NOVEL WEB Chapter 159: Chapter 169
Now!???
The Small Group had already appeared—and yet… the Great Toad Sage still wouldn't acknowledge it!?
Huh?
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment.
But he quickly responded.
"I haven't seen Nagato's Rinnegan in action myself."
"But when it comes to Kitahara Kaede…"
"I can guarantee his Rinnegan is the real deal," Jiraiya insisted.
"…" The Great Toad Sage.
"Ah…"
"Hmm…"
"Little Jiraiya…"
"So you're saying the Children of Prophecy are Nagato and Kitahara Kaede?"
"…"
"Yes," Jiraiya nodded. "Right now, both Nagato and Kitahara Kaede have the Rinnegan."
"But…"
"I can confirm that Kitahara Kaede's Rinnegan is absolutely genuine."
This was something that could be deduced.
Nagato was someone Jiraiya had trained personally. But Kitahara Kaede's existence had been witnessed by all the past Hokage in the Small Group.
After all, the group's nickname was 'Kitahara Kaede Live Broadcast Group.'
So, if Kitahara Kaede wasn't important, wasn't deliberately chosen—then why would the group be streaming him?
It was a simple line of reasoning that anyone could follow.
"Eh…"
But the Great Toad Sage sighed. "Then go bring him here and let me take a look."
"…" Jiraiya.
He could tell—the Great Toad Sage simply didn't believe him.
Still, he quickly found a way to explain it.
After all, something like the Rinnegan… According to all records and ancient texts, only the Sage of Six Paths had ever possessed it.
So it was understandable that the Great Toad Sage would believe it to be nonexistent now.
And if both Nagato and Kitahara Kaede had it—was the Rinnegan some kind of cabbage, just growing everywhere?
"Then I'll return to Konoha for now." Jiraiya stood up.
"Mm." The Great Toad Sage nodded. "But you're not young anymore—be careful out there."
"Alright." Jiraiya accepted the elder's concern.
Boom!
But just then—the ground shook violently.
"What's happening?"
Fukasaku and Shima, who were guiding Jiraiya, were startled.
The Great Toad Sage was stunned too.
After all, Mount Myōboku was a sacred place—how could there possibly be earthquakes?
"Not good…"
At that moment, a shrunken Gamabunta rushed in.
Gamabunta's full size was over ten meters tall—he'd once signed a summoning contract with Jiraiya.
But when in Mount Myōboku, he shrank himself.
Why?
Because when he was small, just a little food was enough to fill him up. Otherwise, his large body would consume way too much.
All the toads of Mount Myōboku agreed on this lifestyle.
"What happened?"
Shima immediately leapt in front of Gamabunta. "Bunta, calm down."
Even shrunken, Gamabunta looked like a seasoned, reliable toad—with visible battle scars on his face.
A battle-hardened, dependable figure.
Which made his panic now all the more alarming.
"No, it's serious—Shima-sama, Great Elder, Fukasaku-sama."
Gamabunta shouted, "Uchiha Madara has appeared at Mount Myōboku driving a 50-meter tall Susanoo. He declared—if we don't hand over the Sage Art Talisman, he'll slice Mount Myōboku in two!"
"I'm not strong enough to stop him!"
"Uchiha Madara…?"
The Great Toad Sage was stunned, then his expression changed.
"Uchiha… That's the descendant of Indra, Hagoromo's eldest son…"
"…"
"He wants the Sage Art Talisman!?"
The Great Toad Sage was furious. "What right does he have to demand it!?"
"I don't know!" Gamabunta cried. "But he definitely can!"
"He gave us 10 minutes. If we don't hand it over, he'll start cutting!"
"Eh?"
Jiraiya, who hadn't left yet, was stunned twice.
The first time—from hearing Madara's name.
As someone born in Konoha, of course he knew Uchiha Madara—a legend on par with the First Hokage.
But Madara was supposed to be long dead. Now he had suddenly reappeared…
Could it be…?
Like the Second Hokage—an Edo Tensei resurrection?
The second time—because…
He was considered high-ranking in Mount Myōboku, yet he had never heard of a treasure called the "Sage Art Talisman."
"Good grief!"
The Great Toad Sage didn't have time to consider Jiraiya's thoughts.
"Even Hagoromo himself didn't dare demand the Sage Art Talisman from me!"
"He received it as a gift."
"For the sake of peace in the ninja world."
"And now his descendant dares threaten me into handing it over!?"
"At 660 years old, do you think I'll just roll over and give it to him!?"
Furious, the Great Toad Sage leapt from his throne.
"Shall we refuse, then?" Fukasaku asked quickly.
"Of course!" the Great Toad Sage snapped. "In the past, Sage of Six Paths Hagoromo came to Mount Myōboku to train—and it was our Sage Mode that led him to final victory!"
"So Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode is indispensable!"
"And now…"
The Great Toad Sage turned to Jiraiya. "Little Jiraiya, you'll go out first, okay?"
"…" Jiraiya. "No problem."
Yeah, right—no problem!?
That was Uchiha Madara! A man who rivaled the First Hokage! Who casually wielded a Susanoo! What could he possibly do!?
Jiraiya felt like he'd lost his mind—facing such a terrifying opponent.
"If you can't win, don't worry," the Great Toad Sage added, noticing the change in Jiraiya's expression.
"Your job is to stall him."
"As long as he's willing to talk to me…"
"Then we'll be fine," the Great Toad Sage said with confidence.
That was also a valid strategy. In the past, he'd spoken as equals with Hagoromo—so naturally, he had a silver tongue.
And if this was truly Hagoromo's descendant, then surely some of that idealism and naivety had been inherited.
The kind that could be reasoned with—or even manipulated.
"Understood."
Just as they were about to leave the temple—
Shuooom—
The entire rooftop of the temple was blown off.
Then came a blast of violent wind.
No… this wasn't wind.
Everyone looked up—and saw open sky. The roof had been cleanly sliced away.
The Great Toad Sage's eyes widened, because standing before him…
A 200-meter tall Tengu-style Susanoo loomed overhead, wielding a colossal blue chakra greatsword.
The blade had barely been drawn—yet it had sliced the entire temple's roof in a single motion.
The Great Toad Sage raised his eyes.
And saw nothing but the towering Susanoo—and in its center, an Edo-resurrected Uchiha Madara, standing tall.
"…" The Great Toad Sage.
"Bunta… you said 50 meters?" the Great Toad Sage asked.
"Uh…"
"I don't know either… why is it 200 meters now…" Gamabunta was speechless.
"…" Jiraiya.
Just drawing the sword released enough force to slice a mountain in two…
This wasn't a matter of can we win or not—they were about to be annihilated.
"I'll say it again. The Sage Art Talisman…"
"Hand. It. Over."
Uchiha Madara looked down with disdain at the Great Toad Sage.
A thousand years ago…
When the Great Toad Sage was still young, he wore a charm bearing the [Oil] kanji—and went by the name Gamakumaru.
He shouldered the mission to save the world—and tried to connect with Kaguya's sons…
---
Access more chapters at patreon.com/dzeref887