The Great Toad Sage—true name Gamamaru—has survived since the age of Kaguya, a frightening being indeed.

Not only does he wield senjutsu that controls nature's energy, he also possesses a prophetic gift unmatched anywhere in the shinobi world.

He once foretold that Jiraiya would take a student who would become the key to changing the entire ninja world—a prophecy that steered half of Jiraiya's life.

Now the sage has another prophecy, and Jiraiya is understandably rattled.

…

At Mount Myōboku

"Great Toad Sage, you sent for me?"

Facing the enormous yet ancient sage, Jiraiya puts away his usual carefree manner, kneels respectfully, and asks in earnest.

The Great Toad Sage drifts between sleep and wakefulness.

"Ah… and who might you be again?"

Fukasaku & Shima: "…"

Ahem! "Master, it's Jiraiya. Didn't you say you had a prophecy about him?"

"Oh, oh—little Jiraiya… Right, I remember. I just had a dream…

'Because of little Jiraiya, the Three Great Sacred Lands will be destroyed, and the mastermind is a being with overwhelming eye power.'"

The moment those words are spoken, Jiraiya, Fukasaku, and Shima all go pale.

"Master, what did you say?!

The Three Great Sacred Lands destroyed?!

Surely this isn't only about Jiraiya!"

Jiraiya's heart sinks.

"Because of me, the three sacred lands will be wiped out?

And the culprit has tremendous dōjutsu… Could it be… Uchiha Chiyu?!"

Fukasaku and Shima's faces tighten. Jiraiya's guess seems only natural: years ago he summoned two great toad sages to fight beside him against Chiyu to protect his teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Now Chiyu rules the shinobi world. With his ruthless habit of eliminating every foe, wiping out former enemies is almost a certainty. Both Jiraiya and Mount Myōboku have mentally prepared for that.

But why would the other two sacred lands be dragged in as well?

Fukasaku pleads, "Master, please explain clearly! Who is the mastermind, and why destroy all three sacred lands?"

The Great Toad Sage nods off again, waking only when Shima shrieks.

"I saw only that much. I cannot see the full future… yet it seems my earlier prophecies have all been muddled—broken—by someone who also wields powerful eyes."

Jiraiya trembles.

"Even the vision that I would take the Child of Prophecy as a student—has that been changed? Then the one with those eyes must be… Uchiha Chiyu.

I once thought the child was Nagato, but he became the leader of the fearsome Akatsuki, and his Rinnegan was a gift from Madara.

I once thought Minato might be the one, but he died young during the Nine-Tails' rampage.

Now, because of Chiyu, I have even abandoned the search. Without doubt he is the one who shattered the Great Toad Sage's visions… and so he must also be the one who will destroy the Three Great Sacred Lands!"

Fukasaku and Shima break into a cold sweat.

"If it's that man… he truly has the power."

They have fought Chiyu before and know how terrifying he is—likely a hundred times stronger now.

"Master, what do we do? This is life-or-death!"

Though still mighty after a millennium, the sage's mind sometimes wanders. He squints in thought.

"I'll try contacting the White Snake Sage and the Slug Sage. Those two can sense the world as well; they must feel it already."

…

Using his farsight, Gamamaru calls the other two leaders. The three sacred lands have never been friendly—once even at odds—but he knows they must now face a common enemy.

Soon the crystal sphere shows the White Snake Sage coiled on a massive stone dais, slit pupils glinting coldly, and the Slug Sage, who seems to have expected the call.

White Snake Sage hisses, "Gamamaru, you undead fossil! Why disturb me?"

Slug Sage sighs, "Great Toad Sage, it seems you feel it too—that aura of destruction…"

The snake's expression darkens.

"So you both sensed it. Even when Kaguya rose, the Three Sacred Lands survived; what of this time? By the way, Gamamaru, it was thanks to you goading Kaguya's sons into sealing her that we avoided being drained by the God Tree."

They trade barbs—and horrifying secrets spill forth: how the sacred lands monopolized natural energy and senjutsu, how countless humans failed Ryūchi Cave's trial or turned to stone in Myōboku. Jiraiya listens, hair standing on end; the sacred lands are far darker than he ever imagined.

Finally the Great Toad Sage lays out a plan:

"Even together the three of us cannot defeat Uchiha Chiyu head-on.

But in terms of forces, Konoha is not so fearsome: Myōboku's toad army can match them, Ryūchi's snakes are innumerable, and you, Slug Sage, can split into legions.

The only real threat is Chiyu himself.

We cannot win by force—we must win by cunning."

"How?" the others ask.

"Chiyu is Hokage of Konoha and styles himself ruler of the shinobi world.

If we place the world's fate on the table…"

Jiraiya blanches—the sage is willing to threaten Chiyu with the world's annihilation!

White Snake and Slug Sages gasp.

"You mean… activate that sealing barrier?!"

Fukasaku and Shima cry, "Master, what barrier?"

Gamamaru explains:

"The Three Sacred Lands sit at the continent's three poles, hubs where the densest natural energy flows through air, water, and earth.

In ancient times we erected a seal to draw that pure energy into our lands and stop it leaking out.

After a thousand years the stored power could, if released at once, explode with force enough to shatter and annihilate the shinobi world.

It is true doomsday power."

Jiraiya protests, "Great Toad Sage, that's madness! If it runs wild the whole world will perish!"

The old toad smiles.

"Little Jiraiya, the world's fate will rest in Uchiha Chiyu's hands, not ours. We merely give him a choice."

The White Snake Sage laughs coldly. "Fine! Everyone calls me sinister, but in scheming I can't match you old toad. Let's do it."

The Slug Sage hesitates but sighs. "Let's hope Chiyu doesn't push us that far…"

"Then," the snake hisses, "let's give them a taste first."

Jiraiya feels a dread he has never known.

…

Days Later – The Five-Kage Council

At the summit, Ōnoki reports calamity:

"Leader, days ago a remote area outside the Land of Earth suffered a cataclysmic blast—quakes shook the whole country.

A village and entire clan were obliterated. They possessed a unique power to absorb natural energy but would go berserk; everyone avoided them. Now they are gone, and nearby villages suffered heavy casualties.

In the crater's center our operatives found a scroll:

'This is the Three Great Sacred Lands' warning. The power you witnessed is but the tip of the iceberg. If war comes, we will destroy the entire shinobi world.'"

The Kage turns ashen.

"Ryūchi Cave?! The Three Sacred Lands?! Why would they provoke us?"

Chiyu already understands—the message is for him. He laughs softly. "Ignorant beasts."

Kakashi asks, "Lord of the Shinobi World, is this…?"

Chiyu: "They fear my power, so they strike first and try to threaten me with the world's end."

The room erupts in concern: can the sacred lands really do that? The Raikage says legends claim they can.

Chiyu rises. "Simple. I will wipe out the Three Great Sacred Lands."

The Kage are speechless.

"What if they destroy the world first?"

Chiyu: "If they are all dead, they cannot."

"Continue your discussion. I'll be back."

With that, his Eternal Mangekyō-Rinnegan flares; a space-time portal opens, and he vanishes. The leaders stare, stunned. Kakashi smiles: "Looks like it's settled." Fugaku sneers: "They court their own doom."

…

In an instant Chiyu appears at the devastated village, traces Ryūchi Cave's chakra, and strides to its maw—a vast, dark cavern like a serpent's gaping jaws.

Without hesitation he unleashes the Yasaka Magatama Thunder.

Blazing orbs crackling with lightning bombard the entrance; earth splits, mountains shudder.

Deep within, the White Snake Sage erupts skyward, furious.

"Uchiha Chiyu! You dare destroy Ryūchi Cave's gate? You seek death!"

Chiyu gazes at him as one might at a wriggling worm.

"Ryūchi Cave… dies first."

~~~

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