"So it's Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima. I've come to Mount Myōboku to witness your Transformation Secret Technique." Tsubasa bowed respectfully, his gaze sweeping over the glowing vines entwined around Sage Shima's claws, which were shimmering with some kind of Cursed Seal. "I've heard that Mount Myōboku's Transformation Technique are unique..."
Suddenly Sage Shima, let out a silvery laugh that sent petals rustling down from the ancient tree above. "Humans," she said, " the Toad Clan's Transformation Art isn't exactly a sophisticated secret." She extended her wrinkled claws, glistening with slimy grime under her nails. "When we transform into humans, we always have webbed feet, puffed-out cheeks, and our speech is a 'croak' with a trailing 'ooh.' Last time, a junior of ours transformed into a ninja and went to the human world, only to be chased for Sanjo, mistaken for a monster!"
Sage Fukasaku scratched his belly with his claws, a rustling sound coming from beneath his rough, bark-like skin. "As for the secret techniques, you should ask the Great Toad Sage directly. But let me make this clear first—" He suddenly leaned closer, his hot, pungent breath hitting Tsubasa's face, "If you dare to plot against Mount Myōboku, we old bones won't hesitate to turn you into fertilizer for poisonous mushrooms."
As Tsubasa followed the two Toad Sage through the corridor composed of giant Toad statues, Tsubasa noticed that each statue's pupils were embedded with glowing stones. Suddenly, the ground trembled, as if a small mountain was moving. When the dust settled, Yin Shadow that blotted out the sky appeared before him—it was a giant old Toad squatting outside the Toad Temple, its pupils shimmering with golden light, its wrinkled skin seemingly holding the weight of an entire mountain range, wearing a doctor's cap, and a necklace with the word "oil" written on it around its neck.
This is Gamamaru, the Gamamaru of Mount Myōboku, who has lived for over a thousand years since the time of Kaguya. He is revered as the Great Toad Sage and possesses prophetic abilities. The Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, who rules this secret realm, has actually left the temple. You should know that in the anime, he always stays in the temple and sleeps. Tsubasa can sense that there is extremely powerful Senjutsu Chakra within his body.
It smiled kindly at Tsubasa: "Foreign Immortal Cultivation, why are you so fixated on power that doesn't belong to you? The Transformation Secret Technique seems unnecessary for a human like you, doesn't it?" As the Great Toad Sage spoke, a wave of Senjutsu sound waves made Tsubasa feel his internal organs resonate. "Tell me, what makes you think that Mount Myōboku would make an exception for Konoha and pass on Senjutsu to outsiders?"
Tsubasa could sense that this Great Toad Sage probably possessed the strength of the Golden Core Realm. Indeed, it was the most powerful being in the Shinobi World. No wonder the Sage of Six Paths learned Senjutsu here a thousand years ago, ultimately sealing Kaguya Otsutsuki. However, judging from the old Toad's condition, its lifespan was probably nearing its end, but such an ancient monster with a lifespan measured in millennia should still have several hundred years left.
Tsubasa laughed and said, " The Great Toad Sage is indeed powerful. I came here this time to ask the Katsuyu Sage for the Transformation Secret Technique. It wants to be a human or live like a human."
The Great Toad Sage said, "The Transformation Secret Technique I have here is only suitable for the Toad Clan, and it's even a flawed one. You can see that from Fukasaku and Shima. Moreover, Mount Myōboku does not pass on its Senjutsu to outsiders."
Tsubasa stood in front of the Toad Sage, scratched his head, and said helplessly, " Toad Sage, you don't know the Transformation Secret Technique either? It seems I've wasted my trip."
The Toad Sage blinked slowly, letting out a deep croak. " Hokage of Konoha, don't rush off. Do you know your mission? Although I'm not very proficient in the Transformation Technique, I know quite a lot of the secrets and interesting stories of this world. I have the ability to foresee the Mirai. Would you like to hear them?"
Tsubasa raised an eyebrow. Was this guy trying to fool him? He sat down again and said, "My mission? I'd like to hear the details."
The Toad Sage shook the goosebumps on his back and began to recount. "A thousand years ago, the Sage of Sage of Six Paths appeared out of nowhere. He mastered the Yin–Yang Power, created the Ninshu, and changed the entire landscape of the Shinobi World. But did you know? The Sage of Six Paths actually had many secrets that were unknown to others."
I chuckled inwardly. As a time traveler, I knew all this perfectly well, but I still feigned curiosity. "Oh? Please enlighten me, Sage."
A hint of reminiscence flashed in the Toad Sage's eyes. "The reason the Sage of Six Paths possessed such immense power was because he inherited a source of power that transcended ordinary reason. That power was mysterious and unpredictable; even I only know a little about it. It is said that that power comes from the distant heavens."
A thought struck me; they were definitely going to talk about the Ōtsutsuki Clan. So I asked, "The celestial beings? Do Sage mean the Ōtsutsuki Clan?"
The Toad Sage looked at me with surprise. " The Hokage of Konoha, I didn't expect you to know about the Ōtsutsuki Clan. That's right, it's them. The Ōtsutsuki Clan comes from outer space and possesses unimaginable power. They came to this world to plant the God Tree to absorb the earth's primordial power, eventually obtaining a miraculous fruit— the God Tree Fruit. Eating the God Tree Fruit grants immortality and immense power."
Tsubasa nodded. "I've also heard that the Ōtsutsuki Clan is constantly embroiled in internal strife over the God Tree Fruit, causing countless disasters in this ninja world."
The Toad Sage sighed, "That's right. The Sage of Six Paths Hagoromo Otsutsuki, was the son of Kaguya Otsutsuki. Kaguya Otsutsuki was originally a member of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. After coming to Earth, she killed her companions and ate the God Tree Fruit, becoming the Progenitor of Chakra. However, her power attracted the covetousness of her alien race, and in order to protect herself, she ultimately caused a series of wars and tragedies..."
Seeing Tsubasa the Toad Sage was only recounting old stories, Tianyi laughed and said, "What does what the Sage is saying have to do with my mission?"
The Toad Sage solemnly said, "I saw your battle against the alien Ōtsutsuki Clan in my precognitive dream, so your mission is to resist the alien Ōtsutsuki Clan and protect the Shinobi World."
Tsubasa thought to himself that he was planning a counterattack against the Ōtsutsuki Clan, and this old Toad was trying to trick him into fighting against the alien Ōtsutsuki Clan. Looking at the Great Toad Sage's seemingly Golden Core Realm strength, he suddenly remembered another topic and tried to ask, " Toad Sage, have you heard of the Great Dao of the Golden Core?"
The Toad Sage paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahaha, Hokage, that's quite a novel topic. The Great Dao of the Golden Core? I've never heard of it before, but judging from the name, it seems to be a path of cultivation?"
Tsubasa explained, "This Great Dao of the Golden Core is a cultivation method from my hometown. Through cultivation, one can condense Golden Core, transcend the mortal realm, gain immense power, and even extend one's lifespan."
The Toad Sage leaned closer with great interest. "Oh? There's such a wondrous cultivation method in this world. Tell me quickly, how is the Great Dao of the Golden Core cultivated?"
Tsubasa then shared his unverified, rudimentary knowledge of the Great Dao of the Golden Core with the Toad Sage Immortal Cultivation, based on his previous life's cultivation methods. He spoke of everything from Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment to Golden Core, Nascent Soul Formation, Void Return, Body Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence Transcending to Ascension. The Toad Sage listened intently, occasionally letting out exclamations of amazement; it truly enjoyed hearing about these stories of becoming a god.
"I never imagined there was such a wondrous cultivation method beyond the heavens," the Toad Sage exclaimed, spitting out a blood-red pill. "It's remarkably similar to the Demon Core of our summoned beasts."
Tsubasa smiled and said, "No matter what kind of cultivation method we use, what we ultimately pursue is nothing more than great power and eternal life, isn't it?"