The next day, Star City North Station.
It was a large High-speed Rail passenger station that had taken shape less than five years ago. The dome, over a hundred meters tall, resembled a Giant Bird spreading its wings to take flight. It was built with a design that combined steel structure and glass, covering the entire station area.
In the bustling hall, travelers hurried to and fro.
Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Sakura, Rock Lee, and the other Konoha rookies tilted their heads back, staring blankly at the enormous dome.
"It's so tall!" Rock Lee's eyes were full of amazement.
Kimimaro held a stack of tickets and handed them out, saying, "This is the express train to Ueno City in Bear County. I've already bought your tickets."
The group took the tickets and curiously fiddled with them.
The tickets were made of stiff paper, printed with the train number, seat number, and departure time. There was also a line of small text that read "Land of Stars State Railway Group."
It was Shikamaru and the others' first time seeing tickets like these, so they naturally found them novel.
Naruto also leaned over curiously to look at the tickets.
Today was the day they saw Shikamaru and the others off, so Menma had given Naruto and Sasuke a day off as well and brought the two of them to send off these friends.
Akamaru, on top of Kiba's head, suddenly gave a howl, pricked up his ears, and sniffed the air.
Kiba raised his head and said to Akamaru, "You noticed too? Akamaru, there are others of your kind."
Not far ahead of them, by the entrance gates, several ninjas from the Konoha Military Police Force were holding Ninja Dogs on leashes and inspecting the luggage of passing travelers.
Shikamaru noticed that among