Chapter 24 Jiraiya and the New Prophecy
On the training ground, Shiroshi is practicing with Rui in actual combat.
Since the last actual battle, which occurred during ninja school, Rui's strength has grown rapidly, making Shiroshi's perception of her strength uncertain.
Furthermore, when entering a fighting state, Rui's body emits a sharp murderous aura, indicating that she has seen combat.
Even though Sakumo's team was established less than half a year ago, they have already experienced more than a dozen battles and have faced off against Jonin multiple times.
Shiroshi, who specializes in medical ninjutsu, has personally eliminated several ninjas, so during sparring, he is not intimidated by Rui's murderous aura.
However, this does not mean that Rui is easy to deal with, as even her physical skills are lightning fast.
Shiroshi, who has chakra deficiencies, tries to conserve his chakra as much as possible and relies on his physical skills in battle.
Additionally, his body has been permanently strengthened by the new drugs based on natural energy, allowing him to use minimal chakra to qualitatively improve his speed and strength in physical combat, making him especially effective against ninjas with slow reactions and speeds thus surpassing most chunnin.
They should even be able to dirupt a Jonin from performing any ninjutsu, but if they encounter a Jonin who is proficient in taijutsu skills, it is difficult to predict the outcome of the battle.
A comprehensive judgment must be made based on the actual situation, such as environmental factors, psychological quality, tactical arrangements, physical skills, and so on.
However, in the battle with Rui, Shiroshi is unable to disrupt her from performing ninjutsu. For a ninja who is proficient in taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, it is difficult for him to achieve any results if he can't dominate in all those areas.
Additionally, Rui possesses the troublesome Sharingan Kekkei Genkei.
The battle between the two in the training ground appeared intense, but due to their speed, if someone were watching, they would only see afterimages flashing across their eyes, followed by the sound of metal clashing, and nothing else would be visible.
Both of them don't need to use the Body Flicker technique, they can move at high speed with pure taijutsu.
This is the convenience of a Taijutsu Ninja, but since the speed of Taijutsu is kept at the highest level, the burden on physical strength and the body will also increase rapidly.
Fortunately, the bodies of Shiroshi and Rui have been improved by natural energy medicine, and their resilience, including their resistance, is also superb, allowing them to maintain this high-speed combat state for a long time.
This is also the reason why Rui was able to fight one-on-two and two-on-two in the first mission without losing her edge.
There must be no less than two Jonin who besiege her together, including one who is proficient in Taijutsu, and they must be restrained from the front, otherwise, it will be difficult to defeat her.
As the battle progressed, Shiroshi's chakra became exhausted, and he became short of breath.
When Rui noticed this, she immediately withdrew her hand and twirled a Kunai on her finger, then put it back in her ninja bag, ending the long-awaited battle.
Compared to fighting with Genjutsu, Rui prefers to use taijutsu and ninjutsu in a more straightforward, frontal attack fighting style.
She finds this method of fighting to be more satisfying and believes that this type of flesh-and-blood fighting is the essence of combat. Shiroshi says that he is not as strong as her as an Uchiha Ninja and his chakra is naturally weaker than hers.
Especially after awakening her Sharingan, her chakra increases further.
Uchiha ninjas never have chakra deficiency in regular battles.
"However, I plan to practice utilizing natural energy in the future, and I believe my abilities will improve greatly as a result."
"Isn't that already done?"
"That was just an experiment. I haven't actively tried to absorb natural energy yet. Now that the risks have been greatly minimized, I will use drugs to help me understand the feeling of absorbing natural energy."
"Since the risks have been greatly reduced, I want to join you in this endeavor. I can't let you be alone in this."
Rui also has a strong desire to conquer natural energy, as it is more powerful than ordinary chakra.
Even if it cannot be fused with chakra to form nature chakra, it has a significant effect on increasing physical energy.
Additionally, if one can master the way to absorb natural energy, it means that their energy will never be exhausted.
Natural energy is present in everything in nature, such as water, air, and trees. It can be said that as long as it is in nature, natural energy can be permanently supplied.
Shiroshi did not refuse Rui's offer, as he would not be where he is today without the funds, contacts, and location provided by her.
The power of capital is formidable. If one cannot get along with money, they cannot get along with anything. It's a sad reality that something created by humans has enslaved them.
"Do you plan to go to Ayane too?" Rui walked to the bench outside the training ground, picked up the wet towel there and wiped her face, and then said this sentence out of the blue, her tone was not very cold, but it gave people a very terrible sense of oppression.
"...Ah, well, that's right... because the Byakugan eyes have many uses. Ayane also helped me solve a lot of research problems with her eyes." Shiroshi looked away with a guilty conscience.
He thought that after Rui brought up the matter that day, it would be resolved, but he didn't expect her to bring it up again.
This left Shiroshi feeling a little embarrassed. He couldn't help but question himself, why the embarrassment? Isn't it normal for teammates and classmates to help each other?
Was he making things too complicated?
Rui looked up at the blue sky, then stroked the long black hair beside her ear and left.
Shiroshi stayed where he was, thinking. What did her 'Question' mean?
Women's minds are truly difficult to understand. Whether it's Ayane or Rui, their personalities are easy to understand, but sometimes they make people feel inexplicable when they speak.
"Forget it, the most important thing now is to practice natural energy…"
…
The grass and leaves are green, the birds are singing, and the flowers are fragrant. It is a place full of vitality.
Mt. Myoboku is surrounded by extremely tall toad stone statues and is known as one of the three holy places in the ninja world.
It is also a birthplace of ancient sage arts. Many powerful ninjas have visited this place to practice sage arts and some even buried themselves here.
However, with the advent of the ninja village era, sage arts have become legends and it is hard to say whether they are true or not.
Up until now, there has never been a ninja who has mastered the sage art and shone in the ninja world war.
"Boss Fukasaku," a human voice that shouldn't appear in the Holy Lands of Mt. Myoboku, echoed through the area.
A man wearing a Konoha Jonin uniform, with a Konoha ninja forehead protector on his head, two bright red vertical marks under the corners of his eyes, white hair and a face that showed the vigor and confidence of a young man, approached the toad at the gate of the main hall deep in the mountains.
The toad, who was waiting for him in front of the main hall, was wearing a gray robe, had green skin and was only about the size of a human child.
But his body emitted an extremely extraordinary aura, even though he was still a toad.
"Oh, it's Jiraiya, is it finally here?" The toad greeted him with a kind smile on his old face.
This young ninja was none other than Konoha Shinobi Jiraiya, who had signed a psychic contract with the Three Holy Lands, Mt. Myoboku. Along with Tsunade and Orochimaru, he is a powerful ninja listed as the Sannin.
He is also a disciple of Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage of Konoha, and an excellent Konoha Jonin who inherited the will of fire.
Recently, he had just concluded a three-year journey in the Land of Rain, and not long after returning to Konoha, he was about to go to the front line of the Land of Fire to fight, but he received a message from the Herald Frog from Mount Myoboku, asking him to come to Mount Myoboku as soon as possible.
"Well, Boss Fukasaku, what happened? Why did you call me at this time?" Jiraiya asked.
"I'm sorry to let you come here at such a critical moment, but this is the order of the elder, and there is nothing I can do about it," replied Fukasaku.
Fukasaku knew that a war was breaking out in the ninja world, and Konoha was one of the participants. As one of Konoha's high-level Jonin, Jiraiya would naturally go to the front line to fight the enemy.
Jiraiya didn't blame Fukasaku, as one of the two great sages of Mount Myoboku, when he was training in Mt. Myoboku, it was also sage Fukasaku who taught him the sage mode. Even though he failed in the end, he still had gratitude towards him.
But considering that this is a legendary sage art, it is certain that it will be difficult.
He had surpassed many people without turning into a toad stone statue.
"What, Miss Shima isn't there?" Jiraiya asked as he noticed that another celestial being from Mount Myoboku, Shima, was not present.
Shima is the wife of Fukasaku, and an extremely powerful sage. They are usually inseparable, so Jiraiya also asked this question.
"She went out to buy groceries," replied Fukasaku.
"That's it. That is to say, it's you who came to look for me this time, isn't that the case?" Jiraiya asked.
"I don't know the specifics, but the master ordered it like this. Come in with me," said Fukasaku as he led the way.
Jiraiya had no choice but to follow and entered the hall together. Inside, there was a huge and grand hall. Directly in front of the gate, there was an incredibly large reclining chair, and an equally large giant old toad lying there.
It had a big pipe in its mouth, and even with its eyes closed, the smoke rings enveloped the hall in circles, filling the hall with clouds and mist, as if in a fairyland.
Fukasaku jumped onto the high platform under the big toad's right hand in twos and twos, clasped his hands together, and looked solemn.
Jiraiya also stood still in front of the big toad, looking up.
No matter when you looked at it, this shockingly large toad seemed like it was about to die with half of its foot in the coffin.
"The Great Sage Toad, I'm here," Jiraiya yelled from below. The old toad didn't respond at all and continued to blow smoke rings with a happy expression.
Fukasaku's solemn expression didn't last long. He took a deep breath helplessly, turned his head, and used Sage Chakra to amplify his voice: "My lord, Jiraiya has already come!"
Only then did the old toad take a leisurely look at Fukasaku next to him, then saw Jiraiya below and came to his senses. "Have you brought everyone? Sorry, I almost fell asleep."
Not almost, you were already asleep, Jiraiya thought to himself.
"Great Sage Toad, is there something wrong this time?" Jiraiya asked.
The Great Sage Toad is the master of Mt. Myoboku. He has an incredible ability to see the future.
He had made prophecies for Jiraiya in the past, and they had all come true. Being able to see through the future, it feels like a real sage is far stronger than he previosly thought. Especially after seeing some things in the Land of Rain this time, Jiraiya firmly believed in the ability of the Great Sage Toad.
"About this matter, Jiraiya...what's your name?" Immortal Toad suddenly asked such a question, embarrassing Jiraiya and Immortal Fukasaku.
"My lord, this is Jiraiya. You predicted something for him before, our contractor of Mt. Myoboku," Immortal Fukasaku added helplessly.
"Oh, I remembered, it's Jiraiya, I almost didn't remember," replied the Great Sage Toad.
Jiraiya did not want to believe that such a toad with dementia could be a so-called sage. But the prophecy forced him to believe it.
Moreover, the sage art of Mt. Myoboku is also true, not a fabrication.
"Jiraiya, I'm looking for you this time, and I have something else for you to do," the Great Sage Toad said.
"What's the matter? Is it still about the Child of Prophecy?" Jiraiya asked, thinking that only such a big event was worthy of the Great Sage Toad asking him to come over in person.
"It's not directly related to the Child of Prophecy. It's just that I recently dreamed of a very weird prophetic dream..."
"Weird prophetic dream?"
"Yes, the kind of weirdness that can't be explained," the Great Sage Toad replied.
"Then this weirdness is..."
"Accompanied by extremely tragic wars, ninjas will disappear from the world. Death and war will burn the entire ninja world like never before," he said.
Jiraiya and Fukasaku were startled. Even the prophecy of the Child of Prophecy has never been so extreme. Because there are two outcomes for the Child of Prophecy, one is destruction, and the other is a newborn peace.
And as long as the Son of Prophecy is properly educated and guided, the probability of peace in the ninja world will be greater.
But this time, what was given was directly the result of destruction, and there was no room for people to choose.
"That...disappearance means..." Jiraiya couldn't accept such a sudden change for a while, and there was urgency on his face.
"In other words, all ninjas in the ninja world, including Konoha, will disappear from the ninja world..."
"Konoha...disappeared..." Jiraiya was flustered. When it comes to Konoha, he can no longer calm down.
"What's the reason? Is it the Child of prophecy..." Jiraiya asked anxiously. Thinking of staying in the Land of Rain for three years this time, the successor of the Rinnegan Eye who was accepted as his disciple, Jiraiya also believed that he is the ninja who will bring changes to the ninja world.
But after spending three years on his own, he should be good enough to guide, could it be that something went wrong...
"This matter has nothing to do with the Child of Prophecy," the Great Sage Toad said.
Jiraiya was relieved. Fortunately not.
"Then what is the cause of it?"
"I have no idea," the Great Sage Toad said simply.
"What?" Jiraiya was confused. "I have no idea?" What kind of answer is that?
"The person who has brought absolute destruction to the current ninja world is now in Konoha. You have to investigate carefully. Please, Jiraiya..."
In Konoha!? Jiraiya was also surprised. How is this possible? The person who brought destruction to the ninja world is from Konoha? Who could it be? Is there such a terrible person among the ninja in the hidden leaf? If so, why didn't I notice it at all? That person should be a powerful Konoha ninja.
"Great Sage Toad, I-"
"Hoo hoo..."
Only the sweet snoring of the Great Sage Toad could be heard from the seat. Jiraiya and Fukasaku were left speechless.
Is the prophecy just now a dumb dream? But it's impossible, if it were an ordinary dream, the Great Sage Toad wouldn't have gone through the trouble of calling him over.
"But Konoha is so big and there are so many ninjas, how can I find that person..." Jiraiya sighed.
What's more, he is going to the battlefield soon, how can he have time to do this kind of thing? Besides, it is not sure whether it is a man or a woman. If he wants to check each one, he will not be able to do it even if he is exhausted.
Jiraiya began to plan, maybe he should ask Sarutobi-sensei for help.
(Chapter End)