Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 39: An Encounter at Mount Myōboku

Uchiha Compound

Due to Madara Uchiha's departure, a tense and uneasy atmosphere permeated the entire Uchiha clan. The ninjas of the clan began to train even more diligently. Uchiha Kagami, unable to find a spot in the clan's training grounds, went to practice near the waterfall by the Naka Shrine.

After finishing his ninjutsu practice, Kagami caught some fish in the river and grilled them to replenish his stamina.

"Ah, that smells delicious. Could you spare me a skewer of that grilled fish?"

Kagami immediately stood up, drew a kunai, and held it in a reverse grip, looking around vigilantly.

"No need to be so tense. And where are you looking? Down here, down here. Next to the fire."

The voice made Kagami look towards the fire, only to see a small toad about ten centimeters tall. The toad was wearing a cloak that covered its entire body, with only its head exposed. Its eyebrows, beard, and a small tuft of hair were all white, making it look quite old.

Kagami said with uncertainty, "Was that you speaking just now?"

The toad nodded and pointed at the fish. "Could you give me one of those fish?"

Kagami nodded. "No problem. Help yourself. But this is the first time I've ever seen a talking toad!"

The small toad, holding a fish, said with some exasperation, "What's so strange about that? We are summoning animals with chakra. And don't just call me 'toad.' You can call me Sage Fukasaku."

Kagami tilted his head. "A sage? Like the Sage of Six Paths?"

How could I compare to the Sage of Six Paths? Sage Fukasaku coughed awkwardly and changed the subject. "How rude. I told you my name; you should tell me yours."

Kagami immediately apologized. "I'm so sorry. My name is Uchiha Kagami. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Sage Fukasaku nodded while eating the fish, indicating he had heard.

Kagami asked again, "Sage Fukasaku, you still haven't told me if you're as amazing as the Sage of Six Paths."

Fukasaku said awkwardly, "Of course I can't compare to the Sage of Six Paths. But I can also use sage arts, so of course, I can be called a sage."

"Sage arts?" Kagami asked with great interest. "What is that? Is it powerful?"

"Of course," Fukasaku said proudly. "Sage arts are much more powerful than ninjutsu."

Kagami lamented, "If I knew sage arts, maybe I could defeat Ryusei."

Fukasaku asked with doubt, "Ryusei? Who is he? Is he strong?"

Kagami's expression fell. "Of course. I've challenged him several times and failed every time."

Fukasaku's face darkened. "Is this Ryusei blonde-haired and blue-eyed?"

Kagami shook his head. "No, Ryusei's hair and eyes are both black."

Fukasaku's expression relaxed. "You want to defeat him very much?"

Kagami nodded. "Yes. But Ryusei is just too strong, and he has the Hokage-sama as his teacher. I can't see any hope of defeating him."

Fukasaku finished the fish and tossed the bones away. "Then I will teach you. Under my tutelage, you will surely be able to defeat that Ryusei."

"You?" Kagami looked at the tiny Sage Fukasaku and felt he couldn't be that powerful. I probably wouldn't even need one hand to beat him.

Seeing Kagami's hesitation, Fukasaku said, "I have a feeling you're thinking something very rude. Watch this."

"Sage Art: Wind Style - Great Breakthrough!"

Fukasaku formed hand seals and blew out a hurricane. The wind, mixed with sharp blades, swept across the river and slammed into the opposite bank, shattering it to pieces. The hurricane continued forward, felling a swath of trees by the river and causing a section of the riverbank over ten meters wide to collapse.

Fukasaku turned his head and asked Kagami, "How was that, kid?"

Kagami was too shocked to speak. Looking at the fallen trees and the collapsed riverbank before him, he knew this had to have the power of an S-rank ninjutsu.

Looking at the toad who could use a C-rank ninjutsu with S-rank power, Kagami said excitedly, "That was amazing, Sage Fukasaku! Is that the power of sage arts?"

Fukasaku nodded with a profound air. "That's right. This is sage art, a technique that can greatly enhance the power of ninjutsu."

Kagami's eyes shone as he asked, "Then, Sage, can I learn it?"

"No," Fukasaku refused bluntly.

Kagami was disappointed by the answer.

"However," Fukasaku's tone shifted, "in exchange for the grilled fish, I can take you to see the Great Toad Sage. If the Great Toad Sage agrees to let you sign a contract with us, then you can stay and train at Mount Myōboku."

Kagami was confused. "Mount Myōboku?"

Fukasaku nodded. "That's right. Mount Myōboku is my home. It's in a secret place."

Kagami was thrilled. "Then how do we get there? Is it far? Should I ask for leave and pack some clothes?"

Fukasaku shook his head. "Don't worry, we'll be there in a moment." He then hopped onto Kagami's head and formed hand seals.

"Reverse Summoning Technique!"

With a poof of smoke, Kagami and Fukasaku disappeared.

Mount Myōboku

With another puff of smoke, Kagami appeared. He was instantly stunned by the sight of Mount Myōboku. He saw giant plants and mushrooms, and toads everywhere. Some of the toads were even taller than mountains. "So this is Mount Myōboku! What huge toads!" he said in shock.

Sage Fukasaku said, "Those are just some of the younger ones. If you sign a summoning contract with us, you can summon them to the outside world to fight alongside you in the future. Come on, let's go see the Great Toad Sage."

Kagami suppressed his excitement and followed Fukasaku to the Great Toad Sage's location. Fukasaku hopped in front of the giant toad and woke him up.

The Great Toad Sage woke up groggily. Seeing Fukasaku standing before him, he asked, "Fukasaku, what is it?"

Fukasaku said respectfully, "Great Toad Sage, I met a human child in the outside world. I saw that his aptitude was quite good and wanted him to sign a summoning contract with us and let him train at Mount Myōboku."

The Great Toad Sage gave Kagami a deep look and then said, "Fukasaku, since you have decided, then arrange for him to sign the summoning contract. I'm going back to sleep now."

After Fukasaku led Kagami out, he took out the summoning scroll, opened it, and said, "Now, use your blood to leave your name and handprint on it. That will complete the contract."

Kagami bit his finger and left his name and handprint on the summoning scroll. Fukasaku put the scroll away. "Now, I will first teach you the Summoning Technique. Once you learn it, you can summon us."

The Summoning Technique wasn't complicated, and Kagami learned it in a short while.

"Summoning Technique!"

A puff of smoke erupted from under Kagami's hand, but only a two-legged tadpole appeared.

Fukasaku said, "You need to use more chakra. The more chakra you use, the bigger the toad you can summon. But you also have to build a good relationship with them, otherwise, they won't respond to your summons."

Kagami nodded. "I understand, Sage Fukasaku."

"Honey, dinner's ready!" Shima called out.

Fukasaku smiled at Kagami. "You treated me to grilled fish, so I'll treat you to the delicious cuisine of our Mount Myōboku."

"Alright!" Kagami excitedly followed Fukasaku to dinner.

Kagami's eye twitched as he looked at the meal, which was entirely composed of insects. Whether it was the soup or the other dishes, it was all bugs.

Fukasaku said while eating, "Why aren't you eating? My wife worked hard to make this. It's very delicious."

Kagami picked up a white worm with his chopsticks, suppressed the urge to vomit, and put it in his mouth. He swallowed it without chewing. The moment it went down, his stomach churned. He quickly covered his mouth, barely managing not to throw up.

Feeling as if he were on the verge of death, Kagami finally finished dinner. Fukasaku looked at him lying on the ground and said, "It's getting late. I'll send you back today. From now on, you can come here every afternoon, and I will teach you how to train. When you want to come, just summon Gamaiwa." Fukasaku pointed to a three-meter-tall toad nearby.

Kagami nodded.

"Then I'll send you back first." Fukasaku formed hand seals and sent Kagami back with the summoning technique.

Seeing the familiar river, Kagami knew he was back. If it weren't for the collapsed trees and the ruined riverbank, he would have thought it was all a dream. Recalling Mount Myōboku, his stomach churned again. He quickly stopped the memory to avoid throwing up.

"Ryusei, I can finally catch up to you," Kagami murmured to himself. He then ran home to find something to eat.