After her audience with the Daimyo, Tsunade, who had neither sensed any hostility nor received the slightest warning from either Kurama or Katsuya, left the Daimyo's mansion in high spirits. Her steps carried her to the far outskirts of the Capital, where a discreet military facility stood. From this vantage point, a network of railroads stretched into the distance. During the journey, Tsunade had accompanied the Daimyo's convoy partway to this military outpost, more private than official in nature, intended for select personnel and secure departures, and for very large operations.
As she surveyed the landscape, she noted the impressive infrastructure. Railways extended in all directions, branching out from stations scattered throughout the outskirts as well as from the heart of the city. However, what struck her most about this place was the variety in their design: elevated tracks, heavily fortified lanes, and numerous lines disappearing beneath the earth, an underground system far more intricate than she had expected.
While waiting for the next stage of the journey, she was approached by several ministers and senior officials, heads of departments such as electricity, sanitation, environmental conservation, public safety, and transportation etc. Though some were present to accompany the Daimyo to Kumogakure for the upcoming meeting, others had different destinations in mind. They were scheduled for independent visits to various sectors and to the research center located within Kumogakure. It was clear to Tsunade that not all had official business with her; some were simply taking the opportunity to greet her personally, eager to establish rapport with a figure of her stature.
What puzzled her, however, was not the attention; she was long accustomed to being swarmed by nobles and foreign dignitaries, though usually for her renowned medical expertise. But this time, something was different. These individuals weren't seeking treatment. As a seasoned medical ninja, Tsunade could instinctively assess the physical condition of those around her, and these people were in excellent health. Not just externally, but deep within their bodies. No lingering illnesses. No chronic conditions. Not even the typical fatigue or subtle deterioration she often detected in healthy officials under stress.
From her side, Katsuya-sage, her companion in treatments and a foremost authority on body functions and yang-based medical chakra, although not for humans usually, voiced a similar observation. The only contractor who can be considered biologically close in terms of ability or even in terms of chakra was Hashirama only, not even Hashirama, after being cut in 2, could guarantee that he could become 2 Hashiramas.
"Tsunade-sama," the slug murmured, her tone edged with both curiosity and concern, "they're remarkably healthy. I mean, truly, exceptionally healthy. Over the time we've spent here, we've already seen that disease and untreated injuries are nearly nonexistent in this capital. Their access to medicine and treatment seems widespread and advanced. But even with that in mind, this feels unusual. Not just these ministers, but especially the escorting shinobi. Their bodies are in pristine condition, akin to elite ninja selected for long-term investment by their villages. The kind of shinobi who are regularly monitored by medical specialists, who receive weekly treatments and supplements to ensure no dark injuries accumulate, of course, even that, does not go on forever, even for the Hokage, unless Lady Tsunade you personally adjust the body and took action, which is a practice only for personal use, after all, foreign chakra, cannot truly help other's body, unless that person open up their body and heart and chakra completely to the healer, for a ninja this is just impossible, unless close relatives, for some even if they wanted, their mind would be uncontrollable and will make it hard for medical chakra to work 100% on them fully."
Tsunade narrowed her eyes slightly, her thoughts shifting. The Land of Lightning had always been known for its military strength, but this level of health and maintenance implied an organized and systematic effort, perhaps one tied to infrastructure, governance, or wealth that could make it possible if it were in other countries.
Although Tsunade remained curious about the officials' unusually good health, her thoughts were soon interrupted when she was summoned to gather with the Daimyo and the attending ministers. Together, they were escorted by a team of elite ninja led by Kohana, Marui, and Razor. Their destination was already in sight: a sleek, unfamiliar train resting silently on a closed-off railway, unlike anything Tsunade had encountered before.
What drew her attention most was the train itself; it wasn't resting on the tracks. It was hovering, suspended just above them, without a single thing in contact with the surface. The track beneath it also appeared different from the traditional railways she had seen earlier: smoother, enclosed, and lined with faint seal patterns.
Sensing her curiosity, Kohana stepped forward and explained.
"This," she said, with a hint of pride, "is the latest development from the Hollow-Mountain Research Center, created with assistance from Jonin Toroi. What you see is the first fully operational prototype of a new high-speed transport system. Because it's a prototype, safety protocols require a Jonin-level operator. I'm sure you can feel the subtle chakra flow; it runs on a combination of high-capacity batteries and specialized sealing arrays."
She gestured to the track and train. "It levitates and accelerates using magnetic propulsion, and the seals at the front reduce air resistance and drag. The top speed is around 700 miles per hour, about 1200 kilometers per hour. At that speed, we'll reach Kumogakure in about five hours. That's comparable to the sustained speed of elite Jonin, but of course, due to terrain and route curvature, it's not a straight line."
Kohana's voice held a mixture of caution and pride. "This type of train is called a Maglev, short for magnetically levitated train. Like many chakra-based heavy machines, it requires at least a Chunin to operate it safely under high-speed conditions. For now, a Jonin specialist from the research center will be at the helm, collecting operational data. But rest assured, it's completely safe. Thanks to the seal array system, it can come to a complete stop from top speed in just 2.5 seconds. Also, this model is customized for diplomatic and luxury travel, so the interior has been built with comfort in mind."
As the group boarded the Maglev, Tsunade found herself impressed. Unlike typical passenger trains she has seen in the land of lightning, designed to maximize seating capacity, this one had a surprisingly spacious interior. The layout resembled that of high-end luxury airliners. Each seat was a large, modernized one-seater equipped with entertainment systems and comfortable padding. While it lacked private compartments or extravagantly personalized service, those weren't needed, after all, the journey that usually took over sixty hours by traditional rail would now be completed in just four or five.
The atmosphere inside felt more akin to a mobile diplomatic lounge or a high-end limousine. A food and drinks bar lined one side of the compartment, and the lighting was warm and soft, designed for relaxation rather than efficiency.