Power Stone Goals from now on: I always post a minimum of 5 chapters. Henceforth the following are the goals:
Every 150 powerstones, I upload an extra chapter.
If we hit top 30 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we hit top 10 in the 30-90 days power stone rankings, thats 1 more chapter
If we are top 5...well lets get to that first. Happy readings!
Chapter 86: Talking to the Toad Sage
With my primary self having departed to infiltrate the Shogun's mansion in pursuit of information surrounding the enigmatic blacksmith referenced both by Yoru and Apolo, I—his shadow clone—was left with a parallel objective.
Though not as overtly dangerous, the task assigned to me was of equal importance. Yoru's mother, ever composed and resourceful, had made arrangements through her extensive network to contact one of the amphibians from Mount Myoboku, the sacred domain of the Toad Clan.
She had delegated several of her kin to initiate the summoning process, and all that remained on my end was to wait for the arrival of the designated representative.
Fortunately, the wait did not extend beyond what was reasonable. From the stone pathway leading to the outer boundary of the Moonshadow Clan's enclave, I noticed a brief shift in the air—subtle, but unmistakable. Moments later, the sound of webbed feet making contact with stone reached my ears, followed by the appearance of a rather sizable toad. Its coloration was a muted green, with faded scarlet markings traveling down its limbs, and it wore a worn but ornate sash draped across its torso.
I was unfamiliar with this particular individual; it bore no resemblance to the well-known names from the anime like Gamabunta, Fukasaku, or Gamatatsu. Even so, it exuded an unmistakable aura of calm authority typical of beings from Mount Myoboku.
The toad made its way directly to us, its pace unhurried. When it arrived in front of Yoru's mother—a massive feline entity whose presence commanded both reverence and caution—it inclined its body in a short but respectful bow.
She responded with a composed dip of her head in acknowledgment. Without any further vocalization or ceremony, the toad turned its golden eyes toward me. It studied me briefly.
"Ribbit," it said simply.
It then leapt with minimal effort onto my shoulder.
In that moment, the chakra around us twisted and condensed, then expanded and fractured the space we occupied.
A familiar sensation followed—dimensional transport, not unlike what I had felt during reverse summoning trials. I did not resist it.
Within a few seconds, the scenery around me dissolved and reassembled into something entirely foreign.
Mount Myoboku: The Land of the Toads
I had arrived at Mount Myoboku. The change in setting was immediate and distinct.
The region presented itself with a sense of timeless stillness, its natural beauty preserved in a state untouched by conflict or decay.
The sky appeared suspended in a prolonged dusk, with soft beams of sunlight casting elongated shadows across high plateaus, cliffside trails, and stone terraces balanced atop pillars of eroded rock. Massive fungi, luminous moss, and trees of exaggerated scale lined the horizon, creating a landscape both alien and strangely harmonious.
Ancient toad statues, carved with practiced precision into the rock faces, stared down silently. Mineral-rich springs emitted gentle vapors, giving the entire space a serene, almost sacred ambiance. The chakra in the air was palpable—dense and nourishing, as though the environment itself encouraged growth.
It was quiet, but not empty.
My feet came to rest upon a stone platform overgrown with damp moss near one of the more secluded hot springs.
The toad, having completed its duty, descended from my shoulder and landed with practiced ease in front of me.
It took a few moments before it addressed me, its voice deeper and more composed now that we were away from external observers.
"We anticipated your arrival," it said. "Shikomu Senju."
I gave a respectful nod. "I take it you'll be the one overseeing my training?"
The toad let out a short, amused exhale. "Not quite. I'm merely your guide. Your instructor is waiting further in. Stick to the marked path and don't stray—this place doesn't take kindly to the uninvited or the inattentive...and I wouldn't be too keen into thinking you can train with us so soon."
It then turned away, hopping steadily along a winding trail that rose gently toward the inner reaches of Mount Myoboku.
I followed, maintaining a steady pace and an open awareness of the chakra-rich environment surrounding us.
As I continued walking along the winding path deeper into Mount Myoboku, the atmosphere gradually became more concentrated with natural energy. Every step forward brought a stronger, more palpable sense of ancient chakra saturation.
Though the route remained serene, framed by moss-covered stones and soft pools of mist that rose from mineral springs, there was a quiet awareness in the land itself—as if it knew I was coming.
Eventually, the path opened into a wide stone courtyard flanked by tall natural columns and hanging ivy. In the center of that space stood a colossal figure I immediately recognized: Gamabunta, the current chief of the toads.
Even in repose, leaning against a massive stone structure with one leg extended and his ever-present pipe clenched between his teeth, he exuded an unmistakable weight of experience and authority.
He regarded me calmly as I approached. There was no sense of hostility in his chakra, but it was steady and watchful. I came to a stop a respectful distance away.
Gamabunta shifted slightly and exhaled a slow trail of smoke from the side of his mouth.
"Just so you know, kid," he said in a gravel-toned voice, taking another puff from his pipe, "I've already informed Jiraiya-boy."
The pause that followed was deliberate. Then he added, "He'll probably be here soon."
I felt my breath catch, though only slightly. It wasn't exactly unexpected. I had already calculated the likelihood of this encounter happening.
It would have been naive to assume I could arrive here, in the sacred realm of the toads, without drawing the attention of one of their most trusted human allies. Still, hearing it confirmed aloud solidified the unease I had kept suppressed.
"Understood," I said quietly.
There wasn't much more to say. Gamabunta made no further comment. He simply continued to smoke, watching me with a look that held neither approval nor disdain—just a tempered curiosity.
The silence stretched long enough to become its own kind of tension.
Then, with a faint whoosh and the subtle crackle of chakra displacement, another figure appeared on the edge of the courtyard.
Jiraiya.
He stepped forward without flourish or his usual dramatic antics. His hair was the same wild silver, and his outfit unchanged, but his demeanor was noticeably restrained.
This wasn't the exuberant traveler or the self-proclaimed Super Pervert. This was the seasoned shinobi. The Sannin. The Toad Sage.
His eyes locked onto mine immediately.
He didn't speak at first. He simply studied me in silence for a moment longer than was comfortable. Then, as he took a step closer, I could sense his chakra shifting slightly—coiled, prepared, not yet hostile but ready for combat if provoked.
"Explain," he said at last, his tone even and calm. "Start now."
Fortunately, I had come prepared for this exact scenario.
I inhaled slowly and straightened my posture.
"I will," I replied.
But before I began recounting the explanation I had so carefully prepared, I found myself compelled to say one thing first.
"Before I begin," I said, my tone measured and calm, "I need to ask you something."
Jiraiya didn't flinch or shift. His gaze remained steady, unwavering. I took his silence as consent to continue.
"If I tell you what happened," I said, choosing my words carefully, "could you promise not to report it to the Hokage or any high-ranking official within the village?"
His answer was immediate, delivered with a quiet finality that held no room for debate.
"You're not in any position to make requests, Shikomu," he said, his voice low but firm. "And my patience is thin. One misstep—one lie, one delay—and I'll be forced to bring you in right here and now. Just speaking to you without already escorting you back is, technically, an act of treason."
I let out a sigh. It wasn't unexpected. In truth, I had anticipated this stance. But it felt worth asking, if only to gauge the limits of his leniency.
"Fair enough," I said. "I guess I'll just tell you what happened."
I took a breath and began the story I had rehearsed over and over in my mind.
"It started on the day I defected. Officially, I was on a routine mission with my squad. We had received intel about a small infiltration point—nothing out of the ordinary. Just a recon, confirm and elimination task. But as we made our way toward the target location, something felt off."
Jiraiya's expression didn't change. But he was listening.
"I noticed irregularities in the terrain and chakra signatures. Moments later, it became clear we were about to be ambushed. Hundreds of chakra signatures—Jonin-level, maybe more—began surrounding the area."
"That many?" Jiraiya said, finally speaking, his tone skeptical.
"Yes," I replied. "But as you're well aware, that alone wouldn't be enough to stop me. I'm not exactly untrained. Still, protocol required we move cautiously."
I paused, watching for a reaction. None came, but I continued anyway.
"I decided to use my squad to draw the ambushers out. Let them strike first. They were capable shinobi, all of them, and we were trained to handle complex formations. As anticipated, the second we entered the designated zone, the enemy emerged. Jonin ranks flooded the field and unleashed a barrage of coordinated elemental attacks toward us."
"I moved quickly—neutralized as many as I could in the initial clash. My squad held their ground. For a while, it looked like we might survive the ambush. But then..."
I looked at Jiraiya again. His eyes had narrowed slightly.
"Then a shinobi I had believed was an ally arrived. A member of our own village. Someone later confirmed to be part of Root."
Now there was a flicker of recognition in Jiraiya's expression.
"He attacked me directly. Not the enemy. Me. And in the process, he unleashed a large-scale attack that obliterated the entire battlefield—including my squad. I was distracted by a wave of Jonin at the time and couldn't stop him."
I let the silence linger for a few moments before continuing.
"I couldn't fight off the remaining Jonin and an elite operative from Root simultaneously. That much, I admit."
That was the lie. The carefully constructed falsehood. Because the truth was, I could have taken them all. Even if they numbered in the hundreds. Even if one of them was an elite Jonin. With the Seventh Gate open, there were few opponents I couldn't match.
But that wasn't the point.
Jiraiya knew. He always had. That I was forbidden from using the Eight Gates in the field. That my very existence as Shikomu Senju was supposed to have been erased.
I was living under an assumed identity, fulfilling covert assignments under strict condition that I never draw attention to myself. If I revealed my power, even accidentally, all of that planning would collapse.
So I continued.
"I followed the restrictions given to me. I did not open the gates. I trusted the system that placed me in that situation. And while I waited for orders or backup, my comrades were slaughtered. I lost control."
Jiraiya said nothing.
"In that moment of grief, something inside me snapped. The chakra of the tailed beast within me surged. I lost partial control. When I came to, every enemy Jonin was dead."
I paused, then added, "Except the Root operative. He had already fled."
Jiraiya exhaled. "And then?"
"Then I used the only S-rank Wood Release technique I had in that state..."
He finished it for me.
"Godpiercer Thorn."
(Authors note: Do you guys think Madara would have learned Weapon Style? I already have my own opinion about it was just curious what others thought.)
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Authors note:
You can read some chapters ahead if you want to on my p#treon.com/Fat_Cultivator