Chapter 152: Jiraiya, You Were Deceived by a Toad!
Uchiha Akira looked at the dispirited Jiraiya. He continued to speak. "Guilt is the most useless thing in this world. It can neither change the past nor mend the damage. If you truly feel sorry for Minato and Naruto, then make some practical compensation."
Jiraiya suddenly looked up at Uchiha Akira. "Compensation? I... how should I compensate?" Jiraiya mumbled to himself. Money? Naruto is now the Hokage's disciple, well-fed and clothed, and has no shortage of money. Status? Uchiha Akira's identity is the Hokage, definitely higher than his own. As his disciple, Naruto's status is already at the pinnacle of Konoha. Coupled with Naruto becoming the chief of their generation, his future is limitless. Ninjutsu? What he knew, Uchiha Akira would only be stronger and teach better.
Jiraiya suddenly realized that he, the legendary Sannin, the Toad Sage, couldn't offer anything decent to compensate the child he had neglected for over a decade.
"You still have one thing that is very useful to Naruto," Uchiha Akira said softly.
"What?" Jiraiya asked eagerly.
"Mount Myōboku." "The Toad clan's summoning contract."
Jiraiya's body trembled violently. Summoning contract. This was not just a powerful combat partner. It was also a legacy. Obtaining the legacy of Mount Myōboku was also equivalent to gaining entry into Sage Mode.
"Naruto possesses the Uzumaki Clan's immense chakra, and as a jinchūriki, his chakra reserves far exceed those of ordinary people," Uchiha Akira continued. "Ordinary summoned beasts are too low-level; only the Great Toads of Mount Myōboku are worthy of him. Moreover... This is also the only thing you, as his father's teacher, can do for him."
Jiraiya looked at Uchiha Akira, his eyes complex. Leaving aside other matters for now, this Fifth Hokage truly treated Naruto sincerely. Jiraiya had no reason to refuse. This was indeed the only thing he could do, and the most appropriate thing to do.
"I agree." Jiraiya nodded in agreement with almost no hesitation. "I can have Naruto sign the contract immediately." After saying this, a look of relief finally appeared on Jiraiya's face. It was always good to be able to do something for Naruto.
Uchiha Akira nodded with satisfaction. Then, Uchiha Akira steered the conversation towards the Child of Prophecy that Jiraiya had been pursuing all these years. The expression on Jiraiya's face immediately became complicated, carrying a deep weariness and confusion.
"Child of Prophecy..." Jiraiya's voice was full of bitterness. "The Great Toad Sage once gave me a prophecy. My disciple will become a ninja who brings great change to the Ninja World. This change will either bring unprecedented stability and peace or destruction. He will guide me to write the true choice."
Jiraiya's gaze became somewhat distant, as if he was recalling something. "I once thought that person was Minato. Minato was excellent, like the sun. He became the Fourth Hokage, and everyone believed he could bring a new era to Konoha and the entire Ninja World. But he died."
Jiraiya's voice trembled slightly. "In the Amegakure, I met 3 children. Nagato, Yahiko, Konan. Especially Nagato, he possessed the legendary Rinnegan. I taught them for 3 years, and I thought Nagato was the child of the prophecy. I believed he could use those eyes to guide the world towards peace. At that time, it was the Second Great Ninja War! After I left... when I heard about them again, they were already dead. Time and again, hope was replaced by disappointment. I don't know if what I'm pursuing is right or wrong."
Uchiha Akira listened quietly, not interrupting Jiraiya. Only after Jiraiya finished speaking did Uchiha Akira continue.
"Jiraiya. Have you ever thought about it? Perhaps this so-called prophecy was a deception from the very beginning."
Jiraiya's eyes were filled with shock, and he looked at Uchiha Akira in confusion. "A deception? How is that possible! The Great Toad Sage, it..."
"It's a toad," Uchiha Akira interrupted him. "A toad that has lived a long time, can speak human language, and can see some of the future. But it is not a god after all. What it saw might only be one possibility of the future, a vague fragment. And you, you took this fragment as the only truth, as your destiny."
Uchiha Akira gazed at Jiraiya. "Tell me, what exactly is a so-called reformer? Is it innate, or chosen? Was Minato a reformer? He was excellent enough, but he died. Was Nagato a reformer? He possessed the Rinnegan, but he ultimately did not bring peace. Have you noticed? All the Children of Prophecy you believed in have one thing in common. That is, they all failed."
Uchiha Akira's words instantly made Jiraiya's face turn pale.
"Why did they fail?" Uchiha Akira asked and answered himself. "Because they placed their hope in the kindness of others, in vague and elusive understanding. And you, Jiraiya." Uchiha Akira's gaze sharpened. "You placed your hope in a prophecy, in finding a so-called savior. You pushed the heavy responsibility of changing the world onto your disciples, onto an unknown child. This in itself is a form of evasion. You are evading your own responsibility, evading creating the world you desire with your own hands."
"I..." Jiraiya opened his mouth but found himself unable to utter a single word.
Uchiha Akira stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to Jiraiya. He looked at the Village below, which was experiencing a rebirth under his will. "Destiny is never foretold. It is created. Power is the fundamental determinant of everything. When your power is enough to crush all dissenting voices, your words are truth. When your will can transcend the entire Ninja World, the peace you depict will truly descend. Rely on prophecy? Rely on mutual understanding?"
Uchiha Akira let out a soft chuckle. "That's a dream only the weak would have. I never believe in destiny. I only believe in my own strength. The future of the Ninja World should not be decided by a toad's ramblings. Even less should it wait for a vague savior. It should be created by my own hands."
Jiraiya stared blankly at Uchiha Akira's back.
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