Orochimaru adjusted his glasses, his serpentine eyes fixed on the blueprint in Shiroishi's hands as he murmured softly:
"Ecological Zone...?"
Shiroishi nodded calmly, his tone matter-of-fact as if stating a predetermined reality:
"I can create small Crystal Domains in other nations. The internal environments will be assimilated, forming Pokémon Ecosystems similar to the Land of Rain."
As he spoke, a Metagross glided overhead above the factory, its magnetic field casting metallic reflections across their faces.
"Within these zones, outsiders will be free to capture Pokémon."
Orochimaru pondered for a moment before suddenly asking: "Your reason for this is... the Pokémon species born in the Land of Rain are limited by its geographical environment."
Shiroishi didn't deny it, merely closing the blueprint in his hands:
"Correct. Though the Land of Rain serves as the core region, every ecosystem has its limits. To cultivate more varieties, we must utilize different nations' soils, climates, and Chakra."
"After all, some Pokémon would never naturally emerge in the Land of Rain."
Orochimaru's eyes lit up with understanding, a slight smile curling his lips. "So you plan to expose the Five Great Nations to Pokémon? Using small ecological zones as seeds to gradually reshape the environment of the Shinobi World?"
Shiroishi glanced upward. Beyond the factory, the World Tree's roots were slowly extending deep into the city.
His voice remained devoid of emotion: "I'm merely helping the Shinobi World - or rather, the entire world - adapt to the future."
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Now that the Land of Rain has become an independent world, you've severed all controllable passages to the outside... yet plan to re-engage with the Shinobi World through ecological zones."
"Shiroishi, your goal... could it truly be" - his slitted pupils contracted - "to establish a unified Pokémon League?"
Shiroishi's expression remained tranquil: "I've maintained the same stated objective all along - to create a world without ninja." Orochimaru's fingers stilled momentarily before revealing an increasingly fascinated smile:
"Heh... you truly are a dangerous young man."
"But I appreciate such danger."
"I want to witness what kind of future you envision."
Ignoring Orochimaru's muttering, Shiroishi unfolded the blueprint.
The map of the Five Great Nations had been reconfigured; each country contained a specially marked zone labeled "ECO-POINT Ecological Node."
Shiroishi pointed to the center: "The core of each Ecological Zone is this Crystal Node."
The blueprint depicted a crystalline structure resembling the World Tree's trunk, its internal patterns resembling living blood vessels.
"We'll use Space-Time Ninjutsu to create openings in target areas, burying the nodes 30 to 60 meters underground."
"The nodes will automatically connect to the World Tree Other-Space within the Land of Rain."
"Within days, each node can rewrite the ecosystem across a 10-meter diameter area."
"Then we'll introduce Pokémon from the Land of Rain to initiate Chakra infection."
Orochimaru's gaze intensified as he studied the node structure, though he vaguely suspected Shiroishi was backed by some peculiar plant.
This is what is known as the World Tree.
Its branches quietly grow, corroding the soil, allowing the Pokémon environment to naturally expand without disrupting the original ecosystem.
Orochimaru pondered thoughtfully: Once the ninjas discover that Pokémon can be captured in the ecological zones, they will voluntarily enter.
They will study Pokémon, train Pokémon, driven by their innate greed.
"As for the short-term expansion speed of the ecological zones, soil changes, and plant mutations, the people of the Shinobi World will likely only consider the reasons later."
The Shinobi World will only see opportunities, automatically ignoring the erosion they witness.
Such is human nature.
Shiroishi stood on the metal walkway of the factory's high platform, overlooking the entire facility.
Steel, Pokémon, electromagnetism, assembly lines, Red-White Balls.
"Everything, everything is for peace."
Peace?
Orochimaru stood beside Shiroishi: "Heh... How truly exciting."
The forests on the outskirts of the Land of Rain had already been tinged with an eerie emerald glow by the World Tree Root System.
Black Zetsu hid in the shadows of a giant tree, half his face buried in the soil, maintaining the same cold expression he had worn for years.
But this time, even an ancient being like him furrowed his brow tightly.
"...Troublesome."
He stared at a spot where the space rippled like water.
That was precisely where the strange monk had disappeared a few days earlier.
Jigen.
Black Zetsu didn't know Jigen, but he couldn't mistake that aura—it was an immensely powerful life form.
Though Black Zetsu didn't understand where he came from, his instinct was to avoid observing this entity.
And what happened?
Such a monster was actually swallowed by the Land of Rain's Space Barrier.
For the first time, Black Zetsu's calm heart experienced a subtle contraction.
He couldn't help but recall the despairing image of his mother, Kaguya Otsutsuki, sealed on the moon.
Sealing isn't about raw power—once the mechanism locks, no matter how strong you are, you remain trapped in time.
"That monk... will likely be imprisoned in that space for over a decade."
Black Zetsu murmured to himself.
A decade might not be long for the Shinobi World,
but in this era of rapid transformation,
it would be enough to make him miss all his plans.
More importantly, if he rashly intruded, he might end up the same way as that monk.
Though Black Zetsu was immortal, he wasn't foolish.
He knew the Land of Rain was now under Shiroishi's control, and many variables would emerge over those years.
He couldn't take the risk.
Suppressing his agitation, Black Zetsu's voice emerged coldly: "White Zetsu."
"What is it?"
Black Zetsu said gravely: "Find a way... guide Uchiha Madara to create a consciousness clone."
A backup plan had to be implemented.
After handling this, Black Zetsu sent White Zetsu back to report.
On the islands south of the Land of Water, sea winds carrying a damp, fishy scent battered the rocky cliffs.
The air suddenly distorted.
Shiroishi raised his hand and tore space apart as easily as ripping cloth.
An eerie glow flowed within the rift, like some colossal entity breathing.
The moment he stepped through the fissure, space automatically sealed itself, as if nothing had ever existed.
Orochimaru stood silently behind him.
He stared at the remnants of the spatial tear, the corner of his eye twitching slightly.
This technique.
This was the same type of spatial jutsu—unfathomable in structure, unbound by Chakra logic—that had cost Jiraiya dearly last time.
And now, Orochimaru stood right behind the caster himself, yet he still couldn't grasp even the slightest clue.
The activation principle... unknown.
The logic of the technique... nonexistent?
The more he failed to understand, the more he yearned to comprehend it.
Shiroishi seemed to notice his gaze, but he paid it no mind.
He slowly walked toward the sea, then gradually extended his hand.
"Lord Orochimaru, we will now begin constructing the first ecological environment zone here."
Orochimaru snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at the sea. "In the ocean area?"
Shiroishi nodded.
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