Chapter 12

Chapter 12 — The Child of Darkness, the Toad Sage’s Prophecy

Following the Third Hokage’s orders, all Konoha shinobi were mobilized to inspect the village’s protective barrier.

The Barrier Team bore the heaviest responsibility.

This was already the second time in three years that a mysterious ninja had silently breached the barrier and infiltrated the village, making the unit appear useless. The Third Hokage was furious.

Three years earlier, during the Nine-Tails incident, ordinary villagers and most ninja believed it had simply been the Nine-Tails running rampant.

Only Konoha’s leadership knew it had been a carefully orchestrated attack.

The disaster resulted in the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife, the Third Hokage’s spouse Biwako, and a medical kunoichi assisting with childbirth.

Now another mysterious intruder had entered the village, assassinated a Kumogakure envoy, and attempted to provoke war between two nations.

To stop the enemy, the Hyūga clan—one of Konoha’s greatest noble families—had suffered injuries to both clan-head brothers, one serious and one minor. Even though Kumogakure remained suspicious, Konoha’s leadership maintained an unwavering stance.

They firmly declared that the envoy had been killed by an unknown infiltrator.

That resolute position ultimately caused Kumogakure’s scheme to fail.

Elsewhere.

Inside the dark Root headquarters, Danzō listened to Aburame Ryōma’s report and let out a cold snort.

“It seems quite lively outside, Lord Danzō.”

Orochimaru pushed open the office door.

On his way from the secret laboratory to Root headquarters, he had noticed large numbers of Konoha shinobi mobilized, even ANBU units. The scale of the operation piqued the curiosity of the scientist who rarely left his experiments.

Danzō remained seated, offering no direct explanation, instead signaling Ryōma to speak.

Ryōma understood immediately.

“Last night, a mysterious ninja infiltrated the village, killed a Kumogakure envoy, and dumped the body inside the Hyūga compound…”

A mysterious enemy capable of injuring both Hyūga clan leaders and escaping pursuit by elite Hyūga jōnin and Root operatives—even launching a counterattack before withdrawing?

Interest flashed through Orochimaru’s golden eyes. His long tongue briefly slid across his lips.

The outside world remains fascinating.

Having once fought alongside the Hyūga brothers, Orochimaru knew their strength well. Even a village Kage-level opponent would struggle to eliminate them.

“Enough about that. I came to request more experimental subjects,” Orochimaru said, extending his hand openly for funding and materials.

Danzō’s single eye narrowed.

“You’ve already used up the last batch?”

“I’ve made progress. Ordinary subjects no longer meet my requirements.” Orochimaru brushed aside a strand of hair, confidence evident in his research direction.

Although Danzō had seized the successful Wood Release test subject, its existence proved Orochimaru’s theories viable.

He no longer wanted civilians as test material and continued demanding more ninja subjects.

“I’ll have people deliver them,” Danzō said darkly. “But don’t go too far.”

The prisoners in Konoha’s prisons were nearly exhausted, and over the years Danzō had even begun capturing civilian shinobi.

In his mind, any sacrifice was acceptable if it restored Konoha’s greatness, so long as he himself was not the sacrifice.

“Heh… I’ll await the good news.”

Orochimaru chuckled meaningfully and vanished into the shadows.

Land of Hot Water — Capital City

Built upon abundant hot springs, the city had long been a tourism paradise of the shinobi world. Its position bordering the Lands of Lightning, Moon, Sound, Fire, Water, and Waves made it economically prosperous.

Inside a brothel, Jiraiya lounged among courtesans, laughing and recounting tales from across the shinobi world, completely immersed in pleasure.

Poof—

A cloud of smoke appeared, revealing a small red toad wearing goggles around its neck.

“Jiraiya!” the toad shouted, but the laughter and music drowned him out.

Helpless, the toad leapt onto Jiraiya’s face.

Startled mid-drink, Jiraiya nearly dropped his cup.

Recognizing a messenger from Mount Myōboku, his drunken haze faded. He quickly dismissed the courtesans, who left the room reluctantly.

“Toad Kōsuke? Why are you here?” Jiraiya asked, grabbing a teapot and drinking straight from it.

“Lord Fukasaku sent me to find you.”

After draining the tea, Jiraiya performed the Reverse Summoning Technique.

Together they arrived at one of the Three Great Sage Lands—Mount Myōboku.

The marshland was filled with towering toad statues, and at the far end of a lake stood a wooden palace.

“Great Sage Fukasaku, you summoned me?” Jiraiya asked upon arrival. Fukasaku and Shima were already waiting outside.

Unlike the alcohol-scented and carefree Jiraiya, Fukasaku looked grave.

“The Great Toad Sage had a dream… a terrible one.”

“A terrible dream?” Jiraiya sobered instantly.

It had been a long time since he last heard a prophecy. He had not expected bad news.

He followed the two sages into the palace.

Deep within sat a massive orange toad wearing a scholar-like hat, soaking inside a pot, prayer beads hanging from his chest—the bead engraved with the character “oil” especially prominent.

“Great Toad Sage!” Jiraiya knelt on one knee.

“Oh… little Jiraiya,” the Great Toad Sage said slowly, opening one eye halfway. “Why have you come?”

Jiraiya stumbled and nearly fell over.

Shima scolded immediately, “You were the one who summoned him! Have you gone senile?”

“Oh… right.” The Great Toad Sage recalled slowly. “I had a dream.”

“In the dream, darkness gradually engulfed the entire shinobi world. All nations and villages—including the Five Great Countries—were swallowed by it.”

Jiraiya’s heart shook.

Even the prophecy of the Child of Prophecy who would change the world had never been described in such detail.

“In that darkness,” the Great Toad Sage continued, “I saw a figure whose back could not be gazed upon directly… destroying the world completely.”

“Did you see any clearer characteristics?” Jiraiya asked, frowning despite low expectations.

“Abyss…” the Great Toad Sage murmured. “When he turned around, all I saw was an endless abyss—an abyss that filled even me with dread.”

“Abyss…”

Jiraiya fell into thought.

“The child of darkness… destined to destroy the world?”