39 Myoboku

(A/N: If you're on your computer, listen to this while you read for a more immersive experience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KE9lAzyjK7s )

The air around here was extremely refreshing, making Jin feel comfortable as soon as he arrived. In his previous world, such a mystical place did not even come close to existing.

"So beautiful!" He couldn't help but exclaim. Gamahiro smiled with pride, crossing his arms.

"Right? Well, I live here! Make yourselves at home!" He was very happy to hear Jin's words, as he loved his home more than anyone.

"Cheh... Although it's nice, it's not Yatagarasu Canyon..." Karasu was a little salty since he had to admit Mount Myoboku did look a little better than his place.

Suddenly, a voice was heard from the pond's shore.

"Gamahiro! I see you successfully brought back the guests?" A toad about Gamahiro's size appeared out of nowhere. It was colored a dull, rusty red, but around its eyes, lips and chest were brighter red markings. He was wearing a blue Happi vest and had a scar on his left eye. (A/N: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happi )

Jin immediately recognized Gamabunta and smiled. This was the most iconic Toad in the whole series, appearing in the first of all episodes alongside the fourth Hokage himself. Bunta was the Chief Toad of Mount Myoboku, but it was not very probable that he was the chief currently, due to his age and size.

"Heh. of course Bunta! Who do you think I am?" Gamahiro looked at Gamabunta with provocation in his eyes.

"Hahahaha! Nothing, I just thought that you would lead them somewhere different with your crappy sense of direction."

"Say that again!"

The two toads jumped towards each other and clashed, neither giving the other an edge.

"Alright, I don't have time for this. Jin, you stay with them and go to our prepared residence. I am going to pay a visit to an old friend of mine. Peace!" Karasu transformed into a crow and disappeared in a flash.

"Alright Hiro-chan, Bunta-kun! Can you please guide us to our quarters?" Jin was excited to be here, so he ignored the fact that Karasu just ditched him and left.

"Ahem. Follow us." The toads regained their composure when they noticed that they went overboard. They still sent glares at each other from time to time though.

"It seems like the competitive spirit was high before the position of chief toad was given out, huh?" Jin felt like it was funny. He remembered Gamahiro being extremely submissive next to Gamabunta in the anime.

After a while, they got to a horn-shaped building that curved downwards. With a huge waterfall on its tip, birds were flocking around it. The sound of the water falling on a pond was incredibly soothing.

"So nice!" Jin felt like a tourist, he enjoyed every little thing in this place and wasn't scared to show it. Gamabunta and Gamahiro wore smug expressions as they heard him talk.

After entering the building, Jin was greeted by the sight of a small reception. With Gamahiro's prompting, he checked in and got a key.

"Jin Uchiha-san. Room number 30, on the fifth floor. Karasu's crows, room 31, also on the fifth floor." A female toad was the receptionist, as she went through the normal procedures and gave them two keys. The birds could share a room, but Jin got one for himself.

Before he went upstairs, Gamahiro started speaking out loud.

"You are free to explore until sunset. When the time comes, you must be back right here in the reception, where I'll be waiting. I will then lead you to tonight's gathering."

"Gathering?" Jin was now curious.

"We will all celebrate the occasion and hold a banquet. It will be a fun time to socialize and set the mood for the friendly tournament. It is also an opportunity for the Clan-Heads to analyze each other's po-"

At this moment, Gamabunta placed his hands on Hiro's mouth to stop him from speaking, the latter was confused and started to struggle.

"SHHH, That's meant to be a secret! He'll find out tonight!"

Gamahiro finally got out of the head-lock and breathed deeply, catching his breath.

"Ahh... My bad. Jin, forget what I said, bye!" Gamahiro hopped away as fast as he could, and Gamabunta followed him after shrugging.

Jin had understood most of that. The animal clans were probably going to compare each other's strength tonight without the use of any fighting. The thought made him smirk.

"It's getting interesting!"

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In another similar building, Hideki had arrived and had gotten a similar message from Gamaken. He decided to stay in his room and relax, to be ready for tomorrow's fight. He had been told by Nekomata that apart from Fugaku and Jiraiya, there would be a few strong ones.

"Heh! Let's see who can defend against my speed!"

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Inside a room in these buildings, Fugaku was currently sitting cross-legged on his bed. He had a black female lizard, about the size of a dog, resting by his side.

"Fugaku-chan, do you think there will be anyone interesting tomorrow? I was bored with you fighting the weaklings back at the clan... sss..." Its tongue came out of its mouth as it hissed.

"Shut up, lizard. I'm training." Fugaku remained unhindered as he continued to circulate his chakra in strange ways. His skin turning dark, as his fingers became claws (A/N: With no nails. Just dark claws.)

His teeth grew out, and his irises became yellow, while his pupils became thin slits similar to a lizard's.

"Grrrr..." Fugaku started to grumble and lose his sense of self when the Komodo dragon next to him hit him with its tail in the face. His body going back to normal.

"F***!"

"So rude... I guess that cockiness is why I decided to take you on as my disciple..."

"Shut up... Lizard." Fugaku was irritated. He had been practicing this technique for a year now, and he still couldn't even hold control for more than thirty seconds.

"Don't worry. You are still ten and have much room for improvement. I haven't told those stupid birds and amphibians about us discovering a holy land. If all goes well, we'll finally becomethe fifth noble clan! Sehehehehe!" The Komodo dragon cackled madly as it grew in size, dwarfing Fugaku.

"Come on, try again, brat."

"Noble my ass..."

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Jin had been visiting for the past hour. He had seen so many things, and wished he could take pictures and post them on the internet. He wasn't in Japan though.

"Ahhh, I never went on a tourist trip back then. This is so nice..." With a smile, he continued to walk around, enjoying the company of the friendly toads and the beautiful scenery.

At one point, a statue caught his eye. On top of the praying toad sculpture, sat a purple-haired kid. He was wearing a dark coat that covered his whole body and seemed to be meditating. Jin looked closer and saw he had a massive white gourd with the kanji for 'SEAL' on it. It had a shoulder strap and was conveniently placed next to him.

The kid seemed to have noticed him, but ignored his existence and went back to meditating. A little-ticked off, Jin walked towards the kid. As he got closer, he noticed that the kid had the leaf-village protector on his right arm. Feeling his anger go away, he approached amicably.

"Hello! My name is Jin Uchiha! What is your name?" He stopped at the bottom of the statue and looked up, pointing towards his forehead protector. The kid seemed to be about his age or a bit older.

"Shut up, retard. Everyone and their mother knows that kid's dead." The kid responded after looking at Jin for a small second, following it by closing his eyes once more, ignoring him completely.

"Excuse me?" Jin finally remembered, he was thought of as dead in the village! He did not know how to prove his identity though.

"Grrr... So rude." feeling his anger reignite as the dude spoke to him in such a disrespectful manner, Jin grit his teeth. Who did he think he was? Is someone easy to bully?

"You! What's your name!"

"I do not need to tell my name to a retard."

"What!?"

Jin exploded, his chakra flooded out as he thunder-stepped behind the kid, sending a kick his way, connecting easily.

"Hmph. So slow, you ought to show me some- what?" Jin got cocky too soon, as the kid that was previously sitting there, suddenly became a bunch of centipedes that scattered away. Some of them started running up Jin's foot.

"Wah!" He was legit scared because he always hated bugs. Jin concentrated lightning chakra into his leg, releasing sparks that burnt the bugs to a crisp.

"Phew..." Jin sighed in relief, but before he could relax, a cold voice sounded behind him.

"Behind you."

Jin turned around in a flash and saw a bunch of centipedes run towards him at top speed. The sound they made while tapping their little claws on the ground was extremely eerie.

He felt as though he couldn't move, and lost control of his chakra. The centipedes started crawling up his body and reached for his mouth and eyes.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!" Jin was scared out of his mind. Even a life or death battle was better than this.

"It's a genjutsu. Baka." Suddenly, a cute voice sounded while the centipedes disappeared. Jin came back to reality made some distance, landing on a stone sculpture.

After a couple of hand signs, dark lightning started to appear in his hand as he held it with his other.

"You're such a wuss. Even such a low-level genjutsu got to you because of your fear of bugs. He's right to call you a retard. Baka." Mikoto sounded pissed.

Jin was happy that it was all a dream, and immediately became ashamed at Mikoto's comment. Bugs really were his weakness.

The purple-haired kid was surprised to see Jin snap out of his best genjutsu in a mere second. All he saw was a dark chakra correcting the messed up chakra flow. Now, he felt enormous pressure from the lightning.

Feeling ticked off, the boy looked at Jin in the eyes and turned around. Placing his gourd on his back.

"Listen up. My name is Fujiki. Fujiki Aburame. I look forward to our bout in the tournament." With those words, he left, leaving Jin alone and confused.

"Damn, what's with this guy?" Jin was genuinely scared of bugs, This was not looking good for him.