Mount Myōboku — Inner Sanctuary.
On the tall stone throne sat a being who had lived for over a thousand years—
the revered Great Toad Sage, honored by Jiraiya and every toad of the mountain.
Master of senjutsu chakra.
Power immeasurable.
A string of red prayer beads hung around his neck, and at his chest dangled a metal plate marked with the kanji for "Oil", the same symbol Jiraiya would later wear.
"Little Jiraiya, you've arrived. Was your mission successful?"
The smaller green toad, Sage Fukasaku, hopped forward and greeted him warmly.
He had already heard about Jiraiya's recent movements from the toads Jiraiya had summoned.
"Not great, to be honest, Fukasaku-sensei."
Jiraiya scratched his hair.
"You know how it is… war everywhere. I just do what I can."
Fukasaku nodded, about to speak—
But the Great Toad Sage made a rumbling noise, interrupting him.
"Great Toad Sage-sama, Little Jiraiya is here," Fukasaku repeated loudly.
He said it once.
Twice.
Only then did the Great Toad Sage stir—
half-asleep, eyelids heavy.
"Little… who? Little Jiraiya?"
BONK! ×2
"It's me! Jiraiya from Konoha!"
"Didn't you tell me about the Child of Prophecy last time?!"
Jiraiya pulled out a handkerchief from God-knows-where and wiped his sweat.
Why is it always like this?!
"Ohhhh, right~ Little Jiraiya!"
The Great Toad Sage blinked slowly.
After a long moment, his expression grew solemn.
"Little Jiraiya. I have one piece of good news…
and one piece of bad news."
"You want to hear… huuu~ haaah~"
"… …"
"…Cough! Great Toad Sage-sama!"
Fukasaku jabbed him awake again.
"Hoh~ my apologies."
He rubbed his wrinkled head.
"Where was I?"
Jiraiya sighed helplessly.
"…The good news, please."
"Oh! Right. The good news."
The ancient sage straightened slightly.
"The Child of Prophecy…
the one who might destroy the world—
no longer carries that possibility."
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
"Then—that means—!"
"Not so fast, Little Jiraiya."
The Great Toad Sage raised a hand calmly.
"This change… is because of the bad news."
"The future will give rise to a golden-haired individual—
one who will possess the absolute power to destroy the world."
Jiraiya froze.
"But—
he is not your disciple."
"The only certain traits are…"
"That explosive, overwhelming power—
and brilliantly golden hair…"
Jiraiya: "…"
A thought hit him.
Golden hair.
Power to shake the world…
"…Wait. Are you telling me MINATO can destroy the world?!"
He gasped.
"Oh? Looks like you already have someone in mind."
The Great Toad Sage leaned forward slightly.
"Mind telling us who?"
Jiraiya proudly pointed at himself.
"Of course! He'll be my future student—one of my finest!"
"…"
"…"
Fukasaku held his head.
No way the Great Sage is wrong—
so whoever Jiraiya just named is definitely NOT the one.
The Great Toad Sage blinked.
"Hm? Did I say that earlier…? I forget. Getting old, I suppose."
Fukasaku quickly cleared it up:
"Little Jiraiya.
The Sage just said—
the golden-haired one with world-ending potential is NOT your disciple."
Not your disciple.
Not yours.
Not you.
NOT.
Jiraiya's imagination shattered.
"My disciple—!
Come back—!"
He reached forward dramatically, startling the entire hall.
He coughed and regained composure.
"…So if it's not Minato, then maybe Minato's future child?
Or someone else in the world.
Golden hair isn't common, but it isn't rare either."
"I'll try to find him."
"Is there any more info? Gender? Age? Anything?"
The Sage sighed.
"The Child of Prophecy… compared to this new golden-haired power…
is much weaker."
"As for details—my vision is clouded.
That is all."
"So even if he isn't your student—
guide him toward peace, Little Jiraiya…"
Huuuu~ haaaah—
Fukasaku wiped his sweat.
"That's the prophecy."
"We're counting on you."
Jiraiya bowed deeply.
"Leave it to me!"
POOF!
He vanished, reverse-summoning himself out of the sanctum.
Fukasaku turned to leave—
When the Great Toad Sage murmured again:
"If you fail to guide him—
he will become a tyrant who rules the shinobi world with terror."
"Neither the ninja world nor the summoning realms will escape his grasp… huu~"
Fukasaku froze.
"What?! Great Toad Sage-sama—please explain more!!"
But the Sage had already slipped back into sleep.
Fukasaku could only tremble as he left the hall.
Back in Konoha
"Haaah… achoo!"
In the Senju courtyard, Kaito rubbed his nose.
Someone must've been talking about him—
but he shrugged it off and looked ahead at Nawaki practicing his summoning technique.
The brown-haired boy bit his finger (painfully), slammed his palm onto the ground—
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
POOF!
A puff of white smoke.
Kaito squinted.
Judging by the size…
and the fading smoke…
This talent level…
You can sit next to Naruto in class.
A small emerald-green snake emerged, flicking a tiny pink tongue.
Its beady eyes scanned the surroundings curiously.
"Qingqing! Long time no see! How's Ryūchi Cave?!"
Nawaki scooped up the snake and rubbed his cheek against it.
Qingqing recoiled slightly, then turned—
and its eyes sparkled at the sight of Kaito sitting elegantly nearby.
She ignored Might Duy entirely, who was upside-down doing push-ups.
(This snake… still a juvenile—
its venom only causes mild paralysis.
Orochimaru noticed Nawaki's summoning talent long ago and trained him accordingly.)
"Hiss~?"
"Oh, he's my teammate! We didn't summon you lately because we didn't really need you."
The snake froze—
little vein-marks popping all over its body.
It wrapped itself around Nawaki's neck.
Nawaki thought it wanted affection.
But Qingqing hissed angrily:
"HOW DARE YOU NOT SUMMON ME WHEN THERE'S A HANDSOME BOY HERE?!"
"…"
Nawaki: private Marcy…
/(ㄒoㄒ)/
Kaito only saw Nawaki and Qingqing chattering affectionately.
Without a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave, he couldn't understand snake language.
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