Jiraiya's face turned red.
He had only been wondering about the strange device that had suddenly appeared on Menma's face and what that "combat power of 3000" even meant. But then, out of nowhere, Menma had called him—Jiraiya, the legendary Toad Sage of the Sannin—ordinary yet confident!
How did Minato from another world raise his child to be like this?
Was this really Naruto's counterpart?
Jiraiya took a deep breath, trying to suppress his frustration. "What did you just say?"
"Am I wrong?" Menma looked directly at him, unfazed. "How do you think your strength compares to that of the First Hokage?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth but hesitated. "...I—"
Menma didn't give him a chance to continue.
"The First Hokage was known as the God of Shinobi—the strongest of his era. Do you think you can surpass him?"
Jiraiya sighed. "No, I can't, but—"
"No buts!" Menma interrupted, his voice firm. "If the so-called Child of Prophecy is destined to change the world, don't you think they should be even stronger than the First Hokage? After all, the First Hokage couldn't achieve the world peace you seek."
Jiraiya frowned, caught off guard by the question.
"Isn't it logical that someone aiming to accomplish what the First Hokage couldn't should surpass him in strength?" Menma continued. "Jiraiya, do you think you can guide the Child of Prophecy to that level?"
The words hit Jiraiya like a barrage of kunai.
He had never personally seen the First Hokage's strength, but he knew it was beyond anything he could ever achieve.
After all, Hashirama Senju wasn't just strong—he defined what it meant to be strong. Jiraiya was simply a Sannin, someone whom Hanzo of the Salamander had once labeled a "loser."
And as for guiding the Child of Prophecy to surpass the First Hokage?
Jiraiya had never even considered that possibility.
How could he? He couldn't even begin to imagine what that level of power would look like.
"This... this isn't just about power!" Jiraiya blurted out, flustered. His face was burning with frustration. "Achieving a world where people understand each other—that isn't something that can be done by force alone!"
Menma tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk on his face.
"If not power, then what?" he asked. "How do you plan to unite people? Are you going to rely on personal charm?"
Jiraiya nodded quickly, as if grasping at a lifeline. "Yes! I believe the Child of Prophecy can do it through their will and heart!"
"Is that so..." Menma muttered, before suddenly asking, "Then, Jiraiya—how would you rate your own personal charm? Do you think it's greater than the First Hokage's? The man who founded Konoha and united countless clans—including the Uchiha, who were his clan's mortal enemies?"
Jiraiya froze.
His mind went blank.
Can we please stop talking about the First Hokage?!
Because the truth was painfully obvious.
In terms of strength? He wasn't even in the same league.
In terms of charisma? The First Hokage had convinced entire ninja clans—entire nations—to follow his ideals.
Jiraiya? He had trouble getting even one disciple to stay on the right path.
"You can't compare, right?" Menma pressed. "Then let's go back to the original question—why do you think you're qualified to be the mentor of the Child of Prophecy? What makes you so special that only you can guide them?"
Jiraiya's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out.
He had no answer.
"If someone in this world is truly fit to be the teacher of the Child of Prophecy..." Menma paused for effect. "Then tell me, Jiraiya—why would it be you and not the First Hokage?"
Jiraiya's mind was spinning. He felt his entire belief system being shaken at its core.
"But... But the First Hokage isn't alive in this era!" Jiraiya finally countered, as if grasping at straws.
Menma stared at him for a long moment before slowly nodding. "So, your only advantage is that you happen to be alive right now?"
Jiraiya clenched his fists.
"I admit that the First Hokage surpasses me in both power and personal charm," he admitted. "But the Child of Prophecy was not born in his time. They were born now!"
For the first time in this entire conversation, Jiraiya felt like he had regained some footing.
He had spent his entire life believing in that prophecy. Even if he wasn't the strongest or most charismatic, he would do everything in his power to guide his disciple toward peace.
That was the only thing that mattered.
"Why are you so sure the Child of Prophecy will appear in this era?" Menma suddenly asked, his expression unreadable.
Jiraiya blinked in confusion.
"The Great Toad Sage prophesized it!" he answered immediately. "He existed even in the time of the Sage of Six Paths and once foretold the coming of a chosen one even back then!"
Menma chuckled. "The Sage of Six Paths, huh?"
Something about the way he said it sent chills down Jiraiya's spine.
"Tell me, Jiraiya—what exactly must the Child of Prophecy do to bring lasting peace to this world?"
Jiraiya hesitated.
"Specifically," Menma continued, "what obstacles stand in the way of that peace?"
Jiraiya frowned. He didn't like where this was going.
"The Child of Prophecy must unite the world through understanding, not force!" he declared firmly.
Menma let out a long sigh.
"You really don't understand anything about the true history of this world, do you?"
Jiraiya stiffened. "What do you mean by that?"
Menma didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave Jiraiya a long, searching look before finally speaking.
"It just so happens that I'm in the mood to talk," he said. "So I'll tell you."
Jiraiya's heart pounded in his chest.
He had the feeling he was about to hear something that would change his perspective forever.
Meanwhile, in the Main World...
Primary School 996, , Imperial Capital.
Uchiha Sasuke had been enrolled in this school for a while now.
Sitting at his desk, he flipped through the history textbook with a deep frown.
"Hey, Indra," Sasuke muttered under his breath, his Sharingan faintly flickering to life. "Is all of this true?"
His hands tightened around the book.
Because if this was true—then the history of the ninja world was far darker than he had ever imagined.
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