Chapter 38 – The Gift from the Great Toad Sage
Hatake Kyūjō said nothing to Jiraiya, who was still lost in his own thoughts. Instead, he simply lowered his gaze and quietly followed behind the two toad sages guiding their path.
…
Roughly ten minutes later, Fukasaku and Shima led the group to an ancient temple nestled in the deepest part of Mount Myōboku.
Kyūjō could feel it—the density and purity of the Natural Energy that saturated the area, thick like mist and pulsing with life. And beyond it, within the temple, he sensed an overwhelming presence hidden within the body of an aged, giant toad.
Silently, Kyūjō activated his infinite simulation ability, his mind analyzing the immense battle potential of the being inside with alarming speed and precision as he followed the elder sages toward the Great Toad Sage's chamber.
A deep, ancient voice suddenly echoed inside his consciousness.
"Young man... where exactly did you come from? Could it be that you, too, are from another world... just like the Ōtsutsuki?"
A spiritual manifestation of the Great Toad Sage slowly emerged within Kyūjō's mind—a weathered old toad, cloaked in wisdom.
"Great Toad Sage... What is it that you've seen from the future?" Kyūjō asked calmly, his own conscious spirit stepping forth to meet the sage's gaze.
The old toad was quiet for a moment, then slowly shook his head and replied,
"The future has changed. Those who should've died are now walking new paths, all because of your arrival. But whether these changes will bring salvation or destruction... even I can't say for sure."
"Fate has already shifted, and a different ending is now inevitable. No one can stop what's coming... Our only hope might lie with you. Tell me, Hatake Kyūjō—can you be trusted? Or are you just another foreign anomaly sent from beyond this world?"
The toad's eyes softened slightly. "Based on what I've observed from your actions over the past decade... perhaps you are someone I can entrust this world to. So I ask this of you—please, promise me: stop the Ōtsutsuki. Do not let this planet fall into their hands."
The moment the Great Toad Sage finished his words, his spiritual form slowly dissolved into radiant golden light and vanished from Kyūjō's consciousness.
And with that, a flood of foreign memories poured into Kyūjō's mind—memories that did not belong to him.
They were the Great Toad Sage's memories: vast and ancient. They contained everything—from the sage's own birth, his discovery of Natural Energy, the creation of Sage Arts, his meeting with the Sage of Six Paths, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, and even his legendary battle with Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.
So much knowledge… and Kyūjō took it all in with practiced mental precision, closing his eyes within his mind to process it all at incredible speed.
Luckily, Kyūjō's mental capacity had long since surpassed that of normal humans. Even while fully immersed in the torrent of inherited memories, he could still function in the real world without faltering.
At that moment, Fukasaku and Shima, still guiding them forward, suddenly came to a halt.
They both turned to Jiraiya.
"You probably won't be able to meet the Great Toad Sage today," Fukasaku said gently. "He's just fallen asleep. But before that, he left a message for you, little Jiraiya."
Jiraiya didn't look surprised. After years of training in Mount Myōboku, he had grown used to the Great Toad Sage's habit of nodding off mid-conversation. This was nothing new.
"What did he say to me?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Fukasaku and Shima exchanged glances, then recited the message together:
"Little Jiraiya... your mission is complete. You've done well. From now on, stop searching for the 'Child of Prophecy.' Live your life without regrets... and do not let the weight of your choices drag you down."
Jiraiya stood there, frozen.
Kyūjō glanced toward the temple, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. So the old toad really had fallen asleep...
But more than that, Kyūjō found the gesture deeply meaningful.
The Great Toad Sage hadn't just delivered a prophecy. He had given Jiraiya closure.
While Jiraiya remained silent, still absorbing the message, the two toad sages turned to Minato, who had been quietly observing the whole time like an audience member watching a stage play.
"You, blond kid," Shima said. "Come with us."
"The Great Toad Sage has ordered us to teach you the Sage Arts of Mount Myōboku, personally."
Then they turned to face Kyūjō once more and gave a respectful bow.
"To the most honored guest of Mount Myōboku, the Great Toad Sage has issued this decree: You are free to roam any part of Mount Myōboku. This is our summoning contract. You may summon any of the toads whenever you wish."
With that, Fukasaku pulled a small scroll from his robe sleeve and presented it to Kyūjō with both hands.
Kyūjō nodded and accepted the scroll. "Thank you. Once the Great Toad Sage wakes up, please tell him this for me: I'll do everything in my power to give this world a better future."
With those words, Kyūjō gave Minato a brief glance, then turned and walked away from the temple without looking back.
…
His mission at Mount Myōboku was complete—or rather, the Great Toad Sage had given him something even more valuable than he expected.
Now, Kyūjō only needed to find a place rich in Natural Energy where he could fully immerse himself in Sage Mode research.
He had made up his mind. Just like the Great Toad Sage once did, he would create his own Sage Mode.
If that old toad could develop such a technique from nothing, then why couldn't he?
After all, he now carried the sage's legacy.
He was standing on the shoulders of a giant—and with that solid foundation, Kyūjō believed he could reach even greater heights.
Yes… he would forge his own Sage Mode.
Even now, a concept had begun to take shape in his mind.
If the Breathing Techniques allowed users to absorb and circulate air throughout their bodies—then perhaps that principle could be adapted to absorb Natural Energy instead.
What if the body could be trained to actively draw in Nature Energy through the skin's pores, not just passively through stillness and meditation? Wouldn't that greatly enhance efficiency?
If he succeeded, would he have an infinite supply of energy at his fingertips?
Would he be able to fully replace his chakra with a purer form—Sage Chakra?
And if he achieved that… could he then ascend to the highest possible state of Sage Mode—a true Immortal Sage Body?
Better yet... could that refined Natural Energy be fused with Haki?
If the chakra within his body was completely transformed into Sage Chakra, and he combined it with his Colorless Haki… could he create an entirely new kind of power?
— — —
These thoughts exploded in his mind like a fireworks display—one brilliant possibility after another, each one pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
And Hatake Kyūjō… was ready to chase them all.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 100+ chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ 2 new chapters every day (Monday–Saturday), exclusive on Patreon
✅ Be the first to experience Arc 6 and the new season before anyone else!
📖 The first chapter of Arc 6 is now live!
You can read it right now on Patreon~
🌙 Note: Sunday is a rest day, so there will be no updates tomorrow. Regular uploads resume as usual on Monday.
Let's keep this adventure alive, together chapter by chapter! 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —