Mount Myōboku.
A puff of smoke exploded in the air, and a figure dropped from it, breaking the silence of the place.
"What's going on?!"
Ren flipped in the air and, after landing steadily, began to look around, quickly noticing a figure on a large rock not far away.
"You're here, little Ren."
Ren's expression froze when he saw the other party, and he stepped forward two paces before respectfully saying,
"Long time no see, Fukasaku Sage."
"Still so polite, little Ren."
Fukasaku Sage stroked his snow-white beard, then leaped onto Ren's shoulder.
"Fukasaku Sage, why did you call me over so urgently?"
Ren turned his head to his shoulder and asked, a little puzzled.
Normally, he would summon these few from Mount Myōboku for battles; they had only called Ren over a few times.
"It's not me, it's the Great Toad Sage who is looking for you."
"Huh? The Great Toad Sage is looking for me?"
Ren immediately felt even more confused; he had met him a few times on Mount Myōboku over the years, but why was he suddenly looking for him this time?
"Let's go, little Ren, the Great Toad Sage is still waiting for you."
Fukasaku Sage on his shoulder extended his frog hand and patted Ren's neck, pointing into the distance.
"Oh, oh."
Although Ren was a bit puzzled, he didn't press for details; he would know everything soon anyway.
Half an hour later, Ren brought Fukasaku Sage to the Great Toad Sage's residence.
"You've come, you've finally come."
The seemingly ancient Great Toad Sage sat on a high platform with the character "Immortal" carved in the center, wearing a huge round bead with the character "Oil" carved on his neck.
Below were two smaller pillars, on one of which stood a small green frog with purple hair and lips.
"Great Toad Sage, Shima Sage!"
As Ren bowed in greeting, Fukasaku Sage, who was on his shoulder, had already jumped off Ren's shoulder and, in the blink of an eye, landed on the empty pillar, standing opposite Shima Sage.
"Long time no see, little Ren."
Shima Sage on the other side spoke, looking at Ren and softly saying,
"We called you over this time because the Great Toad Sage had a dream about you, which you should be aware of. This is a prophecy.
Listen carefully."
"Yes!"
Ren squatted down, his gaze fixed on the Great Toad Sage in front of him. He held his breath, ready to listen intently.
The Great Toad Sage was a creature that had survived since the ancient Kaguya era. Ren certainly didn't want to miss the prophecy from such a powerful being.
"Then I shall speak."
The Great Toad Sage slightly opened his eyes, looked at Ren below, and slowly said,
"In my dream, you will get what you desire after this war ends.
And you will fight alongside a very powerful man."
"Hmm???"
Ren was immediately a bit confused, and taking advantage of the other party's pause, he cautiously asked,
"Please, Great Toad Sage, what does it mean for me to fight alongside a very powerful man? Are there any other more detailed hints?"
"I'm not too sure about that either."
The Great Toad Sage pondered for a moment before continuing.
"But it seems to be on a plain, with many humans fighting. Oh, right..."
The Great Toad Sage remembered to add a sentence after speaking.
"Be careful, but polite children usually don't have bad luck, right?"
"Hmm..."
Ren pondered for a moment, then respectfully said,
"I understand, thank you for your prophecy and advice. I will remember it."
"Then you may go; I need to sleep."
After the Great Toad Sage finished speaking, he closed his eyes, and soon his chest began to rise and fall. It seemed the Great Toad Sage had excellent sleep quality.
Noticing this, the Fukasaku and Shima couple jumped off the high platform and both leaped to Ren's side as he stood up, saying,
"Let's go, little Ren, let the Great Toad Sage rest."
"Alright."
Just as they were leaving, the sleeping Great Toad Sage opened his eyes, looked at the departing Ren, and mumbled,
"This child, he actually has the aura of a turtle and a beetle in his body, how interesting.
Never mind, I won't think about it anymore, time to sleep, sleep."
Meanwhile, after leaving the Great Toad Sage's residence, Ren suddenly remembered his main purpose and quickly turned to Fukasaku.
"Fukasaku Sage, I almost forgot, I originally came to deliver intelligence. Where is Kosuke? I'll go find him."
"Deliver intelligence?"
Fukasaku Sage didn't ask further, merely extended his hand and pointed in a direction.
"Kosuke is with Gamabunta and those rascals; you can go find him."
"Alright."
Ren was just about to leave when Shima Sage called out to him again.
"Little Ren, you haven't eaten, have you? Come back and eat with them later. It's been a long time since we all ate together, don't you agree, dear?"
Fukasaku paused for a moment, then nodded, looking at Ren with a slight smile.
"Indeed, then we'll trouble you, little Ren. My wife and I will prepare a grand insect feast and wait for you all to eat."
"..."
Ren, upon hearing Shima Sage speak, already felt his legs weaken, and Fukasaku Sage's words sent a cold sweat down his back. He could only force a smile.
"Alright, alright, I'll go call them now."
After Ren finished speaking, he quickly walked out, while Shima Sage was still shouting behind him.
"Slow down, don't rush, little Ren, I have some insect snacks here, do you want to have some first?"
"..."
Hearing this, Ren simply stopped running and directly used the Instantaneous Body Technique, disappearing from the two Sages' sight in a few blinks of an eye.
Shima Sage looked at Ren's retreating figure and sighed.
"Alas, humans are at war, little Ren must not have eaten his fill for a long time. Look how hungry the child is. Dear, let's hurry back and cook."
"Alright, my dear, make plenty. We must let this child have a good meal."
As the two frogs spoke, they walked side by side towards their home, while Ren was completely unaware of this. He was currently on his way to find Gamabunta and the others, to deliver intelligence and tell those guys to come home for a grand feast.
"Ren."
"Hmm?"
Ren paused, looked down at his abdomen, and softly said,
"What's wrong, Chomei?"
"That big toad just now was very strong!"
Chomei's tone was very serious; after a pause, he continued,
"And, he seemed to have sensed our presence."
Just then, even the usually silent Isobu spoke up.
"He also seems to be a creature from the ancient era."
"Relax, both of you."
Ren continued to move forward quickly while comforting them.
"He is indeed a creature from the ancient era, and he is very strong, but he will not affect us."
Of course, if he wanted to affect them, Ren and the others wouldn't be able to resist.