Bab 146: Shameless Toad
Extra chapter!!! It came to my attention that, there were a few(too many) repetitions in chapters, thus making chapters shorter than my usual chapters. It is impossible for me to edit them to a whole chapter as I publish advance chapters on my Patreon, so instead, have this delicious extra chapter instead. Tomorrow there will still be 2 chapters although I am 4 Dollars short on First Checkpoint. I love you guys!
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Holding Ino's hand, Koushin allowed his gaze to drift towards the endless expanse of azure sky that stretched over the village. It was the kind of afternoon that invited a sense of peace, the warm sun and gentle breeze lulling his senses into a state of tranquility. With Ino's presence beside him, a sensation of contentment washed over him, dulling the sharp edges of the world and his past.
Ino's hand felt delicate in his, her fingers interlacing with his in a comforting manner. Her touch was warm, a stark contrast to the cool breeze that swept through the village. The contentment he felt, being in her presence, was a feeling he cherished.
His eyes remained affixed on the sky, his mind beginning to wander through the peaceful quiet. The tranquility of the moment was abruptly shattered by Naruto's loud voice, "Look, toads!" he yelled, a hint of excitement evident in his tone.
Koushin turned his gaze towards Naruto. Hinata stood beside him, her hand clutching Naruto's arm. His friend's excitement was infectious, but for Koushin, it was a signal that pulled him from his reverie. He followed Naruto's pointing finger, and his eyes fell upon an array of toads varying in sizes standing in front of the Hokage Building.
Koushin's eyes lingered on the toads, his mind flickering back to a memory - not his own, but of the Naruto series he knew all too well. The toad sage, the harbinger of bad news, had appeared just like this after Jiraiya's death in the anime. Yet, in this world, things had taken a different path, and there was no reason for Jiraiya to go to Ame.
A stray thought tugged at his consciousness. Had Jiraiya fallen once more? And if so, why? Even though he felt no personal affection for Jiraiya, curiosity piqued his interest.
"Something's up," Koushin murmured, more to himself than Ino beside him. She glanced up at him, a silent question in her clear eyes.
"It looks like a council meeting," he explained, his eyes still on the assembly of toads.
Without another word, Koushin began to stride towards the Hokage building, his steps purposeful. Ino matched his pace, her hand remaining intertwined with his. Behind them, Naruto and Hinata followed, their earlier excitement replaced with a sobering curiosity.
As they approached, the colossal wooden doors of the Hokage Building swung open, allowing them entry. Inside, the atmosphere was heavy, the room filled with an undercurrent of tension that strained against the silence. Hokage Tsunade was present, her face set in a grim expression. Kakashi was there too, his normal, lazy demeanor absent.
On the table, a small green toad was perched, in an animated conversation with Tsunade. As the quartet entered, its bulbous eyes found Naruto's face and instantly brightened.
"Naruto-kun, we've been waiting for you," the toad declared, punctuating the words with a hearty ribbit. Naruto blinked, pointing a finger at himself in confusion.
"Me?" he inquired, his voice laced with surprise.
The toad nodded with a decisiveness that seemed comical for its small stature. "Yes. We need to hurry," it said, before being interrupted by Tsunade. The Hokage turned to the newcomers, her golden-brown eyes serious. "We have some developments," she began, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"After Koushin revealed that Itachi is the real leader of Akatsuki, Jiraiya refused to believe the authenticity of the news," Tsunade recounted, her gaze momentarily distant, as if she was replaying the events in her mind. "He insisted that the leader of Akatsuki was in Ame."
Koushin's lips pressed into a thin line. "Fool," he murmured, the word an unbidden reaction to Jiraiya's stubbornness. The green toad swiveled its gaze to Koushin, its aura pulsating dangerously, but it held its tongue. Tsunade continued without missing a beat.
"Fukasaku-sama, the toad before you, is a sage from Toad Land, and also Jiraiya's master in Sage Arts," Tsunade explained, gesturing towards the small creature. "Yesterday, Jiraiya summoned him and informed him of a... change in allegiance. Jiraiya has betrayed Konoha and joined Akatsuki."
The room fell into a stunned silence. The treachery of one of their own was a blow no one had anticipated.
"What?" Koushin and Naruto echoed, their voices united in disbelief.
"It seems related to the genjutsu Koushin told us about," Tsunade mused, her brow furrowed in thought. "Itachi has the ability to manipulate minds, and it appears even Jiraiya fell victim to it."
"And what are we going to do?" Naruto asked, his voice edged with concern and confusion.
Tsunade shook her head, her eyes reflecting a heavy burden. "We cannot save him for now. He is loyal to Itachi and Akatsuki, and any attempt at rescue would mean engaging Jiraiya in battle. He is far from weak."
It was then that Fukasaku decided to interject. "We need a sage to defeat a sage," he declared, his eyes fixed on Naruto. "That's why I'm here, Naruto-kun. I'm here to take you to Toad Land to teach you Senjutsu."
Koushin's gaze turned frosty. "With all due respect," he began, his voice cold and steady, "but fuck off."
A collective gasp filled the room. "What did you say, brat?" Fukasaku demanded, his small body trembling with indignation.
"Naruto is not your contractor, and you can't just poach him like that," Koushin retorted, his eyes never leaving the toad. "I hope you're familiar with Summon Ethics, aren't you, old toad?"
"Summon Jutengu, Naruto," Koushin instructed, his gaze steady on his friend. Naruto gave him a firm nod, placing his faith in Koushin over anyone else in the room. The blond shinobi lifted his hand to his mouth, preparing to bite his finger and summon his contract beast.
"Naruto-kun, there is no need," Fukasaku interjected, effectively stopping Naruto mid-motion. The room grew silent, everyone's attention trained on the small toad.
Naruto looked at him, his brows furrowing in confusion. "We don't need to call them now," Fukasaku clarified, his gaze remaining locked with Naruto's. "I'm not asking you to sign the contract with the Toads. I simply want to teach you the Sage Art. Only three clans in the entire world can teach that."
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