Chapter 405: The Great Toad Sage's New Prophecy
The Great Toad Sage shifted his massive weight on his throne. His heavy, drooping eyelids slowly lifted, and his gaze fell squarely upon Uchiha Akira.
In an instant, the very air inside the cavernous hall grew dense. The lethargic, drowsy demeanor of the ancient amphibian vanished, replaced by a piercing, golden sharpness that seemed to cut through the dim lighting.
Akira stood perfectly still, his hands clasped loosely behind his back. He did not flinch or look away, calmly meeting the scrutiny of a being who had watched over the world for over a millennium.
"Uchiha... Akira..." The Great Toad Sage's voice rumbled through the chamber, slow and vibrating with age. "I have been waiting for you... for a very long time."
The corners of Akira's mouth curved upward in a faint, unreadable smile. "Waiting for me?"
The ancient toad's golden eyes clouded over, losing focus as his mind drifted back through centuries of visions. "Many years ago..." he murmured, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "In a dream, I peered into the currents of the future. I saw the destiny of this shinobi world. I saw a youth with bright blond hair, grinning through his pain, stubbornly searching for the answer to peace in a land drowning in hatred. He was meant to become the agent of change. The one who would finally bring true peace to these fractured lands."
Jiraiya's shoulders jerked. He swallowed hard, his eyes darting subconsciously toward the boy standing beside him. Naruto. A blond-haired youth.
"But..." The Great Toad Sage's tone dropped, the rumble turning into a low, uneasy vibration. A rare flicker of genuine confusion cracked his ancient composure. "Not long ago... the dream shifted. It changed entirely."
Jiraiya took a step forward, his wooden geta scraping loudly against the stone floor. "Changed?" he pressed, his voice tight with urgency. "What did it change into?"
The Great Toad Sage slowly turned his massive head back to Akira. "The once clear path of the future became swallowed by a thick, blood-colored mist. The grinning figure of that blond youth blurred, fading into the crimson fog. And in his place..." The ancient toad inhaled deeply. "There was only a pair of eyes. A pair of cold, purple eyes that held absolute dominion over reincarnation, over life and death itself. Under the crushing weight of that gaze, the borders of all nations shattered. The hidden villages burned to ash, and their proud banners were torn from the sky. Only one voice remained. Only one absolute will dictated the earth. The entirety of the shinobi world trembled beneath his feet... and then, it was unified."
Jiraiya's breath hitched, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. Unify the world? He stared at Akira's back. That was exactly what this man was systematically, ruthlessly executing right now.
"That is not the end of the vision," the Great Toad Sage continued, his voice sinking into a grave, ominous register. "After the unification... the very sky cracked open like fragile glass. Beings from beyond the heavens descended upon this world, bringing ruin."
A bead of cold sweat slid down Jiraiya's cheek, pooling at his jawline. "Beings from beyond the heavens?" he repeated, his voice hoarse. "Great Lord, are you saying... there will be an invasion from outside our world?" It sounded like absolute madness, a myth pulled from ancient folklore.
Beside him, Naruto scrunched his face in pure bewilderment. He scratched his cheek, completely lost in the cryptic riddles echoing around him. "Beyond the heavens? What are you guys even talking about?"
Amidst the rising panic, Akira remained perfectly still. His expression did not shift. If anything, the faint, almost imperceptible curve of his lips deepened. He was not surprised. This ancient creature had lived since the era of Kaguya; it was only natural he knew of the looming shadow of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
"Little Jiraiya," the Great Toad Sage commanded gently, breaking the heavy silence. "Take the boy and step outside for a moment. I have matters I must discuss with the Hokage alone."
Jiraiya hesitated, his jaw tight. He cast a wary glance toward Akira. Only when Akira gave a slow, dismissive nod did the Toad Sage relax his stance. Grabbing the collar of Naruto's jacket, Jiraiya dragged the protesting, clueless genin toward the exit. Understanding the unspoken dismissal, the two elder sages, Fukasaku and Shima, bowed their heads and hopped out of the chamber.
With a deep, grinding rumble, the massive stone doors slid shut, sealing the room.
The cavernous hall plunged into an intimate, heavy quiet. Only Akira and the Great Toad Sage remained, man and beast measuring each other in the dim light.
"There are no outsiders left," Akira noted. He walked forward, his footsteps echoing sharply, and casually lowered himself onto a large meditation cushion. He crossed his legs, his posture relaxed but radiating absolute authority. "Old toad. Whatever you want to say, skip the riddles and speak plainly."
The Great Toad Sage lowered his massive head, bringing his golden eyes closer to the young Hokage. The gravity in his ancient voice thickened. "Uchiha Akira. You are an anomaly." The words hung in the air. "Your very existence has violently shattered the established trajectory of fate. The original Child of Prophecy has lost his destined purpose. The currents of the future no longer flow around him. They are held entirely within your hands."
A low, dry chuckle escaped Akira's lips. "Fate." He tested the word on his tongue, finding it utterly tasteless. "Fate is a concept designed for the weak. It exists solely to be broken. I have never placed my faith in invisible strings or predetermined destinies. I believe only in my own power."
A long, rumbling sigh escaped the Great Toad Sage, stirring the dust on the floor. "I know. I see that absolute, unyielding confidence burning in your eyes. And yet... you possess the strength to back it up." The ancient toad shifted again, his tone turning strictly pragmatic. "For centuries, Mount Myōboku has remained neutral. We do not interfere in the petty squabbles and territorial wars of humanity. But this time, the scale has changed. The descent of the beings from beyond the heavens is an apocalyptic catastrophe. If they succeed, neither human nor summoned beast will be spared. Everything will be erased."
The Great Toad Sage leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Akira's. "Therefore, Mount Myōboku has made its decision. We will throw our full support behind Konoha. We will fully support you, Uchiha Akira. We will teach the secrets of Sage Mode to that blond brat without holding anything back. In addition, when the time comes, the entire Toad Clan will march under your command."
Akira raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. He had fully expected the ancient amphibian to spout self-righteous drivel, preaching about peace, love, and the sanctity of life in a desperate bid to make him lay down his blade. He had not anticipated such cold, calculated pragmatism from a creature of myth.
A sharp, dangerous smile spread across Akira's face. "Full support for me? Even knowing that I am the one actively inciting a new world war to crush the other nations?"
The Great Toad Sage slowly closed his eyes, his breathing heavy and rhythmic. "As long as this world survives the coming storm, the methods used to forge its shield... are irrelevant." He opened his eyes, the golden slits narrowing. "also, looking upon the current shinobi world, there is no one else. Besides you, there is not a single soul capable of stopping the beings from beyond the heavens."
Having watched empires rise and crumble into dust over a thousand years, the Great Toad Sage had long since discarded the naive illusions of mortals. Justice. Evil. Morality. In the face of absolute extinction, such concepts were meaningless luxuries. When the sky tore open, only the strong would survive.
And Uchiha Akira was the absolute pinnacle of strength.
"Very well." Akira stood up. In an instant, a suffocating, tyrannical aura erupted from his body, washing over the stone hall like a physical wave. "Your choice is a wise one. Mount Myōboku will find itself highly valued as Konoha's partner."
He turned his head slightly, a flash of glacial killing intent bleeding into his dark eyes. "As for those beings from beyond the heavens you fear so much... The Ōtsutsuki Clan." Akira's voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "Let them come. If they dare step foot on this earth, I will carve it into their bones exactly whose territory they have invaded."
Hearing the forbidden name 'Ōtsutsuki' spoken so casually, the Great Toad Sage's eyes snapped wide open. He stared deeply at the young Hokage, weighing the sheer audacity of the man standing before him.
"Let us hope so..." the ancient toad muttered, the brief surge of energy finally leaving his massive body. His heavy eyelids began to droop, fighting a losing battle against a millennium of exhaustion. "The future of this world... I leave it in your hands... Hokage-sama..."
His rumbling voice grew fainter, trailing off into a deep, rhythmic vibration. Within seconds, the vibration shifted into a thunderous snore. A large, translucent snot bubble expanded from his nostril, inflating and deflating with each breath.
Akira stared at the ancient sage who had just handed over the fate of the world before instantly passing out. He shook his head, a dry scoff escaping his lips. "Truly a carefree old relic."
Turning on his heel, Akira approached the massive stone doors and pushed them open with a surge of chakra. Bright, untainted sunlight spilled into the cavern, washing over his dark robes.
Outside the threshold, Jiraiya and Naruto were pacing the stone courtyard, their faces tight with anxious anticipation. The moment the doors ground open, the two of them rushed forward.
"Master! How did it go?" Naruto practically bounced on his heels, his blue eyes wide with insatiable curiosity. "What did that giant old frog say to you?"
Akira looked down at Naruto's vibrant, unburdened face. He reached out, his gloved hand roughly ruffling the boy's spiky blond hair. "Nothing you need to worry about," Akira replied smoothly. "He merely confirmed a simple truth. I am the one who will save this world."
His hand slid down to grip Naruto's shoulder, his grip firm and unyielding. "As for you," Akira commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Your only job is to obediently get stronger. Do not embarrass me."
Releasing the boy, Akira shifted his gaze to the small green toad standing nearby. "Fukasaku."
The elder sage straightened up.
"Let us begin," Akira ordered, his voice ringing with absolute authority. "You have three days. In three days, I expect to see a Naruto Uzumaki who has fully mastered Sage Mode."
Fukasaku met Akira's dark, unquestionable gaze. The sheer weight of the Hokage's presence left no room for negotiation. The small toad took a deep, steadying breath. "Understood." He turned to the blond genin, pointing a webbed finger toward the distant oil falls. "Follow me, boy. Your hellish special training begins right now!"
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