Mount Myōboku.
It wasn't just a simple place name.
It represented an ancient force independent of the Five Great Nations, with a thousand-year legacy.
It represented combat power capable of rivaling tailed beasts.
And more importantly, it represented "Sage Arts"—the ultimate power transcending the conventional chakra system.
"Master, how do we get there?"
Sora suppressed the myriad thoughts in his mind, putting on his pure, boyish curiosity about the unknown world.
A very practical question.
Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, Shikkotsu Forest.
These three great summoning holy lands were never marked on any map.
There was only one way to enter.
"Good question!"
Jiraiya finally found a chance to show off his "masterly" side.
He crossed his arms over his chest, puffing it out—looking smug as if "you asked the right person."
"Getting to Mount Myōboku isn't as simple as buying a ticket."
"An ordinary person could walk a lifetime and never find the entrance."
He built up the suspense, enjoying Sora's "admiring" gaze before continuing leisurely.
"But for us who have signed the contract—returning is just a thought away."
Jiraiya bit his finger, drawing blood.
He didn't summon directly but looked at Sora, starting an on-site lesson.
"Watch closely, kid."
"Your name is already recorded on Mount Myōboku's contract scroll."
"So you qualify for 'reverse summoning.'"
Reverse summoning?
Sora quickly recalled the concept.
Opposite of the caster summoning the beast from another dimension—this was the beast reverse-summoning the caster to their world.
A precise space-crossing teleportation technique.
"Come on—I'll take you to meet the frogs."
Jiraiya's face held a mischievous grin.
"So how do we go?"
"Wait while I call a frog."
Jiraiya chuckled, hands flying through seals.
Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram.
"Summoning Technique!"
He slammed his palm on the ground.
Bang!
White smoke exploded.
But it wasn't the massive Gamabunta, nor Gamaken or Gamahiro.
It was a palm-sized green little toad with a scroll on its back—looking somewhat dazed.
The little toad shook its head, saw Jiraiya, and called in a childish, mumbled voice.
"Ya! It's Jiraiya!"
"Gamaken, long time no see."
Jiraiya crouched, skillfully patting Gamaken's head.
Gamaken?
Future boss toad?
Sora eyed this unremarkable little toad—it looked truly... weak, pitiful, helpless right now.
"Jiraiya, why'd you call me? I was learning water spit with big brother!" Gamaken complained.
"Got business." Jiraiya pointed at Sora beside him. "This kid—my new disciple. Taking him back to the mountain."
Only then did Gamaken notice Sora—tilting its head curiously at the stranger.
"Him?"
"Yeah, him." Jiraiya winked secretly at Gamaken, mouthing silently.
"Give him... something... exciting."
The little gesture didn't escape Sora.
Again?
This master really never tired of childish pranks.
Sora's face remained impassive.
Inwardly—he was already planning another "lesson" for his "playful" master.
"Alright, kid—ready?"
Jiraiya stood, clapping hands—face kind but suspiciously fake smile.
"First reverse summoning might be a bit... uh, unique experience."
"Don't worry—with your master here, your safety's guaranteed."
He emphasized "unique" heavily.
Gamaken got the cue—clearing throat, puffing up for a big move.
"No problem! Leave it to me! He'll feel the thrill of toad flight!"
They'd even rehearsed lines.
Sora sighed inwardly.
Why were his growth path filled with such childish people?
[Reverse Summoning · Toad Flight Edition, activated.]
This childish prank initiated by Jiraiya ended in a way he never imagined.
Bang!
Bang!
Two heavy thuds.
Jiraiya and Gamaken—extremely disheveled—face-planted onto a massive mossy lily pad.
While Sora drifted down lightly.
Not even a wrinkle in his clothes.
"Ugh..."
Jiraiya sprawled, vomiting uncontrollably.
Gamaken worse—foaming, eyes rolled back, fully passed out.
"Master, you okay?"
Sora walked over, crouching with concerned, innocent expression.
"This 'unique experience' was indeed stimulating."
He stressed "unique."
Jiraiya's head snapped up—face greenish.
He pointed at Sora—lips trembling, speechless.
Humiliation!
Naked humiliation!
The great Toad Sage—eagle hunter all life—pecked in the eye by a fledgling today!
"You... brat..." Finally.
All anger, reluctance, shame—became a long, helpless, mournful sigh.
"I've really... picked up an ancestor..."
He lay lifeless.
Sora stood, leisurely surveying the legendary summoning holy land.
Huge mushroom-like plants piercing the sky.
Odd-shaped legged toads hopping between massive lily pads.
Air filled with damp mix of soil and unknown plants.
And faint, extremely pure natural energy.
This was Mount Myōboku.
After a while, Jiraiya recovered.
He staggered up, still unsteady—splashing face in nearby stream, somewhat restoring color.
Glancing at fainted Gamaken and sightseeing Sora—eye twitching again.
Fine.
No arguing with this little monster.
Further arguing—he'd lose years.
"Come on."
He waved weakly.
"Taking you to meet my Sage Arts teachers."
"Shima-sama and Fukasaku-sama."
Jiraiya's voice held genuine reverence.
"They taught me Sage Arts."
Sora immediately dropped curious baby act—becoming respectful.
The real deal.
Whether he learned Sage Arts depended on them.
Jiraiya led Sora through massive root-like plants resembling mountains.
Finally to an ancient, elegant, zen-filled building atop huge roots.
"Fukasaku-sama, Shima-sama—I'm here!"
Jiraiya called respectfully at the door.
"It's little Jiraiya—come in."
An aged, stern voice from inside.
Jiraiya pushed open—leading Sora in.
Interior extremely simple.
Low table, two cushions.
Seated on either side—two elderly green toads even smaller than Gamaken.
Left: wearing doctoral cap, stern and authoritative.
Right: hair bunched, small pipe—kindly grandmotherly.
These were the true rulers of the toad clan—ancient Fukasaku and Shima sages.
"Husband, little Jiraiya brought a human kid this time."
Shima puffed her pipe, exhaling small ring—curiously scrutinizing Sora.
"Mm, I see."
Fukasaku nodded—turbid yet piercing eyes on Sora.
"Jiraiya, this kid?"
Jiraiya bowed respectfully to the sages.
"My new disciple—Akashi Sora."
He pulled Sora forward.
"Brought him to... learn Sage Arts."
Words out—room instantly silent.
Shima set down pipe—expression serious.
Fukasaku frowned deeply—scrutinizing gaze sweeping Sora.
Sora stood calmly—neither humble nor arrogant.
He knew—the real test began now.
"Oh."
In the heavy atmosphere, Shima suddenly exclaimed—breaking silence.
She leaned closer—carefully examining Sora's face.
"This child is quite handsome!"
She grinned kindly.
Sora: "..."
Jiraiya: "..."
Wrong focus?
"Old lady!"
Fukasaku huffed dissatisfied.
"Is this the time for that!"
He refocused on Sora—intangible pressure returning.
"Kid, look up."
Fukasaku's aged stern voice echoed in silence.
Sora raised head—clear amber eyes meeting the ancient toad's.
Pure gaze—no impurity—like a child first meeting a legend, full of curiosity and respect.
Fukasaku's turbid eyes seemed to pierce Sora's soul.
Intangible yet mountain-heavy pressure.
Anyone with ill intent would sweat coldly, mind crumbling.
But Sora didn't.
His heart—a calm, absolutely rational lake.
"Old lady, what do you think?" After long, Fukasaku withdrew pressure—turning to his partner.
Shima puffed again—lazy voice amid smoke.
"Good child."
"Exceptional foundation—chakra quality extremely pure."
"Much more pleasing than little Jiraiya back then."
Shot-while-down Jiraiya twitched lips—no rebuttal.
Before these two—he was forever the immature kid.
"Pleasing face means nothing!" Fukasaku huffed. "Sage Arts looks at aptitude, perseverance, affinity with nature!"
"Jiraiya—you know Sage training is life-or-death."
"Slight mistake—turn to stone, forever staying in Mount Myōboku."
Tone extremely severe—each word heart-striking.
Jiraiya serious too—nodding.
"I know, Fukasaku-sama."
"That's why I brought him—I believe in his talent."
"Believe?" Fukasaku shook head. "Your belief worthless."
He stood from cushion—small body exuding undeniable authority.
"Want to learn Sage Arts—fine."
"But must pass test."
Here it comes.
Sora inwardly calm.
Natural process.
No ancient force easily shares core secrets with unknown outsiders.
"What test?" Jiraiya asked for Sora.
Fukasaku didn't answer—turning to fetch small sealed clay jar from back shelf.
He placed it on low table—carefully breaking seal.
Strange greasy-fragrant odor filled instantly.
Jar held viscous semi-transparent oil.
"This is Mount Myōboku's special toad oil."
Fukasaku's voice emotionless.
"Helps practitioners sense and absorb natural energy faster."
"But also potent medicine."
He paused—turbid eyes locking Sora again.
"If body can't perfectly balance mental, physical, and natural energy—this external force instantly erodes—petrifying you."
"Ultimately—a lifeless toad statue."
He pointed outside window.
Sora followed—distant cliff full of mossy odd toad statues.
Varied poses—some roaring skyward, some struggling—vivid expressions frozen forever.
"Those—failures."
Fukasaku's voice ice-cold.
Jiraiya's face flashed fear.
He recalled his own near-petrification terror.
He watched Sora—expecting hesitation or fear.
None.
Sora's face pure—full of thirst for knowledge.
Even curiously leaning closer to the oil.
"So amazing?"
Tone awed—as if seeing novel toy, not deadly poison.
This extraordinary courage made Fukasaku and Shima glance extra.
"Kid, scared?" Shima suddenly asked.
Sora scratched head—brilliant shy smile.
"Yeah!"
"But Master said Sage Arts terrifies tailed beasts—ultimate power."
"To gain such strength—some risk is fair!"
Flawless answer.
Showed normal fear yet determination for power.
Perfect.
Jiraiya nodded proudly—"worthy disciple."
Fukasaku silent—dipping finger in oil.
"Ready?"
"Ready!" Sora chest out—fearless.
Fukasaku no hesitation—flash forward, oil-dipped finger gently tapping Sora's forehead.
Cool greasy touch from forehead.
Next second.
Boom!
Sora's world changed.
Before—natural energy faint gentle streams in air.
Now—in perception, entire Mount Myōboku a boiling ocean of endless violent natural energy!
Toad oil like opened floodgate.
Infinite natural energy madly pouring through forehead into body!
Force to burst, tear, devour him!
Jiraiya's heart to throat.
He stared at Sora—chakra ready to intervene with stick to knock out excess.
Fukasaku gripped staff—grave.
Waiting for pain on Sora's face, petrification signs.
But.
One second.
Two.
Ten.
Sora stood motionless.
No pain.
Even... extremely enjoying, relaxed expression.
As if flooded not deadly energy—but world's comfiest hot spring.
What's going on?
Jiraiya stunned.
Fukasaku and Shima too.
Scene beyond cognition.
They didn't know.
Beyond their perception—inside Sora, wondrous silent transformation.
Violent natural energy met even more domineering, ancient force upon entry.
From devoured Sage Body and Wood Release sources.
If Mount Myōboku energy unruly river.
Sage Body—infinite ocean absorbing all rivers!
River to sea—no ripple.
Energy tamed, assimilated upon contact—purest nourishment into limbs.
Comfortable.
Too comfortable.
Every cell cheering.
This unity with nature—even better than sunbathing in personal subspace.
"Something wrong!"
Fukasaku reacted first.
Aged eyes horrified.
This kid's natural energy absorption—too fast!
Unimaginably fast!
Continuing—even if body held, mind would shatter!
"Something wrong!"
Fukasaku's voice horrified first time.
Staff thumped—small body erupting disproportionate aura.
"Absorbing too fast! Mind will collapse!"
Jiraiya's heart throat-high.
He knew.
Sage training—perfect balance of physical, mental, natural energies.
Kid's freakish body handled massive energy.
But mind?
Thirteen-year-old—how control tsunami-like force?
Bang!
Muffled thud.
Fukasaku moved.
No hesitation—grabbing black stick from behind, leaping high—smashing Sora's head!
Heavy, whistling strike.
Jiraiya too late to stop.
But instant before impact—Fukasaku flipped wrist—smash to precise light tap.
"Wake!"
Dong.
Clear like wooden fish knock.
Stick perfectly tapped Sora's forehead.
Strange force surged through contact into body.
Boom!
Sora felt enveloping warm comfortable energy ocean forcibly ripped out by barbaric force.
Like dozing in top hot spring—doused head-to-toe ice water.
He shuddered—eyes snapping open.
Body staggered back two steps—barely steady.
Air normal again.
Ubiquitous pure natural energy—gentle elusive streams once more.
"Hm?"
Sora confusedly rubbed forehead—lingering numb tap sensation.
He looked up—three tense concerned faces.
"Master? Fukasaku-sama? Shima-sama?"
"You all okay?"
Face appropriate dream-woken confusion.
"That felt so good—why interrupt?"
Words thunderclap.
Jiraiya mouth agape—petrified.
Good?
Deadly flood—you call good?
What are you made of?
Fukasaku stunned—nearly dropping stick.
No answer—stepping forward circling Sora.
Pinching arms, face with withered fingers.
Skin warm, elastic.
No petrification.
Closer—staring eyes.
Clear, pure—no post-impact chaos or madness.
Kid...
Really fine!
"Jiraiya!"
Fukasaku spun—eternal stern face extreme shock.
"Where'd you find this monster!"
Voice excited—off-pitch.
"Eh? Monster?" Jiraiya still dazed. "He's fine, right?"
"Fine?" Fukasaku waved arms excitedly. "Natural energy affinity insanely high! Absorption ten times faster than yours!"
"Worst—no rejection!"
"Simply... born Sage!"
"Born... Sage?"
Jiraiya murmured—gaze at Sora completely changed.
He knew disciple talented.
But this talented?!
Even 800+ year Fukasaku called "born Sage"—highest praise!
Ecstasy.
Unmatched ecstasy flooded Jiraiya.
Treasure!
True supreme treasure!
Prophecy child!
This kid absolutely the one to massively change ninja world...
As conversation center—Sora listened quietly.
Born Sage?
Fair assessment.
His body fused purest Uzumaki Sage Body source.
If not this—strange.
But not time to think.
Hearing "Sage" "training"—ultimate rational brain auto-planning schedule.
Thus in shocked ecstatic weird atmosphere.
Sora like classroom student—obediently raised hand.
"Um..."
"Fukasaku-sama, Master Jiraiya."
Three legends' gazes focused.
Expecting profound Sage truth question from "born Sage."
But.
"How many days does Sage training take roughly?"
Sora asked seriously.
Air froze.
Jiraiya's ecstasy froze.
Fukasaku and Shima stunned.
Time paused.
Days?
Asking legendary Sage training—days?
Like asking 1+1=?
Absurd innocent.
Sora oblivious to weirdness—even frowning troubled.
"I need village leave from ANBU superior."
"Too long absent—hurts year-end performance review."
"And my mission report unfinished."
Performance review...
Mission report...
Realist salaryman terms—from Sora's mouth clashed magically with "Mount Myōboku" "Sage Arts" mysticism.
Pfft.
Jiraiya couldn't hold.
Hand over face.
Done.
Disciple's brain wiring... really different from normal.
"Hahahaha!"
Crisp grandmother laugh broke silence.
Shima.
Laughing bent over—pipe dropping.
"Interesting! This kid—too interesting!"
Fukasaku crying-laughing.
Lived ages—seen geniuses—but obsessing attendance at Sage threshold—first.
He shook head—Sage dignity unwittingly gone.
"Fine, kid."
He picked up stick—weak wave.
"Training no rush. Handle your worldly affairs first."
"Yes! Thank you Fukasaku-sama!" Sora snapped salute.
"Then tomorrow." Shima picked pipe—smiling at Sora. "I'll reverse summon you personally."
She shot Jiraiya disdainful glance.
"Lest little Jiraiya pulls 'toad flight' nonsense—ruining you."
"I didn't..." Jiraiya mumbled weakly.
His master dignity—ground-rubbed countless times by "good disciple" today.
"Settled."
Fukasaku finalized.
Gaze at Sora—from scrutiny to pure appreciation and expectation.
He turned to Jiraiya—low voice only they heard.
"Jiraiya."
"Great Toad Sage's prophecy..."
"Might truly come to pass."