"That part is absolutely correct!"
Back then, Indra and Asura turned against each other because the Great Toad Sage foresaw that Asura was the Child of Prophecy.
He even designated Asura as the successor of Ninshū, which naturally triggered Indra's resentment!
…
Land of Rain, Akatsuki Base.
Uzumaki Nagato and Konan both wore expressions of deep guilt.
Jiraiya-sensei… we're sorry!
…
The images continued to play.
[Flashback Scene.]
[When Minato Namikaze learned that The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja was entirely adapted from Jiraiya's various legendary deeds, he became visibly excited.]
["Jiraiya-sensei, the protagonist of this book never gives up until the very end. That spirit is just too amazing."]
["I've decided—if I ever have a child in the future, I'll name him after the hero of this book."]
[…]
[Jiraiya, who was already on the brink of death, suddenly thought of Naruto.]
[With a final surge of willpower, he used every last ounce of strength to carve the intel onto Fukasaku's back.]
[Pain, who had already left, sensed Jiraiya was still alive and rushed back immediately.]
[The rock where Jiraiya had been standing cracked open, and he slowly sank into the sea.]
[In the depths of the ocean, the corners of Jiraiya's lips curved upward.]
["Now that's more like a proper ending to The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant."]
["Final chapter: the frog at the bottom of the well dissolves into the great ocean, huh?"]
["If there's ever a sequel… then call it The Tale of Uzumaki Naruto, would you?"]
[Jiraiya closed his eyes forever.]
…
The entire ninja world fell into silence.
In fact—
Many shinobi, without even realizing it, either had tears at the corners of their eyes or were already crying openly.
"The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant—I want to read it too!"
"As expected of one of the Legendary Sannin. Jiraiya, please accept my respect."
"Jiraiya, you are no frog in a well—you are a soaring dragon!"
Hidden Cloud Village.
The Fourth Raikage, A, wore a rare serious expression.
"Jiraiya, if I ever get the chance, I'd like to fight you. I want to be written into your book too."
Hidden Stone.
Ōnoki: "No wonder he became one of the Sannin. I lived through Hashirama's era and never became a legend… is it because I lacked resolve?"
Hidden Sand.
Chiyo-baa: "Jiraiya… this old woman acknowledges you."
"…Or perhaps I'm not even qualified to."
Hidden Mist.
Mei Terumi: "Chōjūrō, starting today I'm assigning you a very important mission."
Chōjūrō: "What mission?"
Mei: "Help me write The Tale of the Beautiful Mei Terumi."
A string of dark lines appeared over Chōjūrō's head.
Konoha.
"Pervy Sage! Don't die! Don't end The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant!"
"Even if there's going to be a sequel—The Tale of Uzumaki Naruto—it has to be written by you!"
"Uu… uuuuuu!"
Naruto burst into tears.
The rest of Konoha was shocked, moved, and proud.
This was a shinobi of Konoha!
Just when everyone thought the scene had ended and were waiting for the golden light to distribute rewards—
A translucent screen appeared… displaying a poem.
[The roaming dragon returns to the sea, yet the sea does not welcome me, Jiraiya.]
[Fallen leaves return to their roots, yet the Leaf does not welcome me, one of the Three Sannin.]
[The fierce tiger returns to the mountain, yet the mountain does not welcome me, the great gallant.]
[The cloud crane returns to the heavens, yet the heavens do not welcome me, the Sage of Mount Myōboku.]
[If mountains and seas return as one, and still do not welcome me—then so be it. I am Jiraiya!]
…
The entire ninja world was shaken.
Especially Konoha.
Everyone unconsciously recited the poem aloud together.
"The roaming dragon returns to the sea,
yet the sea does not welcome me, Jiraiya."
"Fallen leaves return to their roots,
yet the Leaf does not welcome me, one of the Three Sannin."
"The fierce tiger returns to the mountain,
yet the mountain does not welcome me, the great gallant."
"The cloud crane returns to the heavens,
yet the heavens do not welcome me, the Sage of Mount Myōboku."
"If mountains and seas return as one,
and still do not welcome me—then so be it. I am Jiraiya!"
"This is our Konoha shinobi—one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened slightly.
In the images—
He and Jiraiya had both died for Konoha.
So why did Jiraiya get a poem and he didn't!?
Pure Land.
Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, and many others were equally stunned by the poem.
At that moment—
The poem on the translucent screen faded.
A new scene appeared.
[Mount Myōboku.]
[A prophecy from the Great Toad Sage.]
["Jiraiya will become an exceptional shinobi. Once he is ready to stand on his own, he will take on a disciple."]
["That disciple will bring great change to the world—though it is unknown whether that change will bring peace… or destruction."]
["A blue-eyed boy who laughs while calling forth the Nine-Headed Beast."]
[The vision ends.]
…
The ninja world erupted instantly.
"Jiraiya's disciple could bring world-changing reform—either peace or destruction!?"
"Judging from the scenes we've seen, it does look that way. Uzumaki Nagato really could be someone who brings destruction."
"But Tsunade, Jiraiya, and even that little toad all believe Naruto is the true Child of Prophecy!"
"Naruto has always wished for peace… does that mean he could bring stability to the world?"
"But is that truly possible? The Fourth Hokage said it himself—so long as shinobi exist and face pain, war will always remain."
"Naruto, it's all on you now. Hurry and find the answer!"
Especially in the Pure Land.
[Senju Hashirama: So the so-called Child of Prophecy is Jiraiya's disciple—a disciple capable of bringing world-changing reform.]
[Uchiha Madara: Ridiculous. So that's all the prophecy was?]
[Senju Tobirama: The Great Toad Sage said Jiraiya's disciple would bring change, but didn't know whether it meant peace or destruction. So why insist that the Child of Prophecy is Naruto specifically, and not Uzumaki Nagato?]
[Uchiha Izuna: Tobirama, for once I agree with you. Nagato's plan—gathering the Tailed Beasts to create a weapon of mass destruction to force nations into fear and deterrence—]
[Uchiha Izuna: Could lead to destruction… or could indeed bring enforced peace. Doesn't that match both possibilities?]
The majority of the Pure Land agreed with Izuna.
Nagato's plan could either destroy the world… or enforce a fragile peace.
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 70 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/Sagamaster789