The mornings in the Land of Rain are always shrouded in a misty haze.
As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the clouds, Ancor Vantian activated the anti-gravity engine.
The steel behemoth slowly rose from the construction base outside Amegakure, its seventy-two engine nozzles at the bottom dispersing the rain clouds within a ten-mile radius.
The villagers of Amegakure stood on rooftops, streets, and hillsides, gazing up at this unprecedented aerial fortress with all its armor plates spread out, like a mythical giant bird spreading its wings to blot out the sky.
Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato stood atop Akatsuki's former tallest tower, gazing at the gradually shrinking steel figure.
"How magnificent!" Yahiko murmured, the morning breeze ruffling his short orange hair. "But isn't the Heavenly Martial Continent in the southwest? Why are we heading northeast?"
"It's the same no matter which way you go, it's a continent on the other side of the planet!"
Nagato smiled slightly, his prosthetic eye projecting a rotating model of a planet. "Look here!"
A holographic projection unfolded in front of the three people, with navigation markers flashing on the surface of the azure planet.
"Based on Orochimaru's calculations of the planet's curvature, starting from the coast of the Land of Lightning, the actual voyage can be shortened by 30% by utilizing the monsoons and ocean currents brought about by the planet's rotation."
Yahiko nodded thoughtfully, his gaze following the fleet as it gradually disappeared into the distance.
The sunlight refracted blindingly off Ancor Vantian's armor plating, reflecting in his eyes a barely perceptible longing.
"Are we... really not going?"
Nagato shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the thriving Amegakure below.
"I'm tired. From now on, I'll just stay and guard the Land of Rain."
As he spoke, he paused, looked up at Yahiko, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.
"If you want to go, it's not too late!"
Yahiko gazed into the distance in silence for a moment, then burst into laughter. "What a joke! The three of us are one entity; we can't function without any one of us!"
Nagato's prosthetic eye flickered, and the projector automatically shut down.
Konan gently placed the folded paper crane on the windowsill. The paper crane flapped its wings and flew into the distance, chasing after the departing fleet.
"Besides!" Yahiko turned and leaned against the railing, the sunlight gilding him with a golden edge.
" The Land of Rain is our true home. We, who are out of touch with the times, should cherish and protect this hard-won peace."
Nagato looked down at the bustling street below, where the school bell rang on time and the shouts of vendors echoed from the market.
"Yes, that's enough."
The three stood side by side, their shadows stretched long by the morning light, extending all the way to the newly painted wall on the other side of the tower.
There, three little figures holding hands were painted in bright colors.
Three days later, off the coast of the Land of Lightning.
Ancor Vantian has swelled into a colossal behemoth that blots out the sky.
Looking out from the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Raikage's Office, the shadow cast by this aerial fortress covers the entire bay.
Around it, the fleet had expanded to an astonishing size: 108 capital warships, 56 supply ships, and countless transport ships.
"Flight confirmed, full speed ahead."
The moment the command was given, the sea surface boiled amidst terrifying energy fluctuations.
The seawater within a ten-mile radius was forcibly pressed into a depression with a diameter of one kilometer, and then a violent tsunami, hundreds of meters high, was unleashed.
Ancor Vantian began to accelerate.
Blinding arcs of energy erupted from the seams of the armor, and the trail left by the tail stretched for hundreds of kilometers, like the burning tail feathers of a giant bird in mythology.
The coastal forests collapsed in swathes under the shockwave, and countless schools of fish fled frantically in the deep sea.
Some ancient marine creatures opened their eyes, which had not been used for thousands of years, and looked in horror at the shadow tearing the sky across the sea.
On the outer deck of Ancor Vantian.
Genius ninjas from the Five Great Nations are braving the howling winds, witnessing this unprecedented expedition.
Naruto, with his hands behind his head, lay by the railing, gazing at the sky, and asked, "Hey, Sasuke, what do the people of the Heavenly Martial Continent eat?"
Sasuke leaned against the porthole, not looking up, and said, "I don't know."
So, will we be free to move around once we get there?
Don't underestimate it, you bottom-of-the-barrel guy.
"Hey, I was just asking!" Naruto sat up abruptly, looking at Shinki who was dismantling a puppet not far away. "Hey, masked kid, what inside information do you Sunagakure have?"
Shinki didn't even look up; he lightly flicked the puppet's joints with his fingers, and a cold light flashed across its silver-gray shell.
"Done!"
"Didn't we already say that? Apart from the observation post, if we want to move around freely, the Shinobi Alliance will provide each of us with ten intelligent puppets to protect our safety?"
"Ten bodies?" Utakata blew a bubble and lazily leaned against the railing. "Isn't that like having a whole bunch of bodyguards?"
"Not a bodyguard," Sasuke opened his eyes and corrected, "A war machine."
Everyone looked at the puppets neatly arranged along the edge of the deck, each one exuding a cold, oppressive aura.
Its silver-gray shell, in addition to the essential Shikotsumyaku and Swift Release, is equipped with a foldable weapon module on its back for mid- to long-range combat.
Deidara whistled and approached one of the puppets with interest.
"These things are interesting, but they still can't compare to my art."
"If the old man hadn't insisted I go back, I would have wanted to join the Kumogakure, especially after watching the Chakra Cannon test up close."
" Deidara, now that you're back, don't expect things to be the same as before!" Kurotsuchi sneered.
"Hmph!" Sasuke poured cold water on the idea. "No matter how strong these puppets are, they're still external forces. Only what you cultivate yourself truly belongs to you."
Just then, Sakura walked over, carrying several scrolls in her hand.
"This is the newly updated topographical map of the Heavenly Martial Continent. Take a look."
The crowd gathered around; the scroll displayed a vast, unknown area with only a few scattered markers.
"What are these red dots?" Kurotsuchi asked, pointing to the map.
"Observation point."
Sakura explained, " The Shinobi Alliance has already sent reconnaissance teams to set up temporary bases in these locations. Those of us who aren't participating in large-scale operations will go there first."
"What about other places?" Naruto asked.
"Explore freely." Sakura put away the scroll. "As long as we bring the puppets and don't interfere with the main force, the Shinobi Alliance won't bother us."
"Great!" Naruto clenched his fist and exclaimed, "I absolutely must go and see the capital of the Heavenly Martial Empire!"
Sasuke scoffed, "Don't get lost and need the puppet to drag you back."
"Hey! I won't!"
As the sea breeze grew stronger, the engine of the Ancor Vantian sounded deep and steady.
The ninjas on deck dispersed; some continued training, while others returned to their cabins to rest. Only the puppets stood quietly in the corner, protecting everyone's safety.
On the distant horizon, thunderclouds were faintly gathering.
A storm is coming.