novelraw Chapter 320 321 : Child of Prophecy X Great Toad Sage
Chapter 320 321 : Child of Prophecy X Great Toad Sage
'Clone Technique?'
'No, it's `[Multiple Shadow Clone]`!'
The courtyard door opened, and Asuma stared blankly at the yard packed to the brim with Roys, immediately dumbfounded...
Although he was rebellious and often threw tantrums at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who hoped his son would achieve greatness, deliberately slacking off in his ninjutsu studies, as the Hokage's son, he frequently visited Hiruzen's study. Even if Asuma didn't intentionally look at Hiruzen's materials, he had picked up knowledge of some powerful ninjutsu through constant exposure.
In the original story, the reason he died at Hidan's hands was partly because Hidan's worship of the Evil God was too unorthodox.
Anyone else who didn't understand Hidan would also fall victim if they were grazed and lost even a drop of blood...
As his gaze shifted, hundreds of Roys turned to look at Asuma simultaneously. The young man, who had already passed the Chunin Exams and earned his promotion to Chunin through actual life-and-death battles on the battlefield, felt his pupils suddenly shrink.
Meeting Roy's indifferent gaze head-on, for some reason, a chill ran down his spine, and a fine layer of cold sweat broke out. It felt... as if he had been completely seen through at a single glance, from the inside out, from top to bottom, leaving no secrets hidden...
*Whoosh...* `[Eye of Truth]` triggered automatically... Immediately, a stream of information flowed into Roy's mind...
'About the level of an average Phantom Troupe member...' Roy thought as he withdrew his gaze. Following a thought from his main body, the clones vanished one after another with soft *poof, poof, poof* sounds, turning into swirling streams of Nen. They carried memories, consciousness, fatigue, and `[Damage]`, all returning and feeding back into Roy's main body!
It needed to be emphasized that every clone of the `[Multiple Shadow Clone]` was an individual with independent consciousness, thought, memory, and the ability to act alone. Naturally, after the clones were dispelled, the experience, memories, fatigue, and even injuries carried by them would be perfectly received and endured by Roy...
The mixed `[Damage]` and `[Mental Fatigue and Shock]` were also crucial factors that could prove fatal to a ninja, though this was not recorded in Tobirama Senju's annotations...
Perhaps, in the Second Hokage's eyes, those with insufficiently strong wills were destined never to become excellent ninjas...
Roy guessed inwardly, slowly exhaling a soft breath...
The young man, his dark, shiny hair draped over his shoulders, turned his head to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi again.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed momentarily lost in a daze, as if still immersed in the youthful days of the past. After spacing out in silence for a moment, he raised his hand and gently tapped his dry pipe against the rim of the nearby trash can to extinguish it. "You win. The `[Scroll of Seals]` is in the bookcase behind you. Go pick out another ninjutsu for yourself."
Hiruzen paused. Remembering the young man's terrifying learning speed, he hesitated before correcting himself, "Two. I permit you to choose two more."
Roy's slightly tense expression finally softened a bit upon hearing this.
The young man walked to the bookcase without a word. Finding the spot Hiruzen had pointed to, he reached out and firmly grabbed a scroll. He lowered his head, slowly unrolling it, and immediately began searching for the `[Edo Tensei]`.
Finally, at the very end of the scroll, he saw the words `[Edo Tensei]`.
Roy's eyes grew serious as he carefully studied the `[Edo Tensei]`, converting its contents into "Nen text" and storing it in his mind. Following that, under the categories of `[Offense]`, `[Sealing]`, `[Defense]`, and `[Elemental Ninjutsu]`, he spotted the words `[Rashomon]`. In an instant, he recalled the iconic scene where Orochimaru opened with a `[Triple Rashomon]` to block the sudden Tailed Beast Bomb fired by the Four-Tailed Naruto.
"`[Rashomon]`, huh? I wanted to learn that back in the day too," Minato Namikaze, his blonde hair resting on his shoulders, leaned in and mused while resting his chin on his hand. "Unfortunately, I don't have `[Earth]` among my chakra natures, and I'm not particularly skilled at summoning jutsu, so I gave up..."
"After all, that is a ninjutsu developed by the First Hokage. Its name means 'Castle of Rebirth', and legend says it is the gateway to hell," Hiruzen said quietly, pointing out the key detail. He gave Roy a meaningful look and added, "You have a connection with the First Hokage, so this jutsu suits you perfectly."
'What does that mean... How does Jin have a connection with the First Hokage?'
Hearing the hidden meaning in Hiruzen's words, Minato was slightly taken aback. He turned his head to glance at Roy and only then realized with surprise... the necklace hanging around the young man's neck looked exactly like the one Lady Tsunade always wore... In other words... Lady Tsunade had already met the boy, and... whatever had happened, she had even gifted him her most precious necklace. This was enough to show—
How highly she regarded the young man!
"Then this is it." Roy focused, converting `[Rashomon]` into "Nen text" and storing it in his mind. Honoring his agreement with Hiruzen, he reached back and returned the `[Scroll of Seals]` to its original place.
The young man let out a long sigh of relief. His mission for this trip had been accomplished, so he didn't plan to linger. Unexpectedly, just as he was about to bid a simple farewell to Hiruzen and Minato, an invisible fluctuation suddenly emanated from the void.
It instantly caused him to frown and halt his steps. "Who is it?!"
The spatial fluctuations grew increasingly urgent. Before Hiruzen and Minato could react, Roy reached out and grabbed directly toward the source of the disturbance!
`[Sumeru Mustard Seed]` — Spatial Connection!
In the blink of an eye, a hole tore open in the void, instantly revealing the figure of a toad!
"I should be the one asking who you are?!"
"Brat, stop right there!"
As the `[Sumeru Mustard Seed]` opened, a suddenly elongated tongue shot out, attempting to swat away Roy's large hand that was reaching for it!
But to the toad's surprise, the hand Roy thrust into the void was faintly enveloped in a profound `[Dark Light]` over its bones and flesh. Even though the toad's tongue was faster and sharper than an ordinary blade, it still failed to pierce through. Instead, Roy seized the opening, intercepted it mid-air, and with a single grab, yanked it out...
"Ouch... my old..."
*Thud!* The toad crashed to the ground with a croak, instantly pinned down by Roy, who stepped firmly on its back.
The sudden turn of events began in an instant and ended just as quickly... By the time Roy retracted the `[Sumeru Mustard Seed]` into his body and the spatial void vanished... Hiruzen and Minato finally snapped back to reality and fixed their eyes on the floor.
The corners of both their mouths twitched violently as they instantly recognized the toad... "Fukasaku / Lord Fukasaku..."
'Isn't this Jiraiya's / Sensei's summoning beast?'
Hiruzen suddenly realized something and hurriedly said to Roy, "Jin, he's on our side. Let him go quickly."
"Oh," Roy grunted nonchalantly. Naturally, he had also recognized Fukasaku. That signature tuft of white beard and white hair—wasn't this Fukasaku, one half of the "Toad Couple" Fukasaku and Shima, Jiraiya's most trusted partners?
The young man feigned innocence and released Fukasaku. Minato stepped in at the right moment to help Fukasaku up, listening as the old toad clutched his waist and wailed in self-pity, "Ouch, gently... careful with my back..."
Roy simply looked up at the ceiling, pretending he hadn't seen a thing...
This was truly a case of the flood washing away the Dragon King's temple—a misunderstanding between allies. Presumably, this old toad had come to deliver a battle report to Hiruzen on behalf of Jiraiya at the frontlines. And sure enough—
Angry as he was, Fukasaku hadn't forgotten his main business. After catching his breath with Minato's support, the old toad opened his mouth and spat out a whirlwind. It carried a scroll that slowly floated toward Hiruzen, who grabbed it firmly with one hand. "Little Jiraiya asked me to come and inform you that traces of the Raikage's son have recently been found on the frontlines. He brought a boy named Killer Bee and pushed deep into the battlefield, killing quite a few people and causing the frontlines to tighten. So... Little Jiraiya sent me to ask,"
"When will the reinforcements arrive? You must speed up the process, otherwise, he won't be able to hold out alone for much longer!!"
Ay... Killer Bee... The AB Combo. As expected... 'Is it them?'
Roy listened quietly from the side, his heart itching with an urgent desire to rush to the battlefield.
That place was the graveyard of great nations, a meat grinder for major ninja villages like Konoha, Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, as well as countless smaller villages. It was the burial ground for ordinary ninjas and even elite ninjas. And of course... it was also a hotbed for nourishing and breeding `[Life Energy]`!
Roy didn't like war, nor did he like killing. But he had to admit... whether in his past life, the Hunter world, the Demon Slayer world, or the current Naruto world, wherever there were people, there was a martial underworld, politics, disputes, and filthy corruption, all waiting for the `[Sun]` to bloom its light and go forth to... purify!
An unseen craving transformed into battle intent, slowly permeating from Roy's body...
Hiruzen, who was staring at the scroll and listening to Fukasaku's report, seemed to sense something. He suddenly looked up, glaring at Roy, and said, "You are not allowed to go!"
"I've said it before, no matter who goes, you cannot go!"
Fukasaku, still clutching his waist, was slightly taken aback. Surprised by Hiruzen's attitude, he turned his head to look at Minato and asked, "Who is he?"
Minato looked at Hiruzen, then at Roy, and said gently, "His name is Jin, a child of the Uchiha clan."
Uchiha? Fukasaku instinctively frowned.
That clan was inherently evil. Why would one appear in the Hokage's study? And by the looks of it... he was even highly protective of this boy?
Did the sun rise from the west today?
Fukasaku scowled at Roy. His back and tongue, which had just been grabbed and stepped on, were still throbbing with dull pain. It was truly bizarre... Despite his small size and soft tongue, he was a "Toad Sage" with a full eight hundred years of senjutsu cultivation! Even though he had signed a contract with Jiraiya, he was an existence whom the latter had to respectfully call "Boss"!
In terms of combat power, he was definitely not inferior to these Jonin of Konoha. So how was he so easily manhandled by this brat just now?
Fukasaku recalled the layer of `[Dark Light]` that had enveloped Roy's palm earlier.
He faintly sensed that something was off...
His deep gaze remained fixed on Roy.
A hazy `[Thread of Karma]` slowly and firmly connected the two of them following their first encounter...
Roy replied to Hiruzen indifferently, "Got it."
But in his heart, he already had a plan.
He merely cast a backward glance at Fukasaku. A flash of light suddenly flickered in his clear, bright eyes. Through the `[Thread of Karma]` between him and Fukasaku, he could distantly see the numerous `[Threads of Karma]` swaying and crisscrossing behind the toad.
These `[Threads of Karma]` were all indirectly connected to him through Fukasaku.
He was on this end.
And on the other end... he could vaguely make out a few silhouettes.
Among them, one with white hair draped behind his head like a lion's mane, faintly wearing a forehead protector with the character for `[Oil]`, should be Jiraiya.
Among them, one with purple lips and purple hair, a vibrant green only slightly lighter than Fukasaku's skin tone, should be his wife, Shima.
Among them, a massive red toad with a giant pipe dangling from its mouth should be Bunta.
Others included Gamahiro, Gamaken... a host of toads, varying in size, skin color, weaponry, and demeanor. The only thing they had in common was their final destination—
They were all at,
Mount Myoboku!
The final, unseen `[Thread of Karma]` swayed and caught Roy's eye.
The young man vaguely sensed something and narrowed his eyes, looking toward the other end of that `[Thread of Karma]`...
A range of high mountains and steep ridges, with a small temple hidden among them...
Below it, by a stream, was a high platform enshrining the character for `[Sage]`.
Directly above the `[Sage]` character, faint, intermittent snoring could be heard.
Roy followed the sound of the snoring and saw an old orange toad. Around its neck hung a string of prayer beads, with a pale purple cat's-eye stone set in the middle, engraved with the same `[Oil]` character as Jiraiya's. It wore a scholar's cap on its head. In its drowsy state, it suddenly opened its dim, yellow eyes and asked faintly, its voice trembling and hoarser than a broken bellows, "Who goes there?"
Roy remained silent.
The old toad grunted. Receiving no response, its head drooped, and it seemed to fall back into a deep slumber...
Seeing this, Roy instantly recognized him. He then curiously glanced at the temple before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
*Buzz...* The `[Thread of Karma]` subsequently retracted...
Everything seemed to return to normal. However, what Roy didn't expect was that,
Not long after he disconnected, the deeply slumbering old toad suddenly opened its eyes again. As if disturbed by a nightmare, it jolted awake and spoke in a haunting tone, "It has been a thousand years, Hagoromo. Since your death, the Child of Prophecy... has finally... appeared..."
*Whoosh...* A gust of chakra wind laced with "natural energy" blew past.
As the old toad spoke, thousands of toads cultivating in the mountains suddenly raised their heads, stopping whatever they were doing. At that moment, they all heard this sentence in their minds simultaneously—including Fukasaku and Shima, who were currently summoned in the outside world!
'The Child of Prophecy?!' Inside Hiruzen Sarutobi's house,
Fukasaku's yellow eyes, with their pitch-black, horizontal slit pupils, trembled. His expression changed instantly!
This was keenly caught by Minato, who was supporting him.
Minato asked with concern, "What's wrong, Lord Fukasaku?"
Following this, Hiruzen also cast his gaze over... The toad, Fukasaku, took a deep breath and said in a heavy voice, "The ninja world is about to undergo a massive upheaval!"
The Ancestor could not be wrong, and had never been wrong. It was precisely because his "prophecies always came true" that the venerable one was crowned with the honorable title of "Great Toad Sage." Therefore, if he said... the Child of Prophecy had appeared, then the Child of Prophecy must have definitely appeared!
As for who it was...
Fukasaku glanced at Roy.
It couldn't possibly be an inherently evil Uchiha!