At the end of July in Konoha year 29, a mysterious figure dressed entirely in black walked through the desert within the Land of Wind.
"From afar it doesn't seem like much, but up close this track is truly magnificent."
After saying that, he turned to face Konoha. "They've achieved such advanced technology."
He watched for several minutes before shifting his gaze back toward the track.
"If even Amegakure couldn't match it, then Konoha must be biding its time while building strength."
The mysterious figure was none other than the current pinnacle of the shinobi world—the Demigod of the shinobi world—Hanzo of Amegakure.
His reason for coming to the Land of Wind was simple: his subordinate Takeshima, who barely escaped with his life, had revealed the truth about Konoha's alliance with Sunagakure and their plans regarding the Uzumaki village.
Not long ago, Takeshima returned to Amegakure severely wounded, barely alive, returning to that war-torn nation.
Back then, with as few words as possible, he told Hanzo that Konoha—a village prosperous since its founding—had recently made huge leaps in technology.
Furthermore, he admitted that he'd been captured by Konoha's Team One, controlled under the Sharingan, and forced to disclose all of Amegakure's plans regarding the Uzumaki village.
"Lord Hanzo, Konoha will only grow stronger. Amegakure cannot afford to remain stagnant." Those were Takeshima's last words before his death—words that prompted Hanzo to personally leave Amegakure and witness these vehicles said to change the way shinobi wars are fought.
However, after discovering multiple layers of barrier seals around Konoha's outer perimeter, he abandoned that plan and instead came here to the Land of Wind to admire this spectacular sight—the rail line.
"Konoha has allied with Sunagakure, while Amegakure has already taken aggressive action." Proud as he was, Hanzo himself had considered forming an alliance with Konoha.
But given Amegakure's previous actions against the Uzumaki village, reconciliation would require far more concessions than what Sunagakure might have offered.
Thinking this through, Hanzo formed a single hand seal and activated [Body Flicker Technique], vanishing in the direction of Amegakure.
The Demigod of the shinobi world believed that once Konoha deemed the timing right, they would inevitably retaliate against Amegakure. He needed to return quickly and prepare for the possibility of full-scale war.
In an underground chamber not far from Konoha, White Zetsu reported what had just occurred to Madara.
"So he simply went back?"
"That's correct, Lord Madara. It seems your prediction was accurate. Suspicion truly is the root of all conflicts in the shinobi world." White Zetsu stated his judgment straightforwardly.
Seated in a chair, Madara showed no expression on his wrinkled face. "For decades, this world has made absolutely no progress."
White Zetsu paused thoughtfully before voicing his lingering question. "Then why did you have me warn Hanzo? Ending warfare—isn't that your ultimate goal?"
Madara's eyes dimmed slightly. He raised his gaze toward Konoha. "This was merely a test. If war could truly erupt that easily, then the Moon's Eye Plan might indeed be the only way to achieve peace."
White Zetsu understood. He knew exactly what his creator intended. "So am I heading to the other villages next?"
Madara gazed at the Uchiwa fan hanging on the wall, a symbol of the Uchiha Clan. "If they start a war, you must protect that child well."
"Lord Madara, I guarantee nothing will happen to him!" White Zetsu, no longer his usual carefree self, made the promise solemnly.
"Good." Madara acknowledged and closed his left eye.
Would he take White Zetstu's behavior for granted, or had he already sensed something unusual?
In the Hokage Tower office, Third Hokage reviewed the report in his hands with great satisfaction—the powerful clans in Konoha had coexisted relatively harmoniously over these past few months.
Of course, there were still minor conflicts, but all trivial matters without serious consequences; unlike before when extreme measures like outright kidnappings frequently occurred.
"Hmm? Preliminary success in developing a method to transmit signals from base stations to terminals?" He flipped to Shen's research report and was immediately surprised.
"It seems like communication devices and rail lines will both debut in the shinobi world in three years."
The Third Hokage planned to showcase Konoha's strength to all villages on that day, reaffirming that Konoha remained as formidable as ever. Any who sought revenge should carefully measure their own capabilities first.
After finishing the research report, he picked up the proposal for the Konoha Business Alliance formed by major clans, reading through it carefully several times.
"The caravans will combine commoners and ninja. Once communication devices become available, security can be significantly improved."
The merchant caravans traveling between the Land of Fire and Land of Wind had already increased from just over one hundred people to more than two hundred today.
Additionally, the proposal aimed to expand caravan sizes beyond five hundred members within three years.
Making money off wealthy clients really paid off—the profits had already multiplied within just over a year.
Microwaves originally priced at several hundred thousand ryo could now nearly reach ten million ryo after Shen redesigned them, adding various dazzling decorations.
This almost twentyfold profit boost motivated members of the Konoha Business Alliance to invest heavily in researching and developing new products.
Of course, Konoha wouldn't keep all of this profit to itself—sharing some non-critical shell technologies and component manufacturing techniques with Sunagakure would help solidify the alliance between the two nations.
"Everything will be decided three years from now."
Third Hokage gazed toward Kage Rock, his heart brimming with anticipation for that day.
In the spring of Konoha Year 30 (equivalent to the village's 30th year since its founding), Shen—who had practically been living in the lab for nearly six months—finally invented a small signal tower thanks to his ability to transmit information between himself and clones using the Shadow Clone Technique.
As a result, TVs across Konoha finally gained signal-receiving functionality.
Shen immediately suggested to the chairman of Uchiha Corporation Limited (his very own mother and matriarch, Aiko) that they develop a series of live programs.
Therefore, in Konoha Year 31, besides offering subscription-based TV drama channels, television broadcasts began featuring many fresh and interesting shows.
Moreover, by the end of that year, Shen successfully developed a communications base station with a coverage radius of three kilometers.
Combined with Orochimaru's research on integrated circuit boards and mobile communication devices, the first-generation UchihaPhone—shortened to UPhone—was successfully born!
Although it didn't have a touchscreen display and remained a keypad device, Shen believed this first-generation UPhone would lead an entire era for the communications industry of the shinobi world.
Featuring a metal matte-textured shell, about half the size of a palm, a retractable signal antenna, and a sleek sliding cover design—it was the very first mobile phone ever seen in the shinobi world.
Dressed in light blue jeans and a black round-neck shirt, Shen proudly announced the launch during a live village-wide broadcast—and kicked off an all-night EDM Festival the very same evening.
Naturally, the Third Hokage and Kazushi weren't about to let him get away that easily.
Instead, they dove headfirst into the dance party, shouting over and over again that Konoha was truly the best place in the shinobi world!
Volume Two: Team One and the Sword of Kusanagi
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