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Railways and trains are nothing new. They already exist in the Snow Country, but they haven't been popularized in the ninja world. For the people of the Fire Country, this is their first encounter with such a thing.
Therefore, the launch ceremony had to be grand.
The Daimyo personally attended, and various high-level officials from the Fire Country, including the Hokage, were also invited. For such a national event, the Hokage's presence was essential.
Sasuke quickly arrived at the ribbon-cutting site. The area had been cleared by the Daimyo's guards. It wasn't that ordinary people were banned from watching, but they were required to stay away from the station.
At the station, Sasuke met Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. Unfortunately, there was no time for conversation. The Third Hokage smiled at Sasuke, who could only nod in return.
The Daimyo was eager to get started. As soon as he saw Sasuke arriving, he immediately urged him to start the train.
Sasuke began issuing orders.
The train was still a primitive steam engine, requiring workers to continuously add coal and fuel the boiler. This was manageable as long as there was funding; there were always people willing to work.
With the train prepared, Sasuke invited the Daimyo and others aboard.
The train had eight carriages in total. The third carriage from the front was dedicated to the Daimyo. It was luxuriously decorated, featuring a king-size bedroom, a separate bathroom and bar, an entertainment area, and even a small kitchen. The entire carriage was for the Daimyo's exclusive use.
The Daimyo was very pleased and settled into the large sofa, not intending to move. The Third Hokage stayed with the Daimyo, an indication of the special treatment given by the Hokage.
Others had to make do with the other compartments. Sasuke ensured that those accompanying him were seated in special seats. There were thirty seats in a standard carriage, arranged two per row, specifically for high-ranking officials and nobles of the Fire Country.
These seats, while not inherently valuable, were only used for this occasion and could be removed afterward.
The Daimyo was the only one with a special carriage for this trip.
Ten minutes later, as the train let out a long whistle and disappeared from view, the crowd spontaneously cheered. They didn't fully understand what they were cheering for; they were simply caught up in the excitement of the moment.
This was true for ordinary people, and even more so for those on the train.
Sasuke didn't pay much attention to others as he was accompanying the Daimyo in the luxurious carriage.
The Third Hokage remained calm, holding his pipe and smiling contentedly. The speed of the steam train, around 60 to 80 kilometers per hour, was impressive to most people in the ninja world.
However, ninjas like the Third Hokage could easily achieve such speeds. Calculations from previous life assessments showed that ninjas could reach speeds of 20 meters per second, with even faster speeds possible for certain individuals.
The Third Hokage, with his skills, found the train's speed trivial.
The Daimyo, on the other hand, leaned halfway out of the window, thrilled and surprised by the rapidly retreating scenery.
Sasuke stood by the Daimyo, ready to assist if needed. It was a bit risky; if the Daimyo fell, the consequences would be severe. Fortunately, nothing went wrong. The train soon arrived at Iwate Town, taking less than an hour. By comparison, the journey used to take over half a day.
The train's capacity far exceeded that of shoulder-carrying or horse-drawn carriages. It could transport hundreds or thousands of tons of goods. While it might seem cumbersome compared to ninjas, the goal was not to replace ninjas but to develop infrastructure that would create jobs and boost the economy.
The Daimyo excitedly patted Sasuke on the shoulder, praising his efforts and expressing a desire to extend railways throughout the country. With railways reaching every corner of the Land of Fire, traveling long distances would no longer be a concern for the Daimyo.
(End of the Chapter).
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