I woke up to the sound of water.
Dripping.
Slow.
Constant.
For a moment, I thought it was raining. That maybe I had fallen asleep during training again and Tsunade was about to smack me awake. But when I opened my eyes, the sky was yellow?
"What the" Confusion clear on my face.
Only thick mist and light filtering through enormous, swaying leaves that looked more like umbrellas than anything that belonged on Earth.
Everything around me was big.
Too big.
I pushed myself upright, brushing mud off my jacket, trying to make sense of it all. It was like a fever dream but I was still in it.
"Where the hell am I?" I muttered.
Croak.
A faint croak echoed nearby. Then another, closer this time.
My hand instinctively went up.
"Relax, boy."
The voice was old, calm, and oddly familiar though I had never heard anything quite like it. I turned toward it and froze.
Two toads stood a few meters away.
I blinked once. Then twice.
"Hello," I said carefully. "Wait I reverse summoned myself!"
The male toad chuckled. "He still seems to know how he got here at least."
"You must be the one the Great Sage spoke of," said the female, stepping closer. "The boy who fell from the human world."
Hearing this, I went silent.
Jiraiya was supposed to originally come here and train later. But my memory is not perfect so there was not much known about how he got them to train him. Maybe if I ask nicely they will agree.
So this was Mount Myoboku.
"Follow us boy. We are heading to my house. Still, what is your name?" the male asked, curious.
"The name is Jiraiya. What is yours?"
"Fukasaku, and over here is my wife Shima."Looking over him, which was not too difficult since the guy was up to my shins, was another toad about the same size. That was Shima, his wife and possibly a shoulder buddy.
'I need these two as summons,' I thought, already making up my mind.
Sadly, I could not remember the names of any of the other toads besides Gamabunta. That summon was a beast and definitely a priority.
As we walked, I ignored the couple's bickering and looked around.
There were rows and rows of stone frogs, each over fifteen feet tall. Sweat slid down my temple as a question formed in my head. Were these statues former summoners who failed to learn Sage Mode?
"The Great Toad Sage predicted a human would stumble upon Myoboku," Fukasaku said, as if reading my thoughts. "Did not say when. Did not say why. Guess that is you."
I blinked.
So that is still happening, huh? The prophecy nonsense.
Let's see if the prophecy is still the same.
We eventually reached what looked like a village, if you could call it that. The buildings were made of smooth stone and giant lotus leaves. Little toads hopped around carrying buckets, scrolls, and even food that looked like a mix between insects and vegetables.
"This place is huge," I muttered for the tenth time today, glancing around.
Fukasaku gave a small croak of laughter. "Nature chakra makes many things possible, boy. You will learn that in time."
"What is nature chakra?" I ask already knowing.
But Fukasaku just said he'll explain it later.
I nodded understanding.
That type of power was already new end game powers so there was no rush to currently learn it now. Despite my rush to be powerful, learning sage mode or even being a half sage anytime soon was straight delusional.
Just getting the confirmation I can sign the toad summoning scroll was enough.
We entered what I assumed was Fukasaku's house. The walls were carved from a hollowed mushroom stem and lined with woven mats. It was surprisingly warm inside, lit by glowing moss that stuck to the ceiling like stars.
Fukasaku hopped onto a wooden stool. Shima poured him some tea from a bowl half her size. Then she turned to me.
"So, what brings a human child to Mount Myoboku?" she asked, curious but not unfriendly.
I scratched my cheek. "In short, I wanted to get stronger. My sensei had a summon called Monkey King Enma. So my real goal is a summon, maybe a summoning contract if possible."
Her yellow eyes blinked slowly. Fukasaku tilted his head.
"You want a summoning contract?" he repeated. "The scroll of the toads is not something we hand out lightly. You must earn our trust first."
"I understand," I said immediately.
In truth, I expected that answer. It would have been too easy otherwise.
Fukasaku nodded in approval. "Good answer. If you truly wish to grow stronger, we can teach you our ways. You are too young to attempt Sage Mode, but there are other lessons you can learn."
My heart jumped. Sage Mode? Even hearing those words made my skin tingle. I tried to hide my grin.
"What kind of lessons?" I asked carefully.
"Control of body and mind. How to feel the flow of nature without letting it drown you. You will train with us until we decide you are ready to summon one of our kin."
That sounded fair. Hard, but fair.
Then a heavy thump shook the ground. The cups rattled on the table.
"Oi, Pa, who is this runt?"
The voice was deep, rough, and annoyed.
I turned to see a massive red toad at the doorway. His skin looked like cracked stone, and his eyes glared down at me like I was an insect. He was smaller than I remembered from the anime, but still easily three times my height and width.
The toad looked a bit beat up with dirt all over him.
Fukasaku sighed. "Gamabunta. Perfect timing. This is Jiraiya, the human I mentioned earlier."
Gamabunta looked me up and down. "He looks weak. You really think a brat like this can make a contract with us?"
I felt my jaw tighten. Weak?
100% I can't deny those words but they still stung.
Fukasaku glanced between us, clearly hesitant, but then gave a small nod. "I have an idea, Jiraiya needs a summon to be able to return. Lets do this then. The both of you will fight and if Jiraiya wins, you become his summon Gamabunta."
A test? Against him?
My stomach dropped.
'Fuck me.'
I straightened up. "Fine. I will take your test."
There was no going back now, especially since the opportunity came to me. Gamabunta smirked at my words.
"Good. Let us see if you can survive a minute."
We moved to an open clearing surrounded by those giant leaf trees. Hands felt clammy, body felt icky and the world felt like a dream. Gamabunta stood across from me, arms crossed, an unamused scowl plastered on his face.
"This'll be over quick, kid," he said, voice rumbling like thunder.
I cracked my knuckles even though my stomach twisted. My eyes glared right at Gamabunta whithout flinching making him flinch.
Fukasaku hopped between us. "The fight ends when one yields or is unable to continue. No killing, understood?"
Gamabunta smirked. "Sure, I'll try not to splatter him."
The fuck you mean not splatter me.
Yeah, this was going to suck.
The second Fukasaku hopped out of the way, Gamabunta moved. For someone his size, he was fast. Thankfully I wasn't lazing around as [Body Enhancement] gave me a slight upgrade. His massive hand came swinging toward me like a falling boulder.
*CRACK!*
I dodge to the right as the floor where I just was cracked from the sheer force.
Shoving chakra into my arms now close to Gamabunta. My hand gives him a mean right hook to the side.
*Boom*
The hit sending him a meter back,
'It actually did something.' I thought, not before being interrupted by a hand trying to swipe me from the side.
*Swoosh!*
Ducking under the hit, an immediate right uppercut to Gamabunta made the toad three times my height flinch and sent slightly off the floor.
Gamabunta's head tilted back slightly before he looked down at me again. "You pack a mean punch for a brat. Take this!" He quickly swung his other arm, sending me flying like a rag doll.
*Thud*
I hit the ground hard, sliding several meters. Pain shot up my side. I coughed, as my unstable breathes were trying to correct itself.
"Still alive brat? You can be my henchman if you want." he called out mockingly.
'I don't wanna get up.' The thought hitting my mind. 'No I can't lose this. FUCK IT WE BALL.'
The pressure starting to get to me as my body sloppily recovered upright. The pain starting to feel numb as my heart beat was audible to my ears. This was bad, it was the first time I've gotten hit like that.
'How do I win.' Were the only thoughts in my head. I wasn't going to win with what I was doing before. That much was obvious. So I needed to out think him.
"Regreting your decision?"
'Shut up you fuckass toad.' My mind reeling 'Wait that's it!"
In this original episode Jiraiya was hurling snakes double Gamabunta's size when he first got here. Maybe I'm still underestimating how strong a Genin is despite myself being at this strength for a while now.
This my was chance.[1]
When he came at me again, I focused all my chakra into my legs. The moment his hand came down, I darted forward, sliding under his arm. I grabbed the edge of his forearm, used the momentum, and with all my might.
Try to swing this annoying toad upsidedown!
"What-"
"AAAAA!" I scream as the feeling of resistance leave.
Gamabunta now in the air, eyes widen in surprise. Now parallel to the ground was soon after dropped straight down.
*CRACK*
"Ugh-" His painful groan loud at the impact.
"D-Do you give up." I weakly shout which seemed more pathetic than anything. But to my glee the gruff toad forfeited.
"Fine brat, you have my respect." He mutters.
Dropping to one knee my ragged breathes audible to everyone. Oh was that battle not something that I'm willing to do everyday...
I was gasping for air, every muscle in my body screaming.
"Hey don't leave me hanging here brat!" Hearing the toad complain I realised he's still upside down.
Only if this guy could stay that way...
"So how does this signing thing work." I ask a little giddy as I help him.
Gamabunta let out a deep rumble that might've been a laugh.
Fukasaku who was next to us, handed me a massive empty scroll. A little hesitant, after bitting my thumb, then pressed it to the parchment. With Gamabunta doing the same. The future chief was now my personal summon.
Just like that, I had my first summon.
'LETS GOOOO! YEAHHHHHH!'
Gamabunta looked down at me one last time with excitement. "Try not to die before I see you again, kid. I'm looking forward to our future battles."
Nodding at his words it was now time to head back.
"Jiraiya boy. You may return to your world but remember to come back. Come by and train whenever you are free. Strength takes time, and you have the potential to reach it."
"Thank you, Fukasaku. I'll definitely take you up on that."
A few moments later, I did the same hand seals the same way I got here.
Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram.
The world went up in a white smoke.
Then solid ground. Dirt. Trees. The familiar air of Konoha.
'I'm back.'
Didn't even have a second to breathe before an ANBU appeared beside me, mask gleaming under the sun. "Jiraiya. Lord Third requests your presence immediately."
"Figures," I muttered, brushing mud from my clothes. "The way he saw me leave was... Hectic"
Was certainly some exit.
The ANBU said nothing, just grabbed my shoulder and flickered us both away. Next thing I knew, I was standing in front of Hiruzen's desk. His pipe was in one hand, his expression tight.
"Jiraiya." The tone full of relief "Do you know the heart attack you gave me!"
I rubbed the back of my neck, guilty. "I'm sorry sensei. But I have good news okay!"
He blinked. "You what?"
"Yeah," I said quickly, before he exploded. "I ended up somewhere called Mount Myoboku. Met these two toads who are sages. There was this giant toad named Gamabunta he was three times my size. I kinda… fought him. Won, actually. So now I've got a summoning contract with him. They also offered to train me and I accepted."
The office went quiet at my rant.
Even Hiruzen needed a moment to process that. Then, slowly, he exhaled through his nose, the corner of his mouth twitching upward.
"You fought Gamabunta," he repeated. "And won?"
"Yup."
A low chuckle escaped him. "You truly are unpredictable, Jiraiya. Well that explains the dirt on your left side."
He leaned back in his chair. "If these sages offered to train you, you should accept. Split your time between them and your missions here. There's much you can learn from both."
"Inu, heal him now." Hiruzen orders as an anbu appeared beside me.
'Oo.. There was defnitely something broken there.'
The next few weeks blurred together.
Training under Hiruzen during the week, and then at Mount Myoboku when I could. Sparring with Gamabunta was a whole other kind of hell his punches hit like meteor strikes but it forced me to dodge better.
I just finished water walking after spending hours in the water. While being able to now use the [Body Flicker] to an acceptable degree. Although still needing a single hand sign to complete which is a bit annoying.
My other ninjutsu while not expanding my repertoire were improved upon.
'Some of my physical stats wont increase, maybe they hit their limit for my age...'
...
One evening, back in Konoha.
"Alright team four, today we will be battling another team from your graduating class. I wanted to track your progress and fighting others your level is the best indicator. Of course if you do well I'll treat you!" Hiruzen says a grin.
Hearing this I just sigh.
Remembering the Chunin exams, things such as these were just dick measuring competitions.
"We will be focusing on training and leaving D-rank missions." His words like an angels voice but my thoughts wandered. The extra money was sort of nice but C-rank would probably pay a heap loads anyway.
Either way was fine.
'Like what business did any of the Konoha 7 have being in the exams.' It was literally pure ego from their sensei's besides Might Gai which is why I didn't say Konoha 12.
"Who are we versing sensei?" Tsunade asked curious.
"Ah you'll remember them-"
[1] From watching the anime moments. It seems like Jiraiya was able to do this before he even became Chunin. Seemingly still a newer graduate as he was still practising tree climbing to train.