Xingtie: My silly online friend is actually a raccoon!

Jiraiya sat on a rock by the harbor, watching the ships coming and going on the sea.

He had a straw dangling from his mouth, looking as relaxed as a traveler.

At first, according to the Great Toad Sage's prophecy that "the variable comes from the sea," Jiraiya thought it was referring to Kirigakure, so he deliberately stayed there for more than half a year.

It wasn't until recently, when Konglu Village declared itself a nation, that he realized he had come to the wrong place, so he rushed over in a panic.

Upon arriving at the place, he saw this magnificent sight.

At this moment, three cargo ships fully loaded with grain were unloading at the dock, and in the distance, two more merchant ships flying different flags were queuing up to wait to dock.

The docks are bustling with people; who could imagine that just over a year ago this place was a desolate, uninhabited sea area?

Jiraiya looked up, his gaze passing over the bustling dock and landing on the huge shadow overhead.

That was an island.

An entire island suspended in mid-air.

The bottom of the island is covered with dark brown rock layers, and dense dark green vines climb on the exposed rocks.

The waterfall cascades down from the edge of the island, turning into mist in mid-air, which refracts into a faint rainbow in the sunlight.

The main island is not particularly large, roughly the same size as the core area of ​​Konoha Village, but it is surrounded by three smaller islands, which are connected by metal cableways.

The surface of the three satellite islands is covered with neat rows of fields, where lush green crops sway in the wind, and one can vaguely see people working in the fields.

Konglu Village.

"Seeing is believing," Jiraiya murmured to himself. "A village floating in the air... how did they manage that?"

He tried to sense it, but found nothing.

It was as if the island was meant to float there from the start; there was no trace of chakra, no fluctuation of the barrier, nothing at all.

Konglu Village is open to the public, but registration is required to enter.

Jiraiya touched the newly issued wooden identification plaque of a traveling merchant in his pocket and handed it to the staff member handling the village registration.

"Sir, you have a temporary pass, which allows you to move freely in public areas, but please be careful not to enter the office area," the young woman who greeted you said politely.

"Alright, alright, thank you for your hard work, little girl." Jiraiya grinned.

But a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Even the young girl at the front desk has the strength of a Chunin.

Could it be that there are no ordinary people in this village?

……

The dock and the floating island are connected by an elevator.

Jiraiya stood on the platform of the elevator with a large group of all sorts of people, watching the scenery rise continuously.

Upon entering the village, Jiraiya's first impression was one of liveliness.

The layout of the main island's perimeter resembles a miniature town.

Several main roads crisscross and extend, with shops on both sides that have their doors open—blacksmith shops, pharmacies, general stores, clothing stores, and even a hot spring hotel. Steam keeps rising from the doorway, so business must be pretty good.

Jiraiya suppressed his desire to go inside and "gather information" and began to look around. He soon discovered something unusual.

From time to time, groups of ten people in special uniforms patrol the streets.

Jiraiya stood by the roadside for nearly ten minutes, and five groups of people had already passed by him.

Most importantly, he couldn't see through these people's strength; they all seemed to be ordinary people.

This put his mind at ease a little.

He followed the flow of people and soon spotted the most eye-catching thing.

In the very center of the village is a huge black sphere.

If I had to describe it in words, it would be like a giant black egg, with a smooth, mirror-like surface, about ten meters in diameter, suspended about three meters above the ground.

Below the sphere was a wide plaza where hundreds of people had gathered.

Jiraiya stood at the edge of the plaza, his gaze fixed on the black sphere.

"This is what they call a 'God'... Interesting. A creation of this scale..."

"Uncle, you're blocking my way."

A clear, childlike voice came from behind.

Jiraiya looked down and saw a little girl, about six or seven years old, standing behind him holding a rice ball.

Her silver-gray hair was tied into two spiral pigtails, and she looked up at him with her round cheeks puffed out.

Beside her, a small white dog sat on the ground, tilting its head to look at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya was taken aback at first, then stepped back half a step and smiled as he made way for him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. This is the first time I've ever seen such a big black ball, I was completely mesmerized."

"Uncle, aren't you from Konglu Village?"

Lu Yao wasn't shy at all, and spoke while chewing his rice ball.

She's been spoiled rotten by the people of Konglu Village lately.

Now that everyone in the village is living a better life, they've started feeding the little girl all sorts of things, which has made Lu Yao quite plump lately.

"Newcomers always stand there and watch for a long time. I remember Aunt Xilin saying that this is called 'being unsophisticated'."

Jiraiya couldn't help but chuckle: "Your aunt really has a sharp tongue."

"My Aunt Celine is amazing!" The little girl proudly raised her chin, her silver-gray Roman curls swaying with her movements.

Jiraiya's eyes flickered slightly, but he didn't show it. He simply squatted down and looked at the little girl with a smile.

"Oh? Then she must be a very remarkable ninja."

"Aunt Sirin isn't a ninja..." The little girl shook her head. "Aunt Sirin is a Herrscher."

A healer?

Konglu Village.

Is there a connection between these two things?

Jiraiya thought to himself.

Pepe's ears suddenly twitched, and she stood up, letting out a short cry towards the west.

"Woof woof." (This is a maki-e print.)

The little girl's eyes immediately lit up and she jumped up.

"Ah! Maki-e-nee is here!"

Not far away, a young girl walked across the stone path beside the square towards this side.

Over a year has transformed the refugee girl who knelt in the muddy rain begging for help into a steady young ninja.

She was dressed in a light black ninja outfit, with a short sword at her waist. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head. Her facial features were more distinct than when we first met, and her demeanor was also different from before.

She was no longer the refugee huddled in the rain, shivering, but a truly confident and strong woman.

When Shiki walked up to Lu Yao, she immediately became respectful.

"Lord Luyao, Lady Xilin is looking for you everywhere." Shi Hui bent down and picked up the little girl.

Then she noticed Jiraiya standing to the side.

"Who is this?"

Lu Yao wasn't wary, but she couldn't afford to be. She looked at the somewhat unfamiliar Jiraiya and asked.

"It's the old man blocking the way," Lu Yao said.

Jiraiya smiled but did not answer, his gaze subtly sweeping over Makie.

He couldn't quite fathom the girl's aura.

With Jiraiya's keen eyesight, he could clearly tell that the amount of chakra contained within this girl, who looked no more than twelve or thirteen years old, was far beyond that of an ordinary Jonin.

Furthermore, judging from her walking posture and the subtle movements of her wrists, she has undergone quite solid combat training.

But how is that possible?

Even if someone started cultivating from the womb, it's impossible for them to reach the old man's level at the age of thirteen!