Looking at the collapsed Five-Tails and the ruins behind him, Hanzo laughed in fury.
"Just as expected of the 'Darkness of the Shinobi World.' We were cooperating just moments ago, and now that I'm no longer useful, he stabs me in the back."
"I really underestimated how petty he is."
Rain ninja continued to rush over. When they saw the massive Five-Tails lying on the ground, fear filled their faces—followed immediately by frenzied cheers for Hanzo.
Unfortunately, Amegakure didn't have a proper sealing vessel. With such a massive Five-Tails, even Hanzo wasn't sure how to handle it.
Moreover, he wasn't sure whether the Five-Tails would even survive.
The poison he had cultivated for a long time was far more potent than before.
Even a Tailed Beast could die from it.
Still, considering the situation—
If it was going to die, it had to answer questions first.
Hanzo used Water Prison Jutsu to restrain the Five-Tails while also washing the poison off its face. The rest would depend on the Five-Tails' own vitality. Tailed Beasts weren't known for being fragile.
"Call Uzumaki Mito. Have her place multiple seals on the Five-Tails."
Hanzo issued orders methodically:
"Organize teams to clear the disaster zone."
"Call the sealing squad, this is a rare chance to practice sealing a Tailed Beast."
"Shinda, bring several genjutsu specialists to the interrogation room. Move quickly."
"Priestess, monitor the village. Some rats still haven't been cleaned out."
"Hattori Murakami, gather the remaining forces and move toward the Fire Country border."
The wind would not cease.
Hanzo was not someone who tolerated provocation.
If they wanted trouble—
They had better be ready for the consequences.
---
Mount Myōboku.
Jiraiya quietly waited, looking at the sleeping Great Toad Sage above him.
The massive toad lay coiled in the grand hall. Even in sleep, a pipe hung from his mouth.
Shima and Fukasaku, the two Sage Toads, stood solemnly on either side.
"Old man! Old man! Wake up!"
After a long wait, Shima finally lost patience, amplifying her voice with chakra. Fukasaku covered his ears beside her.
"Mother, the Great Lord's fallen asleep again. Maybe we should let Jiraiya go back first," Fukasaku suggested.
"When he sleeps, there's no telling when he'll wake up."
"No, I still have time. Waiting is fine," Jiraiya replied.
"The scale of this ninja war is far beyond anything before. Kage-level battles have already broken out several times."
"The casualties from this war alone surpass the previous great war and centuries of shinobi conflict combined."
"The Child of Prophecy is the hope for peace."
"If there's hope for peace, I must seize it."
Just as Jiraiya finished speaking—
The Great Toad Sage slowly opened his cloudy eyes.
"Great Sage, you're awake!"
"Ah… you are… who again?"
"Jiraiya!" Fukasaku reminded him. "Our Mount Myōboku contractor. Didn't you say you had another prophecy about him?"
"Ah… what-raiya?"
"…Jiraiya."
"Oh, right. Jiraiya. I dreamed of your future again."
The Great Toad Sage spoke slowly:
"In the future, because of a certain person, nations continuously strengthen their military forces. The quality of ninja improves greatly, and the scale of warfare multiplies."
"Because of him, all humanity lives in fear of war. Everyone is bound by conflict, with no freedom."
"The land becomes burning earth. Toxic miasma blocks the sky. Amid brutal war, death is everywhere. The world sinks into despair."
"Until one day, you encounter the Child of Prophecy… take him as your student… and either bring peace to the chaotic era—or trigger an even greater uproar."
Jiraiya widened his eyes.
"The future… is that terrifying?"
"I once saw that person in my dream," the Great Toad Sage continued.
"He possessed immense power. His ink-blue chakra concealed his appearance."
"The moment I met his gaze in the dream… his eyes shattered my dream itself."
"The enemy is extremely powerful. The future… is entrusted to you."
"Great Toad Sage, are there any other characteristics?" Jiraiya asked.
"Anything at all would help."
"…He is… very strong."
Jiraiya froze.
That was the answer?
Even for Jiraiya, that was baffling.
Strong… counted as a characteristic?
"Oh right, Jiraiya. Take this, you'll need it."
The Great Toad Sage opened his mouth, and a talisman marked with the character 'Sage' floated into Jiraiya's hand.
"Great Lord, this is—?!"
Shima and Fukasaku were instantly shocked.
"The Sage Talisman."
"It possesses the power to restore life."
Fukasaku explained:
"This is a national treasure of Mount Myōboku. It took centuries to create a single one."
"The last time it was given away… was a thousand years ago."
Having learned Sage Mode, Jiraiya could clearly sense the terrifying Sage power sealed within.
"Great Toad Sage, this—"
The Great Toad Sage had already fallen asleep again.
"Jiraiya, accept it. The Great Sage must have his reasons," Fukasaku said.
---
At the Moon...
On the cratered surface stood a magnificent palace, the domain of the Ōtsutsuki Branch Family.
"Has the chakra collection not finished yet?" an elder asked.
"No. The clan head still refuses to activate the ancestor statue's chakra. If we rely only on our own chakra, it will take much longer."
Launching a meteor capable of destroying a nation required enormous chakra—especially for trajectory control.
The current Ōtsutsuki generation numbered only a few hundred.
Even with strong chakra reserves, the cost remained staggering.
"They finally decided to act, yet they're still hesitating. Have the Main Family forgotten the ancestral teachings?"
"Can't they see how filthy the shinobi world has become? Why preserve it?"
"What about the Tenseigan plan?"
"Continue preparations. Once we obtain the Tenseigan, we won't need the Main Family's plan."
"And the chakra preparation?"
"Still far from enough."
"Then use this batch of chakra. If the Main Family wants to delay, let them delay."
They were constructing a Giant Tenseigan.
Numerous Byakugan were required, along with massive chakra to stabilize them and maintain vitality.
"Wait for the opportunity. The Main Family has strayed from the ancestor's will."
"If they try to stop us…"
"Then we'll destroy them as well."
---
Amegakure – Interrogation Room.
The Tongue Eradication Seal had been removed from the three Konoha ninja.
Under genjutsu, they drooled and spoke blankly.
"Grass Country… our scouts discovered Uzumaki Mito…"