The process of integration into the Olwatu tribe was, for Jiraiya, both a necessity for survival and an immense learning opportunity. Beyond mastering the language and participating in daily tasks, he dedicated much of his time to listening. Listening to the elders tell stories around the nightly campfire, listening to the hunters discuss the day's prey and dangers, listening to the women share knowledge about plants and medicines. His mind, both as a spy and a sage, absorbed every bit of information, weaving it into a mental map of this new world.
His main source of knowledge was Kael, the tribe's chief. The elder had developed a kind of cautious affection and respect for the "lost" boy. Jiraiya, acting with the inexhaustible curiosity of a child but asking questions with a depth that sometimes surprised Kael, encouraged him to share the legends and ancient knowledge of the Olwatu.
"Kael-san," he asked one afternoon, sitting next to the old man as they repaired hunting tools. "Tell me about the Great Spirits roaring in the distance. What are they?"
Kael smiled, his wise eyes shining in the light of the crackling fire. "Ah, little Wanderer," (the name he'd been given meant "one who comes from outside"). "The Great Spirits are the ancestors of the earth, those who walk with the power of the bowels of the world. There are many, and each has its domain and its strength."
He began to recount stories of the creatures Jiraiya had glimpsed and felt. He spoke of the "Skullcrawlers," hungry, cruel beings that emerged from holes in the ground, a plague that had ravaged the island in times past. He described the "Winged Flyers" (MUTOs or other flying creatures), which blotted out the sun. He spoke of land beasts with natural armor and of aquatic beings that roiled the shores. He gave them names that rang with fear and awe: "Stonetooth," "Thunderclaw," "Firebreathing."
Jiraiya listened, nodding, comparing the mythical descriptions with the biological and energetic realities he had perceived. The "Great Spirits" were not spirits in the traditional sense of his world; they were Titans, creatures of enormous power whose very existence altered the environment. Their "domains" were hunting and nesting grounds. Their "strength" clearly came from that wild energy Jiraiya sensed.
But there was one group of Great Spirits that Kael and the tribe regarded with even greater, almost sacred reverence. They were the "Great Apes," the protectors of the island, the kings of the mountain. Kael told stories of his own tribe's ancestors who had coexisted with these giant apes, sometimes in peace, sometimes in conflict, but always with a mutual respect for each other's power.
"There was a time," Kael narrated one night, his voice low and resonant, "when the darkness of the Skull-Crawlers grew too great. Their leader, an Alpha Beast with endless jaws, threatened to devour all life on the island. Our warriors fell, the other Great Spirits fled or were subdued."
Jiraiya sucked in a breath. This sounded like the crisis the plan had mentioned, the event that would lead to the pact.
"It was then," Kael continued, "that the greatest of the Great Apes rose. Not the one we know today," (referring to Kong, the adult Jiraiya would later meet), "but one of their most powerful ancestors. We called him 'Father Mountain.' He had the strength of the earth and the wisdom of the years. He fought the Alpha Beast, a battle that tore the very ground beneath his feet."
The description of the battle was vivid, full of mythic imagery but with a brutal kernel of truth. Father Mountain, the ancestor, fighting with a ferocity and intelligence that surpassed the other beasts. Kael spoke of the final act, where Father Mountain, wounded, used the power of the island's own volcano to seal or destroy the Alpha Beast and most of its followers. A sacrificial act that had saved the island, but had left Father Mountain himself weakened, perhaps even in a state of torpor or on the verge of death.
"It is said that Father Mountain now sleeps deep within the earth," Kael concluded, his gaze lost in the flames. "His spirit still watches, but his physical strength is not what it once was. Only one worthy, one who understands the balance of life and death, could awaken his power or walk by his side."
Jiraiya listened with feverish intensity. Father Mountain. The ancestor. Dormant or weakened. Could this be the being with whom he was destined to form a pact? The idea of summoning a creature of such power, a true Titan, was staggering. And the tribal prophecy about a "worthy" one who could "awaken its power" dovetailed eerily with the "relocation" and "purpose" mentioned by the cosmic entity.
Legends also spoke of the "Great Darkness Below," the "Hollow Place." It was a vast, dangerous, subterranean realm, connected to the surface by tunnels and caves. It was the source of some of the strangest and most dangerous beasts, and where the earth's energy was at its rawest and most uncontrollable. Kael described strange lights, echoing sounds, and tremors that sometimes came from the depths. This was the Hollow Earth he had heard about. And it seemed to be the main source of the energy he was trying to harness.
In addition to the legends, Jiraiya learned the practical skills of the tribe. How to track creatures by scent and sound, not just footprints. How to read danger signals in the behavior of smaller animals. How to identify plants that could be used for camouflage, for snares, or to make incredibly strong ropes. He learned to move through the canopy with the agility of the Olwatu, using vines and branches as if they were part of the topography.
He applied his ninja knowledge to what he learned. The Olwatu's "reading" of nature overlapped with his own sensory abilities. His tracking techniques became more effective with his knowledge of the local fauna. His understanding of poisons and medicines expanded greatly.
The more he learned, the more he realized how interconnected this world was. The earth's energy influenced the flora and fauna, and even seemed to be linked to the Titans' cycles of activity. The Olwatu, through thousands of years of coexistence, had developed a deep understanding of this balance, even if they expressed it in terms of spirits and legends.
Jiraiya's perverted side didn't disappear; he simply adapted. Observing tribal rituals, even if they lacked the comforts of an onsen, provided material for his "research." The interactions between tribe members gave him new ideas for characters (even if he couldn't write them yet). It was a coping mechanism and an integral part of his personality.
Jiraiya felt much safer in this world. He had an adoptive family (the Olwatu), a basic understanding of the ecology and dangers, and most importantly, a wealth of information about the Titans, Hollow Earth, and Kong's ancestor, Father Mountain. He had a clear goal: to master the energy of this world and, eventually, seek out Father Mountain. The secrets whispered by the tribe had given him a purpose and a map. The path to becoming an "Agent" and fulfilling his mission in this world was beginning to take shape.
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