Shinnō stared at the unfamiliar names and numbers in the holographic projection, his chapped lips trembling slightly.
The Sunagakure has such a well-developed contribution system.
Researchers from various countries were actually able to secure a place in the Reform Society after joining.
The hot desert wind whipped up sand and gravel, which lashed against Shinnō's sweat-drenched face.
He looked down at his trembling hands.
These hands, which once dreamed of reviving the Sky Ninja, are now nothing more than a pile of shady human experimentation data.
Shinnō looked up, his voice hoarse, "I need to guarantee... my research won't be used for..."
"You are not in a position to negotiate."
Hoshino suddenly interrupted him, and a bone blade popped out of the armor on his left arm with a "click".
"Either come with me now, or take your pride and those people to hell."
The air froze instantly.
Shinnō's gaze shifted back and forth between the bone blade and Hoshino's cold, mechanical prosthetic eye.
"Oh!"
Shinnō suddenly let out a bitter laugh and raised his hands, "It seems I have no other choice."
"A wise decision."
Hoshino slowly retracted his bone blade into his armor. "When we go to Sunagakure, I hope we don't miss anything."
Shinnō nodded upon hearing this, knowing what the other person meant.
For example, the ninja tool making methods preserved in the Village of the Sky Ninja, the Zero-Tails, and the aerial fortress placed in the valley.
The desert winds howled past.
Shinnō, with his body hunched over, led Hoshino northwestward.
"It's just ahead." Shinnō pointed to the space between two towering rocky mountains in the distance.
Hoshino's mechanical prosthetic eye flickered slightly as it adjusted its focus, scanning the distant canyon.
"Interesting," he murmured. "Using natural terrain as cover, plus Genjutsu barrier?"
Shinnō gave a wry smile, "As expected of the Sharingan, it can even see through this."
The two stepped into the canyon, where the surrounding rock walls gradually narrowed until they finally stopped in front of a seemingly ordinary stone wall.
Shinnō bit his finger, quickly Hand Seals, and then pressed his palm against the stone wall.
"Untie!"
The stone wall twisted like ripples on water before slowly dissipating, revealing a deep tunnel.
At the end of the tunnel was a huge underground cavern.
In the center of the cave... floats a pitch-black steel fortress.
Hoshino's pupils contracted slightly.
Even he had to admit that the technological level of this fortress far surpassed any mechanical creation currently existing in Sunagakure.
It is entirely black, with a complex Chakra circuitry covering its surface.
Even though it is currently in a dormant state, one can still feel the immense energy it contains.
"This is... the legacy of the Sky Ninja?" Hoshino's voice carried a rare hint of amazement.
A complex emotion flashed in Shinnō's eyes, a mixture of pride and bitterness.
" Ancor Vantian, the ultimate weapon of the Sky Ninja," he murmured, "Unfortunately... we couldn't get it fully operational."
Hoshino took a few steps closer and carefully examined the enormous object.
"What about the core energy source?"
" Zero-Tails," Shinnō sighed, "We tried using Dark Chakra to power it, but we could never maintain stable control."
Hoshino's lips curled up slightly.
"It's alright, the Reform Society will help you perfect this... Ancor Vantian's."
He raised his right hand, and the armor plate slid open, revealing a communication device.
"This is Hoshino. Coordinates have been locked. Send a ninja squad to escort a group of people back to the village."
"Receive."
A steady voice came from the other end of the communicator, "The border garrison has departed and is expected to arrive in two hours."
Hoshino turned off the communication and looked at Shinnō, asking, "Where are the others?"
Shinnō was silent for a moment, then said, "I'll take you there; it's inside."
Half an hour later.
Hoshino stood in the control room of the fortress, facing a dozen or so ragged remnants of the Sky Ninja.
They didn't actually have much objection to Shinnō's choice.
After all, Shinnō is the current leader of Village of the Sky Ninja, and they've had enough of this life of hiding and running.
If they hadn't still harbored a sliver of hope for the revival of the Village of the Sky Ninja, they would have already tried to escape.
"Don't be nervous, I'm actually very easy to talk to!" Hoshino smiled. "At the Reform Society, I can provide you with resources, technology, and a free research environment."
"And... the chance for revenge."
An old man's pupils contracted. "Revenge?"
A cold smile curled at the corner of Hoshino's lips.
" Konoha destroyed the Sky Ninja, and Sunagakure will destroy Konoha sooner or later. You can choose to continue hiding, or..."
"To personally participate in this revenge."
The fortress fell into a deathly silence.
After a long silence, the old man slowly stood up and bowed deeply. "The remnants of the Sky Ninja... are willing to serve Sunagakure."
Hoshino nodded in satisfaction, then turned and walked towards the control panel.
"Very well, now!"
His fingers slid rapidly across the control panel, activating the fortress's energy monitoring system.
"Let me see just how high this fortress... can fly."
Although Ancor Vantian lacks a stable energy source for long-term operation, it can still perform short-term aerial maneuvers without any problems.
Once it reaches the Land of Land of Wind, there are plenty of ways to bring it back to the village.
Inside Ancor Vantian's control room.
Hoshino's fingers slid rapidly across the complex control panel, Chakra circuits gradually glowed with a ghostly blue light as he manipulated them.
A deep hum came from the bottom of the fortress, the massive steel structure trembled slightly, and the levitation device began to operate.
As he pressed the last rune, the entire control room suddenly lit up.
" Ancor Vantian, start."
at the same time.
Five miles outside the valley.
The Sunagakure Village ninja force is advancing rapidly.
Suddenly, the captain raised his hand sharply, signaling everyone to stop.
Something's up!
A pale figure stood on the sand ahead.
Long black hair cascaded down, and golden snake eyes gleamed with a cold light in the sunlight.
" Orochimaru..." The captain's voice tightened slightly.
One of the Legendary Konoha Sannin, S-rank missing-nin, who served as the commander-in-chief of two Shinobi World Wars.
It used to be a nightmare for many ninja villages.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a playful smile. "Everyone from Sunagakure, where are you headed in such a hurry?"
Ancor Vantian.
Hoshino's communicator suddenly rang.
"Lord Hoshino, we've encountered Orochimaru! He's only five miles outside the valley!"
Hoshino frowned slightly.
Orochimaru?
"It seems someone is quite interested in our new toy."
" Shinnō, you continue moving towards the Land of Wind with the fortress. Ninja troops will meet you and escort you from below."
Shinnō asked, "And what about you?"
Hoshino's lips curled into a cold smile. "I'll go and meet this venomous snake."
In the desert.
Orochimaru observed the Sunagakure before him with great interest.
"What a nostalgic scene..."
His gaze swept past the crowd, landing on the distant canyon. "You actually found that fortress first."
The Sunagakure captain gripped his Kunai and said sternly, " Orochimaru, Sunagakure reinforcements will be here soon. Do you want to fight us?"