A/N: Our target of the week is to reach 1000 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 1000 Powerstones!
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Before long, Enma returned, his face more relaxed but with an air of formality. "I've made a mistake," he admitted, his voice unusually measured for someone who had just confronted Goro so aggressively.
Goro waved it off. "It's fine," he replied, unbothered by what had happened a few moments ago.
Enma, however, wasn't done. "The Great Monkey Sage would like to meet you," he continued.
Goro raised an eyebrow beneath his mask, intrigued. "The Great Sage, huh?" He had heard of the Two Great Toad Sages but never The Great Monkey Sage. He also hadn't anticipated an audience with a sage so soon. After a moment's consideration, Goro nodded. "Alright, lead the way," he responded.
As they walked through the thick, humid jungle, Goro broke the silence. "So, you're the ruler of this place?" he asked casually, glancing sideways at Enma.
"I am," Enma replied curtly, his focus seemingly elsewhere. He kept his answer brief and continued walking with purpose, clearly not in the mood for idle conversation.
'He's not feeling chatty, huh…'
After several minutes of traveling through the dense jungle, the trees opened into a larger clearing, surrounded by massive trunks.
At the center of the clearing, sitting atop a large, extended bo staff, was an old monkey. His fur was gray, and his eyes, sharp and wise, scanned the surroundings.
The Great Monkey Sage was about the same height as Enma, but the lines of age and experience etched into his face made him seem older, an elder who had witnessed centuries pass.
Noticing their arrival, the Great Sage slid gracefully down the bo staff, his movement fluid despite his old age. The staff retracted as he reached the ground, shrinking down to a more compact size that he held in one hand with ease. His gaze fell on Goro, a look of deep contemplation forming as he took in the sight of the masked figure before him.
Enma stepped forward and gestured toward the elder monkey. "This is the Great Monkey Sage," he introduced, bowing his head slightly out of respect.
Goro nodded in acknowledgment, his eyes briefly meeting the sage's. "Nice to meet you," he said, keeping his tone respectful.
The sage's eyes never left Goro, his gaze penetrating as if seeing beyond the mask. "So, you're the next one, hm?" he finally spoke.
Goro's eyes drifted to the bo staff in the Great Sage's hand.
'That staff… It's nice,' he thought, unable to tear his gaze away. 'The craftsmanship, the way it extended and retracted, is captivating. What is it made from?'
His fingers twitched slightly, the desire to possess the weapon momentarily clouding his focus.
A sudden, sharp slap landed on the back of Goro's head, snapping him out of his thoughts. Enma glared at him. "The Great Sage is asking you a question. Answer it," he said fiercely.
'This bastard is getting on my nerves.'
Composing himself, Goro shook off the momentary lapse. "Yeah, I guess," he replied, alternating between smiling at the sage and glaring at Enma. Enma may not have been able to see Goro's face, but he could tell from the aura he was giving off that he wasn't pleased.
The Great Sage's expression softened. "It's been so long since anyone else has come here, apart from him."
Goro immediately knew who the sage was referring to—Hiruzen Sarutobi. The Third Hokage was the only one known for his summoning contract with the monkeys. The relationship between the Monkeys and the Sarutobi clan ran deep.
The Great Sage turned without another word, gesturing for both Goro and Enma to follow. They did so without question, walking in silence through the thick jungle once more. After a few minutes, they arrived at an open area, where a monument stood tall. It was a crystal tombstone, glowing faintly in the filtered sunlight that trickled through the canopy above. The inscription on the tombstone read clearly: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
For a long moment, no one spoke. The Great Sage stared at it with quiet reverence. "Hiruzen was a dear friend to the monkeys," he finally said, his words carrying a heavy feeling of respect.
Enma, standing beside Goro, clenched his fists tightly, his sharp teeth grinding together. The sorrow and rage he felt over Hiruzen's death were palpable. His face remained stoic, but the tension in his body betrayed his emotions. "I told him to kill Orochimaru when we had the chance," Enma muttered through gritted teeth. "But his heart was far too soft."
The Great Sage turned sharply, his voice firm. "Enough, Enma. The past is done. Now we must move forward."
Goro glanced at the two monkeys, watching the subtle exchange of emotions. 'The Hokage did have a big heart. It doesn't surprise me that he was close with the monkeys. He helped me out a lot when he was alive… and even after his death, with his skills. I owe him a moment of silence.'
After a long pause, the Great Sage turned to Goro, his eyes filled with curiosity. "You're quite the anomaly. I wasn't informed of your signing of the contract, but the only person who could have facilitated something like this is Hiruzen. But, before we can aid you, we must know if your intentions are in the right place. What sort of future do you strive for, young one?"
The word "young" caused Goro to flinch slightly.
'He knows that I'm young?! Wait, no… He probably views Enma the same way. What sort of future, huh? That's obvious. I was afraid of losing the Adamantine Staff or the ability to practice Monkey Sage Mode, but speaking with these monkeys has made me realize something… They are sentient beings. Even if I lie to them now, they'll eventually find out my motives and stop helping me. Instead of relying on them, only to lose them later, I might as well speak my mind and let them know my true intentions.'
A grin spread beneath Goro's mask, a grin of pure ambition. "You asked me what sort of future I strive for? I strive for a future with me reigning over the earth, becoming the ultimate human. That's the future I strive for!" Goro's voice was filled with certainty, the confidence of a man who knew what he wanted and had no hesitation in declaring it.
"Arrogance," Enma scoffed, clearly unimpressed by Goro's proclamation.
But the Great Sage didn't immediately respond. Instead, he took a long moment to assess Goro's answer, his eyes narrowing in thought. "And then what will you do with that power?" he asked, attempting to probe more answers from Goro.
'What will I do when I gain power? All I wanted was a better life, and power was my only option to achieve that outcome. What does it matter what I do when I gain power? As long as I'm happy, that's all that matters to me.'
The longer he dwelled on it, the more irritated he became. Finally, unable to provide the Great Sage with a satisfying answer, Goro snapped. "You're asking far too many questions! What's the purpose of inviting me here anyway?"
The Great Sage sighed, his expression becoming firm. His disappointment was evident. "You've still got much to learn, boy," he said, turning away from Goro.
Goro's frustration flared at the comment. "What more? I've had more life experience than yo—" Before Goro could finish his sentence, the world around him shifted abruptly.
He was suddenly transported back to the training ground in the Hidden Waterfall Village, the familiar surroundings reappearing in an instant. Standing before him was a small monkey, carrying a small bo staff, looking up at him with curious eyes.
"Your time with the sage was up. Take care of yourself," the small monkey said before disappearing in a puff of smoke, leaving Goro alone in the training ground.
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Reminder: We've hit our first target, so there will be a Double Release. Our target of the week is to reach 1000 powerstones by Sunday to get a Triple Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 1000 Powerstones!