Chapter 125: Great Chaos in the Shinobi World!

Chapter 125: Great Chaos in the Shinobi World!

Perhaps this is what happens when a toad ages; Fukasaku could only helplessly recap what the Great Toad Sage had said earlier.

After listening, the Great Toad Sage nodded, then looked down at Jiraiya.

This time, he managed to deliver his message in one breath.

"Jiraiya, you need to find a disciple with great talent. In the future, he will become the savior. You must help him grow quickly so he can confront what lies ahead."

"But, Great Toad Sage, you haven't told me who this savior is."

"The savior is your disciple; your disciple is the savior."

"And who is my disciple…?"

For a moment, Jiraiya was left utterly confused. What kind of riddle was this?

"Naruto…"

"Naruto?"

Jiraiya was even more puzzled now.

Does Naruto really have enough talent for that? Perhaps he does, but it's hard to believe he's the chosen savior. After all, he's only sealed with the Nine-Tails.

His innate abilities aren't exceptionally strong, only that, due to the Nine-Tails and being from the Uzumaki clan, he has an enormous reserve of chakra.

But does that alone make him a savior?

After all, even Kisame Hoshigaki from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen has a terrifying amount of chakra.

Before Jiraiya could ask further questions, the Great Toad Sage fell back into slumber.

Seeing this, Jiraiya could only resolve to give Naruto a thorough training session—and also give Sasuke some guidance, just in case. Since it was the Great Toad Sage's directive, there must be some reasoning behind it.

Perhaps this was some form of prophecy?

Around this time, the shinobi world was already showing signs of unrest.

Although there was no open warfare in the Hidden Mist Village, the other villages had all been dragged into conflicts.

Whether it was due to insufficient interest or some influence from Ishiara, these conflicts were not yet large-scale but rather skirmishes.

Jiraiya, along with Naruto and Sasuke, were dispatched to the battlefield.

At this time, the Village Hidden in the Leaves was suffering from a shortage of manpower, and even its fighting strength was notably lacking. Students, too, were required to join the battlefield.

Meanwhile, after achieving his goals, the Sage of the Six Paths began to lay out a plan from the shadows. Though his soul was faint, he could still accomplish quite a bit.

First, he quietly activated the Indra and Asura chakras within Naruto and Sasuke, and then he located the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.

"Six... Six Paths... the Sage of the Six Paths!"

The Nine-Tails, while sound asleep inside Naruto, suddenly felt a sinister presence.

The Sage of the Six Paths appeared before him.

The sight startled the Nine-Tails.

To him, the Sage of the Six Paths was like a parent, so there was no way he could show any disrespect.

"Sage of the Six Paths, I never expected to see you again!"

The Nine-Tails was overwhelmed, its massive form trembling, not from fear, but from joy.

After all, how many tailed beasts had the opportunity to encounter the Sage of the Six Paths at this point?

Only me, the Nine-Tails, Kurama!

The Nine-Tails felt a profound pride, though it was also somewhat puzzled.

Why was the Sage of the Six Paths seeking him now?

With that thought, the Nine-Tails looked at the Sage of the Six Paths with a confused expression.

"I need you to help Naruto grow stronger. Soon, great chaos will erupt in the shinobi world. Only by helping Naruto strengthen himself can you avoid a fate of being slaughtered."

The Sage of the Six Paths' words hit the Nine-Tails like a thunderbolt.

What did he mean by avoiding being slaughtered?

Suddenly, the Nine-Tails remembered the death of the Six-Tails.

No way… could it be that even I, the Nine-Tails, Kurama, could be killed?

The thought unsettled him; while he was powerful, he wasn't invincible.

Hadn't he once been toyed with by Hashirama Senju, and later controlled by Uchiha Madara?

Neither of them killed him because they didn't want to waste his powerful battle potential and because he was hard to kill.

But now, the Sage of the Six Paths himself was warning him, implying there were truly beings capable of killing him in the shinobi world!

He didn't want to end up like the Six-Tails, reduced to chakra, waiting to be revived.

"I understand!"

"Good."

With that, the Sage of the Six Paths vanished.

Time was of the essence, as he not only needed to alert several people in the shadows but also had to imprison the realm where Ishiara resided, locking both the space and time of that area.

Otherwise, with Ishiara's potential, he might complete most of his transformation into a Shinigami in just a few days.

After the Sage of the Six Paths departed, the Nine-Tails pondered for a long time.

In the end, he turned his attention to Naruto.

This kid had grown up under his watch, so there was some emotional attachment.

Because of him, Naruto had faced cold stares from people since childhood.

Now that the Sage of the Six Paths had instructed him to assist Naruto, he figured he would give it a try.

Although he hadn't fully tested this kid yet, and still didn't fully trust humans, there was no choice—this was an order from the Sage of the Six Paths.

"Naruto... Naruto… Naruto…"

Inside Naruto's mind, the Nine-Tails began calling out.

Meanwhile, Naruto had just finished sparring with Sasuke.

They were currently near the Hidden Rock Village, just on the edge of the chaotic Kusagakure, where their mission was to meet someone.

Although the Kusagakure lacked notable warriors, it had a large number of shinobi.

If they could establish an alliance with the Kusagakure, it would bolster the strength of the Hidden Leaf Village considerably.

At present, they had already allied with the Hidden Sand Village.

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before the Hidden Leaf could reclaim its position as the dominant force in the shinobi world.

"Naruto…"

"Huh? Who's calling me?"

Naruto looked around but saw nothing.

The next moment, he found himself within his inner world, facing a massive sealed gate.

He realized immediately that it was the Nine-Tails!

"Naruto!"

The Nine-Tails emerged from behind the huge gate.

Its colossal, fearsome figure startled Naruto.

So this is the Nine-Tails? It's far more terrifying in person than he imagined!

No wonder this tailed beast could plow through the entire Hidden Leaf!

"Naruto, come closer."

"No way! You probably want to kill me!"

"Relax, I won't harm you. Don't you want to grow stronger?"

The Nine-Tails' words struck a chord within Naruto.

Though he currently didn't have an intense desire for strength, especially since Sasuke hadn't left, the Nine-Tails knew exactly how to stoke someone's desire to grow stronger.