Mount Myōboku.
Thump!
A puff of smoke cleared, revealing Jiraiya landing on the ground. An old toad with white eyebrows, a white beard, and a tall white topknot sat cross-legged nearby, wrapped in a gray cloak. His brow was furrowed in deep thought. At the sound, he looked up.
"Little Jiraiya, you're finally here."
Reverse summoning? And Fukasaku Sage?
Jiraiya blinked, surprised, but didn't dwell on it. He gave a cheerful wave.
"Yo, Boss! Long time no see! Why are you alone? Where's Shima? You haven't come to pick me up in ages. It's heartbreaking!"
"Cut the jokes and follow me," Fukasaku said, his tone dead serious. He shook his head, turned, and hopped ahead to lead the way.
Jiraiya's curiosity spiked. He jogged to catch up. "What's the rush, Boss? Did something happen?"
"It's the master," Fukasaku sighed, his voice uncharacteristically grim. "He's been dreaming again. A lot."
"Toads don't dream unless it's a prophecy."
"Several dreams?" Jiraiya's face went blank with shock. "The Great Toad Sage foresaw multiple futures again?"
He remembered the ancient toad's weary face after those prophetic dreams. Fukasaku nodded, then shook his head, letting out a long sigh.
"I can't explain it properly. You'll have to see him yourself. These prophecies... they're all tied to you, and somehow they've dragged Mount Myōboku into them."
"Mount Myōboku?!" Jiraiya was stunned. If even the sacred mountain was involved, this had to be bad news.
He followed Fukasaku past a series of treehouses and mushroom huts until they reached the Sage's Hall. The space was vast and dim, lit only by a few distant, flickering flames.
"Boss, you guys really need to light this place up," Jiraiya muttered. "This gloomy vibe isn't exactly sage-like."
Fukasaku led him to the center of the main hall. There stood a chair the size of a small house, carved with the kanji for "Sage." Slumped in it was a gigantic old toad, wearing a black cap. His face was a wrinkled, puffy mess, his cloudy eyes half-closed, his skin pale and slick with sweat.
Two smaller seats sat on either side. On the right was Shima, the sage with the large pink welt on her head.
"Kid! You're finally here!" she shrilled. "We've been waiting forever!"
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head. "Hahaha, sorry! I rushed right over! You're still as impatient as ever, big sis."
He looked at the massive toad sage. "What's... with him?"
He'd never seen the Great Toad Sage look so drained and exhausted.
Sighing, Fukasaku hopped onto his seat on the left. "Grandpa hadn't dreamed in years. Then, three months ago, it started again."
"Ever since the first one, they've gotten more and more frequent. Now he's dreaming almost every time he closes his eyes."
"Seriously?"
The two toads' explanation hit Jiraiya hard. His brows knitted. Their voices woke the Great Toad Sage from his stupor. Seeing the old toad's cloudy eyes crack open, Jiraiya immediately dropped to one knee.
"You summoned me. Is it a new prophecy?"
The Great Toad Sage's haggard expression seemed to lift slightly at the sight of him.
"You've come... You've finally come... I can finally tell you..." His voice was thin and strained, like a dry wheeze. "Let me tell you... uh... who are you again?"
Jiraiya: "..."
He used to think the old toad's bad memory was an act. Now, he was sure the guy had senile dementia.
"Grandpa, it's Jiraiya! Jiraiya!" Fukasaku groaned. "And I'm Fukasaku. Please, stop asking."
"Oh, right, right! I remember now!" The Great Toad Sage chuckled. "Who knew that little tadpole would grow up to look like a human!"
"You stupid old man, get to the point!" Shima snapped, looking ready to smack him.
"Ho ho, just kidding, just kidding~" The old toad straightened up, his expression finally turning serious. "I saw you again in my dream. The pervert you are, covered in Black Rods, laughing as you got crushed under a mountain of chakra, weeping in despair."
"What?!" Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima all exclaimed in shock.
"Wait a minute!" Shima interrupted. "You old fool, didn't you tell me before about the blond, blue-eyed boy who accidentally summoned a Tailed Beast and transformed into a blood-eyed monster, unleashing a catastrophe that even Mount Myōboku couldn't escape?"
Before she could finish, Fukasaku shouted, "Damn it! He told me the blond, blood-eyed kid and a blond, blue-eyed girl would bring a revolution to the ninja world and force all the sage places out of hiding!"
Jiraiya's head was spinning. The Great Toad Sage just tossed a scroll at him.
"My prophecies are a mess. Since three months ago, the future's become uncertain, shifting constantly. It's not dangerous yet, but you need to be careful with every choice you make."
"This is a forbidden technique from Mount Myōboku about the soul. Take it."
Jiraiya opened his mouth to ask more, but the Great Toad Sage had already closed his eyes.
"Your choice will decide the final outcome, little Jiraiya. Be careful."
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