Chapter 75: Ch 65. Tsunade in the Land of Lightning II
At this moment, Tsunade found herself in a coastal town a few kilometers away from the Land of Snow, within the Land of Lightning's borders. She hadn't expected much upon arrival, but the sight before her was enough to make even a seasoned traveler pause. The town was remarkably developed, well-built houses lined the streets, some structures rising multiple floors high. Metal towers, resembling water towers and signal towers; infrastructure far beyond what she was accustomed to.
After collecting information to her astonishment, television here broadcasted entertainment and shows, not just primitive screens that played limited recordings through DVD, but actual, functioning television that worked remotely. Although she did not understand how they worked, she could understand the value of being able to broadcast information so that anyone could receive it from far away.
Walking through the streets, she blended in seamlessly as a ninja, her practice as a ninja allowing her to observe without drawing undue attention. The town was bustling, and as she followed the largest crowd, she found herself heading toward the train station. Every major village had one, the station, though basic compared to what other bigger towns and capitals had.
On her way, Tsunade caught sight of something else that stopped her in her tracks, trucks! Large, heavy, metal-framed vehicles rumbled down paved roads with a strange black material she had never encountered before. Even in the capitals of the Four Great Nations, streets were rarely more than well-kept dirt paths or, at best, cobbled roads. Yet here, in a rural town no less, the roads were smooth, lined with street lamps, and designed with an efficiency she had never imagined. The level of engineering on display was nothing short of astonishing.
Her attention snapped back to the train station as she picked up a distinct sound, the rhythmic chugging of a steam engine. When the train came into view, her breath caught for a moment. The massive metal construct, billowing steam and moving at speeds no civilian transport should be capable of, was unlike anything she had seen. It reminded her of Orochimaru's summon, Manda, but crafted entirely from steel and running on an intricate network of tracks. Kurama, nestled within her subconscious, let out an amused smile.
Tsuande glanced toward the small Katsuya inside her clothes, who had decided to follow along, was now peeking, and seemed interested in everything. Previously, upon collecting information, Katsuya's clone that went back, piqued the main Body Katsuya Sage's curiosity, thus she sent another clone to follow Tsunade to the land of lightning.
"So, humans managed to build something that moves like a beast but isn't alive? I suppose even the slug sage would be impressed by this," he mused.
"I've never seen such a human achievement in history," Katsuya remarked with equal fascination.
Tsunade couldn't deny it, this was innovation beyond what she had imagined possible without chakra. Moving such a massive construct should have required immense power, yet she felt no trace of chakra signatures at work. She had assumed that only summoning beasts or ninjas could move at such speeds, although carrying passengers was possible but civilians had to hold onto their dear life, but here, civilians traveled in comfort, entirely independent of shinobi techniques.
After purchasing her ticket, she joined the crowd and boarded the train. The interior was clean and orderly, with numbered seats that made finding her place easy. While the seats weren't as luxurious as the finest chairs found in noble homes, they were leagues ahead of the bumpy, uncomfortable rides of horse-drawn carriages. The moment the train started moving, her astonishment only deepened.
The acceleration was smooth, the motion steady, and there was no need to brace oneself for the ride. Even the most disciplined travelers in the Land of Fire had to grip their seats when riding on carriages, but here, civilians sat reading, chatting, or staring idly out the window as if this speed was completely normal.
Of course, this was merely a rural town, and the trains here still relied on steam engines. If Tsunade continued her journey to the capital, she would soon board the newer electric trains, powered by batteries, that could be recharged by lightning chakra, an even greater marvel she had yet to witness. Of course these weren't chakra batteries but just batteries that could be recharged by lightning style.
Gazing out the window as the train wound through the mountainous landscape, Tsunade was met with another unexpected sight, terrace farming, carved meticulously into the slopes. The neatly arranged steps of land, brimming with lush greenery, provided a stark contrast to the rugged, unforgiving terrain of the Land of Lightning. She had never thought of this region as particularly suited for agriculture, yet the evidence before her suggested otherwise.
A fellow passenger, noticing her curiosity, assumed she was someone who rarely left her village and offered an explanation. These terraces, he said, were designed to make the most of the rainfall, maximizing water efficiency while ensuring food security for even the most isolated communities. The variety of crops was surprising, glistening rice paddies stretched in rows, while fields of vibrant fruits, some unfamiliar even to Tsunade, thrived in the carefully cultivated soil.
For all her experience as a traveler, this was something new. The Land of Lightning was not just surviving, it was advancing, pushing the boundaries of what was possible without relying entirely on shinobi power.
And for the first time in a long while, Tsunade felt a genuine sense of curiosity about what else this nation had achieved.
Of course, she was more amazed when she transferred to another train, at a bigger station, with even more people, and even a food court and shops inside the station, although she did not stay long, she got on her next ride, which was an electric train with batteries.
Of course, what she did not realize was that this station connecting to the capital had cameras and even ninjas, therefore Kumogakure already knew that Tsunade was in the land of lightning, and soon a high-level meeting would be held about Tsunade, which even she was not aware of.