Without further ado, Logan took out the drawing tablet and handed it over, "It's this."
"Hmm." The Elder saw the seriousness in Logan's expression and took the things without further question.
Meanwhile, Kotonami curiously studied the 'tiny' rectangular object and asked: "What is this?"
"It's an electronic device... Uh, how should I explain? It's mainly used for drawing." Logan struggled to describe it, but he underestimated the Divine Bird Clan's adaptability to new concepts.
Kotonami had some questions, and the interest in her eyes remained unabated, but the Elder had already put on his eyes and was carefully examining the drawing tablet.
Sunlight poured over the coarse wooden platform, casting golden-red hues all around. Logan glanced beyond the platform with slight unease. Though he had arrived at midnight, the Paulownia Forest's sky was as bright as midday, with red clouds drifting lazily in the breeze.
Below, the forest surged like an ocean, an awe-inspiring sight like something out of a dream.
He felt that same amazement every time he visited, but right now, there was no time to admire the view. Akiyama was still motionlessly striking a cool pose, which Logan ignored out of sheer disinterest. As long as the Elder shares his ancient wisdom, that's all that matters.
"Electronic devices… I think I've read about these in some old records… But I can't quite recall the details. " Kotonami mused.
"Haha... It's probably just a different way humans harness Natural Energy." The Elder chuckled. He leaned in, carefully examining the small drawing tablet in his talons, struggling a bit due to its size.
Logan didn't want to disturb him, so he passed the time chatting with Kotonami, who had nothing better to do.
"But in the end, humans always use power for destruction." Akiyama, who turned his back to everyone, suddenly interjected, gazing at the sky at a dramatic forty-five-degree angle. Flames flickered elegantly across his wings.
Logan's eyelid twitched, "Hey, could you at least turn around when you talk?"
However, Akiyama ignored him, maintaining his profound, enlightened demeanor.
Seeing this, Logan instantly gave up, 'No way I'm digging into whatever made him suddenly drop this edgy line. He's probably just showing off.'
Kotonami said: "Qiu Shan, why are you always talking with your back to us?"
Akiyama said: "I am looking at the earth from a bird's eye view."
'A true 'bird's-eye view', huh? But you're literally tilting your head upward.' Logan secretly complained. Fortunately, the bizarre three-way conversation didn't last long, because the Elder seemed to have found something.
"I see now." The Elder patted the armrest of his seat.
"What is it? Did you figure something out?" Logan immediately abandoned the two birds and ran over, "Aside from the Space-Time fluctuations..."
"…So there are space-time fluctuations, huh…'
Logan's expression froze, 'You… You literally just repeated what I said! That's not a discovery… that's an echo?!'
"…That's it?" Logan asked hesitantly.
Fortunately, the situation wasn't as bad as Logan feared. The Elder noticed Logan's exasperation and gave him a peculiar look before continuing. He tapped the drawing tablet with a talon, as if sensing something, then murmured in amazement: "It's incredible how this thing was created."
The Elder then raised his head and looked at Logan, "This object contains a naturally-formed Space-Time formula. As for its exact function… it's quite similar to that 'Flying Thunder… something?' you mentioned before?"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique!" Logan blurted out.
The Elder nodded, "Yes, that one. It bears a strong resemblance, but the Space-Time formula inscribed on this 'tablet' is far more powerful and complex, and it's nearly impossible to replicate."
Logan's mind raced, feeling that made sense. He had previously asked about Space-Time Ninjutsu from the Elder, though his progress in that field had been minimal. But now, with this revelation, things were starting to click into place.
Since the Flying Thunder God Technique and this tablet share common traits, Logan clenched his fist and asked, "Are you saying this tablet possesses Space-Time Teleportation abilities?"
"That's correct." The Elder's confirmation made Logan's heart race. Just as he had suspected, this drawing tablet could serve as his way back to the Ninja World.
'If it's similar to the Flying Thunder God Technique, then my transmigration experience makes sense.' Logan thought, 'One marker exists in reality, while the other... is the me who traveled through Space-Time?'
Logan didn't hesitate. A Summoned Beast was a trusted partner, so Logan shared everything he'd learned over the past few days, about the Manga Author and about the shadow clone, without holding anything back, hoping the Elder could provide more insights.
The Divine Bird Clan was already aware of Logan's unique circumstances. The Elder listened intently, his expression growing sharper, his presence more commanding. His previous aged frailty seemed to fade, replaced by an aura Logan had never seen before.
"This is beyond extraordinary. But since it involves you, I suppose it's not entirely impossible." The Elder gazed deeply into Logan's eyes, "If we assume this is an advanced version of the Flying Thunder God Technique, then under normal circumstances, it would remain unremarkable… just another ordinary object. But then someone, this 'Manga Author' you mentioned, used it."
Logan's first return happened in Konoha's Year 54, the beginning of Naruto's main storyline... The moment the Manga Author first started drawing! And his subsequent inability to transmigrated… coincided with when Kishimoto grew to dislike 'Raiden Hattori' and stopped drawing him!
Due to some unknown mutation, the tablet remained a normal drawing device for any other creative work. But when it came to Naruto, it became a link, a coordinate, tying Logan's existence to that world.
"But that person is just an ordinary human with no Chakra. And to activate the technique, a massive amount of Chakra would be required..." Logan said in doubts.
The Elder tapped his cane, and two flames flickered into existence midair, "Influence is always mutual, whether between objects, people, or even entire worlds. The moment this particular tablet appeared, the process began. But you… you were the catalyst. Everything else was merely the world 'rationalizing' the phenomenon."
"Perhaps this explains why, whenever that Manga Author uses this tablet, he can depict the world you reside in on the other side, and why your crossings between the two worlds happen at the times they do. If you are the fortunate one, then that Manga Author is the second most fortunate. The depth of this phenomenon, the way it bends the fundamental principles of reality… even the Gods themselves likely could not predict it."
'Oi, oi, Elder, don't start sounding like Akiyama with your cryptic philosophical nonsense.' Logan furrowed his brows, trying to piece everything together.
'The moment Masashi Kishimoto used this drawing tablet to draw, this 'mutual influence' began. And because I existed, belonging to both the Ninja World and Earth, conditions were met. But since I was not originally from the Ninja World, Kishimoto could never 'see through' me via the drawing tablet. He unknowingly believed that everything he created was purely a product of his own talent...'
'[To be continued...]'
'So every weekly transmigration was simply the result of the two worlds influencing each other, in order to comply with the operation, rationalization?'
'Make sense, my ass!' Logan was very angry, 'Who the hell came up with this ridiculous setting?!'