356. The Black Iron Dragon!

"Choo-choo-choo…"

As the piercing whistle echoed, the citizens gathered around the black railway finally realized what General Danzo had meant by the "train"—a colossal iron beast!

The rolling wheels clattered along the tracks, emitting a metallic grinding sound.

It was as if a massive black iron dragon had descended, roaring with terrifying might, rumbling into the capital before everyone's eyes.

This unprecedented spectacle naturally drew gasps of astonishment from the crowd. "Is this the train General Danzo spoke of?"

"Why call it a train? I think 'Iron Dragon' would be more fitting!"

"Exactly, it's enormous!"

"But what can such a huge thing be used for?"

"I don’t know…"

"I heard it can carry goods."

"Maybe it can carry people too?"

Not only were the citizens chattering excitedly, but the young officials on the scene were also visibly awestruck.

Having more exposure and knowledge than the average citizen, they were even more… stunned!

They could clearly foresee the monumental changes such a massive, human-free, long-distance transportation system would bring to the Land of Fire.

First, the completion of this railway would significantly enhance the speed and efficiency of transporting people to Konoha.

Take the current immigration plan, for example.

One of the biggest challenges was safely moving ordinary citizens to Konoha.

Unlike ninja, who were physically strong and swift, ordinary people faced great risks traversing the mountains between Konoha and the capital.

Any casualties along the way would severely damage public confidence in the immigration plan.

Fortunately, the railway's completion and the train's operation had completely resolved this headache for the immigration department.

Although the journey might be bumpy and uncomfortable, it was a far cry from the life-threatening risks of long-distance travel, making the minor inconveniences acceptable.

According to the immigration department's estimates, a single train, at full capacity, could transport around 1,000 immigrants.

With other railway lines yet to open, Konoha's current ten locomotives could all be deployed for this task.

This meant that, with proper coordination, they could transport 10,000 immigrants to Konoha daily!

In theory, they could empty the entire capital's population in just over a month—an astonishing efficiency!

While this might seem insignificant in the context of immigration, imagine replacing immigrants with ninja.

Deploying tens of thousands of ninja to the frontlines in a single day—such terrifying logistical capabilities would send shivers down the spine of any hidden village.

Of course, the significance of the railway extended far beyond transporting people.


It also played a crucial role in transporting goods and promoting commercial and industrial development.

As everyone knew, one of the major constraints on the ninja world's commercial development was transportation.

Even within the Land of Fire, with its relatively favorable geography, there were vast mountains and dense forests.

Merchants transporting goods through such treacherous terrain faced not only inefficiency but also significant risks.

Encountering bandits could easily lead to a tragic end.

However, with the railway, not only was transportation efficiency greatly improved, but it was also much safer!

Ordinary bandits would find it nearly impossible to stop a hundreds-of-tons iron beast.

And if anyone dared to attack the train or the tracks, Konoha would swiftly demonstrate why it was the ninja world's top hidden village.

The railway also had a profound impact on industry.

It significantly accelerated the transportation of raw materials.

A prime example was the mining area leased to Konoha by the Land of Wind.

Previously, transporting large quantities of mineral resources to Konoha required arduous journeys over mountains and rivers.

With the railway, it became as simple as loading the materials onto trains and shipping them directly to Konoha.

This not only saved manpower but also greatly reduced losses.

With easier access to raw materials, factory efficiency naturally soared.

In short, the completion of the railway held immense significance for the entire Land of Fire.

It was like the nation's main artery, pumping lifeblood to every corner and revitalizing the ninja world's greatest power.

——————

"What a breathtaking sight," Shikaku remarked, standing beside Danzo on a distant clocktower.

As he watched the cheering crowd below, a sense of unreality washed over him.

He never imagined that, step by step, he would actually achieve such a monumental feat.

Unifying the Land of Fire's power was something many dared not even dream of, yet here he was, having accomplished it under the leadership of the man beside him.

Sensing Shikaku's emotional shift, Danzo smiled faintly.

"Don’t worry, Shikaku. This is just the beginning," he said.

"With power unified and technology advancing, the Land of Fire's strength will enter a period of rapid growth. Soon, a new era will dawn—one where the elderly are cared for, the young are educated, the poor have support, and the troubled find aid."

Danzo's voice was filled with an indescribable determination, as if he were describing an inevitable future.

Even the usually rational Shikaku couldn’t help but be moved by his conviction, a look of ambition spreading across his face.

"It will happen, Lord Danzo!" Shikaku's address of "Lord Danzo" was heartfelt.

As Konoha's top strategist and the ninja world's so-called smartest man, Shikaku fully understood the immense significance and impact of Danzo's actions—not just for Konoha or the Land of Fire, but for the entire ninja world.

When Danzo chose this path, he was no longer acting for himself.

His vision now encompassed the entire Land of Fire and even all its people.


What Danzo aimed to achieve was nothing short of subvert the existing order of the ninja world, a task that could easily lead to his downfall.

Yet, fortunately, he had successfully taken the first step and firmly established his footing.

After watching the scene for a while longer, Danzo slowly raised his cane.

"Next, the matter of the daimyo and the nobles will be in your hands, Shikaku."