Chapter 324: The Guide
The so-called Three Great Sage Regions were Mount Myoboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryuchi Cave.
Who started this saying was no longer reliable, but throughout history, contractors from these three regions had indeed been active in the ninja world.
"Is this Mount Myoboku? It looks very lively."
Minato Namikaze knew nothing about Mount Myoboku and was quite amazed upon arrival.
It was filled with bizarre, colorful plants not found in the outside world. Frogs and toads hopped around occasionally, though unlike Kosuke, these were just ordinary, non-speaking amphibians.
Kosuke said, "Mount Myoboku is the best place in the ninja world, with the most delicious bugs! If you have the chance, try the bug tempura. You won't regret it!"
Minato shuddered involuntarily.
"I think I'll pass..."
"Let's go. I'll take you to meet Fukasaku-sennin and Shima-sennin."
Minato asked curiously, "Not the Great Toad Sage?"
"To see the Great Toad Sage, you need Fukasaku-sennin and Shima-sennin to lead the way."
Minato, having no concept of this, could only follow behind. Though he seemed relaxed, he was ready to use Flying Thunder God to escape at any moment.
Just then, a toad the size of a small mountain passed in the distance, shaking the ground with every step.
Minato's jaw dropped. "That's a toad too?"
"Ah, that's Gamabunta-sama!"
Mount Myoboku not only had bizarre plants but also toads of all shapes and sizes. Mountain-sized toads, gourd-shaped toads, even toads born with seats on their backs.
Finally, after winding paths, Minato met the legendary Fukasaku and Shima.
Looking at the two small toads, Minato thought they looked less like sages...
And more like a Toad Ojisan (Grandpa) and Toad Obasan (Grandma).
"So you are Minato Namikaze. Let's go then. I need to get back to cook dinner," Shima said briskly.
The guide changed from Kosuke to the two Sages.
Minato followed the two toads deeper into Mount Myoboku.
Fukasaku asked, "You are from Konoha, right? What is the situation in the outside world lately?"
After Jiraiya's death, Mount Myoboku lost its only contemporary contractor, and its connection with the outside world weakened significantly. The toads themselves didn't care much about human affairs; if not for the Great Toad Sage's order, Mount Myoboku would continue living in isolation.
Minato scratched his head. The changes in the ninja world were massive; he didn't know where to start.
Shima suddenly asked, "Among humans, is there someone named Yotsuki Dana? Have you heard of him?"
Minato paused. "Do you mean Yotsuki Dana of Kumogakure? Of course I've 'heard' of him... It would be strange if anyone in the ninja world hadn't..."
Fukasaku stopped and said sternly to Shima, "Ma, why do you ask about him?"
Shima sighed. "I just wanted to know... how that person is doing..."
Minato asked curiously, "How do you two know Yotsuki Dana? Do you know him?"
Fukasaku was silent for a moment, then said, "Mount Myoboku's previous contractor, your Konoha's Little Jiraiya, died at the hands of Yotsuki Dana. Ma and I went to help in the battle, but we were no match for him..."
Minato frowned, deep in thought.
After a while, Minato finally met the legendary Great Toad Sage deep within Mount Myoboku.
Although not as exaggerated in size as Gamabunta, he was still huge. He had an unmistakably aged face—even for a toad—wore a necklace with a bead inscribed with "Oil," and a strange hat.
The Great Toad Sage seemed to be asleep. Shima ran up and shouted, "Great Toad Sage! The person you wanted to see is here!"
No reaction.
"Wake up! Toad Sage!! HEY!!"
After Shima jumped around frantically for a while, the Great Toad Sage finally woke up groggily.
"Ah... I had a dream... Who is the visitor?"
Fukasaku muttered discontentedly, "Didn't you ask him to come...? Is it fun to play this game every time?"
Minato scratched his cheek. "I am Minato Namikaze. I don't know why you were looking for me either."
The Great Toad Sage narrowed his eyes and said tremulously, "Ah... Minato Namikaze, right... I remember now. I called you here mainly because... you are destined to be a contractor of Mount Myoboku... but your guide has fallen."
Smart as Minato was, he quickly grasped the key point.
"Do you mean... Jiraiya-sama was supposed to be my guide?"
Fukasaku and Shima's expressions darkened.
The Great Toad Sage said, "Precisely..."
"Why do you say I am destined to be a Mount Myoboku contractor?"
"There is no why... it is simply fact..."
Minato frowned. He didn't trust this Great Toad Sage who popped out of nowhere. Or rather, as a ninja, suspicion was instinctual; trusting easily would be strange.
Shima explained from the side, "The Great Toad Sage possesses powerful prophetic abilities and can see fragments of the future. Moreover, contracting with Mount Myoboku has many benefits. Not only can you summon powerful toads, but you can also cultivate Sage Mode. It is a contract ordinary ninja dream of. Yotsuki Dana and Jiraiya were both Sage Mode users."
Minato pondered. "Then, Great Toad Sage, since the Mount Myoboku contract is so precious, what do you need me to do?"
The Great Toad Sage touched the bead on his chest and said slowly, "Your guide has disappeared, but he is also someone else's guide... To bring destiny back on track... to bring the future back on track... you need to find a boy with purple eyes. He can... bring your guide back..."
"This is Mount Myoboku. It reeks of toads everywhere!"
At the edge of Mount Myoboku, a girl floating in the air surrounded by ribbons introduced the place. It was Ichikishimahime.
She clung to Dana's thick arm like an accessory, refusing to let go.
Since they had already tussled over this in Ryuchi Cave without result, Dana couldn't be bothered to scold her.
Earlier, he planned to find Minato, but discovered Minato had vanished with a toad. Realizing what happened, he thought for a moment and decided to see what medicine Mount Myoboku was selling.
Not knowing how to get to Mount Myoboku, he went to Ryuchi Cave first. Being mortal enemies, they naturally knew where Mount Myoboku was. Thus, Ichikishimahime became Dana's guide.
Looking around, it was indeed magical. The environment and landscape were vastly different from the outside world.
Of the Three Great Sage Regions, he had visited two. Shikkotsu Forest and Ryuchi Cave were both underground, explaining why no one in the ninja world could find them. But Mount Myoboku being on the surface made Dana inevitably curious about its true location.
Activating "Pulse" Vision, Dana understood.
"So it's a large island... No wonder no one can find its trace in the ninja world."