...The memory ended. Jiraiya took a deep breath, his thoughts abruptly pulled away from Mount Myōboku's main hall, the words of the Great Toad Sage, and the terrifying word "God."
The afternoon breeze, carrying the warmth of the sun, brushed past his cheek, slightly diluting the tremor brought by the prophecy.
He still stood at the edge of the eaves, beside him the calm profile of the black-haired youth.
'Facing... a God, huh...'
Jiraiya muttered internally, complex emotions churning in his chest.
Even he, who had traveled the ninja world for decades and witnessed countless incredible powers and existences, still felt an instinctive chill and... confusion regarding the weight represented by the word "God."
What kind of existence could that possibly be?
An existence that required gathering Wood Release comparable to the First Hokage's, the Child of Prophecy, and... perhaps even more people—just to "face" it?!
Jiraiya slowly looked back at Tejima Shinichi's profile.
Despite his youthful face, the kid's amber eyes stared out into the distance with a heavy, quiet calm, entirely lacking the usual fiery energy of a Genin.
'Is it really you?'
Tejima Shinichi.
The successor of Wood Release, the disciple upon whom the old man placed great hopes, the rising star about to be thrust into a high position during the coming storm... and, the source of the unprecedented "variable" that the Great Toad Sage predicted might sweep across the entire ninja world?
Jiraiya's lips moved. He wanted to ask, but countless questions clogged his throat.
He wanted to ask Shinichi if he knew of the existence of "God," if he knew what kind of future he would face, what the image of him standing atop the wooden Buddha meant, and where he would lead the Child of Prophecy... But ultimately, he swallowed all the words back down.
Because he saw Shinichi turn his face, his calm eyes meeting Jiraiya's turbulent gaze.
"What are you thinking about, Senior Jiraiya?"
Tejima Shinichi spoke, as if he had already seen through the fact that Jiraiya's momentary distraction was not mere silence.
Jiraiya's body stiffened slightly.
Immediately, he tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to force a slightly teasing smile, but failed, the smile appearing somewhat strained.
"Ah... you saw right through me."
He simply gave up on hiding it, raised his hand to rub his face vigorously, and let out a long sigh. "I couldn't help it. I heard some... incredible things. Things about the future."
"Oh!?"
Tejima Shinichi uttered a brief sound, then narrowed his eyes, clearly intrigued by the topic.
'Incredible things... about the future?'
Although he didn't press for details or show excessive surprise, the subtle change in his expression and his sudden increase in focus were enough to indicate that he was not indifferent to this topic.
On the contrary, he cared very much.
Moreover, Tejima Shinichi already had a clear idea in mind.
That toad who lived for a thousand years... the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, Gamamaru.
Tejima Shinichi had never doubted the prophetic abilities of the Great Toad Sage..
After all, it was an ancient being that had accurately predicted the battle between the Sage of Six Paths's brother and Kaguya. For it to notice him, this "variable", and issue a new prophecy was, in a way, unexpected yet reasonable.
He just didn't know... what exactly it had seen. Although he didn't know what Jiraiya's words about the future specifically entailed... Tejima Shinichi's intuition told him that the prophecy involved a variable related to himself.
It might even... point directly at him.
"Hahaha!"
At this moment, Jiraiya, being stared at by Tejima Shinichi's sharp eyes, let out two involuntary dry laughs.
He scratched his white hair, his gaze drifting toward the distant arena, and casually changed the subject:
"Well, we can talk about the specifics later! Now is really not the time for a deep discussion."
"However, once this current big battle is over, Shinichi, how about coming with me to Mount Myōboku? It's one of the ninja world's Three Great Sage Regions, and the scenery is... uh, unique! Plus, there's an elder at Mount Myōboku who seems very interested in you; he specifically instructed me to bring you to meet him."
Tejima Shinichi frowned slightly.
'Out of the blue, setting up a death flag... "Once the big battle is over"... Is that the kind of thing you can say before a battle?!'
"The battle is about to start. Don't say such strange things."
The smile on Jiraiya's face froze.
He blinked, looking at Shinichi with confusion.
'Str... strange things? Inviting him to Mount Myōboku to see the Great Toad Sage—that was clearly a normal invitation, so why was it "strange"?'
Just then, earth-shattering cheers and gasps erupted from the distant arena; the sound wave nearly blew the roof off!
Both men simultaneously turned their heads to look.
At the same time, the announcer's voice boomed through the venue again, filled with manufactured excitement:
"Next up—the fourth match of the third phase of the Chunin Selection Exam!"
"Featuring the Konoha Ninja Village's—Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Versus the Sunagakure Ninja Village's—Gaara!"
"Will both contestants please enter the arena—!!!"
..."Ah..."
The relaxed look on Jiraiya's face vanished completely. "The Jinchuriki from Sunagakure is about to enter... The time is coming!"
Tejima Shinichi did not reply, simply watching the area below in silence.
After a few seconds, as if remembering something, he picked up the interrupted topic in the same calm tone:
"I accept your invitation from earlier."
Jiraiya was startled by the reply; then a look of joy appeared on his face. "Really? Then..."
"To be honest," Shinichi interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on the arena, though his words were directed at Jiraiya, "I am also interested in that 'toad' that has lived for thousands of years. A thousand-year lifespan, observing the flow of fate through 'prophecies'... that form of existence itself is worth studying."
The joy on Jiraiya's face turned to surprise. He quickly turned to look at Shinichi: "Oh? You know? You know about the Great Toad Sage? And you know it has lived for a thousand years?"
This information was not something an ordinary ninja would know. Even a Jonin might not be aware of the specific details of that "Great Elder," unless they had ties to Mount Myōboku.
Only then did Tejima Shinichi turn his head and glance at Jiraiya, his look suggesting, "Why is that surprising?"
"Of course, I know."
His tone was matter-of-fact.
"After all, I also inherited the legacy of one of the other Three Great Sage Regions."
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