Southern Metropolitan Area of the Land of Fire
A crowd of people curiously examined the train in front of them, something they had never seen before.
The train stretched approximately 300 meters long, consisting of twelve carriages. Below it lay the iron tracks that extended southward, disappearing into the horizon.
"Can this really be faster than a carriage?"
"I doubt it can even move."
"But you can't deny, it can carry a lot of cargo."
"Exactly. Carriages have limited capacity, horses are expensive, and hiring shinobi for protection adds significantly to the cost."
The enthusiastic discussion came from prominent merchants of the Land of Fire.
Three days prior, the Daimyo had suddenly invited them to attend the inauguration ceremony of the train. They had been baffled by the very concept of a train.
It was only upon arriving at the site that someone explained its utility. Yet, truth be told, they still remained skeptical.
"The Daimyo has arrived!"
A loud voice boomed, and the crowd immediately fell silent, instinctively turning their gazes toward the source.
At the center stood the Daimyo, Enju Madoka, clad in an elegant kimono. Flanking him were his three sons and numerous ministers.
The merchants were taken aback.
Is the entire court present?
There was no doubt that the Daimyo placed immense importance on this train project. Bringing so many dignitaries to endorse it aimed to instill confidence among the attendees. Instantly, their earlier doubts began to waver.
"Before the ceremony begins, allow me to introduce today's esteemed guest."
Wearing a gentle smile, Enju Madoka announced, "This is Shinho Aburame, the Sixth Hokage of Konoha."
Some of the crowd recognized him from the Hokage inauguration ceremony and murmured among themselves, puzzled about why the Hokage was here.
"The train is a creation brought to us by the Sixth Hokage," Enju Madoka continued, "You may have heard about its uses, but hearing is one thing; seeing is another. Let us board and discuss further."
With that, he entered the nearest carriage.
"Please, everyone," Shinho gestured politely.
"Hokage-sama, you're too kind," the crowd replied respectfully, before following him onto the train.
Inside the carriages, they couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
It was a luxury sleeper car, furnished with opulent beds and an unparalleled level of comfort.
In the past, their travels had been confined to cramped carriages. Sleeping on them was an ordeal. Now, these plush sleeping arrangements instantly captured their admiration.
For wealthy merchants who already had abundant riches, comfort was the ultimate luxury.
"This setup is excellent!"
A middle-aged man remarked in awe, gesturing at the exquisite gold and crystal ornaments adorning the carriage.
"Which jeweler crafted these?" he asked curiously.
"These are creations from Konoha's Jewelry Company," Enju Madoka replied with a chuckle ,"Infused with chakra and crafted by shinobi, they possess unparalleled beauty, don't they?"
The man blinked in surprise. Shinobi creating jewelry?
"If the Daimyo endorses it, it must be exceptional," the merchant quickly complimented.
Other merchants echoed his sentiments in agreement.
Shinho offered a faint smile.
This was the power of celebrity endorsement. And not just any celebrity, but the Daimyo himself. With his approval, refusal wasn't an option.
"Please take your seats. The train will be departing shortly," Shinho reminded them.
The group quickly settled down, clutching the armrests for stability.
Moments later, their expressions turned to astonishment as the train slowly started moving and gained speed.
"It's actually faster than a carriage!"
"So stable! There's hardly any bumpiness!"
"With this train, we can significantly cut down transportation time!"
Excitement filled their voices.
With its high speed and massive capacity, even if the cost were slightly higher, the profits would outweigh the expenses.
"Hokage-sama, how will the train's charges be calculated?" one merchant asked eagerly.
"The fees will depend on the weight and value of the goods being transported. Specifics can be discussed later," Shinho explained, "However, I can assure you this: Konoha will ensure the train's safety at no additional cost."
"What?"
The middle-aged merchant looked utterly incredulous.
For them, the primary challenge of transportation wasn't speed, it was the constant threat of theft.
The shinobi world was chaotic, filled with rogue samurai, missing-nin, bandits, and pirates. Hiring shinobi for protection cost a fortune.
"Hokage-sama, you're incredibly generous!"
The group quickly recovered, showering him with heartfelt praise.
After all, who wouldn't appreciate free services?
Shinho smiled faintly. The best things in life aren't really free.
The train project offered both freight and passenger services. Freight charges were determined by weight and value, while passenger services mimicked a tiered system—hard seats, hard sleepers, and luxury sleepers—priced accordingly. Airships followed a similar model but hadn't yet been deployed due to their limited numbers.
As the train returned to the metropolitan area of the Land of Fire, the disembarking merchants radiated excitement and anticipation for what was to come.
The train was a promise to revolutionize their businesses.
With the ceremony concluded, the responsibility for railway expansion now rested with Konoha's Transportation Department. Backed by the Daimyo's support, railways would soon stretch across every city in the Land of Fire.
Shinho couldn't help but anticipate what the future held.
Let's reshape the shinobi world into something I recognize.
…
Instead of returning immediately, Shinho and Shizune boarded an airship together. Although not yet operational, airship terminals had been built alongside the transportation hubs.
"This is incredible," Shizune murmured in awe, gazing out at the sky.
In the shinobi world, only a handful of individuals could fly. The idea of soaring through the air without chakra or ninjutsu was beyond her imagination.
"This altitude isn't impressive," Shinho said casually.
The airship hovered at just about 100 meters, a mere low-altitude flight.
"Any news about the Akatsuki?" Shinho shifted topics.
"Yes," Shizune replied, snapping out of her reverie, "Two days ago, a battle broke out near the coast of the Land of Lightning."
"Turtle Island?" Shinho raised an eyebrow.
"How do you know about Turtle Island?" Shizune asked, surprised.
"Because I'm the Hokage," Shinho said with a smile.
"..."
Shizune rolled her eyes.
Having spent so much time with him, she was well aware of his quirks, like dodging questions with a cheeky "I'm the Hokage" response.
"Was Killer Bee captured?" Shinho asked, pinching her cheek.
"No," Shizune replied.
"As expected of Kumogakure," Shinho remarked with a grin.
"There's one more thing," Shizune said, her expression turning serious, "Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure are planning to form an alliance."
"An alliance?" Shinho blinked.
This deviation from the original storyline wasn't entirely unexpected. In the original series, the external threat of the Akatsuki had led to the Five Kage Summit and the formation of the Allied Shinobi Forces. With Konoha taking a different stance, Kumogakure was naturally seeking other allies.
"Ignore it," Shinho said dismissively.
"Understood," Shizune replied, not pressing further.
Despite believing that the alliance among the three villages might pose a threat to Konoha, Shizune trusted Shinho.
By the afternoon, the two of them returned to Konoha.
As Shinho entered the Hokage Office, he ran into Team 8.
"Shinho!"
Kiba greeted him warmly.
"Shinho-kun,"
Hinata called out softly, as always.
"Are you heading out on a mission?"
Shinho nodded slightly before asking.
"We just completed one,"
Kiba corrected him.
"Then go back and have some rest," Shinho said after a pause. Then, turning to Hinata, he added, "Hinata, come to my office."
"Understood!"
Kiba winked, while Hinata blushed and lowered her head, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
Shizune rolled her eyes, pouting in exasperation.
What a scoundrel!
As if having me isn't enough?
"I'm heading back to my office, Hokage-sama!"
Shizune gritted her teeth, glancing at him before walking away, swaying her hips.
Hokage-sama?!
Shinho watched her disappear. He accepted that he was destined to be a bit of a scoundrel. After all, he wasn't about to give up on anyone.
The only solution was for them to get used to it. In the shinobi world, after all, polygamy wasn't unheard of.
…
Shinho casually pushed open the door to his office. Picking up a cup of water, he handed it to Hinata.
"Thank you, Shinho-kun,"
Hinata murmured, holding the cup with both hands and taking two small sips.
Shinho reached out and gently ruffled her hair. Hinata shyly smiled, placing the cup down.
"Cute,"
Shinho took her hand and guided her to the sofa.
Hinata froze for a moment but didn't pull away. Instead, she held his hand tighter, feelinge extremely excited.
It had been a long time since she last saw Shinho, so she felt a bit bolder.
"Where did you go for this mission?"
Shinho asked, glancing downward.
From his angle, he could see the mesh lining of her collar. Unfortunately, her ninja forehead protector around her neck obstructed the view.
"To the Land… the Land of Grass,"
Hinata stammered nervously, noticing where his eyes had drifted.
Shinho took a deep breath. With Hinata's every breath, the curve of her chest became more pronounced.
This is like a younger version of Tsunade, he thought.
"How was the Land of Grass?"
He placed a hand on her cheek, feeling its soft, burning warmth.
"The grasslands… the grasslands stretched endlessly. They're beautiful…"
Hinata trembled slightly, struggling to form coherent sentences.
Shinho chuckled softly. Hinata lowered her head even further, her face nearly touching her chest.
What a natural gift.
Pulling his hand back, Shinho said, "Next time, let's go there together, when we have a chance."
"Really?"
Hinata's eyes lit up as she instinctively looked up at him.
"Really,"
Shinho replied as he pulled out a bottle of Hero Water.
Hinata blinked in confusion, unsure of what it was.
"Hinata,"
Shinho suddenly asked with a smile, "If drinking this water would shorten your lifespan, would you still drink it?"
"If Shinho-kun wants me to, I will do it,"
Hinata responded without hesitation.
As soon as she realized what she had said, she turned her face away in embarrassment.
Shinho couldn't help but laugh, both touched and a bit dumbfounded.
This girl genuinely trusts me.
"Hinata,"
he said with a grin, "you'll make an excellent wife and mother someday."
"Eh?"
Hinata froze, her mind going blank.
Does this mean Shinho-kun wants to marry me?
"Drink it,"
Shinho said, placing the Hero Water in her hands. "It will increase your chakra."
"O-Okay…"
Hinata, distracted and overwhelmed, barely heard his explanation and drank it without question.
The next moment, her eyes widened in shock.
Chakra surged through her body.
So much chakra!
What kind of water is this?
She instantly realized its extraordinary value.
As the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Clan, Hinata was well-informed. But she had never heard of an item capable of increasing chakra.
Shinho placed a hand on her forehead, raising an eyebrow.
Perhaps because Hinata was younger, her chakra had increased by nearly fifteen times, on par with the Uzumaki Clan's shinobi. However, this effect had likely consumed at least ten years of her lifespan.
Shinho then took out a Hundred-Year Longevity Gu
Having already used a Thousand-Year Longevity Gu to extend his own lifespan far beyond theirs, he didn't need it. Besides, Gu rewards could be obtained repeatedly; he would have more in the future.
"Thank you, Shinho-kun!"
Hinata looked at him with deep gratitude.
"There's a cost for this,"
Shinho reminded her, "Did you notice the reduction in your lifespan?"
"Yes, but it doesn't matter,"
Hinata replied after sensing her body carefully.
"That's your lifespan we're talking about. How can it not matter?"
Shinho flicked her forehead lightly.
"As long as it helps Shinho-kun, it's worth it,"
Hinata said, lowering her head and fidgeting with her hands.
"This will restore a hundred years of your life,"
Shinho sighed, holding her wrist and handing her the Hundred- Year Lifespan Gu.
"A hundred years?"
Hinata exclaimed in shock before quickly shaking her head. "I… I can't accept this!"
"Hinata,"
Shinho said, looking into her eyes. "I've already used one. You can accept it without worry."
Hinata calmed down a little, but her hesitation remained. She felt it was far too precious and believed she hadn't contributed enough to deserve it. Accepting it would weigh on her conscience.
"Hinata,"
Shinho held her hand and asked softly, "Don't you want to stay with me for a hundred years?"
"Eh?"
What does it mean?
Hinata was stunned. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red, spreading to her ears.
"I… I do…"
She struggled to stay conscious, speaking haltingly but with utmost sincerity.
"Then it's settled."
Shinho leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her burning cheek.
Hinata's pupils dilated in shock, and it felt as if steam was rising from her head.
Moments later, her eyes closed, and she fainted.
Shinho quickly caught her, holding her in his arms.
Her soft body rested against his chest, carrying a faint fragrance. With her steady breaths, her chest rose and fell, making it even more noticeable.
"Looks like we'll need more practice sessions to build up her tolerance,"
Shinho muttered, using the Hundred-Year Longevity Gu to restore her lifespan before laying her down gently on the sofa.
join my patreon for 150+ advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL