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[Konoha] Chapter 294: The Great Toad Sage's Prophecy!
🕑 Added 2024-12-27 06:30:01 +0000 UTCAfter leaving the headquarters, Shūichi stretched lazily, feeling a sense of ease and lightness.
Shortly after, Konan and Nagato followed him out. Turning back, Shūichi said, "Let’s head to my place!"
Konan hesitated for a moment, but Nagato had already nodded.
Thus, the three strolled through the quiet, moonlit streets of Konoha.
At this hour, Konoha seemed to have regained its former tranquility. The soft glow of streetlamps illuminated the serene night, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Shūichi smiled. "It’s quite different from the Land of Rain, isn’t it?"
Nagato and Konan instinctively nodded, and Nagato added, "It’s the difference between a great ninja village and a small one."
Shūichi paused briefly, then walked beside Konan. "Everything has two sides."
"Konoha’s peace is the result of countless efforts by its ninjas. But beneath this peace, there’s always a shadow that can’t be ignored."
"You’re both familiar with Danzo. He made significant contributions to Konoha as the head of Root, but he also brought forth much darkness."
"He collaborated with Orochimaru on human experiments, which claimed countless innocent lives."
"He sacrificed his own men in secret operations, and the brutal training methods in Root extinguished emotions, leading to untold deaths."
Nagato pondered. "So, you mean even after unifying all the ninja villages, the darkness will persist?"
"As you mentioned during the meeting, there will always be bandits, rogue ninjas, and malevolent shinobi."
Shūichi nodded. "Of course."
"Human nature is far too complex, so much so that not even gods can control it."
"Love can turn into hatred; disputes over interests are inevitable. These conflicts can occur between father and son, brothers, lovers—let alone strangers."
"This is why societies establish morality, rules, and strict laws."
Nagato and Konan nodded in agreement, deeply resonating with Shūichi’s words.
Shūichi’s tone deepened. "Ninjas are beings with extraordinary power, capable of ending the lives of ordinary people effortlessly."
"Some people cheapen life, unleashing the darkness in their hearts once they gain power."
"Always remember: never become a slave to power!"
Never become a slave to power.
Nagato and Konan were visibly shaken by the remark.
Shūichi continued, "A true ninja should reside in darkness but strive toward the light!"
Reside in darkness but strive toward the light.
Nagato froze, thinking of Yahiko.
"Yahiko was a true ninja, but I... I am not," Nagato thought, his eyes moistening.
Konan glanced at Shūichi. Under the dim streetlight, his profile radiated an almost sacred glow.
At that moment, her heartbeat quickened, and her cheeks and ears grew warm. She hurriedly averted her gaze in a fluster.
But Konan knew—she had truly fallen for him.
---
When Shūichi brought Nagato and Konan to his home, they were greeted by Pakura and Tenka, who had prepared a table full of delicious food.
However, Tsunade and Shizune were still absent.
After a hearty late-night meal and settling Nagato and Konan in the guest rooms, Tenka prepared a bath for Shūichi.
Meanwhile, in the study, Shūichi astonished Pakura by spitting out several objects that grew larger as they landed on the floor.
"What... is this?"
Pakura stared in confusion.
Since the Gold and Silver Brothers never appeared on the battlefield and were devoured by the Ten-Tails, Pakura didn’t recognize the objects.
Shūichi chuckled and explained, "These are the Sage of Six Paths’ tools, once wielded by the Gold and Silver Brothers."
Pakura’s eyes widened. "So, these are what the Second Hokage..."
Shūichi interrupted with a laugh. "That’s uncertain."
"But these Six Paths tools are indeed extraordinary."
Picking up the Bashōsen (Banana Palm Fan), Shūichi said, "This is the Bashōsen, capable of wielding all five elemental transformations to create ninjutsu."
Pakura gasped. "That’s incredible!"
Using all five nature transformations in ninjutsu was exceedingly rare in the ninja world.
Looking at the fan, Shūichi thought of Tenten and smiled. "This fan is destined for Tenten. She has a connection with it."
Pakura didn’t object, instead turning her attention to the other items. "What about these? Since they’re all Six Paths tools, they must be remarkable too."
Shūichi nodded, raising his hand. The Kōkinjō (Gold Rope) flew into his left hand, radiating golden light.
Next, the Shichiseiken (Seven Stars Sword) and the Benihisago (Crimson Gourd) floated before him.
Shūichi stepped forward, lightly touching Pakura with the Kōkinjō.
Pakura looked puzzled.
But moments later, her expression changed, and she involuntarily opened her mouth, releasing a spiritual essence.
"As expected, the so-called 'word spirit' is a fragment of the soul."
Shūichi slashed part of the word spirit with the Shichiseiken and sealed it into the Benihisago.
Regaining her composure, Pakura asked in shock, "What just happened?"
Shūichi explained with a smile. "Word spirits."
"If touched by the Kōkinjō, a person’s word spirit—essentially a fragment of their soul—can be drawn out."
"The Shichiseiken cuts and curses the word spirit."
"The Benihisago seals it and uses it as a medium to trap and imprison the individual."
"In essence, this is a curse and sealing technique based on the soul. Regardless of whether you remain silent or speak your most common phrase, the word spirit will be detected and sealed."
Pakura frowned. "So, as long as someone is touched by the Kōkinjō, they’ll inevitably be sealed?"
Shūichi smiled but didn’t answer.
Pakura couldn't help but ponder.
She knew the phrase she used most frequently was “Lord Shūichi.” How could she break free from this?
"Changing my most commonly used phrase would be too late... wait, maybe not."
"Lord Shūichi, I can’t take it anymore."
Pakura’s cheeks suddenly turned red, and the next moment, she was drawn toward the Crimson Gourd.
"Lord Shūichi, I can’t take it anymore!"
...
The sealing failed.
Pakura reappeared behind Shūichi, noticing that the word spirit displayed on the Seven Stars Sword had already changed.
"As I thought," Pakura said, her cheeks still slightly flushed. "This method isn’t something just anyone can use. It must be incredibly similar to the phrase one uses the most frequently."
Shūichi smiled and nodded, teasing, "That’s why having a second catchphrase can come in handy."
Pakura rolled her eyes at him in response.
Handing the tools to her, Shūichi said, "These are yours now. Pass them on to the next generation."
Pakura’s face reddened even further as she nodded. "Understood."
At that moment, Tenka appeared at the door, smiling. "Shūichi, the bath is ready."
Shūichi nodded and then grabbed Pakura’s hand. "Let’s go together."
Pakura gave a token struggle, but realizing she couldn’t break free, she quickly set down the tools and allowed herself to be pulled along. Tenka followed behind, entering the bathroom with them.
---
Meanwhile, in another part of the house, Konan was tossing and turning in her guest room.
She couldn’t stop thinking about whether Shūichi might suddenly come to her room.
And if he did… what then? How should she react? Should she refuse or…
Her thoughts were a chaotic mess, and before she realized it, dawn had already arrived outside.
---
On the other side of the house, Shūichi placed a satisfied and exhausted Tenka next to Pakura, then got up and left the room.
Though he had been active all night, skipping his morning training wasn’t an option.
Nagato was also awake by now. Seeing Shūichi heading out, he decided to follow.
---
At the edge of the Forest of Death.
Nagato watched as Shūichi swung a massive blade under the cascading waterfall. Something about the scene felt off.
At Shūichi’s level, was such training even effective anymore?
---
An hour later.
Soaked to the bone, Shūichi dried himself off with his chakra, evaporating the water from his body. Walking over to Nagato, he smiled. "Are you wondering if this kind of training is still useful for someone like me?"
Nagato nodded slightly. "Your physical capabilities are astonishing, rivaling those of a tailed beast. Even with the added weight of the Heavy Boulder Technique, the effect must be negligible."
Shūichi nodded in agreement. "True. At my level, this kind of training is more symbolic than necessary."
"But..."
He raised his hand slightly, and in front of them, magnetic sand gathered to form a pyramid.
"Nagato, do you think ants could build something like this if they worked together?" Shūichi asked.
Nagato thought for a moment. "Of course, it’s just a matter of time."
"Exactly, a matter of time."
Shūichi smiled. "Rivers carve through mountains; oceans are filled drop by drop. Never underestimate the power of seemingly insignificant progress."
"If you can endure 59 kilograms of force, can you handle even one feather’s weight beyond that?"
Nagato suddenly understood. "I see now."
Of course, Shūichi wouldn’t tell Nagato the real reason he continued such seemingly pointless training. It wasn’t just about self-discipline or the philosophical lessons he preached; it was also because of the buffs granted by his Tags.
Still, the reasoning was sound—if a bit like motivational fluff.
---
When Shūichi and Nagato returned home, a sumptuous breakfast had already been set on the dining table.
Seeing Shūichi return, Tenka and Pakura immediately transformed into the most dutiful wives, attending to him diligently—drawing his bath, preparing his clothes...
This left Nagato and Konan feeling slightly out of place.
This was too un-ninja-like!
Shūichi chuckled softly and said, “A ninja is, first and foremost, a person.
“There’s a time to train, a time to complete missions, and a time to enjoy life.
“I’ve said it before: live in the darkness, but let your heart seek the light.
“And light isn’t something you just think about—it’s something you create.”
Hearing this, Nagato and Konan could only remain silent.
From the moment they had arrived in Konoha last night until now, they had felt a profound impact.
If the entire ninja world could be like Konoha, it would indeed be something worth aspiring to.
---
After breakfast, Shūichi assigned Nagato to report to the Ninja Alliance for instructions, while he personally escorted Konan back to the Land of Rain.
As they wandered aimlessly through familiar places, Konan’s expression grew complex.
After today, she would officially be heading to Konoha.
Shūichi accompanied her on a casual stroll through the village, eventually returning to her room.
As Konan was preparing to pack her belongings, she was suddenly pulled into Shūichi’s embrace and silenced by a sealing technique delivered through his lips.
Konan’s eyes widened, and she struggled slightly, but it was to no avail.
Gradually, she closed her eyes and began to respond.
---
An hour later.
Konan clung to Shūichi like an octopus, utterly drained of energy.
Now, she resembled a version of Shūichi—completely spent.
Having just had breakfast, followed by an additional “meal,” her stomach was visibly bloated. She had eaten to the point of discomfort.
And when people are full, they naturally become sleepy. Coupled with her restless night, Konan soon drifted into a deep sleep, her face flushed red.
Shūichi, on the other hand, was brimming with energy. He gently caressed Konan’s slightly rounded belly.
This should yield a strong child.
---
Meanwhile, on another side, Minato Namikaze hadn’t rested and had already arrived at Mount Myōboku.
“Dad!”
Young Naruto ran toward Minato on his short, chubby legs.
Kushina followed behind him. Although she had already heard from Fukasaku that her husband was safe, it wasn’t until she saw him in person that she felt truly relieved.
Minato crouched down to catch Naruto in his arms and smiled. “Did you have fun at Mount Myōboku?”
Naruto nodded enthusiastically, mimicking a pecking chick, and gestured with his hands. “The Great Toad Sage is soooo big!”
Kushina laughed as she caught up. “We met the Great Toad Sage. It even dreamed about Naruto.”
Minato was startled. “It dreamed about Naruto? Did it make a prophecy?”
Kushina nodded. “It said Naruto will become a savior in the future.”
Minato’s expression grew serious. He thought of Jiraiya’s “Child of Prophecy” and the extraterrestrial Ōtsutsuki clan Shūichi had mentioned.
Kushina, however, smiled. “Looks like the Great Toad Sage’s predictions aren’t always right!”
“I already heard from the Two Sages—Shūichi has resolved the issue.”
Minato nodded. “That’s true. But there’s still the matter of the extraterrestrial Ōtsutsuki clan...”
Hearing her husband’s explanation, Kushina was startled. “Could the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy actually be correct?”
Minato shook his head, though his expression remained slightly grave. “We’ll need to remind Shūichi.”
He knew that his disciple had no intention of leaving such troubles for the next generation.
If the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy was accurate and Naruto was destined to be the savior, then as the strongest figure in the current ninja world, Shūichi...
Kushina seemed to realize this too and showed a hint of worry.
Naruto, sensing something amiss, innocently asked, “Dad, what happened to Uncle Shūichi?”
Minato snapped back to reality and smiled. “Uncle Shūichi defeated the bad guys and saved the entire ninja world.”
Naruto’s eyes lit up. “That’s so awesome!”
“Dad, I want to be like Uncle Shūichi when I grow up—to defeat bad guys and save the ninja world!”
Kushina chuckled. “Didn’t you say you wanted to become Hokage like your dad?”
Naruto froze, then looked conflicted.
He wanted to become Hokage, but he also wanted to be like Uncle Shūichi.
Seeing their son’s dilemma, Minato and Kushina couldn’t help but exchange smiles.
---
Back in Konan’s bedroom.
Shūichi’s consciousness drifted into the mystical Memory Palace, arriving at a reconstructed village.
This place was modeled from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s memories, resembling the home where the Sage of Six Paths and his brother once grew up.
However, Shūichi hadn’t recreated the Sage and his brother, and Kaguya’s residence had transformed into the manifestation of the Heavenly Net Formation.
(End of Chapter)
