Chapter 18: Twelve and Three
That night, Dana pulled out all the stops. Through a combination of pleading and persistence, he finally managed to convince the clan elders to let him leave the village. After all, it was for a legitimate reason, and the Land of Hot Water was still within the Land of Lightning's sphere of influence. With a large enough escort, the risk would be minimal.
The final decision was made jointly by the leading elders and the Third Raikage.
It was settled: in addition to Arashi, a team of three Jonin would be dispatched as a protective detail. One of them was Dana's trusted acquaintance, Dodai, a choice Dana was more than happy with.
The other two, Dana didn't know. One was named Mamoru Anzai, a promising young medical-nin who had volunteered for the assignment. Of course, in this era, there were no dedicated medical specialists; most were just combat ninja who happened to know a few medical jutsu and had an interest in the field. His combat skills were not to be underestimated; in fact, he was likely stronger than the average Jonin.
The other was Kyohei Kawanishi, handpicked by the Third Raikage. He was a master of taijutsu who wielded a chakra-infused short sword and had a reputation as a powerful and experienced bodyguard.
In addition to the shinobi, there was a support team of seven attendants, including Ume. These attendants, both male and female, were all trained members of the Yotsuki clan's private forces, many of them Chunin or stronger. All told, the escort consisted of three Jonin and four Chunin, including an elite Jonin with a Kekkei Genkai and a Chunin of exceptional skill.
Counting Dana himself, the party totaled twelve people.
It was an entourage fit for a king. Within the Land of Lightning, no one besides the Daimyo himself had a more robust security detail. And since their entire journey was within their own sphere of influence, the mission was as safe as it could possibly be.
They were in a hurry, so the very next morning, Arashi, Dana, and their retinue set out.
The moment they left the village, Dana was like a country bumpkin visiting the big city for the first time. Everything was a novelty. He had to touch every flower and rub against every tree, a true bundle of curiosity.
Unlike Konoha, which was surrounded by dense forests, or Suna, which was bordered by endless deserts, the Hidden Cloud had its own unique and breathtaking landscape. Jagged mountain peaks rose in succession, their altitude gradually decreasing as they traveled south. Strange rock formations and ancient trees dotted the terrain, and many areas were shrouded in mist, creating a sense of natural, untamed beauty that left Dana in awe. While the village itself was nestled among mountains, the confined space could feel oppressive after a while. Out here, it was magnificent.
Arashi watched his brother's wide-eyed wonder with a pang of sympathy. He understood how Dana felt. His brother had never set foot outside the village in his entire life. His entire perception of the world had been shaped by the books in their library.
With the tacit approval of Arashi and Dodai, the group slowed its pace, giving Dana more time to experience the world outside the village.
That first night, they rested in a small town. Since they were still within the Land of Lightning and their group was large, they made no effort to hide their identities as Hidden Cloud ninja.
Dana was fascinated by the lives of the common people. From his reading, he knew that the technological development of the ninja world was incredibly strange. The current year was 33 K.E. (the Hidden Cloud, of course, didn't use Konoha's calendar, but the two villages had been founded in the same year).
About fifty years ago, at the end of the Warring States Period, the overall technology level of the world was still pre-industrial, similar to the Sengoku period of his previous life. But in the last few decades, technology had leaped forward. Basic industrial products like steel, concrete, glass, and kerosene had become widespread in a remarkably short period. In recent years, even electrical appliances had begun to appear. The Hidden Cloud, for instance, had a clunky wireless radio that was the size of a small house.
And from what Dana remembered of the main story, which took place about thirty years from now, the ninja world would have already reached a modern level of technology, with computers, movies, televisions, and walkie-talkies.
How was that possible?
And then there was that unwatchable, unburnable garbage sequel he'd only heard about, where the technology had supposedly advanced to the 21st century and beyond.
If this were his old world, he could just blame it on the author. But now that he was in this world, the question was like an itch he couldn't scratch.
Think about it: in the future, the great ninja villages would be locked in a vicious cycle of development and war, beating each other's brains out. They had no involvement in the technological revolution of civilian society. So who, then, was pushing the world's rapid scientific advancement?
Was it possible that, right now, somewhere in a corner of the world the ninja didn't care about, a group of people was researching diodes and microchips?
How did that make any sense?
Dana's curiosity about the development of civilian society burned hotter than any fire. When he saw a kerosene lamp hanging by a doorway, he ran over and grilled the owner about everything from its origin to its price. Then, when he discovered that their inn used electric lights, he immediately cornered the owner and peppered him with questions.
He didn't just ask; he took out his little notebook and meticulously recorded everything. Everyone in the group, except for Dodai, found the Raikage's second son to be a bit odd. But Dodai was perhaps the only one who no longer saw Dana as just a child. He not only helped him gather information but also actively answered his questions.
After all, he now considered Dana's mind to be one of the Hidden Cloud's greatest treasures.
And so, the group's progress slowed even further.
Meanwhile, on the border of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire
A small squad of ninja was observing a town nestled at the foot of a mountain.
Their leader was a stout man, his body a pie chart of thirty percent muscle, sixty percent fat, and ten percent carefree swagger. Behind him stood three vibrant young shinobi, all of them appearing to be in their early twenties: a beautiful blonde, a pale-faced man with a deadpan expression, and a greasy-haired youth with prematurely white hair.
Choza Akimichi patted his large belly. "We're finally in the Land of Hot Water!" he declared. "You kids might not know this, but this country has some amazing food. The hot spring inns are the best, and they have all kinds of... entertainment districts." He swallowed audibly, and it was unclear if he was thinking of the food or the entertainment.
"Uncle Choza," the blonde woman said, "we're all Jonin. We've been to the Land of Hot Water before."
"I've been here twice before," said the white-haired youth, "but it was always for missions. I've never had a chance to really have fun."
"You idiot," the pale-faced man sneered. "You're here on a mission this time, too. Did you really think Sensei sent us here for a spa vacation?"