Chapter 93: Jiraiya's Confusion
Naruto's words left Jiraiya unable to retort. Narutowas right; there was no way to prove Ashura was wrong, nor was there a way to prove Indra was wrong.
Jiraiya was silent for a while, then looked at Narutoand said, "You should be done with your story, right? It still doesn't seem to prove that you are the child of prophecy the Toad Sage spoke of."
"I never said I finished the story. Keep listening. After Ashura and Indra died, their Chakra and souls were collected by the Six Paths Sage, who chose suitable families for them to be reincarnated, hoping they would gradually accept each other's ideas. But the Six Paths Sage was disappointed; every reincarnation of theirs was in opposition to each other. And the previous generation's reincarnations of Ashura and Indra were... Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara."
Jiraiya stood up in disbelief, looking at Naruto. Ashura's philosophy was indeed the same as Senju Hashirama's, and Indra's philosophy was indeed the same as Uchiha Madara's.
This made Jiraiya have no choice but to believe the story Naruto told.
Jiraiya's jaw trembled as he looked at Naruto and asked, "Are you Indra's reincarnation?"
Naruto smiled and shook his head, saying, "I'm not Indra's reincarnation. I'm Ashura's reincarnation—no! To be precise, I am me. Ashura's soul and Chakra have been sealed by me."
"What? You... you sealed Ashura's Chakra and soul?"
"That's right! So now I am me, not Ashura's reincarnation."
It made sense now, it all made sense. No wonder Naruto knew so much. If Naruto knew these things from Ashura's memories, it wouldn't be surprising.
As long as it could be proven now that the Ashuraand Indra Naruto mentioned were real, then it would mean Naruto might truly be the child of prophecy the Toad Sage spoke of.
Jiraiya stood up, bit his finger, and summoned Fukasaku.
"Jiraiya! Is there something you need me for?"
Jiraiya looked at Fukasaku and said, "Fukasaku, I apologize for disturbing you. I wanted to ask you a few questions. Have you heard of Ashura and Indra?"
Fukasaku pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I don't remember clearly. I think I heard the Great Toad Sage mention their names when I was little. Is there something about their names that you're asking?"
Jiraiya shook his head and said, "I'm not sure yet. Can you reverse-summon me? I want to ask the Great Toad Sage a few questions."
Fukasaku nodded and said, "Alright, no problem."
After Fukasaku finished speaking, he released the summoning jutsu.
Jiraiya looked at Naruto's calm expression and began to believe Naruto's words.
But if Naruto truly was the child of prophecy the Toad Sage spoke of, then hadn't he wasted half his life?
In his search for the child of prophecy the Toad Sage spoke of, he lost his lover, his comrades, his disciples. Now, over fifty years old, he was still alone, and it turned out the child of prophecy was his disciple's son, who wasn't even willing to take him as a master. What had he wasted half his life for?
Just as Jiraiya was questioning himself, Fukasakuused reverse summoning and summoned Jiraiyaaway.
After Jiraiya left, Naruto picked up his teacup and said with interest, "Wouldn't it be interesting if Jiraiya's search for the child of prophecy eventually led him to himself?"
After Jiraiya met the Great Toad Sage, he immediately asked the Great Toad Sage, "Great Toad Sage, have you heard the names Ashura and Indra?"
The Great Toad Sage looked at Jiraiya in disbelief and asked, "Where did you hear those names?"
Seeing the Great Toad Sage's surprised reaction, Jiraiya knew Naruto hadn't lied to him.
Jiraiya looked at the Great Toad Sage and continued to ask, "Have Ashura and Indra been reincarnating repeatedly?"
The Great Toad Sage was shocked again. Where did Jiraiya learn all this?
Looking at the Great Toad Sage's expression, Jiraiya became even more certain that Naruto truly was the child of prophecy the Toad Sage spoke of.
"Little Jiraiya, you haven't answered my question yet. Where did you hear all this?"
Jiraiya said dejectedly, "Naruto told me! He sealed Ashura's Chakra and soul. He said he is the child of prophecy you spoke of, but now... is he still the child of prophecy?"
"Sealed? How is that possible! Who is this Narutoyou speak of, Little Jiraiya?"
Jiraiya, with low spirits, looked up at the Great Toad Sage and said, "Naruto is Kushina and Minato's son. He said he is the child of prophecyyou spoke of, the green-eyed boy the nine Tailed Beasts have been waiting for."
Upon hearing Jiraiya's words, the Toad Sage was 100% certain that Naruto was the child of prophecy he spoke of.
"How can this be? How can this be?"
The Toad Sage seemed to be possessed, muttering the same phrase repeatedly.
Seeing this situation, Fukasaku said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya, why don't you go back first? The Great Toad Sage probably can't answer your questions anymore."
Jiraiya saw the Great Toad Sage's state and knew that there was a problem with the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. He could only nod and let Fukasaku send him back.
When Jiraiya returned, he saw Naruto still sitting there, drinking tea with interest.
Naruto looked at Jiraiya with a smile and asked, "Confirmed the results? How was it? Are you satisfied?"
Jiraiya said dejectedly, "Why did you do this? Is it to get revenge on me?"
"Why can't I do this? Why should I take revenge on you? Can't I live for myself? Why must I live according to your prophecies? When you assigned me a prophecy, did you consider my feelings? Did you ask if I was willing?"
Hearing Naruto's series of rhetorical questions, Jiraiya couldn't help but question himself in his heart.
Jiraiya glanced at Naruto in a daze and then left the Wooden Hut.
Naruto looked at Jiraiya's retreating back, shaking his head and tutting, "Looks like he's pretty shaken! When the Third Hokage dies, there'll be even more fun. Then I'll let you be this child of prophecy; it'll definitely be interesting."
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and it was finally time for the last Chunin Exams.
Due to Naruto's reminder to Kakashi and Sasuke, and since Sasuke wasn't injured, Kakashi took Sasuke for special training after the preliminary rounds, so Sasuke wasn't late.
Sasuke wasn't late, and Naruto and Sasuke had swapped opponents. Originally, Naruto should have been first, but now it was Sasuke and Hinata's turn.