The Old Toad, no, the Great Toad Sage, left. Naruto had been calling him "Old Toad" all this time, but under Jiraiya's firm correction, he changed it to "Great Toad Sage." Alright, fine, at least he's lived for 1000 years, a little respect is due. Anyone who's lived a thousand years isn't simple; at the very least, this old toad is incredibly good at enduring. If this old toad could live a thousand years, Naruto felt he could easily live twenty thousand. By then, he'd be an old immortal too.
Naruto was actually indifferent to the Old Toad's prophecy. He was a staunch materialist! The Internationale starts with: "There has never been any savior." So, Naruto's heart was completely calm; he even felt that Jiraiya had been led astray by this old toad. Look: he doesn't return to the village, doesn't care about the crystal ball, just wanders around the ninja world all day, gathering intelligence, all for the sake of finding a savior. Tsk tsk, though... this free, slacking-off life is genuinely enviable.
At the end of the day, Jiraiya's actions probably stemmed from his desperate desire for peace. With no hope in reality, he could only cling to the "Child of Prophecy" like a pie and devour it! How foolish! He, Naruto Uzumaki, the Sun of the Ninja World, is standing right here, isn't he?
Casting aside distracting thoughts, Naruto clapped his hands. Time to summon again! He wanted to see what kind of toads these Mount Myōboku residents truly were. He didn't expect Nine-Tails level combat power, but they should at least be able to take a hit and look cool, right?
However... these toads of Mount Myōboku seemed to lack good judgment! Take the one currently beneath him, for example.
"Hey, kid! Get off my head! Where's Jiraiya? I won't take a runt like you as my subordinate!" The mountain-like Gamabunta, with a giant, yet slender for his size, pipe in his mouth, said in a condescending, boss-like manner. He completely disregarded the little brat Naruto, instead scanning his surroundings for Jiraiya.
Initially, seeing this big toad's imposing appearance, Naruto felt somewhat relieved. With a physique like that, regardless of combat power, it would at least be good for showing off. But after hearing those words, his face instantly darkened. Naruto didn't know much about summoned beasts, but for a combat pet to not even recognize its master... The Great Toad Sage just now was an ancient relic, a thousand-year-old with osteoporosis who couldn't get out of bed, so Naruto wouldn't hold it against him. But you're young and strong, I think... you really don't understand, do you?
Naruto didn't know how to train summoned beasts, but he figured it was like training a dog: a small beating every three days, a big beating every five, three skipped meals a day, and an extra "bamboo shoots fried with meat" meal when he was in a good mood. Heh heh. Since you're not playing nice, I also know a thing or two about fisticuffs.
Leaping down from the great toad's head, Naruto raised a fist the size of a sandbag: "Toad, listen up! From now on, I'm the boss! If you don't listen, I'll beat you until you submit!"
"Hahahahaha!!" Looking at the tiny figure, not even as big as his eyeball, Gamabunta nearly choked on his laughter: "Such big talk, kid! What nonsense are you spouting? Tell me, where's Jiraiya?"
Before he finished speaking, his answer was a "Heh heh," and that sandbag-sized fist!
"Monstrous Strength Taijutsu: Explosive Flame Fist!" Naruto pushed off with both feet, soaring upwards with such speed that he left no afterimage. Gamabunta only felt that in the next instant, Naruto had appeared before him, and then, a punch slammed into him! This inconspicuous blonde brat, this ordinary punch, for some reason, made him feel a sense of dread.
Boom—
The chakra, compressed to its extreme, was like an invisible thunderclap on the fist! A terrifying, black-hole-like power exploded! Gamabunta felt everything go dark, and then,
Rumble, rumble—
His mountainous, colossal body, like an out-of-control cannonball, tumbled wildly in a straight line, crushing giant trees in its path, until...
Thud—
It slammed hard into a distant mountain wall! The entire rock face instantly became covered in cracks!
Thwack—
Under the sharp pain and impact, Gamabunta could no longer maintain his form, disgracefully bursting into a puff of smoke, forcibly recalled to Mount Myōboku.
"That's all it took?" Naruto rubbed his wrist. He hadn't used much strength, to avoid harming anyone... or any toad.
Beside him, Jiraiya, who had been secretly watching, was dumbfounded. This kid, is he even human? This punch, it's even more terrifying than Tsunade's!
"Tsk, he ran off without even calling me 'boss'? Unqualified!" Naruto clapped his hands again, "Summoning Jutsu! Come back for a retest!"
Boom!
As the smoke cleared, Gamabunta lay prone on the ground, his eyes swirling like mosquito coils. Seeing this, Naruto clapped his hands: "Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Naruto spat out a mouthful, and a sea of water erupted from his mouth, giant waves crashing down! Gamabunta choked awake, his dripping wet head just emerging... Only to be met by the sandbag-sized fist again! Again! And again!
Afterwards, he'd send it back... summon it out, wake it with water style, then send it back again. Poor Gamabunta, who considered himself the top toad of Mount Myōboku, a tough guy whose name was known throughout the ninja world, was completely dazed by one punch, and after a dozen continuous pummelings, he was utterly stuffed. He endured the toughest beatings with the hardest mouth in the toad world! The tenth-plus time he was revived, seeing that fist wind coming again—
Gamabunta finally broke!
Even though he considered himself exceptionally righteous, and his strength rivaled a Tailed Beast, he could only hoist the flag of truce and avoid battle. His massive body suddenly shrank, then quivered! He vanished into thin air!
"Just this? Thought he'd be tougher." Naruto regretfully withdrew his hand, patting off the dust.
It was getting late, so that was enough for today. Tomorrow, they'd continue!
A month flashed by, filled with a flurry of updates:
First, Gamabunta in Mount Myōboku finally made a lightning-fast prostration after half a month of Naruto's 'friendly persuasion.' "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" It acknowledged Naruto as its new leader, not only conceding itself but also bringing Gamaken and Gamahiro with his whole family to formally pledge allegiance to Naruto as their Big Brother. From then on, Naruto's radiance shone upon Mount Myōboku.
Second, the Xiaoyao Pill made a strong comeback as a top seller! Recently, Danzo was under immense pressure! No matter how influential his faction was, it couldn't withstand the combined pressure from the ninjas, the ninja clans, and the Hokage. The little pill made a strong comeback! Zero burden on training, chakra recovery, and health recovery! All-natural, no additives, no side effects! The results spoke for themselves! Nearly a year later, the Xiaoyao Pill was now a daily necessity for Konoha ninjas. Everyone loved the Xiaoyao Pill! According to the folks at Xiongfeng Mountain: Konoha has paid so much tax and supported so many people over the years, isn't this what it's for?
Third, Kakashi's emotional arc cleared! The iron tree bloomed! Kakashi had been quietly making big moves—a sweet reunion with Hanare! Eyewitness Sakura exclusively revealed: one day on her way home, she stumbled upon a big scoop! She saw the two strolling sweetly by the river. Finally, before the exams, Kakashi-sensei brought her to the "parent-teacher conference." Looking at Hanare's blissful expression... chances are, they were probably in a relationship? As expected of my Kakashi-sensei! He doesn't act unless he means it, but when he does, he nails it! Steady, precise, and ruthless! Then... "Kiss! Kiss!" Naruto's mood-setting squad quickly went online! Hanare's face instantly turned as red as a cooked shrimp! As for Kakashi? His signature dead-fish eyes remained as steady as an old dog's, plastered on his face without a twitch.
Fourth, a mysterious bounty for Obito! A clone sent back a strange piece of news: someone in the ninja world was searching for "Obito Uchiha"? But this time was different from before; others were usually after Obito's bounty. This time, the keyword was—high-priced employment! Someone wanted to hire this big shot! The motive? Who was paying? All of it remained shrouded in mystery!
These were the major events Naruto became aware of over the past month. However, he currently didn't have the spare energy to focus on them, because the final round of the Chunin Exams—his biggest stage—was about to begin!
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