Having used Reverse Summoning to come to Mount Myoboku several times, this was Naruto's first time traveling there on his own initiative.
Unlike the past, where clapping his hands and a puff of smoke would instantly change the scenery before him, activating [Yomotsu Hirasaka] required Naruto to have previously visited a place, or to know its exact location through other means.
Because Mount Myoboku was an independent world attached to the 'surface layer' of the Ninja World, Naruto noticeably felt the energy consumption was higher when traversing to it compared to moving between two points within the same space.
However, fortunately, this extra consumption was negligible for Naruto.
During the process of mentally searching for the independent world of Mount Myoboku, he also keenly sensed many other similarly existing 'attached worlds'.
Some were about the same size as Mount Myoboku, roughly the area of a large nation. Others were clearly much larger, even bigger than the worlds within [Amenominaka].
By the way, because he had returned to the Ninja World, the six spaces of Amenominaka inherited from Kaguya had also become usable again.
But for now, Naruto couldn't think of any application for them, so he simply set them aside along with the other discovered attached worlds for future study when he had time.
Plop.
Naruto stepped across space, landing on the wooden floor of the temple deep within Mount Myoboku.
The scene before him was as expected.
Fukasaku and Shima were both sitting on the ground, sweating profusely, appearing to have expended a considerable amount of Chakra.
"Ha... ha... Naruto, what... has happened to you again? Why was it so hard to pull you over?"
Shima wiped her brow with her paw. When Fukasaku had tried to use Reverse Summoning to bring Naruto over earlier, the Chakra in his body was almost completely drained.
Considering that in terms of pure Chakra volume, these two old toads even surpassed the giant toads like Gamabunta.
If Shima hadn't promptly contributed her own Chakra, Fukasaku might have met his end before Naruto even arrived.
Hearing his wife's words, Fukasaku just waved his hand. He didn't have the strength to speak at the moment, only gesturing for Naruto to head to the inner courtyard of the temple and go directly to the Great Toad Sage.
This made Naruto a bit puzzled.
Because his Observation Haki didn't sense any other human presence in the temple.
Meaning Jiraiya hadn't been summoned here.
But, holding the notion of 'since he was here', Naruto chose to follow Fukasaku's meaning, passing through the courtyard and entering the main hall.
Upon entering, he saw the Great Toad Sage, wearing his scholar's cap and large prayer beads, sitting upright in his usual half-asleep, half-awake posture.
And when Naruto walked in, this old toad, who always appeared drowsy, had a look of understanding flash in his eyes.
"...Just as I thought..."
"Uzumaki Naruto, I can no longer see your shadow in the 'future'."
The Great Toad Sage rarely used such a grave tone, something seldom seen before.
Even when he had prophesied that someone would overturn the order of the Ninja World, he hadn't shown a similar expression.
After all, the Ninja World was the Ninja World, and Mount Myoboku was Mount Myoboku.
To put it bluntly, even if the Ninja World was turned upside down, its population reduced to one-tenth, it couldn't endanger them hiding in this separate dimension.
Not just Mount Myoboku, other sacred lands in separate dimensions like the Shikkotsu Forest and Ryuchi Cave could also rest easy.
This was why, since the founding of the Ninshu, despite so many wars among humans, these 'natural beings' factions couldn't care less.
Unless it was a crisis that would threaten the world itself, like an Otsutsuki trying to drain the entire planet, they could almost always ignore it.
"...Hey, hey, Great Toad Sage, don't say such creepy things."
Naruto was stunned for a moment upon hearing the Great Toad Sage's words, then smiled and waved his hand.
"Not seeing me in the 'future' or something, it's like saying I'm going to die, haha..."
Naruto's laughter lasted a few seconds, but the Great Toad Sage didn't respond at all.
"...Really?"
Naruto had quite some faith in the Great Toad Sage's 'prophecy' abilities, after all, he had indeed predicted Naruto's appearance.
Regardless of whether it was a fluke, it was better to believe it than not.
Of course, he didn't show any fear of 'death', more like curiosity about what kind of enemy he would lose to.
Seeing the surprised look on Naruto's face, the Great Toad Sage then grinned as if his prank had succeeded.
"Haha... no, it's not what you think."
"The 'future' I can see is limited."
The Great Toad Sage picked up a bottle of sake, poured himself a cup, thought for a moment, then prepared to offer one to Naruto, but Naruto waved it away in refusal.
This puzzled him a bit.
According to Jiraiya, Naruto usually liked to drink.
Actually, after getting involved with his daughter and being told by her to drink less, Naruto rarely got as drunk as before.
And with serious matters at hand, he didn't plan to start drinking now.
Seeing this, the Great Toad Sage didn't beat around the bush. After drinking his cup of sake, he spoke again.
"Actually, when I was calculating the prophecy for Jiraiya, I was somewhat curious why you didn't appear to save him then."
Saying this, he repeated the warning he had given Jiraiya that day to Naruto.
"And your appearance today confirms my speculation."
"Uzumaki Naruto, you are no longer an ordinary being. My 'sight' can no longer encompass your figure, just as I cannot prophesy the crises on the far side of the starry river."
Hearing the Great Toad Sage say this, Naruto understood somewhat.
Simply put, because he had now completely evolved to a higher life form level, the Great Toad Sage couldn't prophesy matters related to him, just as he couldn't predict the movements of the main Otsutsuki Clan in the distant star river.
Seeing Naruto's knowing expression, the Great Toad Sage chose not to delve deeper into the topic, instead showing a smile.
"I originally thought it was a disaster even you couldn't change. Now it seems it was just a limitation of my own ability. Thinking of it that way, it's actually a good thing."
After saying this, he took a scroll from the side and handed it to Naruto.
"It seems Jiraiya was the more far-sighted one..."
Naruto opened the scroll, and on it was a painted portrait.
—Who else could it be but that Pervy Sage, Jiraiya?
The moment the scroll was opened, the painted Jiraiya leaped out from it.
If not for his size being only half a meter tall, he would look convincingly real.
After a momentary start, Naruto realized this should be a more advanced application of Jiraiya-sensei's fruit ability.
"It seems... Jiraiya-sensei's skills have improved."
He immediately thought of their previous attempts to recreate characters from Icha-Icha Paradise...
'Tsk tsk, Jiraiya-sensei truly was Jiraiya-sensei!'
'Wait for me, I'm coming to find you right now!'
And the miniature Jiraiya, after seeing the surroundings, immediately focused on Naruto.
Then, he immediately began to speak. What surprised Naruto most was that his manner of speaking was just like Jiraiya himself.
"Oh! You're back, Naruto."
"Great!"
Naruto extended his palm, letting the miniature Jiraiya jump onto it.
"Jiraiya... sensei? Are you contacting me through him?"
'Could it be that the Inku Inku no Mi also possessed the function of transmitting consciousness?'
To this, the miniature Jiraiya denied it.
"It's not what you think, Naruto."
"This body, including the 'intelligence' I possess, is just pre-programmed. I knew you would ask that question."
Jiraiya's Inku Inku no Mi wasn't yet powerful enough to conjure a real living being out of thin air like the Soru Soru no Mi. The existence of this miniature Jiraiya was more like... an intelligent puppet.
After explaining his own existence, the miniature Jiraiya also explained his current situation.
The beginning was basically the same as what Fukasaku had said. Jiraiya had launched an investigation because of the Jinchuriki attacks.
Then he added some details.
"...I traced it to the Bounty Exchange, but unsurprisingly found no clues. Then I went to the place where Roshi was attacked, investigated upwards step by step, and finally narrowed it down to the [Land of Demons]… you can come find me here."
After saying this, the miniature Jiraiya, as if exhausted, dissolved into a puddle of ink on the floor.
The Land of Demons, a small country west of the Land of Earth. If Naruto hadn't carefully looked at the Ninja World Map before, he wouldn't have much impression of it.
'So, it was all the way west?'
"This was brought back by other toads that Jiraiya sent a while ago. It seems he found something there, but no matter how we used Reverse Summoning, he didn't accept it."
At this moment, Shima also walked in and explained to Naruto.
Hearing this, Naruto just nodded slightly, his tone calm.
"Leave it to me. I'll bring Jiraiya-sensei back safely."
With that, he nodded lightly to the two toad sages, then tore through space again and left Mount Myoboku.
This scene left the Great Toad Sage stunned.
Because he had seen this technique before...
"Hagoromo..."
The Great Toad Sage muttered softly, as if thinking of something.
But when Fukasaku turned to look, he had returned to his usual drowsy state.
…
On the other side.
After Naruto returned to Uzushiogakure, Konohamaru immediately approached.
But before he could say much, Naruto spoke first.
"Konohamaru, I'm going to the Land of Demons next to bring back Jiraiya-sensei. Do you want to come with me or—"
"I want to go with you, Naruto-Aniki!"
Before Naruto could finish, Konohamaru raised his hand high without hesitation.
Seeing this, Naruto didn't refuse. He didn't even need Konohamaru to prepare anything in advance.
After all, Yomotsu Hirasaka could easily traverse most of the Ninja World, and there was no need to run for ten or twenty days like before.
Naruto turned to the people of Uzushiogakure and said,
"Time is of the essence. I'll set off now. Once I bring Jiraiya-sensei back, I'll catch up with you properly."
With that, Yomotsu Hirasaka opened again, and their figures quickly disappeared from everyone's sight.