Deep within the Rocky Tunnel, Hidden Stone Autonomous Region.
The tunnel entrance was hidden among several massive granite boulders. From the outside, it looked like nothing more than a narrow crack, but after walking inward for about a hundred meters, the space suddenly opened up into a natural domed cavern.
The cave walls were smooth and even, while the ground was covered in fine gravel. The corners bore rippling marks left by water flowing over them for years.
At the center of the cave lay a bottomless pool. Its water was deep blue, its surface as still as a mirror, reflecting the narrow shaft of daylight above.
There was no duckweed on the water. The rock walls along the edges were covered in dark green moss that extended from the cracks in the stone all the way below the waterline.
About fifty meters beneath the surface, a faint ring of glowing patterns could be seen. The markings formed a neat circle, like a gigantic seal sunk to the bottom of the pool, slowly rotating.
Tiny bubbles rose from the edges of the pattern, gradually growing larger as they ascended before bursting softly upon reaching the surface.
Tianyi stood at the edge of the deep pool, shifting his gaze from the jutsu formula on the ground to the people around him.
He raised a hand and pointed into the depths of the pool. "Everyone—this is the hidden realm that leads to the moon."
Minato stepped forward, crouched down, and lightly touched the pool water with his fingertips. He asked doubtfully, "Master, I can't sense any chakra fluctuations here. Can we really reach the moon directly by entering from here?"
Tianyi nodded. "That's right. The people on the moon came to the Ninja World through this place. There are still people living