The Cayman Jungles.
The sun was high in the saturated blue sky, casting rays upon the surface of a river. Koko was happily skipping stones with glee.
Her ti here wasn't boring because she enjoyed playing with the many animals. Even if they couldn't talk like her, she felt fascinated by their presence nonetheless.
She was content to be who she was and where she lived, despite often being the only one of her kind.
Just as Koko fixated on a fish darting beneath the surface, drool began to seep through her lips. She wanted to catch today's lunch.
Just then, a tremor suddenly vibrated through the ground, causing her to stumble.
"I wonder what that is?" she mused aloud, tilting her head.
Then she smiled, feeling a familiar presence. She could sense Arthur long before she laid eyes on him.
"No way!" she squealed as she dashed in his direction.
When she finally found him, she was surprised, for Arthur stood before an incomprehensibly massive structure, one that seed to rise from the ground up to the clouds. It dwarfed the jungle around it, making her feel excited.
She landed on his shoulder, her little body bouncing with delight.
"I'm happy to see you, daddy, but what is that?!"
Arthur t her infectious enthusiasm with a cool and collected deanor. He casually replied, "It's my investnts."
As they approached the entrance, she couldn't contain herself; she raced up the spiraling staircase, bounding up and down as if this remarkable structure were her personal playground.
Arthur's mind, however, was preoccupied.
How he managed to transport this massive facility was through one technique: "The flying raijin: Teleportation Barrier."
It was first used by Minato, who had successfully teleported an entire Tailed Beast Bomb attack from none other than the Nine-Tails. Arthur himself had learned it after his rigorous training with the reanimated version of Minato.
It had cost him dearly; his chakra reserves dwindled perilously low as he transported not just himself but this entire edifice along with the erstwhile plaza, all without alerting i—or anyone else—in the Water Country.
This sudden change in his circumstances wasn't rely about escaping the political turmoil he faced; it was about the profound liberation he felt in untethering himself from the burdens of governing an entire country.
It wasn't even the plaza he was interested in; it was what was inside. That alone was far better than running a country.
Having a laboratory beca a sanctuary, a space to explore, innovate, and create. Unlike the transient status of a shadow governor, locked in never-ending politicking and pretense, within the lab lay the potential for limitless possibilities and inventive pursuits.
Here, he perceived the opportunity to harness his potential without the nagging complications of bureaucratic oversight. It was a chance to forge himself outside the constraints of anyone's fickle whims and a chance to build sothing enduring—a territory unbound by the mistakes of others.
Just then, a sudden crash pulled Arthur from his reverie. Slowly turning around, he found Koko sprawled on the ground, giggling sheepishly under a light fixture that had toppled over.
"Hehe. Sorry, daddy!" she chid, bright and unabashed in her mischief.
He could only scoff, shaking his head without smiling as he turned to walk on.
"Wait for !" she cheered, scrambling to her feet to chase after him.
As they walked deeper into the cavernous expanse of his plaza, Arthur turned to Koko on his shoulder and asked her to transfer so of her chakra to him. She gave a positive chirp before initiating the chakra transfer technique.
Arthur felt his reserves gradually replenishing. Had there even been one enemy there, he would have been in a dire predicant.
Upon reaching the heart of his laboratory, he activated the flying raijin once more. A stack of ryō materialized before him.
Koko, oblivious to the significance of the money, stared wide-eyed as she asked, "What is that, daddy?"
"Assets from the Water Country's treasury account," he explained.
"How much is it?" Koko pressed, tilting her head in innocence.
"Six million," he replied, feeling a tad disappointed.
It was honestly all he could manage to siphon, not just because of his depleted chakra but also because it was a fraction of what should have been there. It should have been in the billions, but the unscrupulous machinations of his forr treasurer seed to have shirked on her financial duties.
With an ominous thought about taking revenge on Xavier, who more or less betrayed him, he redirected his focus.
This money was a lifeline, the first step toward finishing his incomplete plaza.
He reached into his pouch to pull out a scroll and a pen. Although the place was nowhere near one hundred percent, that didn't an he wouldn't adapt to this unforeseen circumstance.
He set to work, writing down a list of essentials for his new domain: cent to finish paving the area, light fixtures for the unfinished rooms, benches for seating, waste managent systems, and, of course, a sustainable water source for the growing facility.
That was rely for the plaza. A far more significant task was the unfinished laboratory.
Now, he could always steal the materials, as well as steal more money in case he ran low. But doing so would only lead to reports being filed about how specific items suddenly disappeared.
Even if he did that in various locations outside of a country, it would prove volatile since he needed specific items. Not all of the materials were the sa; so were more valuable than others and could last longer.
On top of that, he had just fled an entire country as a high-ranking delegate. The last thing he needed was to continue drawing more unwanted attention.
Arthur looked up, catching Koko mimicking him, her tiny fingers flowing as she pretended to write. She noticed him watching and burst into giggles.
Continuing his thoughts, he focused again on the laboratory, contemplating the equipnt he would need to fill the empty spaces—test tubes, sensors, and all types of various instrunts.
There were also the many unconnected wires that the construction crew hadn't hooked up yet. Thankfully for Arthur, he was knowledgeable in the trade.
This laboratory would not just be a refuge for him; it would be a generation's point of revival—a chance for sothing much, much greater than anyone could imagine.
He continued to jot down a comprehensive list of scientific instrunts that would elevate his endeavors: microscopes, centrifuges, and spectrophototers to uncover wavelengths of light.
Each item represented a key to unlocking potential, not just for himself but for things to co.
As he scribbled, his thoughts catapulted to the logistics of tracking and analyzing data. Papers, along with various office supplies, would also be needed to ensure progress would be docunted and understood.
"Can I beco a scientist, too, daddy?!" he heard Koko ask, ignoring her curiosity about all things.
The subsequent items were equally crucial—safety equipnt and personal protective equipnt (PPE) to keep things secure.
Next ca the specific supplies: chemicals, reagents, and consumables that would help in his experints. Glassware, pipettes, and all the assorted tools necessary for the ticulous process of scientific inquiry followed.
How could Arthur not know these things? He was well beyond the level of experience most would consider the norm.
His eyes narrowed upon reaching the section of the list concerning waste disposal—systems for handling hazardous waste and biological materials. They were necessary for responsible experintation.
'Does this world even carry such things?' he reasoned.
In truth, there weren't any feasible designs for the many laboratories in this world. So were either so simple that they only contained the basics, while others housed advanced technology for both ninjas and dical personnel alike.
The best facilities were often associated with prominent characters like Orochimaru and Obito. The forr typically liked to ss with genetics. Kabuto, in particular, had used Orochimaru's "Island Laboratory" for surgery, biotechnology studies, and dangerous experints like blood transfusions aid at enhancing his abilities.
That was just the lighter aspect of scientific exploration in this world. The darker part was associated with things such as transgenic creatures and creating super-ninjas from various genetic materials. Such practices often involved ethical dilemmas, as many died in the pursuit of power and scientific advancent.
Secretive in nature, many laboratories were hidden away in remote or specialized locations. Orochimaru's labs, for example, were often situated within islands or secluded areas, allowing for clandestine operations without the scrutiny of the broader ninja world.
As for the public laboratories, such as the "Advanced Technology Research Institute," they underscored the integration of modern techniques into ninja society, where technological evolution ran parallel to traditional jutsu practices.
Surely, if such prominent laboratories like the ones ntioned could sustain such complex experints, there had to be materials that Arthur could purchase to fill his own space.
It was a far cry from his ti spent embroiled in the politics of the Water Country; here, everything was about clarity and creation.
He finally jotted down supplies for the completely empty garden room. There, he would grow his own botanicals to help supplent his experints.
"Are we gonna plant pretty flowers?" Koko asked, looking over Arthur's shoulders.
The thought of a primate gardening didn't seem to register in his mind. She'd probably wind up eating the plants anyway.
With the list only half complete, Arthur's mind turned to the logistics of obtaining these items. He imdiately eliminated venturing into either the Water Country or the Fire Country.
He wouldn't dare return to those lands—not yet, at least. No, he needed a new plan, and that plan would lead him to the Land of Money again.
It was here that Xavier had initially planned to gather many of Arthur's materials. Although the prices were extravagantly high, the goods were exactly what he needed.
The Land of Money was notorious for being the epicenter of trade, where rchants exchanged goods at prices that soared very high. It was akin to buying and selling in Manhattan, New York.
Arthur rubbed his chin pensively; with the vast expenses guaranteed to accompany his venture, it dawned on him that he would likely deplete his entire stack of ryō in one fell swoop.
Would he even have enough left for ergencies?
'This is going to be costly,' he thought to himself, running through the numbers.
He could always place shop owners and rchants under a genjutsu, but there was sothing called ethics when it ca to business.
He needed at least a million ryō to remain comfortable—an amount that would cushion him against unforeseen mishaps. The other five million would likely drain from the materials missing.
As he slid the scroll of notes back into his pocket, he spotted Koko gathering bits of debris and pretending to analyze them as if she were a scientist herself.
"This rock is a sedintary one!"
Strange. He didn't recall ever teaching her the word "sedintary."
After a day dedicated to recovering his chakra in the safety of his plaza, he felt rejuvenated and ready to move about. He activated the flying raijin technique, and in an instant, he was in the domain of the Land of Money.
Disguised as a nondescript rchant, he ensured that neither his face nor his chakra could be recognized—vital precautions in these uncertain tis.
The area he was in was most similar to Madison Avenue in New York—a lavish area where mainly the rich and powerful shopped.
The streets were filled with frenetic energy as if the whole city was alive with rchants hawking their wares. The lively clatter of negotiation made it truly feel like he was at a popular high-end departnt store. Only the store was the city itself.
The markets here were treasure troves, the best destination for the resources needed to transform his plaza. However, for the items necessary for his garden, he needed to venture into the countryside.
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