Inside the sleeping quarters, the Great Toad Sage gazed far into the distance, as if peering through the veil of time itself.
Minato, Jiraiya, and the two toad sages, Fukasaku and Shima, approached from outside the chamber. Immediately, his gaze settled upon Minato, his expression unfathomable.
"Great Toad Sage," Minato and Jiraiya said respectfully, bowing low.
The two elder toad sages positioned themselves on either side of the Great Toad Sage—they had always been his attendants.
Everyone waited for the Great Toad Sage to speak, but he remained silent for quite a while.
Finally, Sage Shima impatiently broke the silence. "Old man, wasn't it you who said there was a new prophecy concerning little Minato? What is it already?"
"Is he the Child of the Prophecy—the one destined to fulfill the prophecy—since he's young Jiraiya's disciple?"
"No, he is not the Child of the Prophecy," the Great Toad Sage immediately replied in a deep, heavy voice.
Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima all raised their eyebrows slightly. That meant Jiraiya would take on another disciple in the future, and one of his disciples might be the true Child of the Prophecy.
In other words, this future student might even surpass Minato—who has already shown incredible talent.
What kind of genius could possibly achieve that?
The Great Toad Sage fixed his gaze upon Minato and spoke. "In the future I have seen, although you are not the Child of the Prophecy, you will have the chance to prevent the upcoming catastrophe threatening the Ninja World early on. However, whether you will succeed or not… that lies beyond my sight."
On hearing this, everyone looked at Minato in surprise.
At this moment, Minato's eyes darkened with sudden seriousness.
Indeed, what the Great Toad Sage said made sense. If only he had been strong enough back then—if he'd killed the Masked Man when he attacked Konoha, right on the spot—perhaps the great calamity plaguing the ninja world wouldn't have occurred at all.
Based on the knowledge he currently possessed, that was exactly how things had happened.
"What exactly are we facing?"
Still, Minato couldn't be completely certain. Would history change now that he had returned?
Shaking his head, the Great Toad Sage replied, "Gazing into the future has always been a perilous act. As powerful as I am, seeing even a fragment is already my limit. I cannot see any further than that."
"Great Toad Sage," Jiraiya interjected thoughtfully, "if what you say is true—that Minato actually holds the possibility of stopping this impending disaster—then isn't he essentially the Child of the Prophecy?"
"If circumstances unfold as foreseen and he succeeds," Jiraiya continued, "wouldn't he be the very person destined to save the ninja world?"
"I do not know," the Great Toad Sage simply answered.
Minato's eyes narrowed slightly. In many ways, the Great Toad Sage's prophecy had clarified things—but also introduced more uncertainty.
Yet one thing remained clear—he now held the power to change history itself.
And should he truly succeed, then Kushina, the newly orphaned boy Naruto, and countless others might escape the fates that once awaited them.
That, ultimately, was his true goal.
Minato's eyes grew resolute as he spoke, "If things truly reach that point, I will do everything I can, even..."
Yet before he could finish his sentence, he stopped himself short.
"To stop this disaster with all my strength!"
He had resolved to give his life, but this time, he would not die so easily.
Minato wanted to spend his entire life together with Kushina, watching over their child Naruto, who wouldn't be born for another decade or so.
He wanted to see Naruto grow up and pass on all his skills and the Will of Fire to him.
He wanted the three of them—he, Kushina, and their unborn son Naruto—to live a happy life together. This was also Kushina's wish.
He, Minato Namikaze, would protect Konoha and the entire Ninja World under the title and identity of the Fourth Hokage!
"Well said, my boy! No wonder you're my favorite pupil!" Jiraiya couldn't help but proudly laugh aloud at Minato's determination.
Though Minato wasn't especially powerful yet, Jiraiya knew his potential for growth was off the charts—he was sure Minato would one day surpass even him.
Even the Third Hokage had great faith in him.
Having lived for centuries, Elder Fukasaku and Sage Shima had heard countless speeches like this before.
They weren't as visibly touched as Jiraiya, but their faces still carried quiet hope.
"Let's hope so," replied the Great Toad Sage (a revered prophetic toad elder at Mount Myōboku), adding, "This prophecy has drained much of my chakra, so I'm about to enter a long slumber. You should all leave now."
"The old man's always sleepy—barely awake before falling asleep again," Sage Shima complained.
Everyone immediately withdrew, and the Great Toad Sage's eyelids grew heavier by the moment.
Yet within his fading vision, he continued staring at Minato, who quickly walked out of the palace.
"That young one's body..."
The Great Toad Sage muttered inwardly, but soon fell into deep sleep as his consciousness completely blurred...
...
"Sensei, I'd like to go back," Minato said to Jiraiya after exiting the palace.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "What? Getting cold feet from that old toad's prophecy?"
"No, it's not that. I just suddenly have some thoughts, and staying here might only distract your Sage Art training," Minato shook his head and explained.
But Jiraiya could still see the weight behind those bright blue eyes.
Then he patted Minato's shoulder, saying, "Sometimes pressure becomes motivation. Your teacher believes you'll do well."
As a mentor, there wasn't much Jiraiya could directly hand down to Minato.
It wasn't that he couldn't teach, but following his methods would only make Minato another version of himself.
Jiraiya didn't want that—he needed to forge his own path to truly surpass his predecessors.
That was how he would prevent the great catastrophe foreseen by the Great Toad Sage.
"Yes, sensei. Thank you."
Minato bowed respectfully to Jiraiya—an expression of his profound gratitude, especially as someone who had lived two lifetimes.
His firm Ninja Way was inherited directly from his master.
"If that's settled, then I'll send you back," Elder Fukasaku said, fully understanding Jiraiya's intentions, as did the two great sages.
Elder Fukasaku smiled and said, "You're still not ready for this. I'll be waiting for the day when I can pass on Sage Art to you. Since you're Jiraiya's disciple, there shouldn't be any problem."
"Thank you, Elder and Grandmother!" Minato bowed.
Then Elder Fukasaku performed the hand seals and activated the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
"Poof!"
Minato's figure immediately vanished.
...
The next moment, Minato reappeared inside his own home exactly where he had been before leaving. He pushed the nearby chair aside, hesitated briefly, then walked out of his house.
Minato reached the entrance of the Hokage Tower. Just as he was about to enter, someone stopped him.
As he was about to explain, a tall figure he hadn't seen in over half a year came into view.
That person also noticed Minato at the entrance and called his name.
"Minato?"
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