Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 51: Great Toad Sage
Suddenly, the Great Toad Sage awakened from his sleep. He opened his eyes and saw Gamaryohi standing in front of him.
"Great Toad Sage," greeted Gamaryohi.
"You… what is your name?" asked the Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru.
His age was more than a thousand years. He had lived in this world since Kaguya reigned over the earth and he was the one who guided Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki in mastering Sage Mode.
Now, in his old age, he had forgotten many of the younger descendants due to his declining memory, so he often needed verification to know who they were.
"I am Gamaryohi, Great Toad Sage," replied Gamaryohi.
"Haaa, Gamaryohi," said Gamamaru, finally remembering after hearing his name. "What is the purpose of you coming here?"
"There is a visitor from the Uzumaki Clan who wishes to learn Sage Mode," said Gamaryohi.
Hearing this, the Great Toad Sage eyes widened.
In a dream, he had seen the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, with only Uzumaki Naruto and Uzumaki Karin survive after the massacre. He decided to meet with this visitor from the Uzumaki Clan to know whether the future had diverged or if his dream was mistaken.
"Bring him here," said Gamamaru.
---Meeting Great Toad Sage---
"You are given permission to meet with our Great Toad Sage," said Gamaryohi.
"Great Toad Sage?" repeated Hiroki.
"Last time we only met with Pa Toad," commented Raiken.
"Yes," replied Gamaryohi. "This time, for some reason, the Great Toad Sage awoke and called for you to meet him. It does not happen often. He always sleep, so we don't know when he would wake up."
Raiken slowed his steps slightly. "Who is the Great Toad Sage?" he asked, though he already knew the answer, he still need to act like someone who are clueless.
"He is the oldest and most experienced among us. His wisdom is beyond all of us toads, He has guided generations of toads, shinobi, and even legends who shaped this world. His words have influenced the course of history more times than anyone can count," replied Gamaryohi.
"Who was the legends who had been guided by him?" asked Kenshiro.
"Sage of Six Paths, he had been his students once," replied Gamaryohi.
Both of them become quiet hearing this.
"Is he the leader here?" asked Raiken.
"No, he is an advisor. But our leader takes his advice very seriously," replied Gamaryohi.
Raiken and Kenshiro nodded in understanding, they then hopped up on top of Gamaryohi.
Just a moment later they arrived.
"Great Toad Sage, this is the guest Uzumaki Kenshiro and Uzumaki Raiken is the clan leader of Uzumaki Clan," introduced Gamaryohi.
Raiken and Kenshiro took this chance to greet him.
But the Great Toad Sage gaze lingered on Raiken for a long while, his ancient eyes heavy with centuries of memories and dreams.
"Tell me, Uzumaki Raiken… what has become of your people? In my dream I saw fire and ruin, your clan scattered to the winds, their voices silenced, their seals lost to ash. Yet here you stand before me. Did someone deceive me, or has history shifted?"
Hearing this, Raiken felt a ripple in his heart. He remembered one of the movie where Naruto travel to the past or perhaps another parallel world.
Did the Great Toad Sage truly see a vision of the future, or was he have ability to see into another parallel world? Raiken could not be certain but he believed with parallel world rather than vision of the future because once you disturb the past, the future would change too.
"Your dream is only half true," Raiken finally replied, steady but solemn. "Yes, we were attacked, and yes, many of our people perished. But the Uzumaki were not scattered to nothingness. We endured. We regrouped. And now, though fewer than before, we live safely within the walls of Konoha."
Gamamaru breath rumbled. "So the river still flows toward destruction… the vision was not wrong after all." His ancient face grew heavy with sorrow. "It grieves me. Once, your clan was the great pillar of sealing jutsu. To see them diminished, to see that light flicker…" His voice trailed off, swallowed by the silence.
The words of someone so old, is like a puzzle, even for Raiken he barely understood what the Great Toad Sage was hinting at, and he carried that burden in his heart.
Gamamaru eyes opened again. "I heard you wished to learn Sage Mode," the Sage said slowly. "But tell me, Raiken… what then? Suppose you succeed. Suppose you master Sage Mode and gather strength. What will you do after? What path do you intend to walk?"
Raiken inhaled deeply. "I will protect the remains of my people from anyone who would harm us. No matter the village, no matter the enemy. I will not allow the Uzumaki to vanish from this terrible people."
The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes, exhaling long and heavy. "A dangerous path you walk, Uzumaki Raiken. But…" He opened his eyes again, and they gleamed faintly like twin lanterns in the dark. "…your path is righteous. You do not speak of vengeance, but of guardianship. That is what may yet save you."
A silence followed, broken only by the drip of water echoing through the stone.
"I do not know," Gamamaru continued slowly, "if what I have seen is the true future or a false vision. Perhaps my dream showed me what might have been rather than what must be. Be careful, young Uzumaki. The future is fragile. Even the smallest choice may fracture it into countless rivers."
Raiken met his gaze without flinching. "Thank you, Great Sage. Then… may I ask this, can our clan, the Uzumaki Clan, learn Sage Mode under your guidance?"
For the first time, the Great Toad Sage ancient features softened. A faint smile touched his face, gentlely.
"Of course," Gamamaru said at last, his voice carrying the weight of centuries and the warmth of hope. "I do not know whether my vision was wrong, or I saw something from another world. But I will not allow those who seek only to protect their family, their people, to be cast aside. You have my permission, Uzumaki Raiken. Your clan may learn Sage Mode but not from me, just ask my descendant to teach."
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Time travel is complicated, so I think parallel world is more suitable for my story. So what ever dream or future people come is from parallel world instead of timeline.
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Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 79: Now You Regret It
Chapter 80: Visiting Danzo
Chapter 81: Brothel Collapsed
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