"I'll definitely reach the level of reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles in no time!" Shukaku declared with confidence.
Hiruzen chuckled, "I'll be waiting for your good news, then. I haven't even finished that training myself."
"Then I have to beat you to it! But hey, Sarutobi, I haven't asked yet—why are you in this desolate place where even birds don't bother to poop?"
"One of my students got caught in a space-time distortion while experimenting with summoning. I suspect he ended up in Mount Myoboku, so I'm on my way to find him." Hiruzen decided to tell them the truth. After all, Bunpuku was from Sunagakure, and it would be bad if any misunderstandings arose, especially since they were near the Wind Country's border. The Wind and Earth Countries were to the southwest and west of the Land of Fire, respectively, and Myoboku Mountain was just a bit further south.
"Myoboku Mountain, huh? That group of toads… Back in the day, their elder came out acting like some fortune-teller. Don't get fooled by them," Shukaku warned seriously.
"I'll be careful." Hiruzen was puzzled by how many people had warned him about this. He decided to go see for himself. "Alright, I'll be off now. You two continue your training." With that, he leaped into the air and disappeared into the distance.
As he flew, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel amused by his encounter with Shukaku.
Originally, he had only made up that whole "moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic, and labor" training to fool Shukaku but somehow, Shukaku had taken it seriously and turned it into something real. Why was that?
It had to do with the nature of tailed beasts.
When the Sage of Six Paths split the Ten Tails into nine separate tailed beasts, he wasn't just dividing its power—he was trying to prevent its resurrection after his death, ensuring the ninja world wouldn't be destroyed. He educated the nine tailed beasts, teaching them knowledge and morals, hoping to guide them down the right path. Over time, they each developed distinct personalities.
But after the Sage's death, his son Indra succumbed to his thirst for power, attempting to reunite the tailed beasts to revive the Ten Tails. Though he was ultimately stopped by Ashura, the scars he left behind remained.
The nine tailed beasts went into hiding, following the Sage's wishes but the story humans, driven by greed, constantly sought them out. Some were captured, others escaped, but in every case, their immense power was used in war, leading to massive casualties. Over time, people began to hate and fear the tailed beasts, blaming them for all the suffering. This resentment, like a twisted form of spiritual belief, created a cycle where the beasts absorbed negative emotions. Their chakra turned dark—black and red—and their personalities became more violent and destructive.
In truth, with their vast chakra reserves, tailed beasts were far beyond the power of most shinobi. Even Kage-level fighters struggled against them, with only the strongest managing to suppress them.
But now, something unexpected had happened. Shukaku, by following Hiruzen's "training," had unknowingly cracked open the cage of negative emotions binding him. He was beginning to change. Hiruzen himself didn't fully understand why, but he suspected it had to do with breaking the cycle of hatred.
Thinking back to the events of the original story, he recalled how the chakra of the Nine-Tails had eventually shifted from dark red to golden. Perhaps this was the key.
Shaking off his thoughts, Hiruzen focused on his journey. He continued flying nonstop for a full day and night, and finally, he spotted a place that matched the description of Myoboku Mountain.
Amidst the barren wasteland, a lush, vibrant oasis stood out—a hidden paradise. At an ordinary ninja's speed, reaching this place would take at least a month.
Approaching cautiously, Hiruzen took a deep breath. The air felt different—was it the high oxygen levels, or was it the natural energy unique to this land? Perhaps it was the presence of Senjutsu.
Adjusting his robes, he stood at the entrance and announced himself.
"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, Third Hokage of Konohagakure. I have long heard of the legendary Myoboku Mountain and its great reputation. Today, I have come to pay a visit!"
Using his magnetic field control, he amplified his voice, ensuring it spread in all directions.
Meanwhile, deep within Myoboku Mountain, Jiraiya was having a miserable time.
Ever since he had accidentally arrived here two days ago, his life had been nothing short of bizarre. He had vanished during his graduation exam, and now, passing it seemed impossible.
The moment he arrived, he was surrounded by all kinds of strange-looking toads. An ancient, wrinkled old toad had declared a prophecy—that one of Jiraiya's future students would be the Child of Prophecy, someone who would either bring unparalleled peace or complete destruction to the world.
It was all so ridiculous. An old toad making cryptic predictions, speaking in a language he barely understood…
After that, a smaller toad named Fukasaku had dragged him off to sign some sort of summoning contract, then introduced him to countless other toads. To make things worse, their meals consisted entirely of insects. It was horrifying.
"Sensei… When will you come and take me home?" Jiraiya muttered in despair.
Just then, a powerful voice rang out.
"The Third Hokage of Konohagakure, Sarutobi Hiruzen, has come to visit Myoboku Mountain!"
Jiraiya's eyes widened. "Master! Sensei is here to save me!"
He scrambled to locate the source of the voice but couldn't find the direction.
At the same time, Fukasaku and Shima also heard the announcement. Even the Great Toad Sage was roused from his sleep, murmuring, "The one who is not bound by fate has arrived…"
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances. The Great Sage's words carried an ominous weight. Without hesitation, they gathered several battle-ready toads and moved to intercept the visitor.
Hiruzen stood patiently at the entrance, waiting for a response.
Unexpectedly, a group of large toads leaped into view, landing right in front of him.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded. "Why are you shouting at our gate? You woke up the Great Toad Sage!"
Hiruzen looked at the group of toads in front of him, his expression calm but inwardly amused. So these are the famous toads of Mount Myoboku… He had read about them in ancient texts and heard stories from previous Hokage, but seeing them in person was a different experience altogether.
"I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage of Konohagakure," he repeated, his tone steady. "I have come to retrieve my disciple, Jiraiya. He was pulled here by an accident during a summoning experiment."
Fukasaku narrowed his eyes. "Hokage, you say? Hmph, you made quite the entrance! Shouting at the gates of Mount Myoboku like that... You woke up the Great Toad Sage, ya know!"
Shima crossed her arms. "And why should we hand over Jiraiya? He's started his training here. We don't see a reason to stop it."
Hiruzen sighed. "I appreciate that you're training him, but Jiraiya is still a child. He has responsibilities in Konoha, and he didn't come here by choice. I came to bring him back."
Bunta, the largest among them, puffed out a breath. "Hmph, he's been whining about leaving, but he's got potential. The old man gave a prophecy about him, you know."
"A prophecy?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. So this is where it started…
Before the toads could elaborate, a voice echoed from within the mountain.
"Let him in."
The toads immediately straightened. Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances, then stepped aside. "Come with us, Hokage," Fukasaku said. "The Great Toad Sage wishes to speak with you."
Hiruzen nodded and followed them into the heart of Mount Myoboku. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel the dense natural energy in the air. It was different from chakra—older, deeper, more connected to the world itself.
Soon, they arrived at a large, misty chamber where an ancient toad, the Great Toad Sage, rested on an enormous stone pedestal. His wrinkled eyes slowly opened, filled with wisdom from centuries of existence.
"Hokage of the Leaf… You have arrived," the Great Toad Sage murmured. "You are a man who stands outside the bounds of fate…"
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "Outside the bounds of fate?"
The old toad nodded slowly. "Yes… I saw a vision long ago. A man who was not bound by destiny, who would change the course of the shinobi world. The path is still unclear, but now that you have come to Myoboku, the future is shifting once more…"
Hiruzen kept his expression neutral, but his mind was racing. Not bound by fate? Is this because I'm not from this world?
Before he could ask more, a familiar voice interrupted.
"Master!"
Jiraiya came rushing in, looking slightly disheveled, his clothes slightly dirty, and his face full of desperation. "Master, you came for me! Thank you! Get me out of here! They're making me eat bunch of bugs!"
Hiruzen chuckled. "Jiraiya, you're not even here for a full week and you're already complaining?"
"You don't understand, sensei! The food! The training! The weird old toad who keeps making cryptic prophecies!" Jiraiya shuddered. "I just want to go home!"
The Great Toad Sage let out a deep chuckle. "Child, you still have much to learn. But perhaps… your time here is not yet over."
Jiraiya froze. "Wait, what does that mean?"
The old toad's eyes half-closed again, as if already slipping back into sleep. "You will return… but fate has a way of bringing you back."
Hiruzen frowned slightly. "Does this mean you would stop him from leaving?"
Jiraiya flinched. "Wait, wait, wait! You mean I have to stay? Sensei! Help me!"
Hiruzen crossed his arms. "You heard him. You started this mess, so you'll finish it yourself."
Jiraiya's jaw dropped. "Sensei! You were supposed to save me!"
Hiruzen smirked. "Oh, I did. I saved you from running away from your responsibilities."
Fukasaku and Shima chuckled while Jiraiya groaned dramatically.
Hiruzen turned back to the Great Toad Sage. "Is that all? Or is there something else you wanted to say?"
The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes briefly, as if searching through the threads of fate. When he opened them again, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.
"The winds of change are stirring… War looms on the horizon, chaos follows in its wake, and a force yet unseen begins to rise. Your path, Lord Hokage, is intertwined with destiny. Whether you stand in defiance of fate or walk the path it has laid before you, the course of the world will be shaped by your own choice."
Hiruzen's expression remained unreadable. War, chaos… That was inevitable. But what unseen forces?
Jiraiya looked between them, confused. "What does that even mean?"
Hiruzen exhaled and turned to leave. "It means we prepare, Jiraiya and it means you train harder than ever before."
Jiraiya groaned again. "Ugh, why do I feel like I just made things worse for myself?"
Hiruzen smirked. "Because you did."
With that, the Great Toad Sage gave a slow nod. "The future shifts once more… we shall see where this path leads."
As they walked away from the Great Toad Sage's chamber, Hiruzen couldn't shake the feeling that he was walking into something much bigger than he had anticipated. But that was fine.
"Thats right you little brat!" Hiruzen continued, striding forward. "Running off to another dimension, making everyone worried sick! And what's this I hear about eating bugs? Did you even try to refuse properly?!"
Jiraiya scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "W-Well, they kinda just… put it in front of me, and, uh… I didn't wanna be rude…"
Hiruzen sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You should've at least made an effort! What kind of shinobi just accepts defeat when faced with a plate of insects?!"
Sarutobi continued again. "Maybe that would've taught you to think twice before playing around with summoning!"
Fukasaku sighed. "We won't force him to stay. But Jiraiya has a natural talent for Senjutsu. If he leaves now, he may never develop it properly."
Jiraiya blinked. "Senjutsu? You mean that cool Sage Mode thing?"
Shima nodded. "Indeed. But it's not something learned in a few days. If you leave now, you may struggle with it in the future."
Jiraiya hesitated. He wanted to go home, but the idea of learning a powerful technique like Sage Mode was tempting. He turned to Hiruzen. "Sensei… what should I do?"
Hiruzen looked at his student carefully. Jiraiya was still young, still reckless. But if he stayed, he might truly gain something valuable.
After a long pause, Hiruzen finally spoke. "The choice is yours, Jiraiya. If you want to stay and train, I won't stop you. But if you want to return, I will take you home now."
Jiraiya looked at the toads, then at his sensei, then down at his own hands. Finally, he clenched his fists.
"I'll stay… but only for a little while! No more bug dinners, though!"
The toads chuckled, and Hiruzen smiled. "Very well. Then train hard, Jiraiya. I'll be waiting for you in Konoha."
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances as they led the way. They had seen many shinobi train here, but this Hokage… he was different. He carried himself with an air of absolute confidence, not just in his strength but in his authority. He had no intention of playing along with whatever test they had set up.
Fukasaku whispered to Shima, "He's nothing like the other humans we've met before."
Shima nodded. "And that's exactly what makes him dangerous."
Hiruzen ignored their hushed conversation and focused on Jiraiya. Though he was scolding him harshly, deep down, he was relieved. Jiraiya had been alone for too long, and while he acted carefree, he clearly longed for someone to worry about him. 'Brat... you really are looking for a place to belong, huh?'
Hiruzen turned, ready to leave Myoboku. As he walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much larger than he had anticipated.
Because unlike the others who blindly followed fate—he intended to forge his own path.