When his vision cleared after passing through warped space-time, Naruto found himself standing on a pure white floor.
No, it wasn't a floor.
He looked down. Beneath his feet was a surface as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the sight above-countless palaces built of white stone, suspended in midair.
Arched bridges connected the palaces, with clouds and mist flowing beneath them, as though the entire complex had been built above the clouds.
"This... this is..." Naruto's mouth fell open.
"Las Noches, Outer Ring Third Observation Deck." Lilynette stepped out from behind him and rose onto her toes to smack the back of his head. "Don't stand there gawking like some country bumpkin. You're embarrassing me."
Naruto clutched his head in pain, but his eyes remained wide. He turned toward the distance and saw an even more breathtaking sight-a towering structure reaching toward the heavens was under construction at the center of the palace complex.
The tower was made of translucent crystal, with countless points of light flowing inside it like a living network of blood vessels. Its peak extended above the clouds, its end lost to sight.
"That's the Main Tower of the Soul King Palace. It isn't finished yet." Starrk's lazy voice drifted over from beside him.
He leaned against a white stone pillar with his hands in his pockets, looking ready to fall asleep. "His Majesty said it'll take another three to five years to finish. Right now, it's just a shell."
"The Soul King Palace?" Naruto caught the name. "What's that?"
"His Majesty's palace, home to the throne from which he'll rule this world." Lilynette spoke with a pride she seemed to take entirely for granted.
"Once it's finished, you'll be able to look down over the entire Shinobi World from the top. Well? A lot grander