"Kero! Kero! Kero!"
The two hadn't even reached the heart of Mount Myoboku before they were greeted by a chorus of frog croaks!
Surrounding them were giant lily pads, enormous insects, and massive toads, as if they had suddenly stepped from a land of tiny people into the kingdom of giants!
As someone who had trained in Sage Arts on Mount Myoboku, Naruto was quickly recognized by some of the so-called 'small' toads.
"It's Naruto-kero!"
"Naruto has returned-kero!"
Hearing these voices, Nagato expressed some surprise. "Didn't expect you to be quite popular!"
Naruto grinned proudly while placing his hands on his waist. "I'm the Frog Prince of Mount Myoboku! Speaking of that, Jiraiya-sama once considered using the Frog Prince as the main character for his next book!"
Nagato gave him a strange look. "But these past two days since my release, I've heard whispers saying Jiraiya-sensei's books aren't exactly... 'colorful'!"
Naruto waved his hands dismissively. "Impossible! How could a book about frogs possibly have any inappropriate content..."
At that moment, Gamakichi jumped down from a lily pad above. "Naruto, Elder Fukasaku sent me to take you two over."
"Huh? Does Elder Fukasaku already know we're here?" Naruto exclaimed.
Gamakichi rolled his eyes like a human would. "Elder Fukasaku isn't the Great Toad Sage. His hearing's still just fine!"
Under Gamakichi's guidance, the two arrived in front of an ancient temple.
"Elder Fukasaku and the Great Toad Sage are inside. I'll wait here."
With that, Gamakichi hopped away one bounce at a time.
Naruto scratched his head. "What's with that? So abrupt!"
Nagato looked up at the temple. "This journey turned out easier than I expected... I just hope nothing goes wrong inside here."
"What kind of problem could there be? Everything outside seems perfectly fine," Naruto said as he walked toward the temple entrance.
Nagato didn't say much else, simply following behind him.
After passing through the spacious courtyard, the pair arrived before a giant disk.
The Great Toad Sage, wearing a silly hat on his head, lay half-asleep on the disk. Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima, and Scroll Toad Gerotora stood respectfully on either side.
"Naruto~ you've finally arrived~" The Great Toad Sage spoke in a weak, listless voice, making one wonder if he might expire at any moment.
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Great Toad Sage, did you foresee my arrival?"
The Great Toad Sage nodded slowly, struggling to open his eyes wide. His aged eyes were clouded with confusion. "I foresaw~ Earth cracking~ seas flooding~ skies tearing open~ the end of the world as everything collapses!"
Naruto clenched both fists tightly. "It must be those Otsutsuki again!"
However, the Great Toad Sage slowly shook his head. "No~ the one causing all this is not an outsider~ but one person~ a man who has been raised to godhood. His name is~Shimizu~Souseki!"
The atmosphere dropped to zero, and Naruto's eyes widened in shock. "Great Toad Sage, are you getting senile again?"
The Great Toad Sage's cloudy eyes suddenly gleamed with intensity. "No~ the guidance of fate has never been this clear before~ His soul has already been tainted by dark forces~ He shall become the harbinger of this world's doom~ The only one who can save this world is you~ Child of the Prophecy~ Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto lowered his gaze, saying nothing.
When Naruto stayed silent, Sage Fukasaku spoke up, "While the Great Toad Sage often acts senile and confused, this time he doesn't seem to be joking at all!"
Sage Shima gently persuaded, "Perhaps the Leader in the Real World was unintentionally tainted by some evil force. You're the only one who can save him!"
Gerotora let out a weird cry, "Could it be... the Otsutsuki from three years ago? I heard the Leader sealed him and then nothing more came of it. Maybe the seal broke, and Otsutsuki's power has seeped out!"
The Great Toad Sage continued, "Naruto~ I know you're filled with doubts now~ but don't worry~ Go on~ Bring back the scroll that seals the Otsutsuki~ We will clear your confusion!"
Nagato watched coldly from the side, silently thinking, "These guys definitely don't seem right, but they don't appear to be under control either. Without proof, I might not be able to convince Naruto. Should I try taking him away by force..."
As he secretly observed his surroundings, preparing to break through, Naruto suddenly lifted his head, clearly dissatisfied, and questioned, "Hey, do I look that much like an idiot to you?"
Sage Fukasaku was taken aback, "Naruto, how could you think that?"
Naruto continued on his own, "Since your target is Otsutsuki Urashiki, does that mean the ones pulling your strings are those two Otsutsuki, huh?"
At that moment, the air around them suddenly froze, and the temperature dropped sharply!
From the Great Toad Sage's mouth came a chilling, high-pitched laugh that didn't match his appearance at all, "No wonder you're that man's disciple. When did you see through my disguise?"
Scratching his head, Naruto said, "Actually, I didn't really figure it out. Your transformation was really impressive. But normally, the Great Toad Sage always pretends to forget me when he sees me. Yet you recognized me right away!"
The supposed "Great Toad Sage" widened his eyes in disbelief, "Just because of that?!"
He had imitated the old toad's voice, expressions, and mannerisms perfectly. Could it be that by acting too normal, he failed to mimic the senile madness inherent to the real Great Toad Sage?
Nagato glanced sideways at Naruto, thinking, "This guy looks honest and straightforward, but who'd have thought he could be clever at critical moments!"
"Since you've seen through me, I won't keep pretending," the Great Toad Sage transformed back into the White Snake Sage's appearance, glaring viciously at Naruto. "What a pity, you're still too young! If you had pretended to agree, then brought reinforcements after returning to the Real World, I might really have been in trouble!"
"Now, do you two brats really think you can turn the tables?"
Amidst a chorus of sinister laughter, the two sages and Gerotora changed into the appearance of Ryuchi Cave's "Hebihime"!
"This might not be entirely secure, but I can't wait any longer. I want answers from you about the whereabouts of the real Great Toad Sage and others. Also, I'd like to test my current strength thoroughly!"
Naruto said, as a golden cloak wrapped around his body. His eyes morphed into the signature "cross" shape of the Truth-Seeking Balls, and nine Truth-Seeking Balls appeared behind him, their dark forms pulsing with ominous energy.
The White Snake Sage's pupils suddenly narrowed. He gasped in shock, "Truth-Seeking Balls?! How can this be?!"
Having witnessed that ancient battle — the legendary clash that shaped the world — it naturally recognized the Truth-Seeking Balls all too well.
Though The Three Hebihime lacked the vast knowledge of their revered ancestor, they could still sense the unease in its tone when referring to those dark orbs — a fear even their revered ancestor carried.
Naruto reached behind him, and one of the Truth-Seeking Balls morphed into a Black Rod, which he seized tightly in his hand. "If you're too scared to fight, just hand over the Great Toad Sage and the others already!"
The White Snake Sage scoffed coldly, "Truth-Seeking Balls may be strong, but to us immortals, they're just flashy Ninjutsu. You're nowhere near powerful enough to make me back down!"
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