Chapter 290: Master, Can I Eat This Disrespectful Toad?

"Mhm."

After hearing everyone's responses, Jiraiya nodded in satisfaction and clapped his hands together. "As long as we manage to break the enemy's blockade and stabilize the situation, reinforcements from the village will soon arrive to support us."

"Lord Jiraiya, are we really going in just like this?" Hyuga Junichi raised his hand, indicating he had a question.

"Go ahead," Jiraiya nodded slightly.

Junichi glanced at the pitch-black sea and said, "Although I'm ready to give my life for the village, I have to ask—how are we going to land on the island? If we just sail there directly, I'm afraid we'll be spotted by the enemy as soon as we leave Uzushiogakure's waters."

Being prepared to die in battle didn't mean that anyone actually wanted to die. If they could live, few people would truly choose death.

Junichi's question was on the minds of many others; he just happened to be the one to voice it.

"Of course, we won't go directly," Jiraiya smiled, explaining, "Now that we're on the warship leaving the Uzushiogakure camp, there's no need for me to keep it a secret from you all."

He bit his thumb, formed some hand seals, and then pressed his palm onto the deck. With a poof, a toad appeared.

The gathered jonin weren't fools. When they saw Jiraiya summoning a toad, they quickly understood how they were going to reach the island under Kirigakure's control.

Jiraiya was going to have the toad swallow them, and the toad would then swim to the island, allowing them to avoid detection.

This meant they could sneak directly beneath the enemy's nose before launching their attack.

Instantly, several people showed relieved smiles. Sure, getting swallowed by a toad wasn't exactly pleasant, but it beat sailing right into enemy fire.

Disgust... a strong sense of disgust.

Takuya watched the toad on the deck, holding its head up proudly, and felt an overwhelming urge to squash the thing beneath his foot.

He didn't have any fear of toads, but he definitely didn't like them. The idea of being swallowed by one was even worse.

Danger!

It seemed to have sensed something. The toad, which Jiraiya had just summoned, shivered slightly, and instinctively turned its head—only to meet Takuya's cold, disdainful gaze.

Clearly, Takuya wasn't too thrilled about getting swallowed by a toad.

Jiraiya could see it right away.

"Alright, everyone," he said, "you'll have to put up with being in the toad's stomach for a little while. Who wants to go first?"

Many of the toads from Mount Myōboku possessed all sorts of unique abilities, and using one as a transportation vessel was no big deal.

Jiraiya often did this, hiding inside the toad's body to infiltrate dangerous areas and gather information.

Of course, Orochimaru did similar things—only, in his case, it was snakes, not toads.

"I'll go first," Yūhi Shinku said, stepping forward with a smile.

Being swallowed by the toad didn't mean being thrown into its stomach—there had to be a special space inside. Otherwise, they'd suffocate before they even got close to the island.

"Alright, Gourd Toad, the rest is up to you," Jiraiya said.

"Got it," replied the Gourd Toad, holding onto some pride as a creature of the Three Great Sage Regions.

Though it could feel Takuya's disdain, the Gourd Toad didn't let it affect its mood. It knew what it was supposed to do.

Not everyone liked toads—being disliked was normal.

"If you dislike me, you don't have to come into my belly," the Gourd Toad thought, opening its mouth wide and swallowing Shinku.

Inside its belly was a special space, allowing it to carry living beings discreetly. Its unique ability was formidable enough that even Pain of the Rinnegan couldn't detect anything amiss in the original storyline.

After Shinku took the lead, the jonin entered one by one until it was Minato's turn.

Minato smiled faintly. "Thanks for the hard work."

As Jiraiya's disciple, with a summoning contract with the toads of Mount Myōboku, Minato was on good terms with the toads.

After swallowing Minato, the Gourd Toad turned to Nawaki.

Nawaki grimaced. He wasn't too keen on getting swallowed by a toad, but what choice did he have?

What about you? He glanced at Takuya, knowing he wasn't fond of toads either.

But Takuya ignored him.

Just get into the toad's belly already.

Nawaki reluctantly stepped forward, and the toad swallowed him too. Jiraiya, folding his arms, laughed. "Come on, Takuya, it's just a moment, then it'll be over. Just bear with it, alright?"

"Jiraiya, I think this kid doesn't like me much, and I don't feel like..." The Gourd Toad started to complain.

It was unwilling to carry someone who disrespected it. However, mid-complaint, it noticed something in the darkness—a huge black shadow, with two glowing vertical pupils.

Danger!

The Gourd Toad jumped in fear. Jiraiya slapped his forehead and let out a nervous laugh, trying to ease the situation. "Manda, long time no see. Looks like you've gotten stronger."

Manda ignored Jiraiya. Its thick, snake-like tongue flicked through the air, eyeing the Gourd Toad like prey.

"Master, may I eat this disrespectful toad?"

Among the Three Great Sage Regions, Shikkotsu Forest remained neutral, while Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave were at odds.

Snakes from Ryūchi Cave often attacked Mount Myōboku, hunting its toads for food.

To the snakes, toads were a delicacy, especially the ones from Mount Myōboku, which were incredibly nourishing and came with numerous benefits.

While the Gourd Toad was swallowing Minato, Takuya had already summoned Manda—only, not on the ship, as Manda was too large and would have capsized it. Instead, it was summoned into the sea.

"What's so special about eating a toad?" Takuya jumped onto Manda's head and said to Jiraiya, "Have your toad lead the way. I'll follow behind."

Squatting atop Manda's head, Takuya pressed his palm against it, chakra spreading out.

Manda dared not resist and obediently remained still. Despite the rough waters, Manda stayed completely steady, unmoving.

In a moment, Manda's terrifying aura vanished. If Manda wasn't right there before his eyes, Jiraiya might have doubted his own vision.

Envy!

The technique to suppress one's presence like that—was incredible.

Too bad I can't learn it.

Shaking his head, Jiraiya allowed the Gourd Toad to swallow him as well.

Once it had swallowed Jiraiya, the Gourd Toad's entire body shivered under Manda's gaze. Without delay, it leaped into the sea and swam toward the islands under Kirigakure's control.

No orders were needed. Manda followed silently.

_____________Second bonus for 500 Power Stones_____________

Next Bonus: 900 Power Stones. ╰ (´꒳`) ╯

__________________________

(P)(S): If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 340+ at patreon com/ Emik01. ಥ‿ಥ

___________________________