The more Toad Kiyohara spoke, the angrier he became, until the bumps on his back had turned a dark crimson color.
"I activated Sage Mode, and on top of that I used several sealing techniques inherited from Mount Myoboku. But in the end, that monster lashed out in a final counterattack before dying. By the time I realized what was happening, my body had already begun to dissipate. I did not even have time to return to Mount Myoboku."
He lifted his forelimb and smacked his own head in frustration. "If I had been able to further refine my senjutsu, maybe I could have withstood it… tsk, my training was still lacking."
After a brief pause, Kiyohara asked, "So your first final will is to kill that ultimate summoning beast?"
"Yes." Toad Kiyohara nodded.
"That is not a problem." Kiyohara inclined his head in agreement.
The path of summoning lay within the Land of the Sea, and it just so happened that he could take the opportunity to check whether another member of the Uzumaki clan, Uzumaki Honoka, was still alive.
"Wait a moment. You said you lived for more than a hundred years, but the 'Last Will System' is supposed to receive the me from the future, right?"
(TN: Guys I might have mess up here because I thought it was a mistranslation, I changed the people in the last will system to alternate selves in different timelines instead of just future selves since I thought it can't be future selves since some have different starting point like being born in a clan or like toad in this one. I might have made it worse since I can't wrap my head on what the above means.)
Kiyohara suddenly noticed the inconsistency.
The anchor point of the Last Will System was bound to himself, specifically the moment he had traveled through time.
"I was sent into the past by the Dragon Vein. Since I could not find a way to survive, I had no choice but to remain there like Mukade, living all the way until the future. I only reemerged around the time Naruto was in his early teens."
"I see."
Upon hearing this, Kiyohara immediately understood.
Time travel caused by the Dragon Vein allowed a person to seamlessly integrate into the past.
It was similar to the ancient Kingdom of Roran. Although it possessed the power of the Dragon Vein, it originally leaned more toward a tribal form of society.
Only later, with the puppet technology brought by Mukade combined with the Dragon Vein, did it develop into the Roran of the present.
Even though Mukade had died, the influence he left behind remained, and there was no paradox of two Mukade existing simultaneously.
For example, if one traveled back to the era of Sunagakure years earlier, there would not be a conflict regarding where the pre-defection Mukade was.
"So what about your other final wills? Or is there only this one?"
After digesting the information, Kiyohara continued asking.
Toad Kiyohara's spiritual form revealed an expression that was almost human.
"To learn complete senjutsu. The true senjutsu of Mount Myoboku."
"What do you mean?" Kiyohara frowned slightly, confused. "True?"
"That is right." Toad Kiyohara nodded again.
He raised one forelimb, palm facing upward, and a faint projection of senjutsu chakra appeared above it.
"Even within Mount Myoboku, not everyone can cultivate senjutsu to its essence."
Kiyohara nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. Fukasaku and Shima, who have lived for eight hundred years, should already be among the upper echelon of Mount Myoboku."
If there were even older toads, then their mastery of senjutsu would undoubtedly surpass Fukasaku and Shima, and accordingly their status would be even higher.
This clearly showed that one's understanding of senjutsu directly influenced its effectiveness.
"I trained for one hundred and eighty years before I was finally able to perfectly merge natural energy with my own chakra and reach Sage Mode. However, my chakra reserves were insufficient. After all, the greater the chakra pool, the more senjutsu chakra one can produce in proportion."
The spiritual form displayed his toad body as he spoke in a complicated tone.
Toad Kiyohara then began explaining why things had turned out this way.
He and Kiyohara were essentially the same person, just existing on different timelines.
In their previous lives, both had been ordinary humans, possessing normal human aesthetics.
But he had to look at those gaudily decorated female toads, covered in heavy makeup and flamboyant adornments.
Some toads even liked crossdressing, such as Gamakichi's acquaintance Gamahiro, a male toad who would paint his lips red and constantly clash with Naruto, arguing every single time they met.
This made Toad Kiyohara deeply uncomfortable.
At every moment, he longed to become human, just like the three great snake princesses of Ryuchi Cave who had taken on humanoid forms.
Unfortunately, he had died before he could achieve that goal.
So what he wished to see now was a version of Kiyohara who possessed a human form with minimal toad characteristics.
After hearing this, Kiyohara found himself understanding a bit more.
Eating insects every day was one thing, but being surrounded by female toads on top of that…
"However, the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku is ultimately 'toad senjutsu.' Regardless of what species the practitioner originally is, their body will gradually tend toward becoming more toad-like. The less perfect the mastery, the stronger the influence."
He paused briefly before continuing, "In this life, you have a human body, and even I do not know how much you will be able to learn. Perhaps… perhaps after mastering the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku, you can find a path that is more suitable for humans, one that does not result in 'toadification'?"
Kiyohara fell into thought for a moment.
Senjutsu had long been a crucial part of his planned growth in power. This was a form of strength he could not afford to ignore.
It was practically a must-have in the shinobi world. Without it, one would not even qualify to stand at the same table as the strongest.
As for the Eight Gates, at best it only allowed one to briefly join the table after opening the Gate of Death, before dying soon after.
"Perhaps you might even merge with me," Kiyohara said.
He was quite curious. If he inherited such a non-human self, what would happen to the chakra system within his body?
Would he inherit the bloodline of a toad?
The thought struck him as rather absurd.
In his previous life, he had read quite a number of stories, yet he could not recall anyone inheriting a toad bloodline.
Could it be that without a toad bloodline, the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku would be considered inauthentic?
"Interesting." Toad Kiyohara nodded.
That possibility did exist.
"I inherited a future, but it is a future as a toad."
"I just did not expect that there would also be a past where I was not a toad. As for what will happen in the end, even I cannot say. However, my second final will is simple. I need you to master the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku as a human."
"And what are the criteria for that?" Kiyohara asked curiously.
If he fulfilled the first wish and inherited the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku, would that not mean he had already completed the second will as well?
"I can sense the state of your senjutsu chakra. The fewer 'sage markings' that appear on your face, the more refined your mastery is. As long as you do not end up like Jiraiya, it will be fine."
"That sounds manageable." Kiyohara nodded.
No matter how he looked at it, the second wish did not seem difficult.
After all, if he had already inherited part of senjutsu, how could he possibly fail to learn the true thing?
Not to mention, he could also seek guidance from Toad Kiyohara himself.
"By the way… can I form a summoning contract with you?" Kiyohara suddenly asked out of curiosity.
In a sense, Toad Kiyohara could also be considered a summoned beast.
"No. If I want to interact with reality, I must rely on you as a medium."
"I see." Kiyohara nodded slightly.
Even if a summoning contract could be formed, it would not hold much meaning.
Toad Kiyohara was essentially carried around in the urn anyway. Whenever needed, all he had to do was tap it.
Unless others were allowed to summon Toad Kiyohara?
But others would neither be able to see him nor allow him to possess them, so it would be pointless.
"Come to think of it, you also have a curse mark," Toad Kiyohara remarked as he circled around him.
From his perspective, Kiyohara appeared very small.
If one counted three meters per floor, then at a height of eighteen meters, he was equivalent to a six-story building.
"Yes." Kiyohara nodded.
The Cursed Seal of Earth was essentially an imitation of senjutsu.
He was now wondering whether he could obtain the Cursed Seal of Heaven as well.
If he combined the two, could he achieve automatic energy replenishment?
After all, only Hashirama Senju could instantly enter Sage Mode.
Even Naruto in his thirties could not accomplish that, needing to either prepare shadow clones in advance or rely on the residual senjutsu chakra within his body to activate it.
"I am a bit curious. If things really happen the way you described, then after you and I merge, what kind of bloodline will yours become?"
Toad Kiyohara looked extremely intrigued.
However, seeing such an expression on the face of a toad felt rather strange.
"So what is your chakra nature?" Kiyohara asked.
"Water," Toad Kiyohara replied.
"Water, huh…"
Kiyohara was not surprised.
In the shinobi world, chakra natures could be inherited. This was information carried at the DNA level.
For example, the Sarutobi clan and the Uchiha clan, the vast majority of their members possessed fire nature chakra, with only a small minority being exceptions.
Kiyohara had also noticed that most of the toads from Mount Myoboku were proficient in water release techniques.
Gamabunta, Gamakichi, and Gamatatsu were no exceptions. All of them could use water style ninjutsu.
After all, they also possessed a chakra system within their bodies, even if it differed from that of humans.
"By filling in water nature, I now have all seven chakra natures," Kiyohara said.
In theory, if he mastered Yin and Yang Release, he would be able to create Truth Seeking Orbs.
At their core, Truth Seeking Orbs were simply highly condensed chakra formed from the combination of Yin, Yang, and the five elemental natures.
Of course, aside from that, if one possessed Six Paths Senjutsu or the Tenseigan, it was also possible to create them even without having all seven chakra natures.
"Haha, decisive as always. As expected of me."
Toad Kiyohara's spiritual form patted his belly in satisfaction.
If he had a human form, he would surely be just as outstanding as Kiyohara.
After chatting for a while longer, Kiyohara withdrew from his mind and returned to reality.
Meanwhile, Toad Kiyohara slipped back into his urn to conserve energy.
"The first non human future has already appeared. I wonder if even stranger futures will show up later."
Kiyohara stroked his chin in thought.
"Forget it. If I can really inherit a toad bloodline and also gain the senjutsu of Mount Myoboku, I would probably be even more authentic than Jiraiya."
At that thought, Kiyohara could not help but find it amusing.
After all, in the shinobi world, human and beast relationships were not a thing, which meant that if anyone ever possessed a toad bloodline, it would most likely only be him.
"I wonder if my lifespan will be extended."
After pondering for a moment, Kiyohara resumed his training.
Not long after, he fell into a deep sleep.
...
When Danzo stepped into the highest tower of Amegakure, the sound of rain was cut off by the thick walls, leaving only the steady dripping of water through the drainage pipes.
Behind him followed two Root operatives, carrying a corpse wrapped in oilcloth over their shoulders. Dark red blood seeped through the edges of the covering.
Hanzo sat high above, a respirator mask covering most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible as they observed the visitors.
Behind him stood four Amegakure jonin, their hands resting on their shinobi tool pouches at all times.
"Danzo."
Hanzo's voice came through the mask.
"You said you had an important matter to discuss, yet you bring a corpse into my council chamber. Is this the etiquette of Konoha?"
"Hanzo, this is what we discovered."
Danzo raised his hand, and one of the Root operatives pulled away the oilcloth.
The corpse was that of a middle aged man, his face a bluish purple. There were three penetrating wounds in his chest, with scorch marks around the edges.
"My men tracked the traces of battle. There were at least five opponents. Their tactical coordination was skilled, and they erased their tracks during retreat. This is not something ordinary missing nin or wandering samurai could accomplish."
Hanzo fell silent for a moment, then gestured for his subordinates to examine the body.
One of the Amegakure jonin stepped forward, formed hand seals, and placed his palm on the corpse's forehead.
"You suspect an organization within the Land of Rain itself."
Hanzo spoke directly.
"It is the Akatsuki."
"Their ideology is to achieve peace through communication," Danzo continued.
"They do not accept assassination missions, nor do they involve themselves in the conflicts of great nations. They provide protection to small villages, drive away bandits and rogue shinobis. It sounds beautiful, does it not?"
Hanzo did not respond.
"But Hanzo, you understand better than I do."
Danzo lowered his voice.
"On this land, beautiful things often die the fastest, unless they are strong enough to change the rules."
"And the Akatsuki… are becoming strong."
He raised his hand again, and another Root operative presented a scroll.
After unrolling it, a simple map of the Land of Rain was revealed, marked with dozens of colored points.
"The red marks indicate confirmed areas where the Akatsuki are active. The yellow marks represent villages suspected of having their supporters. Does it not resemble a net?"
Danzo's finger traced outward from the center of the map, where Amegakure was located.
"Danzo."
Hanzo spoke slowly.
"You are a shinobi of Konoha. You have come all this way to tell me this. What do you want?"
A sharp glint flashed in Danzo's single eye.
"Cooperation."
He answered simply.
"The Land of Rain occupies a unique geographical position, rich in resources, especially iron ore and chakra metal deposits. Konoha requires a stable supply channel. In return, Root can handle certain matters that are… inconvenient for Amegakure to deal with directly."
"For example, eliminating the Akatsuki?" Hanzo asked.
"For example, maintaining the stability of the Land of Rain and bringing peace," Danzo corrected.
"Any force that could threaten the current rule should be eliminated in its infancy. This is for the sake of the Land of Rain, and also for the long term friendly relations between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain."
Hanzo fell into silence.
The only sound in the chamber was the rain striking against the high windows.
After a long while, Hanzo raised his hand. "Leave the corpse. Leave the map as well. I need time to consider."
"Of course."
Danzo nodded.
"But the cost of hesitation is often greater bloodshed."
With that, he turned and left the council chamber with his two Root operatives.
After they departed, Hanzo asked the jonin behind him, "What do you think?"
"Danzo intends to use our hands to eliminate the Akatsuki while also gaining control over the mineral resources of the Land of Rain," one jonin said bluntly.
"He is using us."
"I know."
Hanzo nodded.
"But he is right about one thing. The Akatsuki are growing. In the past, they were merely a small group of a few dozen people. But now?"
Hanzo looked at the glaring red marks on the map.
Once upon a time, he had held similar ideals.
When he was young, he too wanted to change this country. He wanted the Land of Rain to no longer be a battlefield for the great countries. He wanted children to grow up without the shadow of war.
But ideals required strength to protect them.
And strength… often corrupted those ideals.
He chose power. He chose to maneuver between the great nations. He chose to maintain this fragile balance with an iron hand.
And in doing so, he became the very kind of person he once despised.
"Contact Danzo," Hanzo said after a moment of thought.
"Tell him I can agree to cooperate, but the terms must be renegotiated."
"Yes."
After the jonin withdrew, Hanzo walked alone to the window.
"Do not blame me. This country… cannot endure another revolution."
Inside the underground training ground of the Akatsuki base, Kiyohara stood with his eyes closed.
"Feel the flow of the air."
In his mind, Toad Kiyohara's voice echoed, carrying its distinctive croaking tone.
"Natural energy is everywhere, but it is like fish in water. It will not approach you on its own. You must first become still, so still that it perceives you as part of nature itself."
Kiyohara tried to relax every muscle in his body.
Gradually, he began to hear more.
Outside the training ground, the sound of rain hitting the ground was no longer a chaotic series of patters, but layered ripples overlapping one another.
The faint vibrations of earthworms moving through the soil, the trembling of silk threads as a spider spun its web in the corner…
"Yes, that is it."
Toad Kiyohara praised him.
"Now try using your curse mark."
Hearing this, Kiyohara activated the curse mark.
Dark patterns spread across his body.
He could feel the chakra within him begin to change.
Next, he attempted to gather this chakra into his hand.
At the same time, the natural energy in the air was gradually drawn toward it.
Like ants attracted to honey, it slowly converged around his chakra.
In the next moment, Kiyohara threw a straight punch.
His fist passed close to the wooden post without making contact.
Bang!
Yet in the following instant, the surface of the post exploded with a web of cracks.
His fist had still been a full ten centimeters away.
Frog Kata.
This was a technique Toad Kiyohara had taught him, allowing the user to utilize the natural energy surrounding their body to extend the range of their attacks.
"Good, that is it. Let natural energy be guided by your movements, like wrapping your fist in a mass of flowing water, making it larger."
Toad Kiyohara nodded slightly.
This was considered one of the most basic ways to use natural energy.
Beyond this, there were more advanced techniques, such as Frog Strike, where natural energy was concentrated into the palm to deliver a powerful blow.
"This move would be excellent for ambushes," Kiyohara said with a nod.
Not everyone could perceive natural energy.
By gathering different amounts of it, one could control the extent of the invisible extension around their limbs.
Even if the enemy dodged the physical fist, they would not realize that Kiyohara's attack had already expanded, as if he were wearing an invisible gauntlet.
"Just need to continue practicing," Kiyohara said.
Even in Curse Mark State One, he could use natural energy, though not as naturally as in Sage Mode.
But for now, it was sufficient. He was already beginning to learn the fundamentals of senjutsu in advance.
"Yes, you can expand the range further. From covering straight punches to kicks and elbow strikes. When you can maintain a layer of natural energy across your body even during mobile combat, then Frog Kata will be considered mastered."
Toad Kiyohara nodded.
For toads, this technique was instinctive.
But for a human to use it, practice was still required.
Over the next few days, Kiyohara trained here continuously.
During the daytime, he would accompany Konan and the others to deal with attacks against the Akatsuki.
For some reason, the frequency of these attacks began to decrease significantly.
Until one day, Amegakure suddenly dispatched shinobis to approach the Akatsuki.
They claimed that Lord Hanzo had taken notice of them and intended to legalize the Akatsuki, formally recognizing their status.
"What?"
Yahiko and Nagato both saw the same shock reflected in each other's eyes.
(End of Chapter)