"No, no, I just want to ask about the Sage's Eye."
Jiraiya shook his head quickly.
"The Eye of the Sage?"
Gamabunta blinked his large eyes and tilted his head thoughtfully. "I think I've heard of that. Oh right, the Great Toad Sage mentioned it once. If you want to know more, you'll need to speak with him."
"I'll go ask him now."
As soon as Gamabunta mentioned that the Toad Sage might know about the Rinnegan, Jiraiya turned and sprinted off. He didn't have much time, and he couldn't leave the three kids alone in the base for too long.
Luckily, today the Great Toad Sage wasn't asleep.
If he had been, Jiraiya would have left disappointed.
"Great Toad Sage!!!"
When Jiraiya reached the chamber where the Great Toad Sage resided, he called out loudly.
"Who's there?"
The Great Toad Sage blinked at Jiraiya with a confused expression.
Jiraiya paused, staring at the ancient toad in exasperation.
He's doing it again!
He always starts with that question.
After a moment, recognition dawned on the Toad Sage's face. "Ah, little Jiraiya. What brings you here?"
Whether it was due to genuine old age or some form of pretense, the Great Toad Sage always spoke as if in a daze, like someone afflicted with memory loss.
Jiraiya had grown accustomed to it.
"Great Toad Sage, do you know anything about the Sage's Eye?" Jiraiya asked immediately, worried that the old toad might lapse into one of his lengthy naps.
"The Sage's Eye?"
The Toad Sage looked puzzled.
"Do I know about this?"
"....."
Jiraiya's hopeful expression faltered. The Toad Sage's look of confusion persisted for a moment, but then he seemed to drift into deep thought.
"Like…like…"
Like what? Just say it!
Jiraiya's impatience peaked.
"The Sage's Eye…Sharingan…"
What?
Jiraiya was stunned. Just as he strained to hear more, the familiar sound of snoring reached his ears.
The old toad had fallen asleep.
Jiraiya: "..."
Seriously?!
Why fall asleep now, right when you were about to explain something?
Jiraiya's frustration built until his face turned red.
As much as he wanted to shake the old toad awake, Jiraiya knew better than to disturb him. The toads of Mount Myōboku would react harshly if he disrespected their elder.
What was the Great Toad Sage trying to say?
Sage's Eye, Sharingan?
What did it mean?
It couldn't be true that the legendary Sage's Eye was somehow related to the Sharingan. While the legend of the three great dōjutsu—Byakugan, Sharingan, and Sage's Eye—was known in the ninja world, no one had ever linked the Sharingan with the Sage's Eye.
Despite the Sharingan's immense power, it was never considered on par with the Sage's Eye.
This is infuriating!
Jiraiya grabbed his hair in frustration, yanking at it without caring how many strands he might pull out. He needed to release his irritation somehow.
Did Shinki know something?
If Shinki didn't know anything about the Sage's Eye, why had he suggested Jiraiya consult the toads at Mount Myōboku?
Judging by the Toad Sage's brief response, he seemed to know about the Sage's Eye. But it was unfortunate that he had fallen asleep before completing his thought.
Should he ask Shinki?
At this moment, Shinki was already on his way back to Konoha.
Jiraiya was still deliberating when a cloud of smoke surrounded him, transporting him back to the Land of Rain before he could react.
First, I need to make sure the kids are settled. Then, if possible, I'll find a way to contact Shinki again.
Jiraiya couldn't bear leaving this mystery unsolved. The implications were too significant.
If the Sage's Eye was related to the Sharingan, then Shinki's suspicions were valid. And if they were valid, a whole new set of questions and potential threats emerged: How did the Sage's Eye originate, and why did it appear in Nagato so conveniently?
There had to be a deep-seated conspiracy at play.
Jiraiya wasn't naive. On the contrary, when he chose to focus on an investigation, his insight was formidable. If the Sage's Eye was indeed linked to the Sharingan, and the Sharingan came from the Uchiha clan, there were troubling implications.
Jiraiya had grown up in Konoha and never heard of any connection between the Uchiha and the Sage's Eye. Filled with speculation, Jiraiya hurried back to the underground base as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, the three kids were safe. The base was well-concealed, making it difficult for anyone to find.
Konan and Yahiko were engaged in a lively argument, while Nagato sat quietly on the side, watching them with a gentle smile, as if content just being a part of the moment.
He cherished this kind of life.
Relieved by their safety, Jiraiya felt a weight lift from his chest.
In the privacy of his makeshift room, Jiraiya closed the wooden door, pulled out paper and a pen, and began writing a letter. After finishing, he bit his finger, performing a summoning jutsu.
"Poof!"
White smoke rose, and a small toad appeared on the ground, blinking up at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya folded the letter. "I need you to deliver this to Hyuga Shinki in Konoha. He's probably on his way back to the village. Please find him."
The small toad swallowed the letter and, with a nod, vanished in a puff of smoke.
On the road to Konoha.
After resting for the night at the border camp, Shinki resumed his journey to the village the next day.
Since he was traveling alone, Shinki was in no rush. He walked at a leisurely pace.
At this speed, he estimated it would take about three days to reach Konoha.
For Shinki, there was no urgency. It was rare for him to have time away from the village, so he enjoyed this break, treating it like a casual outing.
By a small river in the forest, Shinki sat, grilling meat over an open flame, deep in thought.
"There seem to be a lot of frogs around today."
He noticed as several frogs leaped around near the riverbank—a peculiar sight indeed.
---
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 350 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
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