The "Hagoromo" mentioned by the Great Toad Sage, full name Otsutsuki Hagoromo, was the legendary Sage of Six Paths, a figure from a thousand years ago.
In the understanding of everyone in the ninja world, he was someone long dead, even a being whose very existence was doubtful.
After all, the era was far too distant, and the power he wielded was practically myth.
But the Great Toad Sage knew he truly existed.
And only it knew that although the Sage of Six Paths' body had already died, his soul had not completely vanished.
Instead, it existed in the Pure Land.
That was the final destination of all souls of the dead, but Otsutsuki Hagoromo's soul was very different from the others.
Ordinary souls in the Pure Land were like being sealed, completely dormant. Even if they were summoned back to the living world through Impure World Reincarnation, they couldn't bring back any memories.
But Otsutsuki Hagoromo, even within the Pure Land, still retained full consciousness, chakra, and abilities. His soul could even freely enter and leave the Pure Land.
Compared to others who treated that place as their final resting point, Otsutsuki Hagoromo chose to remain there on his own.
His purpose was to prevent that woman from breaking the seal and appearing again in the ninja world. If that happened, it would be the end of the entire world.
Originally, their plan had been to wait for the Child of Prophecy to grow up, then have Otsutsuki Hagoromo grant that child the power of the Six Paths. In the end, they would reinforce the seal imprisoning that woman, and also use it as a contingency in case of unexpected situations.
But now, the plan had encountered a situation completely beyond what they had anticipated back then.
It had foreseen that woman breaking free, but in the scene after her escape, that woman did not carry out the plan that could destroy the entire ninja world.
Instead…
'She was being a good wife and raising children?'
In human terms, that's probably how you'd put it.
Logically, this should have been a good ending, but that woman had another identity… She was the mother of the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo.
Which made the whole matter… a bit delicate.
And… although this was a scene it saw in its prophecy, and it had always been confident in its predictions, believing they would never be wrong.
Honestly, the Great Toad Sage still found this prophecy hard to believe, and for the first time, it even started to doubt it.
'After all, that woman… how can she possibly fall in love with someone?'
"Great Toad Sage?"
Seeing that the Great Toad Sage had fallen silent after hearing his words and hadn't responded for a long time, Jiraiya, worried it might have dozed off again, couldn't help calling out once more.
The Great Toad Sage came back to its senses and asked another question.
"Little Jiraiya, how strong is Aoba now?"
"Aoba's strength?"
Jiraiya paused. That really hit a blind spot in his knowledge.
He honestly hadn't paid attention to Aoba's strength, "I'm not too sure either, but he has the bloodline of both the Uzumaki and Senju clans, and he has records of dealing with tailed beasts. His strength should already be at the level of the First Hokage."
"The nine tailed beasts aren't a problem in front of him."
Aoba possessing the Uzumaki and Senju bloodlines wasn't a secret in the ninja world. As for his strength, Jiraiya had only ever seen him make a move once.
That was during the Chunin Exams, when he consecutively resealed the One-Tail and Two-Tail while they were in their fully transformed tailed beast states.
It even looked pretty easy, like something done casually.
He didn't really know the exact differences in strength between the nine tailed beasts, but based on what he saw, it felt about on par with the First Hokage. And that was already three years ago.
"Senju and Uzumaki… then does he also have the bloodline of the Uchiha or Hyuga clans?"
The Great Toad Sage suddenly felt a bit curious, 'If he has those two bloodlines as well, then Aoba's relationship with that woman… wouldn't it be a little too strange?"
"I don't know about that. I haven't seen him use anything like that."
Jiraiya shook his head.
"Then does he have any intention of collecting the tailed beasts?"
'If that woman is to be released, the unification of all nine tailed beasts is an essential condition.'
'Similarly, those eyes are also necessary."
'But if Aoba really does also have the bloodlines of the Uchiha and Hyuga…'
'He would practically have gathered most of that lineage's bloodlines. Although the probability is extremely low, it isn't impossible that he might possess those eyes.'
However, the current Aoba likely still didn't know about that woman's existence. After all, in the entire ninja world, the only one who still knew was it.
"Uh… I don't know about that either."
Jiraiya scratched his head awkwardly and shook it again.
These past two years, he had been out gathering material… no, looking for the Child of Prophecy.
Basically, aside from taking some time during the New Year to go back and check on Naruto and Kushina, he didn't bother with anything else.
"In that case, could I trouble you, Little Jiraiya, to go find that Aoba and ask him about it?"
The Great Toad Sage didn't mind, instead making a serious request.
"If it's just asking a question, that's not really a problem."
Jiraiya didn't refuse. After all, the Great Toad Sage was only asking him to ask. It hadn't said what to do if the other party refused to answer.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Little Jiraiya."
The Great Toad Sage nodded, then closed its eyes wearily again, looking as though it had fallen asleep once more.
After all, he was someone who could coexist peacefully with that person in the prophecy, and his current strength had already reached a level comparable to the First Hokage.
It didn't dare to offend him lightly.
As for other matters, it would wait until it contacted Hagoromo first. With a prophecy like this appearing, no matter what, it had to inform him.
"Then I'll be heading off."
Seeing this, Jiraiya said his piece and then disappeared from Mount Myoboku in a puff of smoke.
"Wait, Little Jiraiya…"
Shima called out when she saw Jiraiya about to leave, but he had already vanished.
"Old lady, what else did you want?"
Fukasaku looked at her in confusion.
"Didn't I say I wanted Little Jiraiya to try my cooking after so long?"
"…"
Fukasaku now understood why Jiraiya had been in such a hurry to leave.
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