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While the Akatsuki was preparing to usher in the era that belonged to them, another matter was unfolding at the exact same moment.
******
The Leaf Village.
An orange toad, its body covered in many cyan-colored stripes, wearing a white necklace around its neck—the necklace bearing several large white spheres, with the character for "Loyalty" inscribed upon the centermost sphere.
Jiraiya looked at the toad before him, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Gama... are you serious about what you just said?"
Gama nodded. "Yes! Hurry and go! The Great Toad Sage is looking for you. He says a major event has occurred. I don't know exactly what happened either. The Great Toad Sage only told me to bring you one message: 'Everything has changed!'"
Jiraiya's heart surged with shock and alarm. In his life, ever since the Third Great Ninja War had ended, he had been wandering across various lands, searching for the Child of Destiny.
And this so-called "Child of Destiny" was something the Great Toad Sage—the sage of Mount Myoboku—had told him about. Jiraiya didn't know exactly what abilities the Great Toad Sage possessed, but what Jiraiya did know was this: the Great Toad Sage's prophecies had never once been wrong!
This had originally been a good thing. But placed in the current context... perhaps it was no longer a good thing. The Great Toad Sage had sought him out—it was undoubtedly about a prophecy. There was no need to even think about it. And if so, the statement "Everything has changed" was far too terrifying!
Jiraiya wouldn't say half his life, but at least a third of his life had been spent tirelessly looking for the "Child of Destiny." And now, he was being told that everything had changed?
No... perhaps it's referring to something else entirely.
Jiraiya consoled himself inwardly. No matter what, before he met with the Great Toad Sage, he absolutely could not panic.
"Gama, you head back first, and then use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon me to Mount Myoboku!"
Gama nodded, then vanished in a puff of smoke.
******
The Hokage's Office.
A small slug appeared on Tsunade's shoulder amidst a small burst of white smoke.
"Tsunade-sama! There's an urgent matter!"
Tsunade paused slightly. "An urgent matter? What's happened?"
The little slug spoke anxiously. "The Great Slug Sage is looking for you!"
Tsunade grew even more bewildered.
"The Great Slug Sage? What does it want with me?"
Unlike the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, who interacted with Jiraiya quite frequently, the Great Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest had extremely minimal contact with Tsunade. Basically, Tsunade merely knew that such a sage existed in Shikkotsu Forest. Beyond that, she understood very little.
Now, this sage of Shikkotsu Forest was seeking her out—this truly left Tsunade utterly confused.
Tsunade wasn't like Jiraiya, who knew that the sages of the sacred lands all possessed certain special abilities. In Tsunade's understanding, the sages of the sacred lands were probably the type of existence akin to "having an elder in the family is like having a treasure." In plain terms, they had very rich experience in many matters, but beyond that, they were unremarkable and not worth mentioning—something like mascots.
But the little slug appeared very anxious.
"In any case, Tsunade-sama, please go there first! I'll use the Reverse Summoning Technique to summon you to Shikkotsu Forest!"
Tsunade's mind was a complete fog, utterly clueless as to what was happening. But out of trust for Shikkotsu Forest, she still nodded.
"Fine. You go back first."
As her words fell, the little slug vanished once more in a puff of smoke.
Tsunade rose to her feet and called for Shizune, who was just outside the door.
"Shizune, I have something to attend to. I need to make a trip to Shikkotsu Forest. It'll just be a moment. Help me handle the administrative affairs."
Shizune wore an expression that practically screamed, 'I don't believe you for a second.'
"Ah, Tsunade-sama... you're sneaking off to drink or gamble again, aren't you?"
Tsunade's face flushed with indignation. She opened her mouth, about to retort.
"Absolutely n—"
But before she could finish, she vanished in a puff of smoke—she had been summoned away by the slug using the Reverse Summoning Technique.
Shizune's eyes flew wide open.
"H-Hey! Tsunade-sama! You ran off way too fast!"
******
Mount Myoboku.
Upon a seating platform inscribed with the character for "Sage," there rested a gigantic toad. In truth, it wasn't all that enormous. Compared to the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave, this toad was relatively normal in size—roughly four or five meters tall. It could be considered large, but in this world, it wasn't particularly so.
Around the corners of this toad's eyes and mouth, many wrinkles were clearly visible. There was no need for anyone to explain—any person who laid eyes on this toad would immediately understand one thing: this toad was incredibly, unfathomably old.
The toad also wore a black hat, somewhat resembling a doctoral cap.
Jiraiya stood before the seating platform, looking up at this great toad.
"Great Toad Sage... you were looking for me? Has something happened?"
Yes, this aged, enormous toad... was none other than the sage of Mount Myoboku—the Great Toad Sage!
The Great Toad Sage smiled faintly. After dozens of seconds of silence, he spoke with surprise.
"Ah! It's little Jiraiya! What brings you here?"
"..."
Beside the Great Toad Sage were two very small toads. Both were clad in cloaks that wrapped entirely around them—one a gray cloak, the other a black cloak.
These two were the Great Toad Sage's attendants and could also be considered among the sages of Mount Myoboku. One was called Fukasaku, the other Shima.
At that moment, Fukasaku spoke to the Great Toad Sage with a face full of exasperation. "Old-timer, you were the one who called little Jiraiya here. You had a dream about little Jiraiya."
The Great Toad Sage blanked out for several seconds again, then spoke with sudden realization.
"Oh, so that's how it is! I was the one who called little Jiraiya here. But... what was the dream I had?"
"..."
"..."
The Great Toad Sage was an existence of immense antiquity. Having lived for over a thousand years, although he had not yet passed away, he was indeed extremely aged and senile, frequently exhibiting symptoms of dementia.
But this was also precisely what made the Great Toad Sage so terrifying—to have lived for over a thousand years! This was an utterly horrifying figure!
Even in Kagaya's era, where people lived to an average of sixty or seventy years and could even survive much longer, a thousand years was absolutely an immensely long span of time. Let alone in this era of shinobi, where the average lifespan was merely thirty or forty years?
A thousand years, in this era, was truly no different from an eternal existence.
After a very long while, the Great Toad Sage finally recalled the dream (prophecy) he had experienced.
"Little Jiraiya... in my dream, you, who only ever seems to be lecherous, took on several disciples. And among them... one is the Child of Destiny... No, that's not right. I mentioned that before. The dream I had this time was a different one. Let me think..."
The Child of Destiny and all that... you mentioned that decades ago! And why must you emphasize yet again that I'm 'only ever lecherous'?! I'm not just lecherous, you know!
Jiraiya couldn't stop the endless stream of complaints running through his mind.
But, inner complaints aside, Jiraiya still waited with great patience for the Great Toad Sage to recall his prophecy.
Toward the Great Toad Sage's prophecies, Jiraiya held absolute, unwavering trust.
After thinking for another long while, the Great Toad Sage spoke again.
"I remember now. Little Jiraiya... everything has changed. The earlier prophecy about the Child of Destiny that I told you—that still remains unchanged. However, in my dream... a power that should not exist has appeared. Erratic, elusive, difficult to grasp. This power is immensely formidable. I had actually sensed something over a decade ago, but back then, I only thought it was an extremely weak power that shouldn't have appeared, so I paid it no mind. Now, it seems... I was wrong. That power that should not have appeared... has grown far too rapidly. I merely slept for one spell, and it has already reached a degree capable of shaking the entire shinobi world. In my dream, this power will become a pivotal force in the future. If it inclines toward good, then the shinobi world may obtain a relatively beautiful outcome amidst the coming calamity. If it inclines toward evil... then the shinobi world may be overturned and destroyed. Little Jiraiya... you must find a way. Win over this power... or destroy it. This power is far too erratic and elusive. I cannot predict what its ultimate choice will be. At the end of the day... it is a power that should never have appeared in the first place."
Jiraiya asked anxiously.
"Great Toad Sage... what exactly is this power you speak of? Can you give me some hints? And... what do you mean by 'a power that should not exist'?"
The Great Toad Sage spoke. "Hints? Ah... in my dream, that power appeared as a horse clad in armor. That's all I know. As for 'a power that should not exist'... those words are meant literally. That power was never supposed to exist. It should never have appeared... No, telling you this is useless. Now that even I have discovered it, Shikkotsu Forest should also be taking action."
Jiraiya furrowed his brow.
"A horse? The power that will influence the shinobi world... is actually a horse?"
This time, the Great Toad Sage did not answer Jiraiya. He sat there, as if he had fallen asleep. And in fact, the Great Toad Sage had indeed drifted off to sleep.
But Jiraiya... was left utterly frozen. For a moment, he had absolutely no idea what to do.
A horse?
******
Shikkotsu Forest.
Upon an enormous circular platform, an exceedingly thick and robust slug coiled there. It raised its head and looked toward Tsunade.
"Tsunade... you've come."
Tsunade lifted her head and gazed up at this gigantic slug. Unlike the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, who was wracked with extreme old age, the Great Slug Sage of Shikkotsu Forest only gave off the surface impression of being an elder. It didn't exude a sense of extreme senility.
"Great Slug Sage... you were looking for me?"
The Great Slug Sage nodded. "There is a matter... in which I need your assistance."
Tsunade spoke. "Please, go ahead."
From behind the Great Slug Sage, a tiny, miniature figure flew out and hovered before Tsunade.
"I hope you can take this object to your Leaf Village, and then... casually discard it somewhere."
The corner of Tsunade's mouth twitched.
"It's... that simple?"
The Great Slug Sage nodded seriously. "Yes. I hope you can help me with this."
Tsunade thought it over. Shikkotsu Forest couldn't possibly do anything detrimental to the Leaf Village. That being the case, bringing this object back to the Leaf Village didn't seem to be an issue.
"I understand. I'll help you, Great Slug Sage."
*****
Ryuchi Cave.
Kagaya looked at the White Snake Sage, who was puffing on her smoking pipe, and spoke with surprise.
"White Snake Sage, you're awake! What did you call me here for?"
The White Snake Sage looked seriously at Kagaya, then spoke. "Just what... are you, boy?"
Kagaya scratched his head.
"I'm just me. What else could I be?"
The White Snake Sage chuckled. "It seems you're no simple boy. Let me tell you something. Over at Shikkotsu Forest, that little slug girl... has already begun taking steps to eliminate you."
Kagaya froze. "Eliminate me? What does that mean?"
The White Snake Sage explained.
"Exactly what it sounds like. Do you still remember what I told you before? The sage of Shikkotsu Forest possesses the ability to 'amend the present.' Right now, she is merely fulfilling her duty. You have been designated as an error by her, and so she has set about amending you. Thus... I very much want to ask you: just what are you? There must be secrets about you, boy, that even I am unaware of, am I right? An error? How interesting. Since you've been designated as an error by that little slug girl of Shikkotsu Forest, you understand what this means, don't you? I don't know the rest, but I do know one thing: this means that in this world, in this era, at this time... you, Uchiha Kagaya, are a human who should not exist! Heh heh... you couldn't be like that... No, I'm overthinking it. If you were like that one, you couldn't possibly be this weak. So... just what are you?"
Kagaya's expression remained completely impassive. He showed no trace of panic. If he were still weak, being suspected and targeted by a sage of the sacred lands would certainly have sent him into a panic. But now... he had long since ceased to be a weak human. He had no reason to fear.
"A human who should not exist... huh?"
The White Snake Sage nodded, then shook her head.
"One correction. I may have misspoken slightly just now. It should be: a power that should not exist. If you were merely a human who should not exist and lacked the ability to significantly influence the course of this world, no one would bother with you. But what a pity... your power, boy, is already more than sufficient to greatly influence this world. That little slug of Shikkotsu Forest had no choice but to take action."
Kagaya nodded.
"I see. In that case... White Snake Sage, you just said I resembled 'that one.' Who... might 'that one' be?"
The White Snake Sage smiled.
"Do you truly wish to know?"
Kagaya nodded.
"Of course."
The White Snake Sage closed her eyes and pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"This is something I originally would not have told you. But considering the nature of your existence, which does bear some resemblance to that one's... perhaps you already know of her story. In that case... I shall tell you. In the ancient era—an era impossibly distant—there was no such thing as chakra. At that time, ordinary humans formed many nations and warred against one another endlessly. It was in such an era... that an outsider human appeared. Otsutsuki... have you heard this surname before? Whether you have or haven't doesn't matter. You'll know soon enough. As far as I know, she was the first being who should not have existed, should not have been present in this world. Her name was... Otsutsuki Kaguya. She did not belong to this world. She did not belong to that era. To this world... Kaguya was a human who should not exist."
The White Snake Sage observed Kagaya's utterly calm, unruffled expression and narrowed her eyes slightly.
"Hm... how remarkably calm. You brat... as I thought, you do know something, don't you? Just like that Kaguya... both of you are figures who should never have existed in this world. It's not strange for you to know something of each other. Heh... very well, I shall continue."
Kagaya, however, suddenly spoke up.
"No... that's enough. I already know the story that follows. White Snake Sage, what I wish to ask you now is this: can that sage of Shikkotsu Forest... directly eliminate me?"
The White Snake Sage smiled faintly and answered Kagaya's question.
********
The Hidden Sand Village.
Gaara drove his sand to coil around Hidan.
"Sand Binding Coffin!"
Very quickly, the sand completely engulfed Hidan.
Gaara panted heavily in great, heaving gasps. Raising his bloodstained right hand, he aimed it at Hidan, who was now encased in sand.
"Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
The sand, accompanied by immense, crushing force, instantly imploded inward. In a single moment, a massive spray of fresh blood erupted from within the sand!
No normal human could possibly survive this technique!
Gaara turned his head and looked at Kakuzu, who had been repelled moments earlier.
"Your comrade is already dead. Now, only you remain. I will make you understand... that slaughtering the civilians of the Hidden Sand Village... is a deed you will regret for the rest of your lives!"
Unlike Sasori and Deidara in the original story, Kakuzu and Hidan, during their process of capturing Gaara, had carved a bloody path straight through the village. Not many Hidden Sand shinobi had died, but civilians had been slaughtered all along the way. It was undoubtedly the darkest day in the Hidden Sand Village's history.
Kakuzu ignored Gaara's provocation entirely. Unhurriedly and without the slightest panic, he dusted off his body, appearing as if he were about to leave at any moment.
"It's over. Hidan, hurry it up! You should have drawn his blood by now, right?! The Hidden Sand shinobi are starting to gather. I have no desire to be worn down to death."