Swinging from branch to branch, the two delved even deeper into the jungle. The air continued to grow thicker with humidity. This time, Arthur was certain that they weren't going in circles.
"Orangi," he called. "How much further?"
Ooka-Ooka slowed down a little to rumble, "Patience, little Alex. The heart of the Cayman Jungle is a place of secrets. Elder Pepé resides somewhere most primates wouldn't find him. It's not a place easily found by prophets."
"I told you, I'm not a—"
"Now keep up!"
The relentless canopies finally gave way to a rise in elevation. Ooka-Ooka, still navigating, led Arthur to the base of a mountain.
Towering rocks were shrouded in mist. The air here felt different and thinner, carrying a strange scent of minerals in the wind. The humidity of the jungle had also receded, replaced by a cool breeze.
With a nod, Ooka-Ooka began the ascent with ape-like ease. Arthur, less accustomed to such a climb, still found himself keeping pace thanks to his chakra.
The climb itself wasn't readily apparent, requiring them to scramble over moss-covered boulders and navigate around jagged outcrops.
Halfway up the mountain, the mist grew thicker. Visibility dwindled to a mere few feet, forcing him to slow down. His only sense allowing him to know where to go was the beats from Ooka-Ooka's rumbling paws.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, they reached a plateau.
The air here was surprisingly clearer, but ahead, a wall of white vapour blocked their path. The scent of it was strong, unlike anything Arthur had ever encountered.
Instinctively, he activated his Crimson Gaze. Now he could see that the vapour had an almost tangible energy. It felt off—not exactly chakra, but something more potent.
"Elder Pepé's clearing lies beyond this wall," Ooka-Ooka revealed. "Just walk through like me!"
When the primate walked forward, he seemingly disappeared. Even Arthur's Kekkei Genkai could no longer see him.
Arthur deactivated his Crimson Gaze and did the same. His vision was covered in mist as he walked forward. Then after a few seconds, the white finally subsided, revealing Ooka-Ooka a few feet away. Things were still quite hazy; it was hard to tell where they were.
The primate turned around with a smile, happy that Arthur had made it through. He then pounded his chest twice as the sound echoed through the air.
Arthur watched, seeing the mist around him grow, swirling and churning violently. A low moan, like the rumble of an earthquake, then shook whatever platform they were standing on. The mist before them began to recede, pulled outward by an unseen force.
As it lifted, a breathtaking vista unfolded before Arthur's eyes.
It was a vast, steaming pool that filled the clearing. Its entire surface reflected the pale light filtering through the mist above. Towering redwoods encircled the clearing, but the sight that truly stole Arthur's breath away was the colossal being nestled within a hot spring: a Japanese macaque!
Its head, easily over a hundred feet tall, protruded from the steaming water as its eyes gazed upon them with a calmness that belied its immense size. The rest of its body remained submerged, with the mist and steam obscuring its lower half.
Arthur's mind needed a second to comprehend the sheer presence before him. A talking orangutan was one thing, but this? This was a creature only read about in fiction tales. And if the size of this snow monkey was impressive, the size of a Tailed Beast would render the other players speechless.
Ooka-Ooka swung his arm toward the macaque and screeched, "Behold, little Alex! Elder Pepé, the wisest of our kind, the guardian of the Cayman Jungles!"
A rumble echoed through the clearing from the macaque as its amber eyes shifted to meet Arthur's gaze.
"So," its voice boomed, "a visitor from another land arrives. What reason do you have for being here?"
Arthur had only needed a second to compose himself. "I come with a message, Elder Pepé. A message of grave importance."
The giant macaque's gaze remained steady. "Do your words merit disrupting the tranquility of the Jungle? Speak this message, young one."
"Esteemed elder, my dwelling is not far off. But the reason for my being here is because the whole world is under threat."
From there, Arthur elaborated on a story of the Ōtsutsuki clan and their tendency to strip entire worlds of their natural resources. He even went as far as using Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's name. Most importantly, he warned of the clan's potential return and how their jungle could become the next target for their exploitation.
Elder Pepé listened patiently. But the real question was whether or not he believed it.
"Little one… How is it you know of these... Ōtsutsuki?"
"I just do... If you find me full of any guile, then do with me what you will."
Pepé's gaze remained fixed on him, boring into his very being. Then, with a sigh so vast it seemed to stir the very air around them, Pepé boomed, "You speak the truth... The flow of your chakra... it betrays no deception."
'Deception?' Arthur thought. 'I see… The creature was measuring my chakra to see if I was lying or not.'
"However," it continued, "telling the truth does not always guarantee aid."
"I ask then, esteemed elder, that I might train here before their arrival."
"We are peaceful creatures, young one; not all of us are warriors. Our ways revolve around maintaining the balance of this sacred place."
Arthur became slightly disappointed. He had only come this far so as to get stronger. Surely there had to be something in here.
"But," Pepé added, "the future is a capricious thing. Perhaps there is another who might lend an ear. Ooka-Ooka, take this young visitor to king Enma."
Enma? There was only one Enma in this world: Hiruzen's personal summon. Now things made sense. This hidden realm, the Cayman Jungle, was Enma's home.
Before Arthur could voice his question, the giant macaque slowly dove back into the steaming spring with a splash that rattled the clearing. The mist then swirled, leaving only the echoing rumble of its descent.
Ooka-Ooka, who had remained strangely quiet during the exchange, let out a low whistle.
"Well, little Alex, it looks like ya weren't lying after all."
"Of course, I wasn't. But how would you have known?"
"Elder Pepé's eyes can look through anyone's chakra, ya see." Then the primate gestured with two fingers, bringing them close to its eyes. "Just the smallest disturbance of it will let 'em know if someone's lyin'."
There was a hint of admiration in the orangutan's voice, a respect for whatever hidden conviction Arthur held. Of course, Arthur hadn't been completely transparent, holding back some of the details of his arrival. But his explanation and his purpose had convinced their elder.
And why would Arthur ever lie? He spoke the truth and nothing but the truth. Their jungle truly was in danger of a great darkness. Not from the Ōtsutsuki clan, but from him.
"Now, about this king..." he asked.
Ooka-Ooka chuckled. "Our king isn't someone ya just meet out of the blue. We must journey to our village first."
He then turned and began walking down the mountain. Arthur paced after him.
From what Arthur knew about Enma, he was a grumpy companion. But despite his gruffness, he was fiercely protective of Hiruzen, often reminding him of past mistakes. He was also aware of the affairs that took place inside the Leaf Village.
His true power lay in his shapeshifting abilities. He could transform into a powerful staff, known as the 'Adamantine Staff,' which was as tough as a diamond and strong enough to push back a Tailed Beast.
After Hiruzen died, Enma was not seen again until the Fourth World War.
This was simply too good to be true.
Ooka-Ooka eventually led him on a descent down the mountainside. Then after a few minutes of endless jumping, the canopy thickened again, revealing an interesting sight.
Nestled amidst the towering redwoods lay a civilization of primates. Huts made of leaves and branches lined the pathways, with smoke curling from their roofs. Even the streets teemed with activity as spider monkeys swung from ropes, baboons lumbered on the ground carrying bundles on their shoulders, and smaller primates chattered excitedly while they scurried around.
"Welcome to the heart of the Cayman Jungle," Ooka-Ooka said, gesturing toward the town. "The home of yours truly!"
The sheer diversity of the primate population was astounding.
Long-nosed proboscis monkeys with snouts hovered on platforms, three-hundred-foot-tall giant gorillas strolled like guards, and gibbons with long arms traversed gaps between structures.
The multitude of sounds, the colours of fur and foliage, the vibrancy of this hidden society—it was nothing compared to the Leaf Village.
Arthur kept himself steadfast. Perhaps, just perhaps, he wouldn't destroy them.
As he finished taking everything in, he finally asked, "Where's Enma?"
Ooka-Ooka chuckled. "Slow down there, little Alex. There's something called a protocol."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, I know just the guy to get you started."
The primate then grabbed Arthur's arm with surprising strength and steered him toward a building larger than the others. Its roof was adorned with carvings of intertwined branches and monkeys. A banner also fluttered in the breeze above the entrance, depicting a large monkey holding a staff.
"That's the Royal Registry," Ooka-Ooka explained. "We'll need to register you as a visitor before you can have an audience with the king."
Before Arthur could voice his thoughts on this, Ooka-Ooka pushed open the wooden doors and ushered him inside.
The scent of parchment and ink filled his nostrils. Rows upon rows of scrolls lined the walls, all labeled and stored on wooden shelves.
A lone mandrill with reading glasses was hunched over a massive desk piled high with papers as it read its book. When it saw them, it peered up at their entrance with an inquisitive expression.
"Ooka-Ooka," the mandrill grumbled with a voice deeper than Arthur had expected. "What brings you to the esteemed halls of the Registry today?"
"Greetings, Registrar Riku. I've brought a prophet. Needs registering, stat."
Arthur ignored being called a prophet again as Riku's eyes narrowed on him.
"Don't waste my time with riddles, Ooka-Ooka," said Riku. "Spit out what you mean."
As such, Ooka-Ooka gestured for Arthur to come closer.
When Arthur did, he felt severely out of place amidst the bureaucratic order. "You can call me Alex. I've already spoken with your elder."
Riku froze for a brief moment before slowly setting his book down. Then his gaze returned to Ooka-Ooka. "Elder Pepé tends to get fanciful after a good soak, so it seems."
Ooka-Ooka roared with laughter, shaking the scrolls perched on the shelves.
"Come now, Registrar Riku! Don't be so dismissive. The elder wouldn't send someone here without reason."
The two primates then bickered back and forth, trading insults and playful shoves that seemed more like friendly roughhousing than actual aggression. Arthur watched the display, unsure whether to intervene or simply stay out of the way.
Finally, a noise boomed: "Silence!"
When Arthur looked, Enma had entered the room. He knew it was him based on appearance alone: long white hair and a goatee that complemented his white fur-trimmed black outfit.
And by the look on his face, he had had enough of the ruckus.
"Ooka-Ooka, you have returned," Enma growled, "Yet I see no food in your hands…"
Ooka-Ooka chuckled sheepishly. "Forgive me, your majesty! I wound up bumpin' into a prophet—and ugh… Elder Pepé sent him here for, ugh... something."
Now Enma was visibly angry. "You dare make excuses after I sent you to forage food?! Out of sight this instance!"
Ooka-Ooka stumbled comically before bowing. "As you command, your majesty!" Then he waved to Arthur while running out the door. "Hope to see you again, little Alex!"
Enma's gaze finally settled on Arthur. "I take it you are this Alex the troublemaker spoke of?"
Arthur remained calm, despite the towering monkey looming over him. "I'm glad to know not all of you are like him, your majesty."
The monkey managed to smirk at the comment.