"Destiny..."
In the depths of Mount Myoboku's grand hall, an aged-looking toad was present, none other than the toad leader of Mount Myoboku—the Great Toad Sage.
It seemed to have sensed something, its deep yellow eyes gazing beyond the hall towards the nature-filled mountains and forests.
"Great Elder, has something happened?"
The Fukasaku Sage, who was meditating and practicing Immortal Technique nearby, opened his eyes, interrupted his practice, and looked at the Great Toad Sage.
"Minato..."
"Minato?"
"...That child Minato is dead..."
"!?"
Fukasaku Sage widened his eyes, looking shocked at the Great Toad Sage.
"Minato... is dead?"
"Go to Konoha and retrieve something."
"Something?"
Still recovering from shock and sadness, Fukasaku Sage listened to the Great Toad Sage's command, looking puzzled.
"You'll know once you get to Konoha..."
The Great Toad Sage closed his eyes and began to rest.
"..."
Fukasaku Sage pondered for a while, jumped off the meditation platform, and glanced back at the increasingly frail Great Toad Sage at the grand hall entrance.
Was the Great Elder using some kind of jutsu just now? Becoming so weakened... Fukasaku Sage felt deep reverence.
The Great Toad Sage, who survived since the Ancient Era, was the founder of the Sacred Land of Mount Myoboku. Fukasaku Sage deeply revered the Great Toad Sage from the bottom of his heart.
However, there were times when he couldn't understand certain strange actions of the Great Toad Sage, leading to his own bewilderment.
◎
Konoha, in the emergency room.
On the operating table lay Minato with a pale face, surrounded by several Medical Ninjas working to save him, while Tsunade stood by with a similarly pale face, directing them, as if frightened by the blood flowing from Minato's body.
The Medical Ninjas, using Medical Ninjutsu to save Minato's life, were sweating profusely, and the nurses were busy coming and going.
"It's no use, with the heart and lung injured to this extent, it's already..."
A Medical Ninja said, utterly dispirited.
The other Medical Ninjas, though still trying to save him, were also aware that Minato's chances of survival were zero.
A miracle was impossible.
Half an hour later, Tsunade took a deep breath, her eyes revealing a dejected expression as she said to them, "Alright, let's end it here. You've already done your best."
"Lady... Lady Tsunade?"
The Medical Ninjas looked towards Tsunade.
"The attacker was also a Medical Ninja like you. Do you think he would foolishly let you rescue the person?"
Tsunade's fist struck the wall, gritting her teeth.
That damn kid!
Her fist trembled, her eyes displaying a complex and bitter expression.
Having learned that the person who caused last night's riot was Hakushi, Tsunade still found it hard to believe.
That person would do such a thing.
Tsunade fell into self-blame over her own foolishness.
Nawaki, Dan, and the village her grandfather left behind, she couldn't protect any of them.
What does he really want to do? Tsunade felt both powerless anger and confusion.
Why did Hakushi do such a thing?
Taking some members of the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Race and leaving, was that Danzo and Sakumo's doing?
Moreover, why hide their strength?
What else did they do behind the scenes that she didn't know about?
Now that Minato was dead, how was she supposed to explain to Jiraiya?
Tsunade's emotions were very chaotic, and after a deep breath, she finally managed to compose herself, looking at Minato on the operating table, now almost a 'corpse', feeling increasingly unable to face it as she walked outside.
Beep - Beep -
Tsunade's body froze for a moment.
The Medical Ninjas also stopped abruptly.
The lines on the monitor started to wave, no longer a straight line.
"Alive... alive?"
"How... how is it possible?"
"Wait, what is this?"
The Medical Ninjas widened their eyes as they watched, from Minato's body emerged a talisman with a carved inscription and a 'Sage' character in the middle, emitting a shimmering green light, enveloping Minato's completely cold body.
Minato's complexion began to regain its rosiness, his heartbeat returned, and his fingers were moving slightly.
They could understand that the talisman with the 'Sage' character was desperately trying to save Minato's life.
Isn't that the Sage Talisman from Mount Myoboku? How is it on Minato? Tsunade furrowed her brow.
She vaguely sensed that the truth was not as simple as it appeared.
With her contract with Katsuyu of one of the Three Great Sacred Lands, Shikkotsu Forest, since Katsuyu had a gentle nature, and being alive since the Ancient Era, it knew many of the secrets within the Ninja Realm, and would occasionally share some of the realm's mysteries with her.
Among them were matters concerning Mount Myoboku and Ryuchi Cave, the two Sacred Lands.
According to Katsuyu, in the hands of the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku, there was a Sage Talisman with mysterious power.
It was the most precious Sage Treasure in all of Mount Myoboku, capable of bringing people back to life.
But because it had the power to resurrect, using it must inevitably come with a certain heavy cost.
Such an extremely precious treasure, with significant costs for the user, why intentionally place it on Minato? What does the Great Toad Sage intend? Tsunade squinted her eyes, her thoughts becoming active.
It seems necessary to return to Shikkotsu Forest to inquire with Katsuyu about the Great Toad Sage's matters. She thought to herself.
◎
Noon.
"Elder Shikora, is your health better?"
In the courtyard, Rika walked over and saw Elder Shikora leisurely sitting on the veranda, sipping tea, while admiring the rain outside.