What a joke.
The Great Toad Sage was not an idiot.
Standing out now would be no different from courting death. With Ryūchi Cave as a warning, he would not make such a foolish choice.
Once he chose a side openly, everything would become dangerous.
Given the arrogant and unrestrained personality of the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, Mount Myōboku might end up sharing Ryūchi Cave's fate.
Besides, while he did have a partnership with Hagoromo, he would never step forward without clear benefits.
Taking a side meant losing all other options.
Taking a side meant Mount Myōboku would have no way back.
Taking a side meant losing the last chance to choose.
"Phew…"
"Good thing he refused. Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Fukasaku and Shima both breathed sighs of relief.
After wiping the cold sweat from their brows, they exchanged a glance and saw lingering fear in each other's eyes.
They had never expected Hamura and Hagoromo to personally come to Mount Myōboku and ask the Great Toad Sage to act in the name of the Sage of Six Paths.
This was an obvious attempt to force Mount Myōboku to choose a side.
Fukasaku and Shima naturally did not want to agree.
So when the Great Toad Sage refused, they finally relaxed.
"Great Toad Sage, do you know what you are saying?"
After a few seconds, Hamura took a deep breath and spoke coldly.
"We came to ask for your opinion because we were showing you respect."
"If you reject that respect, then Mount Myōboku no longer needs to exist."
His voice turned threatening.
"Our patience has limits. I hope you make a wise choice."
"What did you say?"
"Hamura Ōtsutsuki, have you forgotten who saved you?"
"Others remember those who helped them. You take the benefit and then pretend nothing happened. Shameless!"
Fukasaku and Shima exploded.
If someone else had said those words, they might have understood.
But Hamura saying them?
They could not endure it.
This damned Hamura was truly not human.
Utterly disgraceful.
His words were pure betrayal.
"Heh…"
Facing Fukasaku and Shima's fury, Hamura did not care at all.
Instead, he said shamelessly, "You were the ones who insisted on saving me. What are you complaining about now?"
Fukasaku and Shima opened their mouths, but no words came out.
They had seen shameless people before.
But never someone this shameless.
Hamura had refreshed their understanding of what shamelessness meant.
As for the Great Toad Sage and Hagoromo, neither spoke.
They simply looked at each other, as if trying to read the other's thoughts.
But both were seasoned schemers.
How could either be seen through so easily?
After staring at each other for several minutes, both of them smiled at the same time.
In the end, they were still wary of one another.
"Great Toad Sage…"
Perhaps unable to hold back any longer, Hagoromo's lips curved slightly.
"I know what you want."
"After we defeat the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Ren, I will make Mount Myōboku the only sacred land in the shinobi world."
"And you, Great Toad Sage, will stand second only to me."
"Truly?"
The Great Toad Sage's old face showed a hint of joy.
"You said that yourself. I didn't force you."
Back in Kaguya's era, the Great Toad Sage had acted for the sake of Mount Myōboku.
But who would have thought Hagoromo would trick him afterward?
Instead of letting Mount Myōboku become the sole sacred land, Hagoromo allowed Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave to rise alongside it.
That had left the Great Toad Sage feeling as if he had swallowed filth.
Now, he had finally found another chance.
Especially after Ryūchi Cave submitted to Konoha, the Great Toad Sage valued this opportunity even more.
Besides, in the eyes of outsiders, Mount Myōboku and Hagoromo had long been tied together.
Other than cooperating with Hagoromo, he did not seem to have many choices left.
"Then we have an agreement."
"Then we have an agreement."
Hagoromo and the Great Toad Sage looked at each other.
Both saw calmness in the other's eyes.
"Let's go."
Hamura said emotionlessly, "Great Toad Sage, once the allied forces of Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Otogakure reach Konoha, it will be time for you to appear in my brother's name."
"I understand. I know what to do."
The Great Toad Sage nodded decisively.
This was not their first time working together.
He already knew Hagoromo's methods very well.
Hagoromo wanted to make a grand entrance.
He wanted to act like a savior.
In that case, the Great Toad Sage would reluctantly serve as his vanguard.
At that moment, however, an ill-timed voice suddenly sounded.
Fukasaku seemed to remember something and asked subconsciously,
"What are those giant screens for?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
The temple instantly fell quiet.
Hagoromo, Hamura, and the Great Toad Sage all froze.
Damn it.
Fukasaku really had chosen the worst possible topic.
Those giant screens across the shinobi world were obviously Uchiha Ren's doing.
Asking about them now—
wasn't that slapping Hagoromo and the Great Toad Sage in the face?
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