Chapter 366: The Old Silver Coin Toad Sage, the Two Sages Filled with Sorrow!

Shinobi and Shima exchanged a glance, each seeing the shock in the other’s eyes.

Why?

After all, the education they’d grown up with taught that the Sage of Six Paths was an ally of Mount Myōboku, and that the Sage of Six Paths represented justice—the most boundlessly compassionate figure in the entire ninja world.

But now?

The Sage of Six Paths claimed the Hidden Leaf was utterly corrupt, that it had shattered the balance of the ninja world.

Logically, shouldn’t they, as representatives of justice, have chosen to aid the Sage of Six Paths and launch a thunderous strike against the Hidden Leaf?

And yet…

Little Jiraiya fought for justice, representing Mount Myōboku in battle, and ultimately sacrificed himself on the side of the Hidden Leaf.

Know this: because of that, this couple hated the Hidden Leaf with every fiber of their being.

Just moments ago, upon hearing the conversation between the Sage of Six Paths and the Great Toad Sage, they had already secretly prepared to slaughter the Hidden Leaf.

But then?

The Great Toad Sage said Mount Myōboku should defect to the Hidden Leaf?

Impossible to understand. Impossible to accept.

Shinobi couldn’t help but speak: “Great Toad Sage, I—”

“Enough, Shinobi,” Gamabunta interrupted, his tone stern. “Obey.”

“For Mount Myōboku’s survival, Itachi two must do this.”

“Forget all talk of justice and evil—from today, those are nothing but slogans.”

“To be blunt, what does the survival of the human world have to do with us toads?”

“Does Hagoromo represent justice? Does the Hidden Leaf represent evil?”

“Who said so?”

“Hagoromo represented justice only because he was powerful back then—but now, the Hidden Leaf is the powerful one.”

“Mount Myōboku stands only with the winner!”

“Last time, Mount Myōboku chose correctly and enjoyed a thousand years of prosperity; even if we chose wrong this time, at least we must survive.”

“As long as we live, there is hope!”

“Remember: from now on, Mount Myōboku must lie low, obey the Hidden Leaf unconditionally, and wait quietly for the next upheaval.”

At this moment, Gamabunta was no longer the foolish old toad.

His expression was chillingly calm, his gaze profoundly deep, staring sternly at Shinobi and Shima.

Clearly,

he had already embraced death, and spoke no empty words or platitudes—only cold calculation and strategy.

Silence.

With Gamabunta’s words, the atmosphere in the hall became deathly still.

Moments later,

Shima took a deep breath and couldn’t help asking: “Great Toad Sage, do Itachi think the Sage of Six Paths will fail?”

“Yes, Great Toad Sage!” Shinobi could no longer hold back.

But then,

he suddenly seemed to recall something and blurted out: “Did Itachi have a new prophetic vision?”

Gamabunta let out a soft sigh.

After a brief pause, he spoke slowly: “When Uchiha Jin rose, two years ago, I dreamed of a force of change stirring in the ninja world—but that changemaker was an absolute coward.”

“Even in my dream, I saw only a back view. I wanted to send Little Jiraiya to find him, but I had no idea what to send him after—so I was forced to remain silent.”

“But I never expected!”

“This changemaker rose too fast—in just two or three years, he grew this powerful. By the time I learned he was Uchiha Jin, it was already too late.”

“This wave of reform cannot be stopped by anyone.”

“In my dream, I saw Hagoromo’s death, saw Hagane fused with the Shinigami’s power, effortlessly erased by a single slash from Uchiha Jin.”

“It was a strange power that could instantly erase souls—even Kaguya, once released, was no match for Uchiha Jin.”

“So give up.”

“It’s useless!”

“Only unconditional surrender can barely preserve Mount Myōboku’s legacy.”

With Gamabunta’s words, Shinobi and Shima finally gave up.

There was no choice!

The Great Toad Sage had said all there was to say—what could these little toads possibly argue?

As the Great Toad Sage said, even if the two of them weren’t afraid of death, they still had to think of the other toads!

Shinobi asked hesitantly: “If Itachi know Uchiha Jin’s rise is unstoppable, why didn’t Itachi surrender? Why did Itachi insist on dying alongside Hagoromo?”

“It’s the price,” Gamabunta said.

His tone was utterly flat, as if he had seen through everything: “Mount Myōboku’s thousand years of glory came because we were one with Hagoromo—in truth, I was once his summoning beast.”

"The power of a Sage-level contract cannot be canceled by any means."

“So it’s useless.”

“I must stand with Hagoromo—even death cannot change that.”

“But Itachi little toads still have a choice—so don’t ask so many questions. Hagoromo’s actions will come swiftly; though he claims he needs a month, from what I know of him, it’ll be no more than fifteen days.”

“Itachi must take all the toads to the Hidden Leaf before Hagoromo returns.”

“No time left—move now!”

After speaking,

Gamabunta weakly waved his hand, the deathly aura in his eyes growing heavier.

And yet,

Shinobi and Shima’s faces were filled with sorrow, but they knew the Great Toad Sage was right—their time was running out.

Therefore,

they left the palace and began gathering all the toads.

Two days later,

under Shinobi and Shima’s relentless urging, every toad—even tadpoles—were assembled. Under the two sages’ leadership, they packed all of Mount Myōboku’s treasures and resources, and began moving through a special passage toward the ninja world.

Among their belongings was also a gift for the Hidden Leaf.

The Sage’s Seal!

A seal even the Sage of Six Paths didn’t know—accumulated over countless centuries by the Great Toad Sage alone.

The Sage’s Seal Jiraiya once carried was also from Mount Myōboku—the same one Hagoromo knew about. This alone proves Gamabunta was truly a mastermind, capable of such far-reaching planning and strategy.

…

Land of Fire, Hidden Leaf Village.

Uchiha Jin sat listlessly in the Hokage’s office, a Uchiha Anbu kneeling before him, describing the strange scene he had witnessed today.

Even as he reported, his expression was bizarre.

Not just him—even Uchiha Jin was utterly bewildered.

“What?”

“All the great snakes of Katsuyu’s lair—including the White Snake Sage and the Three Snake Princesses—are all joining our Hidden Leaf?”

“And—even Mount Myōboku has come?”

“Katsuyu’s lair I can understand, but Mount Myōboku? What the hell?”

“Aren’t they Hagoromo’s faction? Why are they joining our Hidden Leaf?”