In the blink of an eye, it's the end of November, and fiery red maple leaves fall from the trees, like scattered sparks.
The railway construction that started in September has finally completed the first phase, connecting several important cities Hidden Leaf Village and Land of Fire.
Hidden Leaf Village residents were happy to see what was new and gathered around the newly built Konoha Train Station.
"Look, the train is coming!"
A naughty kid was wearing a winter coat, his little face was red from the cold, and he excitedly pointed at the speeding train in the distance.
Many Hidden Leaf Village residents looked around and saw a red locomotive pulling a large carriage, making a "didi" whistle, slowing down and heading this way.
As the train pulled to the side, station staff stepped forward one after another to unload the goods in the carriage.
A businessman who came to the train station early and was waiting for the goods said with emotion, "This train is really a good thing. I will do a lot of business in the future."
Another capable businessman agreed, "Yes, in the past, just doing business in China had to consider the loss of goods and transportation costs."
"If you want to save money, if you don't hire Konoha Ninja, you have to pray that you won't encounter bandits and robbers."
"With one oversight, your money is gone and your life is not guaranteed."
"Let alone going to other countries."
The nearby businessmen all echoed, as if they felt the same.
Among the Hidden Leaf Village residents who were joining in the fun, a middle-aged man said strangely, "According to what you said, after the train is put into operation, the transportation of goods will be safe and fast. Hidden Leaf Village is not ruining his own job. In the future, most businessmen will no longer need to hire ninjas."
Many businessmen laughed, and one of them explained, "Brother, you are confused."
"Hidden Leaf Village operates trains, and our goods are paid according to volume and weight."
"And in order to protect the safety of the train, some ninjas will serve as police officers on the train."
The middle-aged man scratched his head and said doubtfully, "Isn't this the same? You still have to pay, why are you so happy!"
The former capable businessman shook his head and sighed, "Brother, you must never go into business in the future, otherwise you will lose your underwear."
"After building the railway, we do need to pay for it."
"But compared to the previous costs and employment fees, it is much less."
"And the risk of cargo loss has been reduced to almost zero. Why are you so happy?"
The middle-aged man smiled sheepishly and nodded instructively.
In a hidden part of the train station, Obito gave a thumbs up. "Scorpion, well done."
Xie glanced at Obito and said quietly, "I'm not here for you."
"I know." Obito nodded with a smile, hooked his hand on Xie's shoulder, and turned his head and said, "How are you doing with other research?"
Xie's face darkened. "How can it be so fast? I have been developing the power system of the locomotive during this time."
"Although it uses Wind Release as power and chakra as energy."
"But after all, it is different from attack ninjutsu. It needs to maintain a stable output."
"How to slow down and speed up, as well as energy consumption issues must be considered."
Obito smiled coquettishly, "I'm a little anxious."
Xie was silent for a moment and asked softly, "I heard that you are planning to go to Sunagakure?"
Obito nodded. "The transportation capacity of the train is obvious to all. The lords who were reluctant before wrote a letter requesting the Hidden Leaf Village railway to pass through their territory."
"Moreover, I am ready to cooperate with Feudal Lord from other countries to cover Ninja World with railways."
"But there's a problem."
"How does a locomotive achieve mass production?"
"Ordinary simple machines can be produced with lathes and some ordinary workers."
"But the locomotive combines some complex technologies such as Wind Release Ninjutsu, which ordinary people cannot produce."
"So, I am going to Sunagakure to convince Kazekage and the elders of Sunagakure to outsource the locomotive to them."
"After all, with Sunagakure's puppet technology, there is no problem in producing locomotives."
Xie frowned and said suspiciously, "Aren't you afraid that Sunagakure will ditch you and go it alone?"
"Impossible."
Obito had a confident smile on his lips, "The technology of the locomotive is not complicated. Sunagakure can completely develop it by himself."
"The key issue is energy."
"We use Tailed Beast and Dragon Vein to mass-produce Star Crystal filled with chakra."
"And they don't have the transformation patterns on Peace, so it's impossible for them to do this."
"Without energy, the locomotive is just a decoration."
Scorpion nodded thoughtfully.
Obito touched Xie Xie's shoulder and said with a smile, "Would you like to come with me? Isn't your grandma Elder Chiyo?"
Scorpion lowered his eyes and whispered, "I am a traitor."
Obito shrugged and said helplessly, "Pretend I didn't say anything."
After the matter was discussed, Scorpion returned to Peace to continue other research.
Obito spoke to Minato-sensei, and through the teleportation array of Rōran, arrived at Sunagakure, where the wind and sand filled the sky.
In the conference room of Sunagakure, Rasa looked coldly and said in a deep voice, "Obito Uchiha, what do you want to do with Sunagakure?"
Obito found a comfortable position to sit in and said familiarly, "Of course it's a good thing."
Rasa waved his hand and said coldly, "No matter what happens, let's talk about Shukaku first."
"Sunagakure and Hidden Leaf Village are allies, but Hidden Leaf Village secretly stole One-Tail Shukaku."
"How is this matter calculated?"
Obito coughed guiltily and said righteously, "How is it possible? We Hidden Leaf Village will never do such a thing."
Rasa crossed his arms and sneered, "Sunagakure jounin Mengjia saw Shukaku with his own eyes Hidden Leaf Village."
"Shukaku that idiot!"
Obito cursed in his heart and continued to act stupid, "Anyway, this matter was not done by Hidden Leaf Village."
Rasa squinted and suddenly asked, "Do you recognize Lu Yan?"
Obito's expression changed and he said emotionally, "Fourth Kazekage actually knows about Lu Yan?"
Rasa stared at Obito suspiciously and said in a deep voice, "Why are you so excited?"
Obito looked up to the sky and sighed, saying sadly, "This is a sad story."
"Our Konoha's assistant, Danzo, worked hard all his life and finally saved a little pension money, but it was all stolen by Lu Yan."
"So much so that Assistant Danzo was so angry that he vomited blood and died in depression."
Stepping forward and grabbing Rasa's hand, Obito emotionally squeezed out a tear. "When I had nothing and was worried all day long, it was Danzo who helped me get through the difficulties."
"Danzo's assistant has been very kind to me."
"Fourth Kazekage If you know the whereabouts of Lu Yan, please tell me."
"I have nothing to do with this man."
Rasa was so angry that the corners of his eyes twitched, and he said in a cold voice, "According to Sand Ninja's information, it seems that your relationship with Danzo is not very good, right?"
Obito's sad expression froze, and he said angrily, "Rumors, they are all rumors. When Danzo's assistant was dying, he only saw me. How could our relationship be bad?"
Rasa took a deep breath and waved his hand.
He finally saw that Obito Uchiha was just talking nonsense.
Staring at Obito, Rasa said solemnly, "Okay, Hidden Leaf Village did not steal Shukaku."
"But now Shukaku is in Hidden Leaf Village, Hidden Leaf Village should be sent back."
Obito rolled his eyes and asked tentatively, "How about I rent it for a few years?"
Rasa shook his head and said flatly, "Impossible, One-Tail is an important weapon of Sunagakure."
Obito raised a finger. "One billion taels."
Rasa opened his eyes slightly and refused with difficulty. "This is not a matter of money. Shukaku will never lend it out."
Obito slapped his hand on the table and said proudly, "Ten billion taels".
Rasa's throat rolled, thinking that after Bunpuku died, Sunagakure currently does not have a suitable container for Jinchuriki. It seems that it can be borrowed for a few years.
Scanning the pile of funding application forms on the table, Rasa made up his mind and nodded. "When will the payment be made?"
Obito touched his chin and made some calculations in his mind.
At the current price of chakra, draining Shukaku's chakra would be worth 100 million taels.
Ten billion taels, which means it needs to be drawn one hundred times.
Shukaku takes one day to recover, which means it takes one hundred days.
Looking at Rasa's eager eyes, Obito said softly, "Instalment payment, three billion taels in the first and second months, and four billion taels in the third month."
Rasa looked happy and said loudly, "Deal!"