He has even mastered Haki, and you say this is Naruto?

No matter how you look at it, this doesn't look like failure. Sage Mode is what should've failed.

Looking at the now fast-asleep Toad Sage, Jiraiya let out a deep sigh.

"Sigh… Forget it.

Since the Toad Sage said Shanks is fine, I won't worry about it anymore."

If it hadn't been for this unexpected event, Jiraiya wouldn't have come all the way to Mount Myōboku.

After all, even he understood how outrageous it was for someone to independently train Sage Mode. Naturally, he had to come seek advice from the Toad Sage.

Fortunately, the Toad Sage had said — nothing major happened.

However, right after Jiraiya left, the supposedly asleep Toad Sage suddenly opened his eyes.

"Nothing major, my butt.

This is a huge problem."

Cold sweat trickled down the Toad Sage's massive head.

As expected, old beings like them had lived too long and seen too much — "live long enough, see everything" wasn't just a saying.

The Toad Sage knew his own abilities well. Sometimes, he could foresee the future — a form of sensory jutsu. Or rather, modern sensory techniques were just a simplified version of this predictive power.

But the absurdity of Shanks was exactly this:

He had reverse-engineered his way to the source of chakra using sensory techniques — and had even acquired reverse-sensory perception, capable of cutting off the Toad Sage's ability to foresee the future.

As a creature who had lived for thousands of years, the Toad Sage instantly figured out the reason:

"The reason I couldn't foresee Shanks before…

Is because his reverse-sensory ability is too abnormal. It cuts me off completely."

And it was only because of the mishap during Shanks' Sage Mode training that the Toad Sage had been able to sense him at all.

"It's very likely…

that he now also has the ability to foresee destiny."

With that thought, the Toad Sage immediately re-entered a dream state, taking advantage of Shanks' weakened condition.

This time, he directly inhabited Shanks' body to foresee his future — the fastest and most accurate method. But it came with drawbacks:

The amount of information gained is limited.

The duration of the "future" he could see wasn't determined by the Toad Sage's strength, but by the strength of the person being observed.

Still, based on some faint clues, he began to reconstruct the true future — one that includes Shanks.

One month later…

The Toad Sage finally woke up.

"Shanks… the youngest of the Four Emperors...

Devil Fruits... The Great Pirate Era... The world's end... The New World...

So this… is the future of the ninja world?"The prophecy technique used by the Toad Sage was his strongest — directly experiencing the future as Shanks himself. This made the vision 100% accurate.

But it came with two main limitations:

Very limited knowledge could be gathered.

The length of the future vision depended on the subject's strength — not the seer's.

Yet, after seeing that future, the Toad Sage confirmed it:

"Shanks also possesses the ability to peer into the future."

The Toad Sage understood what that meant — the ability to change the future. It meant massive uncertainty.

Such a major revelation couldn't be kept to himself — he had to inform the other two Sages.

"Shanks — a person who can train Sage Mode on his own?"

A voice echoed in his mind — it was the White Snake Sage from Ryūchi Cave. The Slug Sage said nothing — in truth, she wasn't very concerned.

Among the Three Great Sage Lands, Shikkotsu Forest had always interfered the least in the shinobi world. The Slug Sage was more laid-back and didn't care to get involved.

On the other hand, the toads of Mount Myōboku were very invested in ninja world affairs.

"In the future, he's called the youngest of the Four Emperors?

If he can develop Sage Mode by himself, that means he can potentially create his own unique version."

"Four Emperors… Could that be referring to the Sage Lands?"

The Snake Sage made the connection.

Though the Toad Sage had seen very limited information, every bit was highly important. The Snake Sage, curious, pressed further.

"I agree,"

said the Slug Sage softly.

"If he develops his own Sage Mode, he essentially gains the qualification to establish a new Sage Land.

If that happens, and it becomes the youngest one, then wouldn't that make it the Fourth Sage Land?

Could it be that in the future, there will be four great Sage Lands, and he'll be known as one of the Four Emperors?"

Totally plausible.

If things continued on their current path, a fourth Sage Land could very well appear within a few years.

"If that happens, it would actually be good for the ninja world.

But what is this New World and world's end? And also…"

The Toad Sage revealed a blurry image to the other two — a strange fruit with twisted patterns etched all over it.

"If one eats this fruit, they gain a unique power — similar to a Kekkei Genkai.

Every fruit's ability is unique, and each person can only eat one.

It's a mysterious thing."

Upon hearing this, the White Snake Sage thought long and hard — well, the Slug Sage just blankly spaced out.

Eventually, the White Snake Sage's eyes lit up.

"I know… Orochimaru."

"That's Orochimaru?!"

"Hah? Old Toad, are you dreaming too much?

How would ancient geezers like us recognize what that is?"

"But from the future you saw, it seems the Three Sage Lands will re-enter the ninja world.

So why not get someone from the ninja world to take care of this stuff now?"

"Orochimaru's already very interested in this kind of thing.

If we let him handle it, we wouldn't have to worry about anything."

The White Snake Sage suggested it.

Although Orochimaru was not well-liked and had huge ambitions, his talent was unquestionable — even the Sages had to acknowledge it.

Having him handle this situation would be ideal.

Of course, convincing Orochimaru would come at a cost — but for Ryūchi Cave, it was worth it.

As for the Slug Sage? She had vanished at some point. She clearly wanted no part in this.

And given Tsunade's current status, she wouldn't interfere much either.

The Slug Sage's approach? One word: "Chill."

Meanwhile, back with Shanks and Zabuza, still "training"...

A month had passed, and Shanks' Observation Haki finally returned.

The moment it did, he sensed someone was peering into his future. With a mere thought, he cut off the vague probing force.

"Someone tried to glimpse the future with Observation Haki — and saw me?"

Over the past few months, Shanks had grown more skilled with Haki. Now, even being spied on didn't faze him.

And the fact no one had found them so far meant this place was still safe.

"Plus, I've already mastered Observation Kill.

Aside from Armament Haki, I'm almost back to my full self. No need to worry too much."

Shanks was cautious but not insecure — he had a solid grasp of his current strength.

He'd mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion and Observation Kill.

Once Armament Haki was fully recovered, he'd be unstoppable at sea.

After all, Shanks' strongest ability had always been Conqueror's Haki — and Observation Kill was his most troublesome power.

"I can see your future using Observation Haki —

but your vision of the future can be cut off by my Observation Kill.

You won't be able to see anything at all."

This… was the power of the youngest Emperor of the Grand Line.

"Shanks! Don't get distracted in a fight!"

Zabuza's roar echoed. In the next instant, a blade slash tore the ground open beneath Shanks' feet.

Shanks grinned, leaping into the air.

"Hahaha, Zabuza, you're still too slow!"

Buzz!!

A ripple of red and black energy exploded outward.

The light above Zabuza's head seemed to shatter, and in the next moment, Shanks' Conqueror-infused fist came crashing down.

"Tekkai!"

Zabuza crossed his arms, his upper body turning black and metallic.

CLANG!!

He caught it — but not entirely.

At the moment of impact, Zabuza was blasted backward, slamming into the ground and leaving cracks in the earth.

From the crater, Zabuza slowly stood up, waving away the dust.

Sweat trickled from his forehead, and blood ran from his nose.

"Even though I've mastered Tekkai… I still couldn't block that."

He gritted his teeth. Despite his recent rapid growth, compared to Shanks… it still felt like he hadn't progressed at all.

"Can't believe I didn't pass out."

"Damn you, Shanks — don't underestimate me!

I'm improving too! Your Conqueror's Haki has no effect on me anymore!"

"Take this!"

Zabuza's chakra surged wildly, causing his body to expand slightly, twisted muscles bursting with strength.

He vanished from sight.

"No-Sword Style Secret Technique:

Blade Breaker!"

Suddenly, Zabuza appeared in the sky above Shanks, palms pressed together. A terrifying aura condensed.

The sky itself dimmed — the only remaining light was the blade-like glow in Zabuza's palms.

Using his hands as a sword, a near 10-meter-long blade of energy ripped through the air, slashing down toward Shanks.

Even before it reached him, Shanks felt a sting.

Just then, Shanks gripped his katana.

Flash — black light erupted.

A smoking figure was launched from the air, crashing straight into the lake.