[On the Ocean]
Even though high-level ninja in the ninja world could easily wipe out an entire city, they still hadn't conquered this planet's oceans.
Rengoku didn't know how large the oceans of the ninja planet were, but they were definitely no smaller than the land.
People in the ninja world basically only moved around within the Five Great Nations.
In reality, beyond the Five Great Nations, there were many unfamiliar countries.
Reaching those countries required very long voyages.
However, the ninja planet had no satellites, and those unfamiliar sea routes were still very dangerous.
Animals in the forests could grow dozens of times larger. One could only imagine the giant creatures in the deep sea.
For now, Rengoku had no intention of exploring those unknown regions. Instead, he followed a well-established sea route toward the Land of Snow.
The closer they got, the colder it became, though it was still far from freezing.
"Ah! Shishou, I still haven't seen any snow."
Karin lay over the bow, watching the sunset slowly sink below the horizon as she muttered.
They had already been drifting on the ship for five days.
During the first two days, Karin had eagerly dragged Rengoku to watch the sunrise and sunset.
Now she had lost interest.
Rengoku gave Karin a firm slap on the butt, making a smack.
He didn't hold back, and an astonishing elasticity came back through his hand.
"And you're talking. We took the sea route because you wanted to ride a ship and see the ocean."
"If we'd gone overland, we'd already be there."
Karin covered her butt, her face turning red as she looked around, afraid someone had seen.
Fortunately, Sasuke and Kimimaro were constantly exchanging blows on the deck. Deep in their fight, neither of them noticed what Rengoku had done.
But when Karin shifted her gaze, she saw Haku smiling at her.
"Shishou, she saw!"
Karin grabbed Rengoku's clothes, too embarrassed to bear it.
Rengoku casually stroked Karin's hair with a gentle smile, "They're all our own people here. What's there to be afraid of?"
"Hmph... Anyway... um... you can't do that outside anymore."
Karin said weakly, without much firmness in her voice.
The sea breeze blew by, lifting Karin's bright crimson hair.
The setting sun shone across her face, tinting it with a touch of orange.
Together with her half-pouting, half-shy expression, it tugged at Rengoku's heart.
He gently pulled Karin into his arms. The fragrance of her body reached his nose, filling him with a sense of peace and happiness.
"Shishou..."
Feeling Rengoku's affection, Karin leaned her whole body against him.
"Are you happy?"
Rengoku stroked Karin's hair with one hand and asked softly.
"Mmm... Shishou, let's always be together."
"Alright, always together."
Rengoku kissed Karin on the forehead, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere.
'If I become immortal after getting a Kekkei Mora, will Karin still grow old and die?'
'Although Karin is still relatively young, I need to start making plans.'
Without anyone noticing, everyone on the deck had already gone into the cabin, and no one came to disturb them.
By then, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon, and darkness had fallen.
"Let's go back. It's getting dark."
Holding Karin's hand, Rengoku also went into the cabin.
The ship was large, a cargo vessel.
This was part of Shisui's mission, and they were giving Rengoku and the others a ride to the Land of Snow along the way.
Several people chatted in the cabin.
Sasuke and Kimimaro were discussing the details of their spar from earlier.
Meanwhile, Haku was reading a book on herbal medicine.
Shisui was speaking with the captain about the route.
Rengoku waved him over, "How much longer until we reach the Land of Snow?"
Shisui looked apologetic, "Clan Head, the captain just said that when another ship came toward us today, they exchanged information."
"The direct route to the Land of Snow has been blocked by drifting ice. We'll have to disembark in the Land of Woods tomorrow and enter the Land of Snow overland."
Rengoku didn't mind, "It's fine. Let's take a look around the Land of Woods first. I heard the film industry there is pretty developed."
———
The Land of Woods was a small country right next to the Land of Snow.
Half of its borders were coastline.
Although the country wasn't large, its long coastline meant it had many ports.
Many countries from beyond the ninja world sailed there along established sea routes.
That also brought quite a bit of advanced technology to the Land of Woods.
At least in Rengoku's eyes, the streets looked fairly modern, and many electrical appliances were being sold in the shops lining the streets.
He also saw many dessert shops, snack stalls, taverns, and a large number of movie theaters.
Looking up, Rengoku spotted a somewhat worn poster.
It was from the Princess Gale movie series.
That film series was very popular throughout the ninja world, but it had stopped releasing new installments three years ago.
Its lead actress, Fujikaze Yukie, had not produced any new works either.
It was as if she had vanished from the world.
Rengoku rubbed his chin and began recalling.
Fujikaze Yukie was the heroine of the Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow movie. Her real name was Kazahana Koyuki.
She was actually the princess of the Land of Snow.
The position of ruler of the Land of Snow, which should have passed to her, had been usurped by her uncle, Kazahana Doto.
Unable to find the "treasure" left behind by Koyuki's father, Kazahana Doto had continued hunting Koyuki.
With Kakashi's help during his Anbu days, Koyuki escaped the Land of Snow and hid her identity, becoming a film actress.
Many years later, when she had to return to the Land of Snow to film a movie, she hired Kakashi's team, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, as her escorts.
That was how the two sides entered into various confrontations.
Rengoku no longer remembered the exact details.
After all, it had been the very first Naruto movie, and too much time had passed.
Of course, the story ended with Kazahana Koyuki defeating Kazahana Doto with Naruto's help.
Rengoku had brought Sasuke here to see whether Koyuki's "treasure" could increase the natural energy in the environment.
That treasure was actually a geothermal device.
Once activated, it could melt snow and ice in an instant and turn the land green immediately.
Calling it a miracle would not be an exaggeration.
But after coming to this world, all the knowledge Rengoku had learned told him something.
For the land to become green in an instant, it had to involve a massive eruption of natural energy.
Sasuke's curse seal now required a place with abundant natural energy.
Rengoku also needed a place with abundant natural energy to fill the Yin Seal on his forehead.
So he had come to see whether this was the place they were looking for.
"Let's go. We'll rest up and head for the Land of Snow tomorrow."
Rengoku had no intention of looking for Kazahana Koyuki.
After all, after he came to this world, Naruto had never received that mission.
He had no idea where those people were now, or whether Kazahana Doto had already captured them, or whether they were even still alive.
But he could go directly to the Land of Snow and see the situation for himself.
"It's so great not to be out at sea anymore!"
Karin happily jumped up.
After all, on a ship, people's balance constantly swayed with the waves.
It really wasn't a pleasant experience.