Despite her curiosity about the ninjas escorting the Daimyo, Tsunade refrained from asking directly. Whatever ninja village or clan they belonged to, it was likely a well-guarded secret, and probing too openly would only arouse suspicion and be rude. Something this advanced and amazing was undoubtedly of great value to Kumogakure.
As the maglev train continued its swift journey toward Kumogakure over the next few hours, Tsunade and her companions passed by numerous towns and cities. However, the train made no stops; it was an express line, clearly designed for high-priority travel. Yet despite the speed, Tsunade, being a seasoned ninja, had no trouble observing the surroundings and picking up on important details. Her two companions, Kurama and Katsuya Sage, were just as perceptive.
Kurama peered through the window and remarked, "Those signal towers and other structures seem to be present in every town we pass. They're everywhere."
Katsuya Sage nodded in agreement. "Even the smallest settlements are equipped with them. More importantly, each location is connected by both rails and highways, and every single one appears to have a modern electric power supply."
Tsunade's expression was thoughtful as she replied, "It's remarkably prosperous. Constructing roads alone would have cost a fortune, and yet they've gone even further, creating what they call highways. No Daimyo or even a ninja village would normally attempt such a thing. Especially not the latter. Just look at the roads outside Konoha's borders; they're still dirt paths, makeshift at best. But here… with high-speed vehicles like these, even common banditry wouldn't stand a chance, so ninjas would lose jobs."
Eventually, the landscape began to change. On the horizon, a vast mountain range came into view, its jagged peaks piercing the storm-laden skies. Even from a distance, Tsunade could see enormous buildings rising at the foot of the mountains, including one tower that exceeded the height of the tallest structure she had seen in the Land of Lightning's capital.
As a well-traveled ninja, Tsunade was familiar with the geography of the world. While the Land of Earth was known for its abundance of rocky terrain and mountains, none reached these heights. The Land of Lightning, however, was home to the legendary Lightning Mountain Ranges, the tallest in the world. These ranges spanned nearly two-thirds of the country's perimeter, stretching over a thousand kilometers in width. They began from the south-western edge near the Land of Snow and extended upward, mostly curving around the western and northern portions of the landmass.
Though some areas near the center remained livable where the peaks were relatively low and the storm presence less intense, almost non-existent, the majority of the mountain range was inhospitable, which was half of the Land of Lightning, dominated by steep, dangerous mountains shrouded in thunderclouds, long considered the domain of Kumogakure. Of course, not every part of it was settled or inhabited.
Eventually, the maglev train began to decelerate and came to a smooth halt near the foot of the mountains. Tsunade and the Daimyo disembarked at a high platform station nestled at the edge of a developing urban zone.
The Daimyo turned to her and gestured at the sprawling infrastructure. "This is one of Kumogakure's newly developed lands, planned to be a complete city. In the past, this area served merely as a strategic checkpoint, a heavily fortified entrance to the inner range. But now we're transforming it into a place where both civilians and ninjas can interact freely, without constant concern over information leaks or extensive background checks."
Tsunade gave a slight nod. "In Konoha, things are much more restricted. Villagers undergo strict scrutiny before they're allowed to settle. Most of the new residents come in as orphans, war refugees, or disaster survivors. The only exceptions are those tied to Konoha's founding clans or established merchant families."
The Daimyo acknowledged this with a knowing look. "Yes, the approach is different here. This openness only applies to citizens of the Land of Lightning. Due to the current blockade, no other people are traveling through these regions, but if there were, our shinobi would ensure tighter identity verification. Still, most civilians from our land can enter these zones freely, using only their IDs."
He paused, then added, "For security reasons, the maglev line doesn't go beyond this point. The rest of the journey into the mountain territory must be made using other methods. I hope you understand."
Tsunade gave a quiet nod. She understood perfectly. What lay ahead was not meant for the eyes of just anyone.