Naruto: Chronicles of a Fire Ninja-Chapter 348 - 344: Don’t Lose Yourself

Gamamaru stared at Kaida for a long moment, his ancient eyes seeming to peer through layers of time itself.

"Fukasaku, Jiraiya, leave us," Gamamaru said, his voice carrying an unusual clarity compared to his earlier drowsiness. Fukasaku became a little tense at that.

"Elder, are you sure about this?" he asked.

"Yes," the Great Sage replied. With a sigh, Fukasaku left, followed by Jiraiya who was a little confused by this behavior, let alone Kaida who was having the firsthand experience of this weirdness.

The heavy stone doors closed behind them with a deep, resonating thud.

"Young one," Gamamaru began, his voice now carrying the weight of centuries, "do you know why I have lived so long?"

"Sensei said that you guys are more smart and powerful than us, maybe that's why?" Kaida asked.

"Hohoho, no, many beings more powerful than me have already left this world while I am still here. It is because I have been blessed—or perhaps cursed—with the ability to see glimpses of the future. Prophecies, to be exact." Gamamaru shifted in his seat, leaning forward slightly. "For centuries, these visions have guided the path of many. But recently, something unprecedented has occurred."

Kaida felt a cold sweat forming on his brow. 'Does he know?' he thought, trying to maintain his composure.

"The prophecies I have seen for decades have suddenly... changed. A new variable has entered the equation of fate." Gamamaru's gaze fixed directly on Kaida. "That variable is you."

'If he knows about my transmigration and tells everyone about it, I will be finished. I don't even want to think what will happen to me,' Kaida's thoughts were going wild with various scenarios when—

"I don't know the reason for this change," Gamamaru continued.

Relief washed over Kaida, though he carefully kept his expression neutral. The Great Sage might sense something was different about him, but he didn't know the full truth of his transmigration. Unknown to Kaida's inner turmoil, the Great Sage continued.

"But before we discuss what I've seen, I want to ask you something."

Kaida nodded. "Yes, Lord Gamamaru?"

"If someone were to kill your loved ones, what would you do?"

Without hesitation, Kaida answered, "I would kill them too, in the most brutal way possible."

"And would that bring your loved ones back?" Gamamaru asked, his voice gentle despite the heavy question.

Kaida's jaw tightened. "No... but does that mean I shouldn't kill them?"

"That decision is yours to make," Gamamaru said, closing his eyes momentarily. The world was not peaceful. If one person became gentle and peaceful and let such a person live, it would not result in making the other person good too. No, the chances were really high that they would target another family member next, or if they could, you too.

The long life of the Toad Sage had shown him too many things to give such bad and destructive advice to a person, so he continued, "What I want to tell you is this: after whatever you do, always remember there are more people who love you and depend on you. Don't lose yourself in anger and do something which is unsolvable."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. But Kaida became tense, a feeling of dread washing over him when he remembered that the Toad Sage could look into the future.

"Is something going to happen to my family?" Kaida asked.

"..."

"I beg you, Toad Sage, please tell me, is something going to happen to my family?"

"I can't tell you, child. All I can tell you is that fate can't be changed. If you do something to turn it around, it will restore itself, causing much more destruction in the process. Currently, it is already at its turning point," Gamamaru said and then turned silent, not speaking for a long time.

Kaida couldn't understand even half of what Gamamaru was saying, but what he could tell was that Gamamaru was not going to tell him about the future no matter how much he asked.

"Thank you, Great Sage," Kaida said as he bowed, and then left the room, but unlike when he entered, this time there was urgency in his steps.

Just as he was about to go out, the Toad Sage gave his last advice.

"Don't share anything I told you with anyone. I already took a risk by telling you the things I did." Kaida nodded and left.

Outside the room, on top of the mountain, Jiraiya and Fukasaku were standing in wait.

"So the talk is over, huh? What did he say to you?" Jiraiya asked.

"Just not to turn evil. Can we go back now, sensei?" Kaida asked.

Jiraiya sensed that something had happened, but since Kaida was not telling him, it could only be because the Great Sage said so. With these thoughts in his mind, he simply nodded.

"See you next time, Pa," Jiraiya said while Kaida also bowed, and then with a poof both of them were out of Mount Myoboku.

After they left, Fukasaku went inside the room once again.

"Gamamaru-sama, telling him about the future will change it, and your health will also deteriorate because of the recoil from fate," he said.

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"The future I saw was too gruesome for the world to bear, Fukasaku. I had to take this risk, otherwise even the child of prophecy may not have been able to save this world. But now things don't look so bad. And don't worry, I didn't tell him much. I just need some long sleep and everything would be fine," Gamamaru said with a smile as his eyes closed once again.

Fukasaku could only shake his head, hoping that the Great Sage's words would be true this time as well.

...

"I assume you have something important to do?" Jiraiya asked. Kaida nodded his head.

"Okay, I don't know what you guys talked about in there, but you can always count on me for help," Jiraiya said. Kaida once again nodded, but this time with a smile. As they both were about to part ways, Kaida turned.

"Sensei, why were you in such a hurry to bring me to Mount Myoboku?"

"It was the Sage's order, why?"

"Nothing, I was just curious," Kaida said and went toward his home.

...

"You want me to form the most powerful defensive array I know around your home, the most powerful one?" Reina asked.

"I know this is a little sudden, but I really need this. If you want, I can pay any amount you want for all this trouble," Kaida said.

"I don't want your money... I just want to know why you're in such a hurry and tension, and what is the reason for this sudden precaution. Because I can see your house doesn't lack a defensive array—even though it's not very powerful, it is sufficient enough," Reina said.

"That is something I can't explain to you... I have a feeling that something bad is going to happen to me or my family very soon. I can't explain why, but I want to be safe just in case."

Reina kept looking toward Kaida for a long time. She could tell that he was hiding something, but there was sincerity in his voice. After a long time, she sighed.

"Fine, don't tell me if you don't want. Arrange these things for me and I will create the most powerful defensive array in all of Konoha, one through which only an S-rank ninja or above could break through. But remember, it will be very expensive to maintain even if I don't take a penny from you guys."

"No problem," Kaida said as he took the list and went to get the ingredients.

...

"We don't have many ninja to deploy to the borders. Luckily, some of them got recently promoted to chunin. Even though they don't have much experience, they could be sent to safer outposts like the ones with Sunagakure or toward the sea. For the outposts near Iwa and Kumo's border, we would need experienced ninja, and some Jonin as well.

Looks like I will need to ask Lord Third to deploy some ANBU ninja as well, otherwise we are severely short-staffed," Shikaku was completing the list of ninja who were going to be sent to outposts and the routes between Iwa, Kumo, and Konoha.

After preparing for the whole night and many discussions with Eagle—head of ANBU ninja in Konoha—the list was finally complete, and a letter was sent to all of the concerned ninjas about their roles.