A long time later, the groggy Great Toad Sage woke up.
"Jiraiya, come here for a moment."
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat. It was over, he hadn't forgotten.
"It shouldn't have been you who summoned me. You don't have that ability. Who was that person?"
Jiraiya bit the bullet and said, "He's barely my student. I just taught him the Summoning Technique today."
Hearing this, the Great Toad Sage became interested. "What kind of student has Jiraiya taken on this time?"
"His name is Uchiha Satoshi. He's not yet twelve years old, has learned Tobirama-sama's Ninjutsu, defeated Orochimaru, and possesses a three-tomoe Sharingan. That's pretty much it."
After listening, the Great Toad Sage did not rush to express an opinion. Instead, he closed his eyes again, and Jiraiya even heard his snores.
Several hours later, the Great Toad Sage opened his eyes.
"In my dream, I did not see this child. He may not be the Child of Prophecy you are looking for. However, this child does possess a righteous heart."
Jiraiya was very dejected. Fate was like that, giving him a glimmer of hope only to disappoint him again.
"I understand."
Jiraiya was very confused. The so-called Child of Prophecy often appeared around him, yet he still didn't know who it truly was.
How frustrating this was.
Fortunately, Jiraiya had a big heart, and after chatting with a few familiar toads for a while, his mood improved significantly.
"I'm leaving now."
"Jiraiya, you absolutely must not let that brat use the Summoning Technique again."
"Please rest assured, esteemed seniors, I will instruct him."
—
Jiraiya found Satoshi again.
Naruto had already gone back to rest, reportedly scared half to death by the Great Toad.
Satoshi, meanwhile, had ordered a bowl of ramen and was slurping it down.
"I just went to Mount Myōboku. Fortunately, the Great Toad Sage doesn't seem angry."
"It's just that the other sages told me that you absolutely cannot use the Summoning Technique again."
Satoshi perfunctorily agreed, "Got it. That Great Toad Sage looks like he can't fight, and if I summoned him, I'd have to take care of him."
Although Satoshi's words offended the Great Toad Sage, compared to what had happened before, this was nothing.
Jiraiya also ordered a bowl of ramen and sat next to Satoshi.
"At first, I thought you were just an ordinary brat. It seems I underestimated you. Could I trouble you for another bottle of sake?"
"Actually, I should have realized earlier that someone who could defeat Orochimaru and escape unscathed couldn't possibly be an ordinary person."
Jiraiya stopped talking and focused on eating his noodles and drinking his sake. He knew his student was a bit formidable, but he hadn't expected him to be this formidable.
What was there left to teach? He might as well go play.
Satoshi hadn't expected his teacher to arrive quickly and leave just as quickly.
In the morning, Jiraiya had sworn to teach him some techniques, but by evening, he had run off to drink.
He only left behind a casual "You do your thing, I'll contact you another day."
To this, Satoshi really wanted to ask, "Which damn day is 'another day'?"
Then, while Satoshi was drinking water, Jiraiya seized the opportunity and ran off to a small bar to visit courtesans.
He called over a few pretty young ladies. "Hehe, this one's good, keep this one, and that one too. Oh, just keep them all."
He rubbed his hands excitedly, like an old pervert.
"Sit next to me."
But before Jiraiya could even make a move, with a crash, the door was burst open.
"Konoha Military Police Force on official business! Everyone move aside!"
When Jiraiya saw who it was, he was so angry his teeth almost shattered.
"Satoshi, are you sick?! We're adults!"
Satoshi didn't care about that and shooed all the pretty young ladies out.
He sat in front of Jiraiya. "You promised to teach me Ninjutsu."
Jiraiya was so annoyed. How could he dare teach Satoshi Ninjutsu now?
He summoned the Great Toad last time, was he going to summon Mount Myōboku and throw it at enemies next time?
Jiraiya leaned back against the sofa, completely unconcerned. "Satoshi, I have nothing to teach you. The old man was worried you'd go astray, but then the Great Toad Sage said you have a righteous heart."
Unexpectedly, Satoshi chuckled. "Jiraiya-sama, can you teach me how to use the legendary Sage Mode?"
"Sage Mode?"
Jiraiya considered it for a moment. "Even I can't fully master this state. Are you sure you want to learn it?"
Satoshi nodded vigorously.
Sage Mode was good, he had to learn it.
Although he was somewhat famous in the village now, if he really went to the battlefield, he'd be annihilated by those overpowered individuals in minutes.
Not to mention aliens.
As for it being difficult to learn?
He had a system.
"Alright, come with me."
Jiraiya brought Satoshi to Mount Myōboku and once again apologized to the various toads.
The two sages, Shima and Fukasaku, circled Satoshi again and again, racking their brains but unable to understand.
Why could this seemingly unremarkable child do such an incredible thing?
Later, the Great Toad Sage called Satoshi to him.
"Hmm, I remember you. You're the one who sat on my head."
Jiraiya was scared like a quail, wishing he could kowtow to the Great Toad Sage.
"My sincerest apologies, Great Toad Sage. Satoshi didn't do it on purpose, right?"
Satoshi said seriously, "I honestly don't know why either. I originally just wanted to ask the toads of Mount Myōboku for help."
The Great Toad Sage had lived for over a thousand years, so he wasn't that petty.
"Never mind. It's fine to occasionally see the outside world."
When the Great Toad Sage heard that Jiraiya was going to teach Satoshi Sage Mode, he didn't object. In fact, he was even a little curious if this white-haired brat could surpass the little blond-haired boy from back then.
With the Great Toad Sage's permission, Fukasaku and Shima immediately began the teaching session.
"Satoshi, listen carefully. Sage Mode is achieved by absorbing a certain amount of natural energy to create Senjutsu Chakra."
"By using natural energy, it enhances attack and defense, greatly increasing the power of one's Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu."
"However, entering this mode is extremely difficult. Even Jiraiya needs our help to succeed."
[Ninja World Scientist, activated!]
[You have mastered Perfect Sage Mode - Mount Myōboku Version]
"Come, take off your clothes. I'll put some toad oil on you…"
Satoshi raised his palm. He felt streams of natural energy entering his body. He closed his eyes, and an earth-shattering aura erupted from his body, instantly sending the two sages in front of him flying. Then, a golden eyeshadow appeared on Satoshi's face.
"You! This is Sage Mode!"