Before the Second Shinobi World War, Hanzō had already massacred the Land of Rain's Daimyō and nobles, staging a coup and becoming the leader of the Hidden Rain Village.
Hanzō subsequently earned the nickname 'Demigod', and the Land of Rain officially entered an era of Ninja rule.
Ninja and Daimyō, as well as nobles, were largely indistinguishable; the only difference was that Ninja possessed power that nobles did not.
During Hanzō's era, the sudden absence of nobles ushered in an incredibly prosperous time for the Land of Rain.
However, as time passed to the present, people discovered that the Ninja lords were no different from the noble masters.
If anything, the Ninja lords were even more loathsome.
For the noble masters, there was only one master for generations, but for the Ninja lords, new batches of lords would emerge every so often.
Most importantly, the tactic of making noble masters bleed with a single burst of anger no longer worked on the Ninja lords.
The Land of Rain had lost hope!
Of course, Jiraiya was unaware of all this; he just thought the people of the Land of Rain were being overly sentimental.
Jiraiya's surroundings blurred, and he appeared in a scenic, picturesque location.
Before his eyes were towering plants, the only strange thing being that these plants were all lotus leaves.
The moment he disappeared, Jiraiya knew it was a Reverse Summoning from Mount Myōboku.
He just didn't know which boss had Reverse Summoned him; logically, he should have appeared in the two Sages' house.
Jiraiya looked at Gamabunta, who was already the largest in Mount Myōboku, searching all over its body.
"Stop looking, Jiraiya, I'm the one who summoned you."
"Haha, Gamabunta, have you also learned Reverse Summoning? Should I start calling you Boss Gamabunta from now on?"
Jiraiya was very casual with Gamabunta, who had fought alongside him many times and grown with him, joking around.
After the joke, Jiraiya continued.
"Gamabunta, since you've learned Reverse Summoning, I'm heading back. I don't want to be accused of dining and dashing. Also, next time you summon me, give me a heads-up, Boss Gamabunta!"
As he spoke, Jiraiya formed hand signs, preparing to return.
"Wait, Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage needs to speak with you!"
Gamabunta's unusually deep voice rang out, causing Jiraiya to stop his actions.
The Great Toad Sage!
Is it a new prophecy about the Child of Prophecy?
To be honest, Jiraiya had quite a few complaints about the Great Toad Sage, that old riddle-maker.
The prophecies were too vague, causing Jiraiya to search for half his life and still not find the true Child of Prophecy.
"If that's the case, I'll go right away!"
Jiraiya immediately set off, heading towards the Great Toad Sage's location.
"I'll give you a hand, Jiraiya!"
Gamabunta's voice sounded behind Jiraiya, and Jiraiya didn't stand on ceremony with Gamabunta.
"Tha... Ugh~"
Jiraiya's words were cut short; Gamabunta extended its tongue, wrapped Jiraiya in it, and then made a single leap.
That one leap alone would have taken Jiraiya countless steps with his two legs.
After leaping to the highest point, Gamabunta suddenly extended its tongue again, flinging Jiraiya away.
"Ah~~~"
Amidst a scream, Jiraiya finally landed on a lotus leaf, rolling several times before falling onto a lotus leaf floating on the water below, where he finally stopped.
Jiraiya shook his head, scanned left and right, and realized his destination was already not far away.
Muttering curses at Gamabunta, Jiraiya quickly rushed towards the Great Toad Sage's location.
When Jiraiya arrived at the main hall, the two Sages, Fukasaku and Shima, were already waiting.
"I told you Gamabunta wasn't reliable, the old man fell asleep again."
Sage Shima started grumbling after seeing Jiraiya arrive, then said to Jiraiya.
"Alright, Jiraiya, the old man is asleep, you should hurry back!"
Sage Fukasaku quickly interjected.
"Show some respect to the Great Toad Sage, Jiraiya. Wait a bit, the Great Toad Sage won't sleep for too long this time."
Jiraiya didn't listen to Sage Shima; he had long sensed that Boss Shima had an issue with the Great Toad Sage.
He looked at Fukasaku and asked.
"Is it a new prophecy about the Child of Prophecy?"
Sage Fukasaku, questioned by Jiraiya, shook his head slightly and said.
"It's a new prophecy, but it's not about the Child of Prophecy."
"Is that so? I understand, I'll wait."
Jiraiya didn't choose to leave just because the prophecy wasn't related to the Child of Prophecy; instead, he decided to continue waiting.
"What prophecy! It's clearly the old man being senile, talking nonsense in his sleep!"
"You say less, don't corrupt little Jiraiya."
"Why not? What I'm saying is the truth!"
....
The two spouses' elaborate displays of affection made Jiraiya, standing below, incredibly awkward, hoping the Great Toad Sage would wake up soon.
Jiraiya's wish was granted; the Great Toad Sage opened his eyes halfway, and Fukasaku and Shima's bickering ended.
"Hmm, who are you?"
The Great Toad Sage's first words made Jiraiya, who had just recovered a little, awkward again.
Fortunately, Fukasaku stepped forward.
"Great Toad Sage, this is little Jiraiya! You called him here, saying you dreamt of a new future!"
This time, Sage Shima didn't contradict him or call the Great Toad Sage senile; Shima only dared to say such things behind his back.
"Oh, it's little Jiraiya. There is indeed a new prophecy, let me think what it was... *snore*~"
Gamamaru, who had just remembered why he woke up and was about to speak, fell asleep again.
After six eyes looked at each other, Shima spoke.
"Let Jiraiya go back, I told you the old man was senile."
This time, Fukasaku didn't object; he couldn't smooth things over anymore either.
However, just as Jiraiya was about to leave, Gamamaru's closed eyes fully opened, and he said with an incredibly certain tone.
"Ninja will cease to exist!"
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