The Toad Sage.

(1 Month Later, Mount Myoboku.)

The night had fallen, and the moon shone in the sky.

On top of Mount Myoboku, the home of the Toads, The Great Toad Sage slowly opened his eyes, an action that he had rarely executed in his old age, excluding an aura of wisdom and knowledge to anyone who looked into them.

As he carefully observed ahead, it seemed as if his eyes could see far beyond the walls that surrounded his abode.

Observing for a few more minutes a silent sight escaped the Toad Sage as his eyes closed once more, though not denying him his sight nonetheless.

Suddenly, the Toad Sage moved his body, slowly heading for the doors of his abode, opening them as he gazed towards the village he had watched over for most of his life. The home the Toads had created for themselves, a peace of paradise only for them.

'Ha… nothing lasts forever. I, better than anyone should know that… and yet…' – Nostalgia hit the Toad Sage as he remembered the years he had spent in Mount Myoboku.

As the Toad Sage lost himself in thoughts, it didn't take long for Gamabunta to notice his presence, arriving beside him in silence so as to not disturb him.

It took a few minutes for the Toad Sage to turn and look at Gamabunta, a smile spreading on the elderly Toad's face as he looked at him.

"Gamabunta… take the others and leave. Go to Konoha and only return once the week is over."

Gamabunta's eyes widened as he made to question the Toad Sage only to be met with a terrifying pressure stemming from the Toad Sage's gaze on him.

"Do not argue with me on this. It is not a request." – The Sage whispered as Gamabunta's merely looked at him seriously.

After a moment, a firm node came from Gamabunta as he hurriedly made his way back down, only to turn his head around once as if hoping for the elderly toad to change his mind. As the Sage did not move, Gamabunta turned to hesitantly head down the mountain.

Gamamaru, the Toad Sage, felt the presence of Gamabunta leaving and smiled sadly as he looked beyond the Mountain that served as their home.

'Ah… Forgive this old and stubborn fool's selfishness this one time.'

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(2 hours later)

As the Toad Sage observed, under Gamabunta, his kin had deserted the mountain they called home. While for others it would take a month to arrive at Mount Myoboku, it only took under an hour for the Toads to leave it for the Shinobi world. Granted, knowledge of certain routes was required for this to happen, the knowledge that only the Toads, who had lived their entire lives here, could possess.

As the Sage patiently waited, he suddenly felt something pierce through the air, raising his arm to deflect the blow.

As it made contact, Manda suddenly crushed to the side of the mountain, however to little or no apparent damage as he merely shook his head as it looked at the elder through the slit, narrowing eyes.

"Youngsters are so impatient these days." – The Sage spoke, casually lowering the hand he used to deflect Manda behind his back, moving it out of Manda's view before he could observe it more carefully.

As the two stared at each other, Manda missed the trembling in the hand the Sage used to defend against him.

'So young and yet so powerful. I had heard he was exceptional amongst the younglings in the Ryuchi cave… but this seems a little excessive. His speed is not to be underestimated either, and I certainly felt part of my chakra siphoned towards him after contact.'

As Manda stared at him, the Sage suddenly spoke.

"I can feel your presence… Kei Uchiha." – The Sage said as he turned to stare above him.

The moment he did so, Manda lunged once more, only for the elderly Sage to swiftly move slightly to the left, using his elbow to strike Manda's temple, crashing his entire head with force to the ground.

As he did so, Manda's tail did not stay idle, swiping with force and forcing the Sage to retreat carefully.

"I do not seek to fight for my life, merely to have a conversation. Afterward, you can do as you wish with this old fossil." – The Toad Sage spoke towards the figure that was now standing in front of Manda, holding him from attacking once again.

"Hooo…" – Kei returned with some surprise.

"Let us talk then."

The Toad Sage smiled slightly as he gestured towards his home.

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Two minutes later, The old Sage was sitting back on his spot as he observed the 'young man in front of him.

"You wanted to talk, and I agreed due to curiosity… but what exactly do we have to talk about. Or let me guess… do you have a prophecy for me too?" – Kei asked while smirking slightly.

"Haha… nothing so complicated and tiresome, merely to make a small deal."

"A deal? I thought you wouldn't fight for your life."

"Hahaha… do you consider mere conversation as fights?"

"Those who cannot fight with their body, find other alternatives."

As Kei spoke, his Sharingan stared at the arm the Toad Sage initially used to deflect Manda.

"Hahaha… Indeed, indeed, I am too old to fight physically without consequences. Even nature energy needs a physical foundation to safely be used. I have long since lost that… but worry not, I will not bargain for my life. AT this point, it is not worth much anyway." – The Sage said as he smiled sadly.

"Then what will you bargain for?" – Kei asked as he looked at the elderly toad.

"What can old coots like me bargain for… what do I possibly have left that I care for at this point in my life?"

"Your kin."

"Yes… my kin, my family. Whatever little time I can buy for them, so they can enjoy their time a little more. In comparison, this life as well as what I'm willing to pay… is worth next to nothing to me." – The Toad Sage said while smiling.

"… most would fight, especially ones with something to fight for."

"Perhaps… but I've lost many along the years. I know that instead of trying to fight against something you can't win, it's better to cherish whatever time you have left. Do not mistake my acceptance for cowardice though. If there was any way I could prolong their fate, or turn it around, I would have taken it. This is the best method I can use to buy them some more time with each other. In a way, or in many, I know you understand. You have plenty of experiences after all, direct or indirect, however, you deem fit to acknowledge them." – The Sage smiled as he spoke, referring to the ones 'Kei' had absorbed.

"Touching… but what do you have to offer, that I cannot simply take." – Kei said as his Mangekyou shined menacingly in blood-red color.

"Blood, flesh, and bone I may be for the moment, and certainly you could take anything you want from that… but I wager you'd be left with nothing should I replace my flesh for stone." – The Sage said as his wounded arm slowly started to turn into stone.

"Hmm… and say I agree, what will you give me?"

"While a lot of knowledge I have maybe of no use to you, or far too unimportant to spare my kin… I have one thing that would certainly be of interest to you. A clue… to help you find the one who brought you here, in this world. Whether he is the one who also created you though, I cannot say."