By the riverside, Naruto Uzumaki held a balloon bought for him by Jiraiya and was practicing the signature ninjutsu of the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze—the Rasengan.
Jiraiya silently watched his back.
Suddenly, rhythmic croaks echoed in the distance.
Bending down, Jiraiya pushed aside some bushes. There, standing before him was Elder Fukasaku the Toad.
"Elder Fukasaku—is that really you?" Jiraiya asked, surprised.
Without wasting time on greetings or explanations, Fukasaku jumped onto a stone and looked up seriously. "Little Jiraiya, take Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha to Mount Myoboku immediately. Elder wants to clarify their paths."
"What?" Jiraiya blinked, somewhat confused.
"There's no time to explain. Just bring them to Mount Myoboku as soon as possible."
"The fastest way would be Reverse Summoning. But… do we really need Sasuke to make a pact with Mount Myoboku too?" Rubbing the back of his head, Jiraiya hesitated slightly.
From what he knew, Sasuke didn't exactly like him to begin with. Getting him to link up this tightly wouldn't be easy.
After a brief pause, Elder Fukasaku nodded. "Yes."
Then he vanished in a puff of smoke.
Left behind, Jiraiya's lips twitched.
It's not just up to us—we'll need their buy-in too.
Sighing, he called out toward the riverbank. "Naruto, we're leaving."
"Leaving? Where to, Master Jiraiya?" Naruto turned around and asked.
"Back to the Country of Rice Fields."
"To his hideout?"
Jiraiya nodded.
Naruto opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped himself. Although his father Minato had been summoned back by Orochimaru, he still felt reluctant to be involved with him.
"Let's go. It's the command from Great Toad Sage," Jiraiya walked forward and patted his head gently, calming him.
Naruto followed quietly behind.
---
Shikkotsu Forest—an ancient woodland long known for its hidden power.
Kaguya opened her eyes. A faint smile formed on her lips as Tsunade watched in confusion. She stretched out her finger, touching the barrier in front of her.
Inside the barrier, Slug Sage Katsuyu's massive body suddenly trembled.
Though extremely subtle, Kaguya could feel the barrier weakening—its Sage Chakra was gradually draining away.
Katsuyu Sage panicked even more. "What level has this woman recovered to exactly?"
Although she hadn't participated in the battle a thousand years ago, Katsuyu clearly knew Kaguya's ability to absorb normal chakra.
But now… how could she even absorb Sage Chakra...?
While Katsuyu could continue replenishing the barrier with Sage Chakra, judging by Kaguya's persistence, it was obvious she wouldn't give up until achieving her goal.
Suddenly, the ground began to shake. Tsunade stood alertly.
A gigantic figure was rapidly emerging into her view, its movement strange and swift.
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"Slug Sage..." Tsunade couldn't help but twitch her lips in disbelief.
For some reason, one phrase suddenly flashed through her mind—total humiliation.
"Stop! What exactly do you think you're doing?" The Slug Sage's gentle voice was filled with clear anxiety.
"I never wanted to waste my breath on someone like you," Kaguya withdrew her attack, folding her arms across her chest indifferently.
The Slug Sage immediately felt speechless.
As if I really wanted to see you either?
Then why did you come barging into my territory?
Fine then—I'll just leave!
The Slug Sage huffed and turned her body, preparing to depart.
"Slug Sage, please wait," Tsunade sighed, glancing helplessly toward Kaguya before calling out.
These two... why are they still acting so high and mighty at a time like this?
Promptly halting her movements, the Slug Sage turned around to face Tsunade, speaking coldly, "What is it?"
"Slug Sage, I'd like you to continue teaching me [Sage Art]," Tsunade said respectfully.
An expression resembling humanity flickered across the strangely-shaped features of the Slug Sage before she sneered, "Tsunade, are you planning to teach that woman what you learn?"
"Do you even know who she is? She was once a criminal of the Ninja World. If you insist on staying by her side, you'll only become an accomplice!"
"Why does everyone keep saying stuff like that..." Tsunade murmured softly.
Seeming to gain some courage, the Slug Sage shouted toward Kaguya's direction:
"Don't think I don't understand your intentions, you woman. Once you get the method for cultivating Natural Energy, you'll be able to absorb the world's Natural Energy without needing the God Tree, am I right?"
"And when that happens, this world will lose its future, just like what almost happened a thousand years ago."
"Hmph," Kaguya scoffed frostily. "And what have you lot—half-human half-monsters—contributed to this world, while you occupy the best places?"
"At least we're better than invaders like you!" the Slug Sage shot back.
"Maggot," Kaguya's voice grew even colder as something seemed to begin forming in her palm, "You will hand over the full Natural Energy cultivation technique. This isn't a request—I'm simply informing you."
"It wasn't just one person who came here back then. Another arrived too. In other words, the coordinates of this planet have already been revealed."
"With humans the way they are now, they don't stand a chance against them. If you keep clinging to those techniques like they're yours alone, what you'll lose won't just be the future—there won't be anything left."
"Why should I believe you?"
Though certain truths were implied within Kaguya's words, the Slug Sage naturally refused to believe them, dismissing them as mere scare tactics.
"You don't have to believe me." Without turning around, Kaguya continued speaking casually, "Tsunade, just stay here for now. Later, we'll send people to take control of this place..."
"You... you guys..." Clearly infuriated, the Slug Sage's body quivered visibly.
"Are you really going to do this?" Tsunade hesitated, momentarily confused whether Kaguya's words were meant to deliberately provoke the Slug Sage or if she actually intended to go through with it.
-----------------
Land of Demons.
Deep into the night, a white-haired girl lay on a wide, soft bed, her body slightly trembling. She seemed to be having a nightmare, sweat beading on her forehead.
Suddenly, she shot open her eyes and sat upright.
"You're awake?"
A voice broke through the silence. Shion turned her head, her attention first caught by that pair of light blue eyes.
"Who are you...?" Shion asked cautiously, her face twisted in confusion.
"Did the Miko see me in one of her prophecies before?" Hiroki's eyes revealed curiosity.
Shion didn't respond. Hiroki continued, "Shion, is your mother Miroku still alive?"
"What about the others in the palace?" Seeing no one appear, Shion spoke coolly.
"Oh, they're just asleep. No need to worry," Hiroki said casually. "Honored Miko, may I have the chance to see Moryo for myself?"
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