On an uncharted mountain home to the summoning toads, a giant cloud of smoke signaled the return of Gamabunta. After a long day, he was about to find a nice spot to nap when he encountered a blue frog.
"It's you again, the shining brat that nearly blinded me. What are you doing here? This isn't a place for young toads."
Ash was baffled at the sudden encounter. To think he would be caught so soon. Despite the warning elder Shima gave him, he simply couldn't just sit around while Naruto was working himself half to death.
"Froooo."
"Are you telling me that a toad your size can't even talk yet? Well, it doesn't matter. I get it. There's only one reason a hot-headed snot like you would be wandering in these parts. Tell me, boy, do you desire strength?"
Ash's eyes grew wide. There was no way he would miss this chance. This was way better than what he had planned. Simply charging in without a plan isn't much of a plan and isn't going to get him far.
"Frogadier," Ash expressed his desires with a serious expression. This could be his way of catching up to Naruto.
"So be it. From now on, you'll be my henchman. Work hard enough, and one day I might promote you to my disciple." Chief Toad, a generous being, provided Ash with a priceless opportunity. But the ungrateful kid had the gall to complain.
"FROGAA!!" Ash turned around to leave.
"WAIT!!...*COUGH* I mean, wait, snot. Don't you want to be strong? I'm giving you a golden ticket here," Gamabunta tried to salvage what was left of his demeanor. In truth, Gamabunta saw the potential Ash possessed. He knew such talents didn't grow on trees. Especially on Mount Myoboku, where most of the strongest toads are old. If he wanted to pass down his techniques and wisdom, there was no better candidate than the kid in front of him.
Ash looked back, and realization struck him. All this formality wouldn't affect his training, and that was enough for him. As long as he could fight alongside Naruto and have his back, he would be happy. Ash leaped back in front of Gamabunta and nodded in affirmation.
"HAHAHAHA, wise decision, young one. From today, you're one of my people. It's late; we'll meet again tomorrow and work on the basics." With that, he grabbed Ash and jumped out of the mountain's forbidden zone. As they glided over, you could hear loud sounds—battle cries, blood-curdling screeches, and the sound of destruction.
"It's a miracle you managed to remain unseen in that place. If you value your life, stay clear until I say otherwise." Ash gulped after hearing all the chaos down below. While wandering around looking for an enemy to face, he had inadvertently taken a path usually avoided by everyone because it was even more dangerous than the rest of the forest. It is the path that only the strongest dare tread. Anyone foolish enough to enter with inferior strength met an untimely death. Ash was lucky to meet Chief Toad and not a hostile; if he had, he would be dead without a question.
Once Chief Toad landed, Ash jumped off his back and landed on a tree. With another leap, Chief Toad was gone as fast as he came, creating massive gusts of wind nearly blowing Ash back into the forbidden zone. Managing to keep himself rooted onto the tree with wall-walking, he was more worried if the tree would stay rooted to the ground.
"GAAAAAAAA!"
When the gust died down, Ash decided to get back home while he was still in one piece. His home appeared plain and lacked character; no squeaky doors to be found. It was given to him by Elder Shima, the wife of Elder Fukazaku. She couldn't help but let her motherly instinct take over when it came to children. When he first returned to Myoboku hungry after hatching, she was the one who noticed him wandering aimlessly in the new, unfamiliar place. She was good people, and he would pay her back one day.
Ash walked into his house. The floor was a deep indoor pond filled with clear water, vegetation, and fish. He chose this house specifically for this reason; he could spend his time practicing even in his own home. As he stepped in, he used water-walking to navigate. The house was massive, built to accommodate a toad much larger than him. He approached the center of the pond, climbed onto his bed, a giant lily pad, and fell into a deep sleep.
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The Next Day
*RUMBLE* An earthquake shook Ash's house. His bed almost sank, and he fell into the pond, yet he stayed asleep. He breathed in the water and out the water. He did not choke nor suffocate; he could breathe even though he had no gills.
"WAKE UP, BRAT! DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS?!"
Ash woke up and noticed that he was underwater. He instinctively started swimming to the surface for a breath of air, only to notice that he was breathing just fine. Water filling his lungs didn't cause him pain; rather, it felt as if he'd finally taken the first breath of his life.
"HURRY UP, OR I'LL RIP THE ROOF OFF YOUR HOUSE AND DRAG YOU OUT OF THERE!"
Gamabunta's threat caused Ash to rush out. He had just gotten this house and now loved it even more after finding out he could breathe underwater; it was the perfect place for him. Once outside, he looked up to see the imposing presence towering above him.
"Finally decided to come out, snot. There will be no more sleeping in while you're training under me."
Ash apologized with a deep bow. "Frogadier." After yesterday's encounter, the last thing Gamabunta expected from Ash was an apology; he took him for a hot-headed young toad.
"All right, all right, enough with the pleasantries. Hop on my back; we've wasted enough time. Let's begin your training."
Ash climbed on his back. Chief Toad walked out of the residential area before making a leap back into the forbidden zone of the mountain. Once there, Chief Toad pulled out a map.
"First things first, kid. You'll have to know where it's safe for someone of your caliber." Chief Toad set the giant map down and began explaining how the forbidden forest works.
"Look here, kid. For someone as weak as you, even the entrance could lead to your death. The further you are from the village, the stronger enemies you will face. The only exception is the Path of the Strong. This path must be avoided if you wish to live. It goes in a straight line from the center of the entrance of the forbidden forest to the bottom of the mountain. Always stick to the right or the left; never try to cross this road. More likely than not, you'll end up as roadkill if you do." Ash suddenly realized he had walked on that road just yesterday, and a shiver went down his spine.
"This mountain is home to us and the beasts that live in that forest. Most of them are giant insects that us larger toads hunt for food and training. On the left side of the forest, only weaker creatures reside, and on the right, more weak creatures live there but they are stronger than the ones on the left. And the ones on the left are all stronger than you, HAHAHA!" Ash looked at his boss as if he'd punch him in the face if it weren't so high up.
"FROGAA!!"