Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya answered the summons and arrived, meeting the waiting Fukasaku.
"Little Jiraiya, the Great Toad Sage has made another prophecy."
Jiraiya was taken aback upon hearing this, vividly recalling the previous prophecy given by the Great Toad Sage.
Following Fukasaku's lead, he made his way to meet the ancient toad sage, who had lived for over a thousand years.
The Great Toad Sage's massive body rested on a stone throne in the main hall.
His face was aged, muscles sagging, resembling not a sage but more like a sleepy, dazed old toad.
Jiraiya, showing no disrespect, knelt on one knee after entering the hall to pay his respects.
"A speechless beast usurps the nest; great upheaval befalls Ryuchi Cave."
Both Jiraiya and Fukasaku pondered the meaning of the sage's words — how did this involve Ryuchi Cave?
The Great Toad Sage continued, "This time the dream was clear. I saw that the White Phosphorus Serpent is already dead."
Fukasaku cautiously asked, "Great Sage, do you mean the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave?"
The Great Toad Sage fell silent, eyes closed as if he had fallen asleep.
Fukasaku and Jiraiya exchanged glances, puzzled.
If it was a matter concerning Ryuchi Cave, why summon Jiraiya specifically?
The man and the toad both pondered the meaning of the "speechless beast" mentioned earlier.
At that moment, the seemingly slumbering Great Toad Sage suddenly spoke again: "It was a nightmare."
A nightmare?
Jiraiya was utterly confused.
"Jiraiya, your disciple will break this nightmare. Bring him here when the time comes."
Jiraiya immediately responded, "I'll bring Nagato right away."
The Great Toad Sage remained silent for a moment before saying, "No, not him."
Not Nagato...? Could it be Minato?
Jiraiya remained silent, his expression heavy.
Minato's current situation was dire — imprisoned in the Konoha jail.
Jiraiya had tried to visit him but was stopped by the current Hokage.
Getting Minato out would be no easy task.
The Great Toad Sage spoke slowly, "You will have a new disciple."
After saying this, the sage fell completely silent, seemingly truly asleep this time.
Jiraiya and Fukasaku left the grand hall.
As they gazed at the picturesque, serene landscape of Mount Myoboku, which seemed like a paradise, Jiraiya's heart was filled with complicated emotions.
Fukasaku said, "According to the Great Sage, something major must have happened over at Ryuchi Cave."
Like Mount Myoboku, Ryuchi Cave was also a sacred land for sages.
However, the snakes there were far from benevolent and had never harbored goodwill toward humans.
Jiraiya's former comrade, Orochimaru, had formed a contract with Ryuchi Cave.
Jiraiya thought about the prospect of taking on a new disciple in the future, wondering who it might be...
The Great Toad Sage had once prophesied that Jiraiya would be the one to guide the Child of Prophecy.
Could it be that Nagato was not that child after all?
........
In the Hokage office of Konoha Village.
Makoto looked curiously at the red-haired boy behind Tobirama, who appeared to be no more than ten years old.
The boy, with a timid expression, hid behind Tobirama, clutching the hem of his robe tightly.
Makoto had already heard from Tobirama about the boy's origins, suspecting a possible connection to Orochimaru.
"If he really is Orochimaru, there shouldn't be any reason for him to have lost his memory, right?" Makoto said.
Tobirama frowned. "I've been thinking about that too."
Orochimaru had split his soul in order to achieve resurrection, and even the fragments of his soul retained his complete memories, only sealed away.
However, Tobirama had used a secret technique to probe the boy's mind.
It was as blank as a sheet of white paper—no memories, also no seals to prevent mental probing.
Then if this child isn't Orochimaru, who could he be?
Makoto pondered and said, "In that case, why not keep him by your side and observe him slowly?"
Tobirama responded, "I don't have time to take care of a child."
The boy overheard this and immediately looked at Tobirama pitifully. "Daddy."
Tobirama: "..."
Makoto couldn't help but burst out laughing at the scene, while Tobirama looked utterly exasperated.
"Does he have a name?" Makoto asked.
Tobirama shook his head.
He had asked the boy, but aside from calling him "Daddy," the child knew nothing else.
He had no memories of the past but possessed basic life skills and could communicate without any issues.
It was all very strange.
Makoto suggested, "Then why don't you give him a name?"
Tobirama frowned. "Why me?"
"Because you're his dad."
"..."
The red-haired boy looked at Tobirama with eager anticipation.
After a long silence, Tobirama finally spoke. "Shiro...u."
"Shirou," the boy repeated, savoring the name Tobirama had given him.
Makoto added, "Since this kid recognizes you as his dad, it wouldn't hurt to keep him by your side."
Tobirama was naturally unwilling.
In his eyes, this child was nothing but a burden.
"He can't stay in the village?"
Makoto chuckled softly. "Of course he can, but are you really willing to see him sad?"
Tobirama felt his clothes being tugged again and sighed helplessly. "I already told you, I'm not your father."
Upon hearing this, the boy immediately looked heartbroken, his eyes brimming with tears, making Tobirama sigh even more deeply.
Makoto teased, "Lord Second Hokage, I don't believe you've ever had a child, right? How about taking this chance to experience what it's like to be a father?"
Tobirama felt an overwhelming sense of irritation and shifted the topic. "That tower in the village..."
Makoto didn't hide anything. "The preliminary result of the Byakugan project."
Preliminary...
Tobirama was startled.
As a sensory ninja, he could clearly perceive the terrifying power contained within that massive glowing sphere.
Makoto continued, "As for this child, even if he's a blank slate, it's best to have some means of control. If you're not skilled in that, I can handle it for you."
This red-haired boy was highly likely connected to Orochimaru.
However, since Makoto had no understanding of Soul Reincarnation Jutsu, he left the boy in Tobirama's hands.
There was also another possibility: the child was intended as a vessel for Orochimaru but hadn't yet undergone Reincarnation when Tobirama found him.
Upon returning to the village, Tobirama's first action was to examine the child's body.
He discovered that the child wasn't some kind of modified body but a genuine member of the Uzumaki Clan!
Orochimaru must have captured this child from somewhere, intending to use him as a vessel or possibly as a test subject for human experimentation.
Makoto had already dispatched Hakumen along with the Anbu to investigate the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools.
Makoto also found it unlikely that the child was Orochimaru.
If he was, then who was the person who had met with Anko at Orochimaru's former residence?
And who was the one who trespassed into the Tower of Solitary and fought with Kakashi?
Could there really be multiple versions of Orochimaru in this world?
Or had Orochimaru somehow split himself into countless individual entities?
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