It’s Danzo’s fault

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Mt. Myoboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest were known as the Three Great Sage Regions, sacred lands that predated even the arrival of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya. Each was home to powerful creatures that had long guarded the secrets of Senjutsu, or Sage Arts—a legacy intertwined with the mysteries of immortality.

In the original work, Mt. Myoboku gained significant attention, largely because of the Great Toad Sage. This ancient figure could be seen as the source of much of the ninja world's destiny, having once taught Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo, the Sage of Six Paths, Senjutsu and entrusted him with the Immortal Talisman to help his brother, Ōtsutsuki Hamura, seal away their mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki. Though the Great Toad Sage himself was a noncombatant, his wisdom and foresight were legendary, guiding countless events from the shadows. It was his prophecy that led Jiraiya on a lifelong quest to find the Child of Prophecy.

---

Jiraiya walked along the familiar stone path, lined with towering toad statues. These figures weren't merely decorative; they were reminders of those who had failed in Sage training, almost becoming stone themselves. Jiraiya had nearly been one of them—only luck and tenacity had saved him.

"Little Jiraiya, you're here," croaked a familiar voice.

A green toad in a gray robe hopped forward.

"Fukasaku-sama," Jiraiya greeted with respect, bowing slightly.

"Come along, the Great Master awaits you," Fukasaku said, gesturing him forward.

Jiraiya followed him into the heart of Mt. Myoboku, where the imposing figure of the Great Toad Sage awaited. Colossal in size, the ancient toad's orange skin stood out against the large bead necklace he wore, with the character "油" (oil) carved into the central bead. A traditional cap rested on his head, a strange accessory that seemed somehow fitting.

Bowing deeply, Jiraiya addressed him, "Great Toad Sage."

The Great Toad Sage appeared to be dozing, his slow, rhythmic breathing echoing in the hall. Jiraiya exchanged a look with Fukasaku, who rolled his eyes and sighed.

Fukasaku took a deep breath and shouted, "Master!"

Jiraiya flinched, covering his ears as Fukasaku's voice echoed.

The Great Toad Sage stirred, blinking slowly. "Hmm? Who's there?"

"Why do you always do this?" Fukasaku muttered.

"Jiraiya," Jiraiya offered politely.

"Jiraiya? Ah, Little Jiraiya... I almost didn't recognize you."

Jiraiya smiled, relieved. "It's good to see you, Great Toad Sage."

The Great Toad Sage blinked, finally focusing. "I called you here for a reason. A troubling matter has arisen."

"A new prophecy?" Jiraiya asked, instantly alert.

The Great Toad Sage nodded. "Indeed. You remember the Child of Prophecy I once spoke of—the one with the power to either save or destroy the ninja world?"

Jiraiya nodded, feeling the weight of those words settle on him.

"I fear the path toward peace has grown more fragile," the Great Toad Sage said gravely.

"What?" Jiraiya's heart sank. "Why? What has changed?"

"I cannot say," admitted the Great Toad Sage, his gaze distant. "But the vision of peace grows dim, and the prospect of ruin draws closer. You must renew your efforts to find the Child of Prophecy."

Jiraiya knew the search would be a monumental task. Before he could voice his concern, the Great Toad Sage continued.

"There's something else," he said, his ancient eyes narrowing. "I foresaw Mt. Myoboku's destruction."

"Destruction?" Jiraiya and Fukasaku both exclaimed, stunned.

Mt. Myoboku, shielded from the chaos of the ninja world, had always been thought of as untouchable.

"All the toads… gone, myself included," the Great Toad Sage continued, exhaling smoke from his pipe.

"Master, that's impossible!" Fukasaku protested. "Even the Sage of Six Paths couldn't have destroyed this place. Who could do such a thing?"

"I don't know," the Great Toad Sage replied, the ambiguity unnerving them both. After a pause, he added, "But I saw one thing: the one responsible possesses… special eyes."

"Eyes?" Jiraiya's mind raced. Could it be a dōjutsu? The Sharingan, the Byakugan, or perhaps the Rinnegan used by Nagato?

"Jiraiya," the Great Toad Sage said, his voice heavy with urgency. "You must find this person. If not, Mt. Myoboku will fall."

Jiraiya clenched his fists, determination filling him. "I understand, Great Toad Sage. I'll find him, no matter what."

Whoever this person was, they would be immensely powerful. And if Jiraiya found them, he knew a confrontation was inevitable.

---

As he exited the hall, Jiraiya's thoughts churned. His first move would be to return to Konoha. If a dōjutsu user was involved, the Uchiha and Hyūga clans were obvious leads.

But there was also someone he needed to check on—Naruto Uzumaki, the boy he believed to be the Child of Prophecy. Though Jiraiya had been away, he trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, to have been watching over him.

"Fukasaku-sama," Jiraiya called as the elder toad hopped beside him. "Do we have any toads stationed near Konoha who can reverse-summon me?"

"We do," Fukasaku nodded. "I'll arrange it."

---

Moments later, Jiraiya found himself back in Konoha, summoned near the hot springs. A grin spread across his face.

"The old toad knows me too well," he chuckled. "Now, for a soak before I find Naruto. Here I come, beautiful ladies!"

---

"Thank you, Natsume-," Hinata said softly, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush.

Hyuga Rinka, her mother, gently patted her daughter's head, encouraging her to step forward. "If it weren't for him on your birthday night, things could have taken a very dangerous turn," she reminded Hinata gently.

"Thank you," Hinata mumbled, casting a quick glance at Natsume before looking away, clearly feeling shy.

Natsume chuckled softly. "It's okay, Hinata's just a little shy," he said, hoping to put her at ease.

Rinka smiled apologetically. "She's always been reserved. But today, she can at least try some of my cooking." With that, she began to unpack several containers, each revealing a beautifully prepared dish.

It had been Natsume's idea to have dinner outdoors, hoping to spend a bit more time with Hinata. Hinata's mother, grateful for everything Natsume had done, had agreed. She even took the time to personally prepare the meal—a rare gesture, as the wife of the Hyūga clan head rarely cooked for anyone outside her family.

"Thank you, Aunt Rinka," Natsume said with a warm smile. "I'm really looking forward to trying your cooking."

Rinka smirked, clearly pleased. "Don't compliment me until you've actually tasted it."

Natsume picked up his chopsticks eagerly, selecting a piece of pork belly and taking a bite.

"So?" Rinka asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.

"It's amazing!" Natsume said, his eyes lighting up as he gave her a thumbs-up. "This might be the best I've ever tasted, Auntie!"

Rinka chuckled, obviously delighted. "Such a charmer! Eat as much as you want, and think of this as your home."

Natsume laughed lightly and continued eating, savoring each bite. Though he had hoped to spend more time alone with Hinata, he was happy to see her comfortable and smiling. Every so often, he noticed her sneaking shy glances his way, only to look away when their eyes met, her cheeks glowing.

Rinka observed their interaction with quiet approval. She had always worried about her daughter's reserved nature and whether she'd find it difficult to make friends. Though she wasn't considering the possibility of romance—Hyūga marriages were often arranged within the clan to protect the Byakugan—she felt reassured knowing Hinata had a friend she trusted.

As the evening wound down, Hinata waved shyly as Natsume prepared to leave. "Goodbye, Natsume."

"See you later," Natsume replied with a wink.

Hinata blushed, her small hands clutching the hem of her clothes nervously. Natsume noticed she hadn't eaten much, so he decided to find a chance to treat her to another meal soon.

After saying goodbye, Natsume returned home. However, upon opening the door, he realized Tsunade was nowhere in sight. Then he heard the heavy thud of fists hitting wood coming from the courtyard.

Peeking out, he saw Tsunade punching a wooden training post with relentless force. Each strike sent a resounding thud through the air, demonstrating her incredible strength. Her usual calm expression was replaced with something fierce and determined.

Natsume narrowed his eyes. Something's definitely off.

In all the years since Tsunade had adopted him, she rarely trained physically, often claiming that simple exercises wouldn't help her progress beyond her current level. And yet, here she was, sweating through intense physical training.

Moving closer, Natsume approached quietly, watching her in silence. She didn't seem to notice him, her focus solely on the post as her fists connected with it repeatedly. Her form was drenched in sweat, her toned muscles visible through her damp clothing, her skin glistening slightly.

After about ten minutes, Tsunade finally stopped, her breathing labored.

"Sis, are you tired?" Natsume asked, stepping forward and offering his sleeve to help wipe away her sweat.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Not bad for a quick workout."

"Why didn't you join me today?" Natsume asked.

She sighed, placing a gentle hand on his head. "You're not a kid anymore, Natsume. There are some things you need to handle on your own."

"But I don't want to leave you behind," Natsume replied earnestly, his hand brushing against her collarbone as he dabbed at her sweat. "Will you ever stop wanting me around?"

For a brief moment, Tsunade's expression softened, a flicker of something complicated passing through her eyes. "Of course not," she replied, brushing his concerns aside. "I'll always be here."

Natsume grinned and hugged her. "Good. Then we'll always be together, right?"

Tsunade tensed slightly, then sighed, patting his head. "Yes, yes. Now, let go—I need a shower."

Natsume released her, watching as she disappeared into the bathroom. A few moments later, she emerged, her long blonde hair still damp, cascading freely down her back.

"Here, let me help," Natsume offered, grabbing a towel to dry her hair.

Tsunade leaned back on the couch, letting him dry her hair. "Oh, by the way, the Chūnin Exams are in three months," she mentioned casually. "Inuzuka Hana will be joining your team, along with Kabuto. You three will be training together."

"I'll make you proud," Natsume replied confidently, gently rubbing the towel through her hair.

Tsunade smiled, her eyes glimmering with pride. "Just remember to stay safe. The exams can be dangerous, but with your skills, I have no doubt you'll pass."

"Leave it to me!" Natsume grinned.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Konoha, Jiraiya was anything but pleased. Having spent time quietly observing Naruto, he had come to a painful realization: the boy was being neglected and ostracized by the villagers.

Seething with anger, Jiraiya stormed into the Hokage's office.

"Hiruzen!" he shouted, bursting through the door and startling the elderly Third Hokage, who had been gazing into his crystal ball.

"Jiraiya? What brings you here?" Hiruzen asked, surprised.

Jiraiya's face was grim. "Why is Naruto living like this? Why does everyone treat him like a demon?"

Hiruzen's expression darkened with regret. "It's Danzo's doing. I ordered everyone to keep his connection to the Nine-Tails a secret, but rumors spread nonetheless."

"Then why not reveal that he's the Fourth Hokage's son?" Jiraiya demanded, fists clenched in frustration.

"Minato had enemies," Hiruzen replied heavily. "Revealing Naruto's true heritage would put him in even greater danger. If his identity became public, every enemy of Konoha would target him."

Jiraiya's jaw tightened, his frustration clear. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "Let me take care of him. I'll raise him."

Hiruzen shook his head slowly. "It's not time yet. Naruto's still young, and you can't wander the world with him by your side."

Jiraiya's gaze fell, reluctantly conceding. The fire in his heart hadn't dimmed, though, and Hiruzen's assurance that things would change soon felt hollow.

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