Great Fireball Jutsu

Where was I?

How did I end up here out of nowhere? Was I dreaming?

Didn't seem like it.

And wasn't it nighttime where I had been? Why had it turned into daytime after coming here?

Aokiji thought it over. He remembered practicing the Summoning Jutsu earlier, getting familiar with it. How had he ended up in this godforsaken place?

Damn it.

He suddenly remembered something.

In the original story, hadn't Jiraiya used the Summoning Jutsu and been sent to Mount Myōboku, leading to that fateful opportunity?

Jiraiya had never told him about it, so he hadn't recalled that detail from the original story right away and had fallen into this trap.

Aokiji didn't blame Jiraiya for failing to mention something so important, because Jiraiya himself hadn't known.

His current situation was probably similar to Jiraiya's. He didn't know whether he could learn Sage Art here, but this definitely wasn't Mount Myōboku. In his memories, that place had been lush and picturesque. How could it be like this damned place, filled with ice everywhere? He was freezing to death.

As for why it was daytime, Aokiji figured this place had to be hundreds of thousands of miles from Konoha. Because of the time difference, it was nighttime in Konoha while it was daytime here, like the time difference between countries in his previous life.

Perhaps because he had awakened the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, he had some resistance to the cold. Given the state of this icy snow land, he probably wouldn't get away with just sneezing.

Looking at the endless expanse of white ice, Aokiji's head throbbed.

How was he supposed to get back?

The original story had never clearly explained how Jiraiya had eventually returned to Konoha.

How to get back was the most pressing issue Aokiji needed to solve.

He took a deep breath.

Calm down.

Calm down.

Don't panic when trouble comes.

Uh... calm down my ass. I was literally about to freeze to death.

Since he had come here through the Summoning Jutsu, there should be creatures similar to Summoned Beasts in this place.

He wasn't asking for Sage Art. He would be secretly happy just to return safely to Konoha.

The right approach was to find a local Summoned Beast that could Speak Human Language, ask where he was, and then decide how to return based on the situation.

Aokiji gloomily exhaled a puff of white mist. This place was so huge—how was he supposed to find a Summoned Beast? Shout and attract one? That wouldn't do. Who knew what kind of monster he might draw in?

Although Summoned Beasts could Speak Human Language and were relatively intelligent and reasonable, some of them weren't reasonable at all and loved eating people bones and all.

If he attracted a Summoned Beast like Manda, he wouldn't be able to beat it or outrun it. He would be dead for sure.

But if he searched slowly on his own, wouldn't he be like a headless fly? How many years would it take to find a Summoned Beast that could Speak Human Language?

He had to prepare for the worst. What if he couldn't leave this place anytime soon? Then the first issue would be survival.

Fortunately, he hadn't watched all those wilderness survival programs in his previous life for nothing. At a time like this, he needed to find high ground and determine his bearings.

Aokiji gazed into the distance, preparing to find a suitable place to climb so he could first get a general understanding of the terrain from above.

Having figured that out, Aokiji ran toward an ice peak with a scientifically proper arm-swinging posture. Climbing directly would waste too much energy, so he gathered chakra in his feet. A blue glow appeared beneath his soles, allowing him to adhere effectively to surfaces while making his body light as a swallow. Even sprinting across water was no problem.

This skill wasn't difficult and didn't require much chakra, yet it was extremely practical. Still, the Ninja Academy had slyly refused to teach it for some reason.

This was where the advantage of being a transmigrator showed. Aokiji had known about this technique since childhood, so he had naturally made a point of learning it. Knowing its general principles and having explored it in his daily practice, he had mastered it fairly well.

On a mountain slope nearly perpendicular at ninety degrees, Aokiji used this method to scale it as though walking on level ground, swift as the wind, until he reached the summit.

From this position, Aokiji could clearly survey the general area around him.

He gathered chakra in his eyes. His irises shifted from dark to red, and a Tomoe Pattern appeared around his pupils.

The Sharingan possessed many functions, one of which was heightened perception. Using that ability, Aokiji could now see the full extent of the area he had glimpsed earlier.

One look was all it took to give him a fright.

Aokiji miserably discovered that this place was far larger than he had imagined. As far as the eye could see, it consisted of several islands, separated by wide stretches of seawater. Other than that, there was nothing but ocean in every direction.

What a headache.

Aokiji rubbed his temples.

Walking out of here was out of the question.

At that moment, his heart was as cold as the glaciers around him.

Was he going to live here for the rest of his life?

He couldn't help thinking sorrowfully.

Just as Aokiji was lamenting his future life, a white object suddenly began wriggling amid the snow-covered landscape.

In nature, both predators and prey evolved fur that blended into their surroundings in order to hide themselves better. The wriggling mass Aokiji saw was most likely some kind of creature moving.

Although that white mass blended perfectly with its environment, it was still not enough to escape the Sharingan's perception.

Without further thought, Aokiji decided to quietly follow it. If it could Speak Human Language, he would quietly observe it and assess its nature. If it was gentle, he would ask where this place was. If it was violent and huge, he would stay far away.

If it couldn't Speak Human Language and looked weak, then sorry, but Aokiji would probably kill it and eat it, then skin it and use the hide as a blanket for warmth.

Besides his innate resistance to ice, Aokiji was also using chakra to cover every part of his body against the cold. That consumed chakra.

Animal flesh could provide energy, while fur could provide warmth. Both were supplies Aokiji desperately needed right now.

To avoid alerting it, Aokiji deliberately slowed down and cautiously approached. Using ice pillars as cover, he drew close to the creature and smugly observed its full appearance.

It stood on four legs, its body as white as snow, with sharp teeth and a vicious maw. It resembled a bear.

A Polar Bear? Given the surrounding icy snow land, that word popped into Aokiji's mind.

At that moment, the Polar Bear was using its fur, which blended into the world around it, to quietly approach another creature. It had grayish skin, a smooth exterior, a head somewhat like a leopard's, and something resembling a fish tail growing from its lower half. From its appearance, it should have been a seal.

It was adorably plump. At that moment, the cute little seal was leisurely basking in the sun, completely unaware of the approaching threat.

To avoid alerting the seal, the Polar Bear advanced cautiously, its bright eyes fixed intently on its prey. Once it came within a little over a hundred meters, it suddenly accelerated. Despite its massive size, the Polar Bear's explosive power was terrifying.

By the time the seal reacted, the Polar Bear had already pounced in front of it and opened its bloody maw. Though the sea was nearby and it only needed to shift slightly to dive in and escape the threat, it was clearly too late.

Its sharp teeth easily tore through the seal's soft body. Blood sprayed everywhere, and it died on the spot.

Just as the Polar Bear was about to feast and enjoy a hearty meal, it suddenly sensed something unusual. Raising its head, it saw a thin, small figure.

Having lived for most of its life, the Polar Bear swore it had never seen this kind of two-legged creature before.

It looked weak enough that one slap could kill it.

The Polar Bear's instincts immediately labeled him as such.

"Hello."

Aokiji greeted it, hoping it would respond. Instead, it bared its fangs at him.

"Roar, roar..."

Aokiji: ...

That wasn't the response I wanted.

"Wait, I'm not your enemy. My name is Aokiji, and I want to ask a question. What exactly is this place?"

"Roar, roar, roar..."

It was still baring its teeth.

Was it disdaining to answer him, or could it not Speak Human Language? Judging by the situation, it was probably the latter.

The Polar Bear roared and lunged straight at Aokiji.

Aokiji's eyes widened, then turned crimson.

Fine, no need for any more nonsense.

Killing intent surged within him as he rapidly formed hand seals.

Perfect. He could try out the ninjutsu he had learned but never had the chance to use.

Snake—Ram—Monkey—Boar—Horse—Tiger.

His hand seals flowed as smoothly as clouds and water. When he finished, Aokiji took a deep breath, raised his head, puffed out his chest, and slightly bulged his cheeks.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu.