[Time passed quickly, like the night when Kaguya and the Emperor grew up.]
[When the two alien brothers, Hagoromo and Hamura, grew up, one day while out helping the villagers solve a problem, they were tricked by an old, ugly toad. This toad would eventually become the Great Sage Toad of Mount Myoboku.]
"Ha~ This toad has lived this long?"
Senju Tobirama always held the belief that those who weren't from his clan were to be distrusted, so he was highly wary of this toad.
Just look at how Jiraiya was tricked in the future, and you'll know that this old toad is definitely not as kind, benevolent, and peaceful as he appears to be.
Turning around, Senju Tobirama asked the young Jiraiya, "Recently, has that old toad asked you to find any 'Child of Prophecy'?"
Young Jiraiya shook his head and replied, "No, he said that destiny has started changing, and even he can't see it clearly anymore."
"Tsk tsk, he even knows when destiny changes. Looks like this toad has some skills after all."
Speaking of destiny, Uchiha Madara became interested.
According to the original timeline, when the Infinite Tsukuyomi was successfully cast, Black Zetsu would stab him in the back.
He deeply despised such a fate.
And they, through the light screen video, learned about each other's fate trajectories.
So, what gave this toad the ability to glimpse even a part of destiny?
This was worth pondering.
"Tobirama, little brat, want me to catch this toad and let you study it?"
"Madara, do you want to start a war with Mount Myoboku?"
"Start a war?"
Madara chuckled and continued, "A war is when both sides are evenly matched. When one side's power far exceeds the other's, it's not a war, it's an overwhelming victory!"
Seeing that Uchiha Madara was serious about capturing the Great Toad Sage, young Jiraiya immediately became anxious.
No matter how you put it, Mount Myoboku had taught him a lot, even sharing Sage Techniques without holding anything back.
He simply couldn't watch as the creatures of Mount Myoboku suffered like that.
"Mr. Madara, don't you think what you're doing is a bit too domineering?"
Madara glanced at young Jiraiya but didn't respond to him.
Perhaps Jiraiya would become very strong in the future. If he used Sage Mode, he might barely be qualified to stand against Madara, but right now, he was just a kid, not yet eighteen.
There were only a handful of people who could earn Madara's respect, and clearly, young Jiraiya wasn't one of them.
"Forget it. The unification of the ninja world is almost here. There's no need to stir up more trouble."
After thinking for a moment, Tobirama still declined Madara's suggestion.
"Fine, after the ninja world is unified and at peace, we'll go after the old toad."
At this, Senju Tobirama didn't refuse but silently nodded.
The matter was settled. Young Jiraiya was so anxious that bubbles were starting to form at the corners of his mouth.
It's easy for an outsider to see what's going on, and seeing his friend getting worked up, Orochimaru came up beside Jiraiya and whispered, "Idiot, the reason Lord Hokage put this off until after the unification of the ninja world is so you'll have time to notify Mount Myoboku."
"Huh?"
"Huh, what huh? If Mount Myoboku is sensible, once you notify them, they'll naturally send a frog to handle the matter. That way, you'll have fulfilled your duty."
"…You're so smart."
"Of course, I am~"
Compared to the "malicious" intentions of Madara from the second timeline, Jiraiya of the third timeline had become much calmer.
"Jiraiya, do you know why the Great Toad Sage has lived for so long?"
Hearing the Third Hokage's question, Jiraiya shook his head and replied, "I don't know. All I know is that it's really old. It spends most of its time sleeping every day and hardly has any time when it's awake."
Orochimaru clicked his tongue and added, "If this is what immortality is, I'd rather not have it."
A day has 24 hours, and the Great Toad Sage spends at least 23 hours or more sleeping, leaving only a small amount of time awake.
No matter what others think, Orochimaru certainly didn't want such immortality.
"By the way, Jiraiya, have you ever asked the Great Toad Sage about the Sage of Six Paths or anything like that?"
Looking at Tsunade who spoke, Jiraiya nodded, then shook his head and said, "I've thought about asking the Great Toad Sage, but every time I go, it's always asleep. What can I do? I can't just throw a Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb to force it to wake up, right?"
"That's really too bad. The Great Toad Sage, who's been around since that time, must know many things we don't."
"Old man, give it up. Even if the Great Toad Sage dares to speak, would you even believe it? Who knows if it's telling the truth."
"Heh, looks like you've grown, Jiraiya. If it was the old you, you wouldn't have spoken like this."
Sighing, Jiraiya sometimes thought back to his past and wondered if he had been too obedient to the Great Toad Sage.
From what's seen in Naruto, he had been searching for the Child of Prophecy throughout the Shinobi world, but his final outcome wasn't that great.
Plus, he was now the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, and being in this position meant he had to do the things a Hokage should do.
In the end, the Great Toad Sage was just a giant toad with the ability to foresee the future.
Although it had taught him a lot, it wasn't his father, and he didn't have to obey everything the Great Toad Sage said.
[The Great Toad Sage told the two brothers about Kaguya, and the three of them got along well, planning to use the name "Six Paths Boys" as their title.]
[Soon after, Hagoromo heard people from other places talk about Kaguya's tyrant behavior. Afterwards, the alien brothers began to harbor resentment towards their mother, Kaguya.]
[One day, Hagoromo's innocent first love, Haori, received a notification telling her to go offer tribute to the God Tree.]
[Seeing this, the two brothers were not happy about their mother's actions.]
[The dissatisfied duo took advantage of Kaguya's absence and decided to personally investigate the situation at the God Tree, because usually, the God Tree is a forbidden area, and free access is not allowed.]
[The two alien brothers found the already dead Haori beneath the God Tree, which made Hagoromo awaken his Sharingan in anger.]
[Not long after, the old frog from the Six Paths boys' group jumped out again, starting to brainwash Hagoromo and Hamura.]
"Brainwashing isn't exactly a good term."
Izuna agreed with Tobirama's words and continued, "It seems it has its own purpose, and that purpose is likely to turn the two brothers, Hagoromo and Hamura, against Kaguya. But what's in it for it? Kaguya hasn't used them to create White Zetsu. It could just stay out of it."
"Are you saying it can't just be a frog with an overwhelming sense of justice? Can't stand seeing human suffering?"
"If it's really like you say, Hashirama, then the light curtain wouldn't have used the term brainwashing."
"Hmm, looks like this frog indeed has some unspeakable secrets."
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