The next day, the group obtained temporary entry permits at the border of the Land of Rain and officially entered the country.
"This... this is the Land of Rain!" Jiraiya stared at everything in shock. Faced with a city full of towering buildings and streams of traffic, he no longer knew what to say. He had visited the Land of Rain only a few years ago, when it had still been a war-torn wreck of crumbling walls and ruins.
How had it become an entirely different world in just five short years?
Minato's eyes widened as he watched an enormous object fly overhead. "M-Master Jiraiya, what is that?"
Jiraiya looked where Minato was pointing. An enormous flying vessel, flat and sleek and bristling with thick metal barrels, swept across the sky. Its vast shadow covered most of a city block. Several smaller, nimble aircraft followed behind it, circling around to provide an escort.
"W-What is that?" Thoroughly bewildered, Jiraiya turned to Xiao Yu and the others beside him.
Xiao Yu smiled faintly. "That's a Sky Carrier! When will we finally become full-fledged carrier personnel?" With that, he and his teammates gazed adoringly at the Sky Carrier as it receded into the distance.
"You youngsters need to work hard at your training and studies! We're the heroic Seventh Carrier Squad. Our predecessors' glory is waiting for you to carry it on!" Hexia encouraged the squad members excitedly.
"Yes, Captain! We'll work twice as hard to become proud carrier crew members as soon as possible and uphold our predecessors' glory!"
Watching the spirited squad members, Meizi, the spirit floating overhead, was suddenly moved. "What wonderful children! And you're always so strict with them!" She could not help rolling her eyes at Oli beside her.
Oli was momentarily speechless. How were they supposed