After Hui and Tsunade got engaged, their relationship grew even closer.
For several days, they spent their time together as though they were an immortal couple, making everyone around them envious.
Only after those few days did Hui manage to pull himself out of this blissful state and return to his own matters.
He had a new task: he needed to go to Mount Myōboku.
He first sought out Jiraiya. After explaining his intentions, Jiraiya looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, "I knew this would happen."
This reaction made Hui realize that the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku had likely dreamed again.
As expected, Jiraiya pulled out a scroll from his ninja pouch while speaking to Hui:
"Here you go, Hui. This has been ready for a long time, just waiting for you to sign your name on it!"
He spread open the scroll, pointing to a blank space.
It was the summoning contract scroll for Mount Myōboku. Several names were already written on it, the most recent being Jiraiya's.
Among the older names, most were unfamiliar to Hui, as they belonged to people from long ago. However, there was one name he did recognize: Kishimoto Masashi!
To be honest, Hui was deeply curious about who this Kishimoto Masashi might have been.
"Well, after searching the ninja world for so long without finding a suitable summoning beast, I guess my first summoning contract goes to Mount Myōboku after all," he remarked, signing his name on the scroll with a hint of resignation.
"It's done! Hui, you can use the Summoning Technique now," Jiraiya said, watching Hui sign his name.
As he saw his own name positioned above Hui's, Jiraiya felt a rare sense of satisfaction.
It's like I've surpassed him in some small way. Jiraiya mused, even if it was only symbolic.
After being overshadowed by Hui time and again, from being able to barely see Hui's back to now being left entirely behind, Jiraiya no longer entertained hopes of catching up.
Hui nodded in acknowledgment. Biting his finger, he performed the hand seals for the technique.
"Summoning Technique!"
He pressed his palm to the ground.
Boom!
A massive puff of smoke appeared, and a gigantic toad materialized beneath them.
"Jiraiya, why did you summon me? What's the matter now?" the toad asked.
Given that Jiraiya was the only active summoner at the time, the toad naturally assumed he had been summoned by him.
"This time, it wasn't me who summoned you, Bunta," Jiraiya said, his tone laced with amusement.
He knew Gamabunta wasn't exactly the most even-tempered toad, and being summoned out of the blue might irritate him.
If Gamabunta decided to lash out at Hui, Jiraiya would undoubtedly find it hearty.
"What do you mean it wasn't you? Who else could summon me?" Gamabunta asked, visibly puzzled.
At that moment, Hui leaped down from Gamabunta's head, landing in front of him. "It was me who summoned you. I am Mochizuki Hui of Konoha," he said calmly.
Gamabunta scrutinized the man before him, finding his name oddly familiar. After a brief moment of thought, it hit him, Jiraiya had mentioned Hui's name countless times before.
"So you're the Hui that Jiraiya's always talking about," Gamabunta said, realising.
Jiraiya's expression immediately shifted, turning awkward.
"Jiraiya often talks about me? What exactly does he say?" Hui asked, a curious smile playing on his lips.
Jiraiya's face darkened further as he hastily tried to change the subject. "Haha, nothing much, really! By the way, Hui, don't you have urgent business at Mount Myōboku? Let's get Gamabunta to reverse-summon you there right away, important matters can't be delayed!"
Hui gave Jiraiya a knowing look, smirking.
Gamabunta, however, frowned slightly at Jiraiya's suggestion. "Jiraiya, while you can freely allow others to sign the summoning scroll, reverse-summoning someone to Mount Myōboku is not a decision you can make."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes. "Of course, I know the rules. But Hui is different. He might be the person foretold in the Great Sage's prophecy."
Hearing this, Gamabunta studied Hui more closely.
"Is that so? Then I'll head back and confirm," Gamabunta said before disappearing in a puff of smoke to return to Mount Myōboku.
"Prophecy?" Hui turned to Jiraiya, feigning curiosity. Though he already knew about the Great Toad Sage's visions, he had to act unaware for now.
Jiraiya nodded. "Yes, a prophecy. At Mount Myōboku, there's an ancient Great Toad Sage who has the ability to foresee the future. Long ago, he predicted I would come to Mount Myōboku. Recently, he foresaw that someone would appear—a person destined to change the world entirely.
"And I believe that person is you."
Jiraiya's words gave Hui pause.
It seemed that the Great Toad Sage had indeed caught a glimpse of his future. While being seen through like this was unsettling, it did simplify his plans to visit Mount Myōboku.
If things proceeded smoothly, Shikkotsu Forest would be within his reach as well.
Meanwhile, at Mount Myōboku, Gamabunta reported the situation to Fukasaku.
Fukasaku listened attentively before nodding. "The Great Sage did indeed dream of such a person—a human who would change the world completely. That human, the dream said, would be Jiraiya's friend and the one he follows.
"If Jiraiya believes this Hui is the one, then I'll reverse-summon him here. If it truly is him, the Great Sage may even awaken."
With that, Fukasaku began forming hand seals.
"Reverse Summoning Technique!"
In Konoha, Hui suddenly felt a powerful pulling force envelop him, yanking him away. The next moment, his surroundings changed completely.
"So this is Mount Myōboku?" he murmured, taking in the view.
The contrast between Mount Myōboku and Ryūchi Cave was striking. Ryūchi Cave had been dark, damp, and shrouded in mist, with an oppressive chill that left one constantly on edge.
Mount Myōboku, however, was the complete opposite.
Here, the sun shone brightly, the weather was clear, and the landscape was lush and vibrant. The warmth of the environment was almost therapeutic, easing both body and mind.
As he took in the scenery, Hui extended his sensory abilities, absorbing as much information about Mount Myōboku as he could.
"Welcome to Mount Myōboku, young human," came a voice.
Hui turned to see Fukasaku, who regarded him with a composed expression that did not betray the unease in his heart. The elder toad could sense an overwhelming aura emanating from Hui—a power far beyond that of Jiraiya's.
This young man was extraordinary.
"Hello, I'm Mochizuki Hui," he introduced himself with a polite smile. Though he was already familiar with Fukasaku, he needed to act as if this was their first meeting.
"I am Fukasaku," the elder toad replied.
Normally, Fukasaku wouldn't introduce himself so readily. When Jiraiya first arrived, he hadn't been given such a warm reception. But Hui's presence was so commanding that Fukasaku instinctively treated him as an equal.
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