Although the world of Naruto was vast, it remained sparsely populated. Even with its large nations and sprawling landscapes, nature still dominated much of the terrain. Towering mountains, dense forests, and remote valleys were often home not only to wildlife but to the mysterious and powerful summoning beasts that made their homes in secluded habitats.
The Capital of the Land of Lightning was no exception. Despite the progress brought about by cultural and technological advancements and a revolution in infrastructure, the abundance of land ensured that nature was never pushed aside. Instead, it was carefully woven into the fabric of modern life. With the help of skilled ninjas and talented individuals, even grand urban transformations, like moving entire buildings, rerouting roads, or reshaping districts, became achievable. Cities were not built at nature's expense but designed in harmony with it, thanks to the unique capabilities of chakra-powered labor and cooperation.
High above this harmonious cityscape stood one of the capital's architectural marvels, a sleek, 20-story hotel of contemporary design. Within its uppermost suite, Senju Tsunade had made herself quite at home. Accustomed as she was to comfort, she had grown fond of the luxurious lifestyle offered to her, free of charge, and was in no hurry to leave.
The suite she occupied was the finest in the building, perched at the very top, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a panoramic view of the capital. From this height, she could see everything: the orderly streets, the blend of nature and architecture, and even the distant yet unassuming mansion of the Daimyo, the political heart of the Land of Lightning. Unlike the towering structures around it, the Daimyo's residence didn't need to assert its power through height. Its unique presence among modern building styles alone commanded respect and serenity.
Tsunade stood by the glass, dressed in her distinctive green-and-white gambling outfit, a custom design she had created here in the Land of Lightning with the help of the hotel staff. The fabric shimmered faintly in the soft morning light as she watched over the city, taking in the calm below with a rare sense of contentment.
Tsunade no longer bore her youthful appearance when she first left Konoha. Over the years, experience and personal growth had gradually reshaped her image, bringing her closer to the iconic look she held during her appearances in the Naruto series. Her green-and-white outfit hugged her figure with an effortless elegance, and the diamond-shaped mark on her forehead stood out like a symbol of her strength and identity, an unmistakable sign of who she was. In the world of Naruto, no one else shared that distinct combination. But this world was different.
Here, the Uzumaki Clan had not fallen. Their legacy had been preserved thanks to Ron, even if they no longer called themselves a clan in the traditional sense. Their presence continued strongly, woven deeply into the kumogakure and the land of lightning's foundations.
After months of living in the Capital, Tsunade had grown used to the rhythm of this place. With Kurama and Katsuya as her unlikely companions, she sometimes found herself seriously considering whether she should just stay. The comforts, the peace, it was a far cry from the chaos and struggle she once knew outside of the land of lightning.
Gazing out from her 20th-floor suite's window, she frowned as her eyes locked on a half-finished skyscraper in the distance. The structure's steel frame already loomed above most buildings by a factor of at least 5 times, its top obscured by construction rigs and cranes.
"That damn building," she muttered, arms crossed. "It's going to be such a pain to look at once it's finished, completely blocking my view. Damn! Why does it have to be so tall?"
Near the window, a small orange fox lay curled on the couch. It lazily raised its head and gave her a sideways glance.
"I heard about it," Kurama said in a casual tone. "Supposed to be a 111-story tower. When I passed by the construction zone, they had a big design board out front. It's circular up to the hundredth floor. Then the next ten floors rise in a conical shape, and the last floor, 111, is right at the peak. There's supposed to be an observatory and a signal station up there."
He gave a slight yawn, then added, "The center of the circular structure is hollow, and every ten floors there's an open-air platform, a park and playground, including shops, seemingly as if suspended in mid-air at different heights between the floors. It's not a huge opening, but get this, there's going to be a waterfall flowing down from the hundredth floor inside the hollow core, for everyone to look at. Looks like some big shot from Kumo approved related to the Daimyo is behind the whole thing."
On a nearby table, Katsuya, currently in a miniature form, was perched atop a fruit bowl, leisurely moving across its surface. As she dissolved pieces of fruit with tiny pulses of acid, she added her thoughts.
"Yes, Master Tsunade," she chimed in. "I also heard that every floor up to the hundredth floor will have rooms available for public and private use. It's meant to be a multi-purpose tower; part luxury hotel, part business hub. Apparently, it's supposed to be one of the most profitable and iconic buildings in the region. The person funding it is aiming to create a top-tier attraction and business center."
Tsunade exhaled through her nose, clearly annoyed but also mildly intrigued.
"Still ugly," she grumbled, though her gaze lingered a moment longer on the rapidly built structure rising into the skyline.