Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

Chapter 139: The Devil That Devoured Everything



At Mount Myoboku, within the palace of the Great Toad Sage, an ancient toad sat slumped on an enormous chair.

The toad wore an oversized hat and a lavish pendant hung around its neck, its demeanor frail, as if it were ready to leave for the Pure Land at any moment.

Hearing faint footsteps, the Great Toad Sage slowly opened its weary eyes. Its gaze fell upon the two toads and one human standing before it.

After a long pause, it finally spoke, "Ah... Little Jiraiya, Little Shima, Little Fukasaku... You're all still alive?"

Shima, ever quick-tempered, thumped the ground with her cane and retorted sharply, "You senile old fool! You're still kicking, so why would we die before you?"

The Great Toad Sage didn't respond. Instead, it seemed to drift back into a slumber, soft snores filling the air.

Jiraiya, with a vein visibly pulsing on his forehead, watched this bizarre scene unfold. Doubt gnawed at his mind as he contemplated.

"Can the prophecy of the Great Toad Sage, given his current state, really lead me to the so-called Child of Destiny?"

Years ago, the Great Toad Sage's prophecies had seemed reliable, and Jiraiya had followed them with unwavering faith. However, unforeseen obstacles had arisen along the way.

The prophecy had declared:

"Jiraiya will become an excellent ninja and take on a unique apprentice. This apprentice will be the Child of Destiny, one who will bring transformation to the ninja world—though it remains uncertain whether this change will lead to destruction or peace."

Based on this, Jiraiya began searching for a prodigious young ninja within Konoha, the village established by the First Hokage, which had brought over two decades of peace to the ninja world.

His first choice had been Minato Namikaze. But much to Jiraiya's dismay, Minato had already been taken under the wing of Fuma.

Despite Jiraiya's persistent efforts, Minato never wavered, forcing Jiraiya to give up.

Even though most of Konoha's inhabitants were unaware of Minato's exceptional talent, Jiraiya recognized his potential—a potential great enough to make him Hokage.

Compared to Minato, the other young ninjas of Konoha seemed mediocre, far from the caliber of the Child of Destiny.

"In the ninja world, achieving peace requires more than ideals—it depends on strength. If a person's beliefs are sound but their strength is only at the level of a chunin, their words will be dismissed as a joke."

Returning to Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya sought clarification on what qualities his apprentice should possess. The Great Toad Sage delivered a second prophecy:

"The Child of Destiny has already been born but has fallen into an abyss of darkness. Peace is slipping away, and a crisis capable of destroying the world is brewing in the shadows."

"After wandering the ninja world, Jiraiya might write a book capable of touching hearts. Perhaps its words could save the world... but this is uncertain."

This prophecy left Jiraiya more confused than ever. Though he had become a writer, his works primarily focused on certain risqué themes inspired by his time in various hot springs.

In the original timeline, Jiraiya's first novel, [Tales of a Gutsy Ninja], was inspired by Nagato and used Naruto as a model. This novel had later played a critical role in shaping Naruto's ninja way and ultimately saving the ninja world.

Currently, however, Jiraiya lacked the inspiration to write such a story.

His mind was weighed down by his unrequited love for Tsunade, her cohabitation with Fuma, and the power struggles between the Third Hokage and Fuma.

Occasionally, Jiraiya would lament to himself late at night while indulging in 'Icha Icha Paradise':

"Can a book like this really save the ninja world? How could the Child of Destiny, drowning in darkness, be drawn to such frivolity?"

As Jiraiya spiraled deeper into his thoughts, the Great Toad Sage opened its eyes again. For the first time, its voice carried an air of gravity:

"This time, my vision was clear. A true calamity looms—one that will destroy the ninja world and extinguish all life. It is an unrelenting demon."

The toad continued, its words chilling, "This demon possesses a killing intent that will strike fear into all living beings."

"Its flesh and blood will corrupt the land, turning all it touches into evil thralls. To gaze into its eyes is to be dragged into an inescapable hell, reduced to ashes."

"The Child of Destiny will battle this demon, but the outcome is uncertain. If we do not intervene, even the beasts aiding the Child of Destiny will be devoured, leaving no one to stop it."

Jiraiya frowned, his mind racing, "Compared to the Sage's previous vague prophecies, this one feels much more specific. He must have seen something truly alarming."

"But flesh that corrupts all it touches… could this be referring to the chakra of the tailed beasts? Does this mean the jinchuriki of various villages will bring about the destruction of the ninja world?"

Despite piecing together every clue, Jiraiya couldn't identify the looming threat. The keywords—"devouring beasts", "corrupting flesh", "eyes of destruction"—were unique yet frustratingly enigmatic.

Resolving to act, Jiraiya looked up and solemnly asked the Great Toad Sage:

"Your previous prophecies eluded me, and now this crisis seems even more dire. Please, grant me clearer guidance. Time is of the essence!"

After a long silence, the Great Toad Sage finally replied:

"In one fragment of my dream, I saw you battling the demon yourself. If you can strengthen yourself quickly, you may become the Child of Destiny who can extinguish this evil before it grows."

Turning to Fukasaku and Shima, the Sage added:

"If Jiraiya encounters difficulties in his training, help him with all your might. This may be the only path to saving the ninja world."

Fukasaku and Shima exchanged a glance before nodding solemnly. They presented Jiraiya with a unique contract.

"Sign it, Jiraiya. For your safety, we'll be there to assist you whenever you need. This is the will of the Great Toad Sage."

Examining the contract, Jiraiya hesitated. It was a binding agreement to summon the two toads as if they were ordinary creatures, an idea that made him uncomfortable.

Sensing his reluctance, Fukasaku brusquely pressed Jiraiya's hand to the contract, leaving a bloody fingerprint.

"Don't overthink it. This is Mount Myoboku's contribution to defending the ninja world. But you must train hard and master Sage Mode quickly!"

"With us by your side, you won't need to worry about gathering natural energy mid-battle. We'll prepare it for you, so you can instantly enter Sage Mode when needed."

Jiraiya's initial hesitation vanished, replaced by excitement, "If you two can manage that, then maybe I really can become the Child of Destiny!"

With newfound resolve, Jiraiya knelt before the Great Toad Sage and vowed, "I will use all my strength to stop the demon threatening to destroy the ninja world!"

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