Chapter 41: Arriving At Mount Myoboku, the land of toads
"As I pieced together all the clues we've gathered, this is the best conclusion I can come to right now," I explained thoughtfully. "It's the only possibility I see at the moment."
"I agree with you," Shikamaru nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful.
"You two are absolute geniuses! We could really use minds like yours in our Konoha Cryptanalysis Team," Shiho remarked with admiration.
"I appreciate the compliment, but I'm pretty content with my current role. I enjoy fighting and completing missions. Still, I wouldn't mind lending a hand to the Cryptanalysis Team if the need arises," I responded with a grin.
"For sure! Now I know exactly who to turn to when I hit a dead end," Shiho added with a knowing smile and excitement.
Kakashi-sensei then inquired, "How about the other investigations? How are they progressing? Maybe we can verify this theory of Shikamaru and Naruto."
"It's not just a theory—it's the truth. You'll see eventually," I murmured confidently under my breath.
"It seems like it might take a bit more time," Sakura chimed in.
"Please tell me you're not planning to sit around until they finish their investigation," I said, a hint of urgency in my voice.
"Unfortunately, we have no choice," Granny Tsunade replied with a sigh. "We can't rush in without being absolutely certain about the Akatsuki leader, Pain."
"While we wait, why not join me to learn sage mode? It will really give you an advantage over Pain or anyone else in future battles," Lord Fukasaku suggested, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
"Sure, I'm in!" I said eagerly. "When are we leaving, and where are we headed?"
"We're leaving right away. Just head home and get ready. We'll depart in one hour for Mount Myoboku," Lord Fukasaku instructed.
"Alright, I'll go back to my apartment then!" I exclaimed. Instead of walking out the door, I decided to teleport myself outside the Hokage office building, just a bit showoff here and there.
After Naruto stepped out of the Hokage office...
"Wait, did he just teleport himself?" Sakura asked, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Can you believe it? He's already amazing! Just imagine how much stronger he'll become after mastering this new sage mode!" Shiho exclaimed, her excitement palpable.
"That's Naruto for you," Shikamaru said, shaking his head with a hint of admiration.
Lord Fukasaku nodded thoughtfully. "From everything I've seen and heard from Jiraiya, it's clear to me that he is indeed the child of prophecy, without a doubt."
Kakashi stood quietly, a proud smile creeping onto his face as he thought, "Naruto, you've surpassed me long ago. He might even surpass you too, sensei." A sense of warmth filled his heart, knowing how far Naruto had come on his journey.
Back in the apartment...
As I returned, I quickly started getting ready to leave the village. It could take a few days, or if my training goes like before, it might only take one or two days. You never really know.
I packed my things, freshened up, and prepared to leave with Lord Fukasaku. Once I felt ready, I grabbed my backpack, walked out of the apartment, and locked the door behind me.
I finally met up with Lord Fukasaku, who was waiting with Granny Tsunade, Shizune, Shikamaru, and Sakura.
"Alright, we're heading out. I hope you won't miss me too much!" I said with a grin.
"Good luck, Naruto!" Sakura cheered.
"Yeah, even though it's a bit of a drag that you're leaving, best of luck," Shikamaru added with a smirk.
"Thanks, everyone," I replied, feeling grateful.
"You've said your goodbyes, so let's get going, Naruto boy," Lord Fukasaku urged, and I nodded in agreement.
As he pulled out a summoning scroll, I noticed it was the same one Pervy Sage had used back when I first learned how to summon.
"I'll be taking the boy with me," Lord Fukasaku declared. In an instant, I vanished from where I stood and reappeared in a completely new place.
I looked around and saw tall trees and beautiful waterfalls everywhere, surrounded by countless toads. Lord Fukasaku soon appeared beside me.
"Is this Mount ?" I asked, curious about my surroundings.
"Yes, it is. Welcome to Mount Myoboku, the land of the toads," Lord Fukasaku replied.
Just then, Gamakichi leaped down in front of us with excitement. "Naruto!" he shouted. "Hey there!"
"Hey, Gamakichi!" I greeted him with a smile.
"Welcome, Naruto!" Gamakichi said warmly.
"Before we start your training, we need to eat!" Lord Fukasaku announced. "Come along!" he added. I nodded and eagerly followed him
At the dining table, as I looked at the dishes laid out before me, I couldn't help but think that my appetite might disappear for the next two decades. And to make matters worse, I hadn't even had a bowl of ramen before arriving here.
"Okay, everyone! It's time to dig in! I put extra effort into preparing this meal," announced Lady Shima. She is not only another toad sage but also the wife of Lord Fukasaku. She placed the food in front of us with pride.
I managed a smile and nodded, "Thank you!" I replied, somehow finding the words despite the unusual spread before me.
[A. N: Thanks for reading, drop Powerstones that will help a lot and drop reviews if you like the story and add to your library]
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