"Jiraiya, are you serious about taking so many brats to Mount Myōboku for a meal?"
"A picnic and camping trip should definitely be somewhere we haven't been before. Besides, the scenery on Mount Myōboku is quite beautiful!"
Lin Yu looked at the group of little ones in front of him, burdened with bags, and couldn't help but feel a headache. "Are you sure you won't be kicked out by those toads?"
Jiraiya coughed, pouting, "If it were any other time, it would be impossible. But this is an exception. The Great Toad Sage has already given his instructions, as long as you, Lin Yu, are willing to go."
"I'm willing to go?"
Lin Yu said irritably, "Jiraiya, don't tell me that old immortal toad has predicted something again?"
Jiraiya laughed heartily, "You figured it out. But this meal, I'm serious about it. I've invested a lot. The food will be plentiful!"
Lin Yu sighed. Going to Mount Myōboku wasn't bad. He could use this opportunity to occupy the toads' dwelling to place his Sage Mode clones. However, the thought of plentiful food was enough to make him reconsider. The food at Mount Myōboku was not for the faint of heart.
Those bugs full of collagen, who could possibly swallow them?
"Wow, really? Pervert Sage," Naruto's eyes lit up when he heard that the usually stingy Jiraiya was investing heavily. He was still worried about his father's meager private funds, and now, with food plentiful, it was all worth it!
"Mount Myōboku? Such a far place, it's too troublesome!" Shikamaru hugged his head, looking troubled.
"Shikamaru, think of it as a trip, and the food is plentiful!" Choji, carrying a backpack heavier than himself, clutched a large barrel of snacks, his eating never ceasing.
Rock Lee was also excited, "That's right, that's right! Maybe there'll even be mountain climbing! I'll definitely work hard then! Youth doesn't allow me to be decadent for even a second!"
All twelve Konoha 11 were present for this gathering. Kurenai was going to follow, but upon hearing it was a meal at Mount Myōboku, she decisively went to the Senju clan compound to train with Kushina and the others. Who would want to have a meal at that place!
Jiraiya smiled, "It's actually not that far, but it depends on whether someone is willing to lend a hand!"
The young ninjas followed Jiraiya's gaze to Lin Yu, then all of them wore a flattering smile.
"Hehehe..."
...
"Who was it that said Teacher Lin Yu should give them a ride? Now look at you, your legs are running numb!"
"Naruto, run slower! I can barely keep up!"
Naruto ran at the forefront, his body as if injected with chicken blood. He said, "Exercise more, exert more effort, and then you can eat more delicious food. Choji, hurry up!"
"Right, Naruto, wait for me!"
Rock Lee began to move with great speed, suggesting, "Why don't we have a race? Whoever reaches Mount Myōboku first, we'll split our portion with him, allowing the first-place winner to enjoy double the food happiness!"
"Agreed!"
"Seconded!"
All the boys, except for Shikamaru, agreed. However, Sasuke and Neji were only interested in the friendly competition among their peers. They weren't particularly interested in the reward for first place; what they cared about was their strength among their contemporaries.
Seeing the boys getting all fired up, Ino couldn't help but complain to Sakura, "Why is Teacher Lin Yu only taking Hinata along? We're also beautiful, youthful maidens!"
"Hinata is Teacher Lin Yu's disciple, and you, Ino pig, are not. Besides..."
Thinking of Hinata's blushing appearance, Sakura secretly snorted. She didn't want to be carried.
"Who are you calling what! Forehead, and besides, Teacher Lin Yu has a good temper, is handsome, and is powerful. Being his disciple gives a sense of security!"
Ino puffed out her chest slightly, then looked at Sakura with a hint of provocation, "I might still have a chance, but you, forehead, have no chance. I really don't know if you're malnourished or what, tsk tsk tsk!"
"Ino pig, you die for me!"
Shikamaru, at the very back of the group, looked at the hyped-up crowd with helplessness, reaching up to rub his forehead, "What a hassle!"
Do these guys have any understanding of Mount Myōboku at all!
...
Mount Myōboku, one of the three great Sage Mode training grounds in the ninja world, renowned alongside the Shikkotsu Forest and Ryūchi Cave, is a rare sacred place for cultivation.
Mount Myōboku has a remote geographical environment, resembling a labyrinthine mountain. If one doesn't know the secret passages, they could easily get lost in the mountains.
At this moment, a rift opened in the sky above Mount Myōboku, and Lin Yu, carrying Hinata, descended from the sky, startling a chorus of frog croaks.
"The aesthetic of where frogs live is really not good."
Lin Yu glanced around. Most of it was swamp and water, and the trees grew strangely, likely caused by the dense natural energy.
Lin Yu's arrival was clearly anticipated. Two toads hopped from afar, one with white fur and the other with purple fur.
"Are you, Lord, Uzumaki Lin Yu of Konoha? I am Fukasaku. The Great Toad Sage has been awaiting your arrival for a long time. Please!"
Lin Yu's expression was playful, "You're quite polite, it makes me feel bad about trying to take over territory."
Fukasaku's eyelids twitched, but remembering the Great Toad Sage's warning, he still nodded politely and led the way.
"I am Shima. If you don't mind, I can take this cute little girl to the mess hall. Lunch is almost ready."
Hinata held onto Lin Yu's big hand, her eyes looking at Lin Yu as if asking for his opinion.
"Go, but little Hinata should probably eat the lunch you prepared yourself."
"Okay." Hinata nodded obediently and followed Shima in another direction.
Soon, Lin Yu was led by Fukasaku to the great hall where the Great Toad Sage resided. On a giant seat lay a massive orange old toad with closed eyes, wearing a huge black academic cap.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't a seat, but more like a giant bowl filled with clean water, in which the old toad lay comfortably.
Boiling a frog!
Lin Yu's first thought was this phrase. He really wanted to put a fire under that bowl!
Perhaps sensing Lin Yu's ill intentions, the Great Toad Sage shivered, opened his aged, yellow eyes, and said in a hoarse voice, "I've wanted to meet you for a long time, but there was never a suitable opportunity."
"Spit it out quickly, I'm still hungry."
"Lord, you don't need to be so extreme. Mount Myōboku has no ill will towards you."
Lin Yu said, "Old toad, if you don't speak soon, I'm leaving."
Fukasaku's eyelids twitched fiercely, but he endured it.
The Great Toad Sage exhaled, as if recalling something, and said, "Actually, my foresight became blurred decades ago. Recently, I could still foresee some fragments, but this time, there were only a few words."
Lin Yu frowned and asked, "What words?"
The Great Toad Sage looked deeply at Lin Yu and said word by word, "The turning point is within yourself!"
...
After leaving the Great Toad Sage, Lin Yu's brow was furrowed. He didn't know what this meant. Turning point? Does it mean they will lose the upcoming battle? Or suffer heavy losses?
The turning point is within me, could it be the system that hasn't appeared in years?
Lin Yu muttered. This broken system was completely defunct, unable to issue any rewards. It was useless. He wondered who made it!
Suddenly, Fukasaku hopped to Lin Yu's side and said, "I must remind you, Lord, that the distance from Konoha to Mount Myōboku, if walking, would take over a month. If..."
*Swish!*
Fukasaku looked at Lin Yu, who had suddenly disappeared, and couldn't help but gasp. How terrifying humans were becoming. The Jiraiya of the past was much cuter, both foolish and silly.
The mess hall on Mount Myōboku, being frequented by large toads, had tables and chairs that were incredibly large, enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
Hinata, who was sitting on a large chair swinging her legs, suddenly saw her vision blur. Then, dozens of figures descended from the sky and landed on the large table in front of her.
"Ouch, who am I sitting on?"
"Naruto! You idiot, move your face off me!"