well, goodbye!" The toad in charge of communications hopped away!
After watching the toad leave, Uzumaki Gamu turned and headed toward the Uzumaki Clan Homeland.
"Second Brother, you're back?" Mito had come to block his way again!
"Uh... Do you keep your Mind's Eye of the Kagura active all the time? How do you find me immediately every time I come back?" Uzumaki Gamu couldn't help complaining.
His younger sister was far more gifted than he was at the Uzumaki Clan's unique ninjutsu. For example, she had been able to freely use the sensory ninjutsu called Mind's Eye of the Kagura for several years already. (Uzumaki Gamu: I still can't use it~)
Mind's Eye of the Kagura was a ninjutsu unique to the Uzumaki Clan. Their excellent sensory abilities allowed them to master this enemy-detection technique with its enormous range. By closing their eyes and opening their mind's eye, they could use chakra to detect unusual movements within a radius of tens of kilometers. If they knew a specific chakra signature, they could also precisely locate it and track its movements, determining the other party's numbers, characteristics, and even movement speed in great detail. It was one of the strongest detection techniques.
Mito answered, "That's not difficult for me~"
"Yes, yes, I know you're a genius girl~" Uzumaki Gamu stepped forward to ruffle Mito's hair, only to realize after one step that his younger sister was already as tall as he was... Girls developed earlier than boys, and with that head start, Mito was now roughly his height!
"I'm not a little kid anymore. Stop ruffling my hair whenever you want!" Mito said, raising her chin.
"Well... Even if you're as tall as me, you're still my younger sister~" Uzumaki Gamu raised his hand and ruffled her hair anyway. "Besides, it's not like I've stopped growing. In a few years, I'll still be taller than you~"
Uzumaki Gamu's indifferent tone instantly deflated her urge to show off. Mito turned her head away and said petulantly, "You're so annoying, Second Brother. Hmph, I'm not talking to you anymore~" With that, she turned and ran away!
Watching his sister leave, Uzumaki Gamu muttered, "Uh... Has she reached her rebellious phase? No, that looked more like a tsundere reaction... Well, she is eleven this year. As her body develops, her metabolism changes too. It's normal for her personality to start changing~"
While Uzumaki Gamu was muttering, his elder brother Daigu appeared beside him with the Body Flicker Technique and said, "Indeed. Our little sister isn't as fond of acting spoiled as she used to be~"
"Big Brother, your timing's pretty good too!" Uzumaki Gamu remarked.
"Little Sister and I were receiving instruction from Father just now. As soon as she sensed your chakra, she ran straight out!" Daigu explained what had happened.
"Oh~~ I see!" Uzumaki Gamu nodded in understanding.
Daigu asked with concern, "Are you only staying for two months again?"
Uzumaki Gamu shook his head. "No, my training is finished. I've emerged from seclusion and can officially return to the clan."
"Really? That's wonderful!!" Daigu said happily. "Come on, let's hurry back and tell Father!"
With that, Daigu grabbed his younger brother and took him to see their father.
When Uzumaki Ashina heard the news, his expression didn't change, but complicated thoughts welled up inside him. How should I put this~ I ought to be happy he's back, but this brat's carefree personality really is hard to handle... Life had been quite comfortable during the years the brat was away. Now that he was back... Ashina felt a little troubled instead.
That feeling only lasted a few seconds, however. Whatever else might be true, seeing his son after several months apart was a joyous occasion. That happiness quickly swept away his unnecessary thoughts!
And so Ashina said happily, "What matters is that you've returned safely!"
"Well, I haven't just returned safely. I'm much stronger now. It's time to make our enemies tremble!! Keh heh heh heh!!!" Uzumaki Gamu laughed like an elder of the Hall of Souls.
Uzumaki Gamu was actually feeling a little inflated with confidence. After holding back for so long, what man could resist finding a punching bag to show off how strong he had become?
Of course, Uzumaki Gamu still knew his limits. Right now, he only wanted to pick on an easy target and demonstrate his strength.
As for opponents who were too strong... those could wait~
Upon hearing Uzumaki Gamu's words, however, Ashina and Daigu exchanged a look. Then Daigu told Uzumaki Gamu, "Second Brother, we've changed our policy. We're not fighting wars anymore!"
"...Huh?" Uzumaki Gamu blinked blankly.
Daigu then explained in detail what had happened.
After Uzumaki Gamu last returned home for the New Year, the clan had held discussions and revised the Uzumaki Clan's development policy. They would no longer directly participate in wars between ninja clans. Instead, they would earn commissions through services such as dispatching support ninja and providing sealing jutsu assistance.
It was a decision born partly of necessity!
The Uzumaki Clan excelled at sealing jutsu and possessed powerful sensory abilities. Its top fighters were no weaker than those of other major clans. But... most sealing jutsu weren't suited to direct combat. Those who could fight using sealing jutsu were essentially all elite Uzumaki fighters. This left a certain gap between the Uzumaki Clan and the major ninja clans entrenched within the Land of Fire, such as the Senju, Uchiha, Kaguya, and Hyūga!
Their top fighters could hold their ground, but if their lower-level fighters couldn't compete, they would still suffer badly in clashes with other major ninja clans.
In that case, they were better off changing their policy, withdrawing from large-scale clan wars, and focusing on support and assistance.
Although this would reduce their income, careful budgeting would still allow them to keep the clan running. They could then gradually develop their clan and make other plans once it had grown stronger!
After hearing the explanation, Uzumaki Gamu thought, That's a pretty good idea. No wonder the Uzumaki Clan later managed to establish its own village and country. But... if that's what we're doing, where am I supposed to find a punching bag?
Avoiding large-scale battles would greatly improve the survival rate of the clan's ninja, allowing its population to grow slowly. In the long term, that would benefit the clan's development.
But, as Uzumaki Gamu had said... without wars, where would he find a punching bag to beat up?
This... felt rather like drawing his sword and looking around, utterly at a loss?
Before you continue