I, who just wanted to be lazy, was forced to become the Hokage.

Chapter 303: The Prophecy of a Collaboration!

Does this mean that a steady and methodical approach is no longer suitable for the current ninja world, which is full of reckless ninjas?

Upon hearing that Tsunade had revealed her true objective without hesitation, Nara Ranke quickly conducted a self-examination.

However, after the slug shifted its "gaze" to him, he still firmly chose to stand on the same side as Tsunade.

"That's right!"

Nara Rinka solemnly acknowledged Tsunade's statement.

"Living Slug, I am particularly fascinated by the celestial arts tradition of Shikkotsu Forest, one of the three legendary sacred sites. May I ask you some questions about natural energy and Sage Mode?"

With their conversations having progressed to this stage, there's no point in Nara Rinka keeping it hidden any longer.

If he were to deny his interest in the magic of Shikkotsu Forest at this point...

So when he wants to access the immortal techniques of the Wet Bone Forest in the future, the difficulty will definitely increase twofold.

Perhaps today's denial will leave a bad impression on Katsuyu and even Tsunade.

Therefore, Nara Rinkachi also chose to be straightforward.

"If Lord Nara has any questions, please feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer them for you."

The live slug responded softly and weakly.

"However, the natural energy outside is relatively scarce. Lord Nara, should I summon you and Lady Tsunade to Shikkotsu Forest?"

As the master of the Wet Bone Forest, the Living Slug, who possesses the [Reverse Summoning Technique], can naturally summon its contractor to the Wet Bone Forest for face-to-face conversation.

"You don't need to involve me in this!"

Tsunade waved her hand repeatedly, rejecting the slug's suggestion. Her desire for Sage Mode was quite limited, and she had a "what I gain is my fortune, what I lose is my fate" mentality.

If it weren't for Danzo Shimura being so disgusting, Orochimaru being so deserving of a beating, and having a capable man like Nara Rinkasa, Tsunade would want to retire now.

Cultivating [Sage Mode]? That's far too troublesome!

She wasn't like Nara, a man who was insatiable and demanding.

Although it's unclear why Nara Rinka, who is already so strong, continues to pursue further improvement and breakthroughs in strength.

But for men, having ambition is always a good thing.

She didn't know when it started, but Tsunade's perception of Nara Ranke became slightly skewed. She genuinely believed that Nara Ranke was a positive, ambitious, and optimistic young man from Konoha...

After Tsunade expressed her refusal, Nara Rinka also politely declined Katsuyu's invitation.

Heading to Shikkotsu Forest to meet one of the three legendary immortals, Nara Rinka requires some preparation beforehand.

"In that case, I will await Lord Nara's next summoning."

The slug remained gentle and docile throughout.

"I will take you to Shikkotsu Forest if Lord Nara needs me."

After nodding to Nara Rinka and Tsunade, the slug automatically dispelled the Summoning Jutsu, turning into a wisp of smoke and dissipating into the air, leaving only a scroll behind.

Tsunade looked at the items on the ground with some confusion.

"Huh? Why did the slug leave behind a scroll?"

"That wasn't left by the live slug; it was an apology gift I was just about to give to the live slug."

Nara Ranke shook his head and manipulated the [Shadow Gathering Technique], using a shadow tentacle to bring the scroll over.

"An apology gift? You're being way too...polite!"

Tsunade was somewhat disapproving of Nara's actions.

"What's recorded inside this scroll? And what kind of novel ninjutsu is it?"

"No, it's just a very ordinary [Lava Release Chakra Creation Method]."

Nara Rinka shrugged, stuffed the scroll back into his ninja tool bag, and planned to give it away the next time he went to Shikkotsu Forest.

"Lava escape..."

A look of surprise appeared on Tsunade's pretty face.

Before she could speak, Nara Rinka took the initiative to explain.

"Yes, just as you imagined. This is the research result from Kirigakure. It is a bloodline limit developed based on the Six-Tails' special ability, a strong acid formed by the fusion of Water Release and Fire Release."

Is this the key point?

Shouldn't the key point be why you were able to master the Six-Tails' bloodline limit?

Could it be that the creature you captured in the Land of Hot Water a few days ago wasn't the Three-Tails?

Tsunade's thoughts were somewhat confused.

"So, why did you give [Lava Escape] as a gift to the live slug? I mean, why [Lava Escape]?"

"Because the Six-Tailed Rhinoceros is a large slug, at least in my opinion, it is a large slug with six tails."

Nara Rinka responded quite calmly.

"Although this idea is a bit impolite, I do feel that there should be some special connection between the Six-Tails and the Slug, and the Slug's attitude just now also confirms this. It at least knows about the existence of the Six-Tails."

"That's why I thought of giving the [Molten Escape] as a gift to the live slug, to please it."

The cunning of the Nara clan...

Tsunade sighed inwardly, but immediately turned her attention to the gossip that interested her.

"Is there really a connection between the live slug and the six-tailed fox? What's going on between them? Is it the kind of relationship I'm imagining?"

"I can roughly guess what kind of relationship you're imagining..."

Seeing Tsunade suddenly become excited, Nara Ranke felt inexplicably annoyed.

"But the problem is I really don't know, and the live slug didn't explain its opinion on the six-tailed fox in detail."

"However, one of them is an immortal being, and the other is a magical tailed beast. They are both slugs, or at least they look like slugs. It's normal for them to have some connection."

Tsunade's eyes practically lit up as she listened.

What Nara Rinka said undoubtedly opened the door to a new world for her.

Before today, she had never imagined that a slug could be associated with something like "love"...

Could it be that……

"Is the thousand-year solitude in the Shikkotsu Forest truly a place where it awaits its destined one?"

Thinking of this, Tsunade couldn't help but clasp her hands together, her beautiful brown eyes narrowing into slits.

If Nara Ranke knew Tsunade's true feelings, he would definitely give her a big eye roll.

Although the Six-Tailed Rhinoceros looks like a large slug, it is not actually a slug.

The Living Slug Fairy doesn't look like a normal slug, but it really is just a slug.

These two are of different races, how can they fall in love?

It is suggested that there is some indescribable forbidden love between the live slug and the six-tailed fox.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that there's some kind of "creation" relationship between the live slug and the six-tailed fox.

Nara Rinka organized the intelligence and information he had gathered.

The Six-Tails is one of the tailed beasts created when the Sage of Six Paths separated the ten tails within him during his lifetime.

The exact lifespan of the live slug is unknown, but it can generally be considered a creature from the same era as the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku.

The question of who is older between the Great Toad Sage and the Sage of Six Paths.

Nara Langui didn't know the answer.

But these two should be from the same era.

and so……

Is the Six-Tailed Saiken a tailed beast created by the Sage of Six Paths based on the image of a live slug?

This speculation is merely Nara Rangsuke's personal conjecture.

However, it's not very difficult to verify.

……

The Five-Tailed King Mu was bored and stayed in a forest in the Land of Hot Water, quietly watching the clouds drift by.

These days, King Mu seems to have returned to the carefree era he once lived in.

Normally, they lie in the forest and rest.

On a whim, he ran and walked on the earth.

Despite the seemingly carefree days, King Mu always felt that something was missing.

Just then, a shadow appeared among King Mu's snow-white fur, instantly dispelling the white deer's boredom.

"Lan Gui, you're here?"

"King Mu".

Nara Rinka found a good spot to lie down on the head of the Five-Tailed King.

"I've come to ask you for help."

"Um?"

The five-tailed Kokuo leaped up from the ground, surveying its surroundings with great interest.

"Who are we going to fight?"

"It's not a battle, and there's no need for a battle now."

Nara Rinka gently patted the head of the five-tailed beast, signaling it to calm down.

"With you usually patrolling the border area between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost, those ninjas from Kumogakure don't dare to make a sudden advance."

The recent actions of Go-o-Kou have naturally been witnessed and permitted by Nara Rangsuke.

No matter what, Nara Rinka is the supreme commander of the Kumogakure defense line.

Despite the fact that Kumogakure first lost a unit in the battle, and later lost top-tier combatants such as the Third Raikage and the AB duo, the village was still able to overcome the initial setbacks.

However, no matter what, it is one of the "Five Great Rogues" of the ninja world, with a very strong foundation.

Without the help of the Third Raikage (Nara Raikage), a high-ranking undercover agent.

Nara Rinka was unable to control the Hidden Cloud Village's war intentions.

Although he felt that the probability of Kumogakure, in its "greatly weakened state," coming to the Land of Hot Springs to fight Konoha's forces to the death was very low.

However, considering the fighting style of those muscular brutes from Kumogakure, Nara Rinkei didn't think that the above possibility was absolutely impossible.

In this context, the "stroll" of the Five-Tailed King becomes especially important.

With the Third Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki "mysteriously missing," and the AB duo having one dead and one captured.

Given the current state of Kumogakure, there is absolutely no way they can deal with a wild Five-Tails.

Not to mention that the Five-Tailed King Kokuo and the Dark Shadow are deeply bound together!

With the Five-Tails Kokuou constantly making its presence felt, the Hidden Cloud Village's will to fight will definitely be greatly affected.

"So it wasn't going to be a fight after all..."

King Mu lay down again on the grassy area in the forest.

"What happened? Did something go wrong on Isōbu's side?"

"It's not Isobu, it's Saiken."

Nara Rinka asked the question that had been bothering him.

"King Mu, are you aware of the existence of the three sacred sites? They are Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, and Shikkotsu Forest."

"I've heard of it."

The Five-Tailed King responded calmly.

"However, I haven't had much contact with them. Lan Gui, what did you mean by asking about the rhinoceros hounds?"

"Before asking that question, I'd like to know something else."

Nara Rinka continued to ask questions.

"King Mu, did your Tailed Beasts appear earlier, or did the Three Great Holy Lands take shape earlier?"

"This is a problem... let me think about it carefully."

The Five-Tailed King Mu was lost in deep memories, and after a long while it spoke with some uncertainty.

"I don't really understand what you mean by the 'Three Great Holy Lands,' but Rokudo does have a deep connection with a toad named Gamamaru. That toad even gave Rokudo a prophecy."

"Something like, 'A blue-eyed boy frolicking while calling the names of nine wild beasts, bringing about change to the world'?"

"When I was a child, I had never heard of Mount Myōboku, but I later learned about this place from other humans."

"So, to be more precise, the three holy lands appeared earlier?"

Nara Lan Gui nodded slightly.

What Goyu Muou said was largely consistent with the intelligence he possessed.

Then the live slug must be older than the six-tailed fox.

and so……

Is the live slug really the mother of the six-tailed fox?

However, the prophecy spoken by the Five-Tailed King...

"Actually, I think that giant toad from Mount Myōboku called Gamamaru is very unreliable."

At this time, the Five-Tailed King also began to speak of the so-called "prophecy".

"Although there are rumors that its prophecies are 100% accurate, the Six Paths have been dead for so long, and its prophecies have never come into effect. Even we Tailed Beasts have become...sigh."

"In short, Lan Gui, stay away from those weird toads on Mount Myoboku. They're very abnormal."

"King Mu, you probably don't know that the Great Toad Immortal—also known as Toad Pill—has recently made a new prophecy."

Nara Rinka thought for a moment, then spoke up.

"And it is related to your previous prophecy."

"Remember that white-haired uncle from a few days ago? He's the 'central figure' in this prophecy."

"The Great Toad Sage once made a prophecy to Jiraiya that his disciple would bring about a great change to the ninja world, whether it be peace or destruction... whatever you want to interpret."

"Has Gamamaru made another prophecy?"

The five long tails behind King Mu swayed somewhat unhappily.

"That white-haired human, does he possess such great ability to train a child of prophecy?"

"From the perspective of a pure ninja, Jiraiya's abilities can basically be considered to be at their peak."

Nara Rinka did not speak ill of Jiraiya at this time.

As for his disciples...

"Remember Minato Namikaze? That blond-haired, blue-eyed ninja, he was one of Jiraiya's students, and now many people consider him the child of prophecy, or even... the savior."

The relationship between the live slug and the six-tailed fox is purely fictional.

Furthermore, it is uncertain whether the three immortals of the three holy lands are beings from the same era. It can only be said that, based on the general impression, everything about the three holy lands is comparable to each other.

Generally speaking, the eras of the live slug and Gamamaru (the name of the Great Toad Sage) should be the same.

In the official guidebook, the Great Toad Sage is described as being "over several thousand years old".

As for Kaguya Otsutsuki, she descended upon the ninja world a thousand years ago...

From this perspective, the age of the Great Toad Sage and the Live Slug should be greater than that of the Sage of Six Paths.

But here is the problem.

In the anime's original content, there's a scene where Hagoromo Otsutsuki (the Sage of Six Paths) and a young Gamamaru act together.

Ignoring the plot holes in the anime, at least from the perspective of the animation team, the Sage of Six Paths is of a higher seniority than the Great Toad Sage.

Well, it's hard to say.

……

As we all know, there are too many plot holes in the Naruto manga.

The idea that there's a relationship between the live slug and the six-tailed fox is purely fabricated by Ashin.

Regardless of whether the former is older than the latter, the Six-Tails is a tailed beast created based on the image of a live slug;

The latter is older than the former; the live slug is a sage cultivated by the six-tailed fox.

Just treat it as entertainment.

Ashin won't fixate on this point.

(End of this chapter)