With the shinobi world in its current state, Mount Myōboku's position had become almost meaningless.
More importantly, on many matters, Mount Myōboku and Konoha were already walking different paths.
Thinking of this, Fukasaku and Shima could only shake their heads helplessly.
For some reason, they felt old.
As if they could no longer keep up with the era.
"Forget it. We can only take one step at a time."
After a long silence, the Great Toad Sage shook his head and sighed.
"The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, has placed giant screens across the entire shinobi world. It seems he intends to broadcast something."
"Let's wait and see."
As he said this, even the Great Toad Sage felt curious.
After the allied forces of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Otogakure invaded the Land of Fire, everything that happened had become far too strange.
Now Ren had created so many giant screens across the world.
"Yes…"
"This is giving me a headache."
Fukasaku and Shima smiled bitterly.
Even though they were in Mount Myōboku, they could not relax at all.
They had been secretly observing the situation in the shinobi world.
And once again, events had gone beyond their expectations.
Buzz!
At that moment, a strange energy fluctuation spread through the temple.
Under Fukasaku and Shima's shocked gazes, the space in front of the Great Toad Sage suddenly rippled.
Then two figures appeared.
Both wore robes marked with the symbols of the Six Paths.
Both held black staffs.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Fukasaku and Shima stared blankly at the two newcomers.
A moment later, realization struck them.
Their eyes filled with shock, and a storm rose in their hearts.
Because the two people who had appeared were none other than the legendary Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki—
and Hamura Ōtsutsuki.
"This… this is the Sage of Six Paths?"
"So the Sage of Six Paths really isn't dead…"
After suppressing their shock, Fukasaku and Shima could not help crying out.
There was no helping it.
Hagoromo and Hamura had appeared far too suddenly.
Compared to them, however, the Great Toad Sage remained much calmer.
He simply looked at Hagoromo and Hamura as if he had expected this all along.
"You've come."
After a few seconds, the Great Toad Sage took a puff from his pipe and spoke meaningfully.
"I didn't expect the two of you to endure this long without making a move."
"Heh."
Hamura sneered.
"Great Toad Sage, you're still quite spirited for your age."
"Is it strange that we endured?"
"It is normal."
The Great Toad Sage exhaled a mouthful of white smoke.
"The shinobi world has become a game of schemes within schemes. You may think you see far ahead, but in truth, you have barely seen the board."
"The Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, is the one truly standing above everyone."
"What do you mean?"
A terrifying energy fluctuation erupted from Hamura.
Anger flashed across his face.
"Are you looking down on us?"
"I saved your life. Am I not allowed to say a few words?"
The Great Toad Sage remained completely calm.
"With the current situation, you know better than anyone that the shinobi world has already changed owners."
"It no longer belongs to the Ōtsutsuki."
"It belongs to Uchiha Ren."
"You…"
Hamura opened his mouth to refute him, but no words came out.
Because the Great Toad Sage was right.
His life had indeed been saved by Mount Myōboku's treasure, the Sage Talisman.
As for the owner of the shinobi world—
from a certain perspective, it really had become the Fifth Hokage.
"Enough."
Hagoromo shook his head.
"Say less. The Great Toad Sage does have a point."
"I understand."
Hamura's expression turned ugly, but he said nothing more.
A few seconds later, Hagoromo's eyes flashed coldly.
"Great Toad Sage, you should already understand why we came."
"The shinobi world has indeed escaped my control."
"But I am confident I can take it back."
"I believe you."
The Great Toad Sage looked deeply at Hagoromo.
"But Uchiha Ren's momentum is already complete. Bringing him down will not be simple."
"True."
Hagoromo nodded.
"He is far harder to deal with than our mother was back then."
At that, the Great Toad Sage fell silent.
After all, when Hagoromo betrayed his mother, Kaguya, the Great Toad Sage had been one of the key accomplices.
"I want you to leave the mountain."
After letting the silence settle, Hagoromo spoke directly.
"The shinobi world has changed. As the legendary Great Toad Sage, it is time for you to prove your value."
"What do you mean?"
The Great Toad Sage frowned.
"You want me to be your vanguard?"
"Correct."
Hagoromo's voice was emotionless.
"Ryūchi Cave has already submitted to Konoha."
"As one of the Three Great Sage Lands, Mount Myōboku can act in my name."
"No."
The Great Toad Sage rejected him without hesitation.
Was this a joke?
He was not an idiot.
Going out now would be suicide.
With Ryūchi Cave as an example, how could he possibly be foolish enough to rush forward and die?
◇ BONUS & SUPPORT ◇
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 10 reviews — drop a comment!
◇ 1 bonus chapter for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ Read 60 chapters ahead on P@treon → patreon.com/StrawHatStudios