Beyond the southern islands of the Water Country.
Shiroishi stood upon the sea's surface.
The waves parted beneath his feet, held aloft by spatial power.
Orochimaru followed closely behind, stepping lightly upon serpentine ripples of Chakra,
his face betraying irrepressible curiosity: "You say... the ecological zone begins here?"
Shiroishi nodded, extending his right hand.
A pulsating Crystal Trunk, beating like a heart, slowly descended from a rift.
This was a World Tree Sub-Node.
Transparent roots, veins, and crystalline skeletons floated within the light,
each pulse carrying the unfamiliar rhythm of life from beyond the Shinobi World's system.
This thing... is alive...
No, it is some form of highly structured ecological virus.
Orochimaru stared at the artifact in Shiroishi's hand, a faint smile seeming to form.
He had to admit, Shiroishi had given him far too many surprises.
Shiroishi did not deny it.
He simply grasped the Crystal Node, letting it sink into the seabed.
A dull thud echoed as the crystal plunged into the deep sea,
forming a hundred-meter-wide ring of light on the surface, glowing like a blue full moon rising in the night sky.
The next moment, the deep sea began to boil.
Salinity, energy density, microbial structure, oxygen solubility, the foundations of the ecological chain...
Everything was visibly reshaping at an astonishing pace.
The seawater shifted from a gloomy dark black to a clear, translucent azure blue.
The first strands of luminous seaweed sprouted from the seabed rocks, followed by vast stretches of Tidal Grass and Coral Primordia.
The first marine ecological zone was activated.
Shiroishi waved his hand gently.
Streaks of red and white light flew out from a different dimension.
Hundreds of Red-White Balls fell into the sea,
each one like a seed of life being sown.
Watching these Red-White Balls, Orochimaru marveled, "So many Space Scroll Substitutes."
The first wave of Pokémon, like awakened seeds of life, began integrating into this reborn ocean one by one.
The first to stir the waters were the Magikarp!
They leaped three feet high under the sunlight, splashing back down with a resilient flapping sound.
Close behind, schools of Poliwag wiggled their round bodies, tails swaying gently, creating orderly bubbling notes as they swam beneath the surface.
Then...
A few dazed Psyduck floated on the sea, clutching their heads with a confused look, pondering the meaning of the waves.
Among the coral clusters, Horsea darted nimbly, their small bodies jetting streams of water.
In the depths, Goldeen glided gracefully over the sand and reefs, their golden fins shimmering.
Within rock crevices, Krabby waved their large claws, climbing back and forth among the newly grown seaweed.
Staryu spun quietly on the seabed, the gem at their center emitting a faint purple light, illuminating the surrounding seafloor like miniature lighthouses.
Next, Octillery extended their tentacles from behind the reefs, anchoring themselves firmly, their cautious eyes scanning the surroundings with vigilance yet steadiness.
The weak Feebas struggled against the currents, their tail fins flapping laboriously, inconspicuous but striving to adapt to the new environment.
Shellos slowly opened their shells, while the final group of Luminescent Fish traced starlight-like trails beneath the surface,
making the entire sea resemble a night sky submerged in the ocean.
When this batch of Water-type Pokémon hatched in the Land of Rain all descended into the ocean,
The sea officially became a complete embryonic ecosystem.
Orochimaru remained silent for a long time, watching the fantastical glowing spectacle unfolding beneath the waves.
Just as the first group of Water-type Pokémon integrated into the sea and the marine ecosystem gradually stabilized—
Shiroishi raised his hand.
Three Red-White Balls dropped simultaneously.
Blinding white light erupted across the sea surface.
Three Gyarados rose into the air simultaneously, roaring fiercely.
Their massive blue dragon bodies broke through the waves, whiskers swirling, scales glinting coldly as they opened their enormous mouths. Their furious roars echoed endlessly across the entire sea area.
Boom!
The sea surface churned violently as if torn in half. Tsunamis dozens of meters high were whipped up by the three dragons' tails, crashing along the coastline like divine wrath.
The newly released Magikarp, Psyduck, and Staryu were swept along by the currents, but instead of showing fear, they excitedly leaped and tumbled among the giant waves.
Shiroishi stood upon the sea surface, his clothes billowing in the sea breeze.
After completing all this, Shiroishi glanced at Orochimaru: "Next, let's visit the Land of Wind and Land of Earth."
Orochimaru nodded.
Hidden Leaf Village.
The next round of the Ninja School examination.
Choza Akimichi and Shikaku Nara advanced respectively.
Shikaku Nara defeated his opponent without even revealing his Ninja Beast's form.
As for Choza Akimichi, he advanced completely by lottery draw—having no opponent, he won directly.
Subsequent matches continued.
As the announcer's voice faded for this round,
The names "Kushina Uzumaki VS Tama Inuzuka"
Lit up on the high-altitude projection.
Immediately, discussions arose from the audience:
"A match between two girls?"
"The Inuzuka family... they'll probably use Ninja Hounds, right?"
"But Kushina is..."
Before the words finished, Tama Inuzuka stepped lightly onto the stage, her high ponytail swaying, expression resolute yet gentle.
"Kushina," she looked seriously at her opponent, "Let's have a proper fight."
Encouraged by Minato, Kushina walked onto the stage. She glanced at Mikoto's solemn expression nearby, wanting to say something but unsure what.
Noticing Kushina looking at Mikoto, Tama clicked her tongue: "Don't get distracted. My opponent is you, Kushina-chan."
As she spoke, multiple puffs of smoke exploded around her.
Eight slender, dark-brown Poochyena appeared!
Each assumed highly alert combat stances, their physiques clearly surpassing ordinary Ninja Hounds.
"Eight? Didn't she only hatch one?"
"Isn't that against the rules!?"
"But Ninja Hounds can naturally be brought in multiples..."
While everyone was shocked and uncertain, before the eight Poochyena,
A more powerful shadow slowly rose.
Mightyena.
Its black and silver fur swayed in the sea breeze,
Eyes sharp, aura oppressive.
Kushina stared wide-eyed: "Wait, Tama... didn't you only hatch one Poochyena?"
Tama Inuzuka showed a gentle but proud smile:
"Its presence... seems to have influenced our Inuzuka clan's Ninja Hounds."
She raised her hand to stroke Mightyena's head: "All the newborn puppies in our clan's Ninja Hounds have been assimilated into Poochyena, though Poochyena appear to have better qualities than ordinary Ninja Hounds."
At this, Tama looked at the Mightyena: "This is the one I originally hatched. It... has already evolved."
Witnessing this scene, Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "So it's Chakra infection? How domineering..."
Nine canine shadows roared in unison!
Their figures transformed into afterimages,
pouncing toward Kushina from different directions - front, back, left, right, and above simultaneously!
"Kushina's in danger!"
But at this moment, Kushina stared at these Ninja Hounds, challenging her own mentality.
Snow Warning!
Her pale fingertips gently clenched.
Chilling air seeped from her palm.
Like silver-white mist, resembling winter's first breath.
The stage temperature plummeted by ten degrees.
The air seemed crushed by frost, visible white mist continuously spraying from the ground, railings, and cracks in the stone slabs.
Beneath Kushina's feet, faint ice patterns appeared.
The cold energy erupted.
The wind sounds instantly froze solid!