Chapter 216

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Myōboku Mountain.

A hoarse voice echoed from the cave dwelling of the Great Toad Sage, also known as Gamamaru.

"Shima, Fukasaku, Jiraiya-chan should be coming soon. Bring him to see me."

"Yes, Great Toad Sage-sama."

Shima and Fukasaku, the two toads, responded and hopped away. Shortly after, they brought Jiraiya to the entrance of the Great Toad Sage's cave.

"Great Toad Sage-sama, Jiraiya-chan is here."

"Hmm, let him in." As the hoarse voice fell, the stone door of the cave opened. Fukasaku and Shima led Jiraiya inside.

"Great Toad Sage-sama," Jiraiya greeted respectfully and sincerely.

To Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage represented the meaning and direction of his life. He believed deeply in the Great Toad Sage's words and trusted the prophecies.

This was Jiraiya's spiritual pillar.

"Jiraiya-chan, ask whatever you want." The Great Toad Sage's voice was hoarse and lazy, "I don't have much time when I'm awake."

Jiraiya nodded and got straight to the point, "Great Toad Sage-sama, I've always kept your prophecy in my heart. You said that the savior of the ninja world would be my disciple.

But recent events have made me doubt myself.

During the Second War, the three disciples I taught have now become the source of chaos in the ninja world. And the disciple I took in before the Third War, Namikaze Minato, has a great heart and outstanding abilities, but he is being heavily suppressed by Kyomu.

Although I don't want to admit it, I have become shaken. I can't be sure if your prophecy has gone off track or if the future of the ninja world has changed unpredictably."

After speaking, Jiraiya looked at the Great Toad Sage sitting on the stone platform, his eyes shining with anticipation.

He desperately wanted guidance from the Great Toad Sage. He was truly lost right now.

Over the past year, Jiraiya had watched the changes and development under Kyomu's leadership in the Land of Dragons and Ryūgakure.

The Land of Dragons and Ryūgakure had already shown a glimpse of a peaceful era. Although it was foreseeable that the Land of Dragons would ignite the flames of war across the entire ninja world in the future, once the war ended and Kyomu won, the development model of the Land of Dragons would spread throughout the ninja world.

At that time, the war that had plagued the ninja world for thousands of years might finally have a day to end, and ninjas would truly become the masters of the ninja world.

But understanding this didn't mean Jiraiya could accept it.

He believed that the way to achieve peace should not be so bloody. The highest state should be mutual understanding among people and a genuine desire for peace from the heart.

Only in this way would peace last. Peace obtained through blood and fire would shatter once Kyomu's rule ended, and the ninja world would return to scorched earth in a hundred years.

Such peace, in Jiraiya's eyes, was an illusion. Like a bubble, once the person maintaining it was gone, the peace of the ninja world would break.

"The future of the ninja world has indeed changed," the Great Toad Sage spoke. "I recently had a dream and saw a glimpse of the future.

In my dream, the ninja world was blood-red, not just the sky but also the earth, and there were corpses everywhere.

A brilliant blade light cut through the sky. Is this a disaster or salvation for the ninja world?

Who knows.

I looked around and saw two familiar pairs of eyes standing against the wind, facing thousands of enemies alone. The future of the ninja world might still be in their hands."

"And then?" Jiraiya asked eagerly.

"I couldn't see clearly..." The Great Toad Sage's voice was full of fatigue. "But I can be sure that is the direction the future of the ninja world is heading. If those two win, the future of the ninja world is still controllable. But if they lose, no one can predict what will happen to the ninja world."

"Great Toad Sage-sama, who are those two?"

"They are old friends of mine," the Great Toad Sage didn't specify.

Hearing this, the light in Jiraiya's eyes dimmed a bit. "Great Toad Sage-sama, then about your prophecy of me and the savior of the ninja world, is it..."

"It hasn't changed."

The Great Toad Sage shook his head. Hope reignited in Jiraiya's eyes, and he quickly began to ask more questions.

"Great Toad Sage-sama, please enlighten me."

"Follow your heart and act upon it. The savior of the ninja world will still become your disciple."

"But... I can't see any hope. Kyomu is now unmatched."

"Those two will definitely succeed." The Great Toad Sage's voice grew fainter. "Jiraiya-chan, hold firm in your beliefs and continue searching. Perhaps the road ahead is winding, but when someone inherits your ideals, he will be the savior of the ninja world."

As his words fell, the Great Toad Sage's snoring began, clearly entering a state of slumber once more.

Jiraiya bowed deeply to the Great Toad Sage. After a long time, he stood up, his eyes filled with determined resolve.

He chose to believe in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.

"I will continue searching. I will definitely meet the savior you prophesied, and I will bring the chaotic ninja world back on track."

Following Shima and Fukasaku, Jiraiya did not leave immediately. He wanted to train in Sage Mode on Myōboku Mountain for a month.

He had a premonition that when Kushina went into labor, it would mark the beginning of another great battle.

...

Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office.

Bang.

Yagura kicked over the desk in front of him, scattering the piled documents all over the floor.

"Mobilize the troops, follow me and pursue them!"

Yagura picked up his weapon and issued the order to assemble. At sea, the Mist Ninja feared no one.

Mastering Water Release Ninjutsu, they were natural sea battle kings. On land, they might not boast, but at sea, they feared no one.

"Yes, Mizukage-sama!" The ANBU ninja of Kirigakure received the order and left. In just a moment, the intricate war machine of Kirigakure began to operate.

When exterminating the various ninja clans within the village, Yagura had anticipated interference from outsiders but hadn't expected the interference from Ryūgakure to be so severe.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen, annihilated!

Although the seven unique ninja swords weren't lost, losing seven elite ninjas at once, and being killed by outsiders at their doorstep, was not just provocation but a blatant declaration of war.

If Yagura could endure this, it would indeed be strange.

Soon, Yagura led the Mist Ninja to the port and boarded the warships at the fastest speed, pursuing Kyomu and his men.

He had to teach Kyomu and his men a lesson! The dignity of Kirigakure and the Land of Water must not be violated! Dozens of warships sailed through the waves. Although the ship Kyomu and his men were on had set sail first, it wasn't fast.

Not because Kyomu didn't want speed, but because, as an inland nation, the Land of Dragons was different from the Land of Water, which was surrounded by the sea.

The Land of Dragons had only one external port, used mainly for regular commercial trade, so it wasn't feasible to build warships.

Without warships, the vessel Kyomu used to travel to the Land of Water was just a merchant ship, far slower than various warships designed for battle.

So, in less than half a day, the warship fleet led by Yagura caught up, closely tailing the merchant ship Kyomu and his men were on.

"Yagura has caught up."

Kakashi entered the cabin to report the situation to Kyomu, with Haku following behind him.

Kyomu and Mei's conversation halted.

Looking up, Kyomu asked Kakashi, "Is Yagura personally leading them?"

"Yes, it's him."

"How many people did he bring?"

"Judging by the number of warships, about fifteen hundred Mist Ninja."

Nodding, Kyomu stood up. "Then let's fight. Of the Five Great Hidden Villages, only Kirigakure hasn't been dealt with by us yet."

After speaking, Kyomu looked at Mei, who was still seated, "Mei, what are your thoughts?"

"Ryūkage-sama, just give the order," Mei's expression became serious. "The Terumi clan is now part of Ryūgakure. We are very willing to sever ties with Kirigakure.

Of course, I want to take Yagura's life personally. I hope Ryūkage-sama will allow it."

"Of course," Kyomu was very pleased with Mei's determination. Completely severing ties and even becoming enemies with Kirigakure was excellent.

"Let's go. Let's meet Yagura and the thousand Mist Ninja he brought." Kyomu opened the cabin door. "To be honest, I'm really looking forward to Yagura giving me a surprise.

It's said that the Three-Tails Isobu's combat power in the sea is unparalleled. Even the Nine-Tails may not be its match in the water."

Following

Kyomu, Mei nodded, "That's true. It's said that over two hundred years ago, the Nine-Tails fought the Three-Tails at sea and didn't gain any advantage."

This was not baseless. The image of the Three-Tails Isobu was that of a massive alligator snapping turtle, whose strong point was combat in water.

The presence or absence of water and the amount of water in the combat environment greatly affected the Three-Tails Isobu's specific strength. In the sea, the power the Three-Tails Isobu could unleash was unknown, as there were no concrete battle records, only unverified tales from the ninja world.

The ocean was a place where even ninjas with extraordinary powers hadn't completely conquered. Unless someone was extremely confident in their strength, they wouldn't choose to fight the Three-Tails Isobu at sea.

Attacking an enemy's strength with one's own weakness was purely seeking trouble. Even fighting the Three-Tails Isobu in the large lake where it often resided was difficult, let alone in the ocean, where it had more water and a larger battlefield. Even Senju Hashirama wouldn't dare to say he could easily handle the Three-Tails Isobu.

Even if the Three-Tails Isobu couldn't win, if it wanted to escape, who could stop it?

But all of this was not within Kyomu's consideration.

What no one had tried, he was determined to try. Just because others couldn't win against the Three-Tails Isobu in the ocean didn't mean he couldn't.

"It's getting foggy." Standing on the deck, Kyomu murmured.

"It's the Hidden Mist Technique." Mei replied, "Many are using this technique together, and it's very effective at sea."

"But the biggest counter to the Hidden Mist Technique is Wind Release, right?" Kyomu was indifferent. "Even at sea, a hurricane can disperse the thick mist with visibility less than half a meter."

This was true, but Mei still doubted Kyomu.

"Ryūkage-sama, if my estimation is correct, the combined Hidden Mist Technique used by over a thousand Mist Ninja at sea would cover a range of four to five kilometers.

To disperse such a vast area of thick mist with Wind Release... how much chakra would that require?"

"Chakra, I am quite scarce on, but it depends on what kind of technique I use."

Using Flight Technique, Kyomu slowly floated above the deck and extended an invitation to Mei, "Mei, do you want to see it?"

"Sure!"

Without any hesitation, Mei grabbed Kyomu's outstretched hand, and he pulled her into his embrace.

When they were rivals in their youth, Mei had been held hostage by Kyomu for a day and a night, and he had held her the entire time.

It wasn't out of habit, but Mei and Kyomu didn't have any other thoughts. This way, it was easier to fulfill their mutual promise.

Yagura's life was to be left for Mei. Cooperating against the enemy didn't involve many problems and considerations.

With his left hand around Mei's waist, Kyomu placed his right hand on the hilt of Yoei and used the Flight Technique to move forward in the air.

Shing!

Yoei unsheathed, and Wind Release chakra surged into the blade, activating the ability derived from devouring the Three-Star Fan.

Swinging the blade forward, one slash after another.

Blades of wind shot out from Yoei's blade, sweeping forward, the continuous blade light intensifying and growing stronger.

Wind, a great wind, roared upward, stirring the clouds!

Whoosh! Mei's eyes widened as the violent hurricane connecting heaven and water blew forward.

It resembled a water dragon, drawing seawater upward while simultaneously pulling the surrounding thick mist towards the center of the tornado, sending both the mist and the blue seawater high into the sky.

The combined Hidden Mist Technique of over fifteen hundred Mist Ninja was shattered by a single slash from Kyomu!

"This is... Ryūkage-sama's power?"

Standing on the deck, Haku covered her mouth with her hands, looking up at the waterspout connecting to the sky, her tone filled with excitement.

Next.

The surrounding mist cleared, revealing the merchant ship carrying the Dragon Ninjas and the warships surrounding them. There were no longer any barriers or privacy.

The Mist Ninjas on the warships, preparing large-scale Water Release techniques, had expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

Splash.

The hurricane dissipated, and the seawater that had been drawn up poured down in torrents, with fish of all sizes falling from the sky along with it.

It was a heavy downpour (of fish)!

With the sunlight shining through the falling seawater, a rainbow bridge formed, enveloping Kyomu.

Turning to look at Kyomu bathed in the rainbow's glow, Mei's heart skipped a beat.

That slash was incredibly powerful! Kyomu was incredibly powerful!

(End of Chapter)