aircannonsinc Chapter 529 Farewell to the Konoha Youngsters
Chapter 529 Farewell to the Konoha Youngsters
Chapter 529 Farewell to the Konoha Youngsters
The next day, at Hoshinoku North Station.
This is a large high-speed railway passenger station that was completed less than five years ago. The domed building, which is over 100 meters high, resembles a giant bird about to take flight. The dome is designed with a combination of steel structure and glass, covering the entire station area.
In the bustling hall, travelers hurried about.
Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Sakura, Lee, and the other Konoha 16 members looked up, staring blankly at the enormous dome.
"Wow, it's so high!" Xiao Li exclaimed in amazement.
Kimimaro held some tickets in his hand, distributed them to them, and said, "This is the high-speed train to Ueno Castle in Kuma County. The tickets have been bought for you."
The group took the tickets and examined them curiously.
The ticket was made of cardboard, with the train number, seat number, and departure time printed on it, along with a line of small print that read "Star Country National Railway Group".
This was the first time Shikamaru and the others had ever seen such tickets, so they couldn't help but feel a bit curious.
Naruto also curiously came over to look at the tickets.
Today is the day to say goodbye to Shikamaru and the others, so Menma gave Naruto and Sasuke a day off and brought them to see off their friends.
Suddenly, the red pill on the top of the tooth let out a howl, pricked up its ears, and sniffed the air.
Kiba raised his head and said to Akamaru, "Have you noticed too? Akamaru, you have your own kind."
Not far ahead at the entrance gate, several police ninjas, each leading a ninja dog, were checking the luggage of passing passengers.
Shikamaru noticed that among the police ninjas, there was also a Byakugan ninja. Based on the white kimono worn under the ninja vest and the clan crest, he could tell that the ninja was a genuine member of the Hyuga branch family.
Shikamaru's gaze lingered on the Hyuga ninja for a moment.
The other person was using their Byakugan to check on the passing travelers when they noticed the gaze of another ninja. They turned their head slightly to look at Shikamaru and the others.
He then nodded politely to Shikamaru before turning back to focus on his work.
Choji held a bag of potato chips, crunching away as he looked around at the spacious station interior, exclaiming with a mixture of curiosity and awe, "What a huge station! Is this the station for those Rai-sha—oh, high-speed trains?"
He couldn't help but recall the astonishment he felt when he first saw those fast-moving trains on the railway line after arriving in the Star Kingdom.
Sakura and Ino looked up at the huge dome above them. Sunlight streamed through the glass of the dome, but they didn't feel hot at all.
Tenten held Yakumo's hand tightly, afraid that the huge crowd would separate them.
"Speaking of which," Shikamaru glanced at Menma, Naruto, and the cool-looking Sasuke beside them, then asked Kimimaro, who was walking at the front, "Aren't you going to see us off at the border?"
After all, these are ninjas from Konoha. How can we just let them move freely over a thousand kilometers from the Star Capital to the border?
Kimimaro glanced at him slightly and replied, "I will take care of getting you to the border. Just make sure you have your tickets and experience it."
Shikamaru gave a knowing look: "Ah, I thought so too."
The group quickly passed through the ticket gate and followed Kimimaro to the waiting platform.
Menma also showed an ID to the staff at the entrance gate. A moment later, a Chunin from the police department came over, checked the ID, and respectfully handed it back with both hands.
"Sir, are these two also with you?" The Chunin glanced at Naruto and Sasuke following behind Menma and asked politely.
He was naturally referring to Naruto and Sasuke, who were following behind Menma.
Mianma nodded: "Yes."
The chunin from the police department didn't say anything more, but stood respectfully to the side, waiting for Menma and the other two to pass before closing the employee passage.
Naruto followed behind Menma, knowing they were going to see Shikamaru and the others off. He put his hands behind his head, still a little curious, and asked, "Menma-nii, why is it so complicated? Do you even have to check me?"
His tone carried a hint of confusion.
In Naruto's view, Menma is the ruler of the Land of Stars and the most powerful person in the country, so why should he have to undergo examination like an ordinary person?
Just like how the Hokage has to register when entering or leaving the village.
Menma turned his head to look at Naruto, who looked confused. Sasuke, though he didn't ask, also looked over.
Menma then explained, "Large-scale security checks are a necessary measure to prevent crises from happening in the first place. This kind of security check is not only in big cities like Star Capital, but also in other cities. As long as it is a city or area where the use of ninja power is prohibited except in missions or special circumstances, even Jonin must go through the normal procedures in areas with a particularly large flow of people."
As he spoke, Menma waved the ID in his hand and said, "This is just an ordinary Jonin ID."
"The population of the Land of Stars exceeds 50 million, the number of ninjas exceeds 90,000, and there are also many civil servants who are not ninjas. It is impossible for everyone to know me, so in order to avoid some unnecessary trouble, I will prepare my Jonin ID to cooperate with inspections when I go out."
Naruto still didn't quite understand, but Sasuke had already grasped the meaning behind the words.
Sasuke entered the Anbu at the age of six and carried out many missions, so he naturally knew how the word "power" was manifested.
When a person can command a dozen or even dozens of people to obey him, the sense of power that arises is beyond the control of ordinary people.
Not to mention that Menma is now the ruler of the Star Country, a country with a population of over 50 million.
Although the system of the Star Country is very different from that of a daimyo country like the Land of Fire, the one thing that has not changed is the supreme power that Menma, as the strongest ninja of the Star Country, possesses.
This power is not obtained through any position, but rather it comes from one's own strength.
In a ninja world that reveres strength above all else, this is unavoidable.
"Idiot." Sasuke scoffed, a hint of disdain in his voice.
"This is the effect of Menma's power on ordinary people due to his suppression of the ninjas' strength being too great."
Menma looked at Sasuke with some surprise.
Upon hearing this, Naruto immediately retorted loudly, "You arrogant Sasuke! Do you think I can't see through you?! Anyway, Menma-san is just doing what's best for the common people!"
"Hmph, so you know that now?"
"Of course I know! I'm not really stupid!"
Menma watched the two start their usual bickering again, a slight smile playing on her lips, without interrupting.
Amidst their bickering, the group had already reached the station platform via the escalator.
There are already quite a few passengers waiting here. Some are carrying suitcases, some are dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, and some are dressed in traditional clothing. They are either waiting for the train or reading newspapers on the platform.
Life is full of different aspects, like a painting.
Several staff members in blue uniforms were walking back and forth, using a loudspeaker to remind the crowd: "Passengers, please wait behind the yellow line and do not cross it! The train is about to arrive at the station, please be careful!"
Menma, along with Naruto and Sasuke, followed Kimimaro and Shikamaru to the waiting area corresponding to their section of the train and said to them, "We'll take you here."
Naruto waved to everyone with a bright smile and shouted, "Goodbye, everyone! When you get back to Konoha, remember to apologize to Iruka-sensei for me! Tell him I can't come back for the time being, and that he shouldn't miss me too much!"
Kiba waved to Naruto, his voice booming, "You better be alright!"
Choji said to Naruto with some reluctance, "Naruto—goodbye—I don't know if we'll ever have a chance to eat together again."
"There's definitely a chance, Choji!" Naruto grinned.
Sakura and Ino clung to Sasuke's sleeve with tears in their eyes.
Sasuke was being pulled along by the two men, a hint of helplessness appearing on his usually cold face.
Shikamaru glanced at the people of the Land of Stars around him, seemingly oblivious to the impending war and the oppressive atmosphere that should have been present.
They continued to live, work, and travel normally, as if the impending war had nothing to do with them.
Shikamaru couldn't help but recall their conversation on the veranda last night, that arrogant and aloof attitude that completely disregarded the four great nations and the Allied Shinobi Forces.
"I don't know how to say it, but thank you for taking care of me during this time." Shikamaru sighed after saying this to Masa.
"If only there were no war." Although he knew it was impossible.
Since its inception, the ninja world has experienced almost no peaceful years. Even during the intervals between the three Shinobi World Wars, the major ninja villages only had a little over a decade to catch their breath.
"Don't worry, that day will come soon, I promise you." Menma smiled calmly and waved to Shikamaru.
Shikamaru opened his mouth, wanting to ask Hinata a question, but after thinking about it, he felt that he was overthinking it.
Hinata is now the head of the Hyuga main clan. The Senju clan has been completely integrated into Konoha. After the Uchiha clan defected from Konoha, the Hyuga clan is undoubtedly the number one clan in Konoha. Even though two of Hinata's teammates have defected from Konoha, no one dares to touch her.
Unless Danzo, the acting Hokage, is truly unafraid of driving the Hyuga main family into rebellion as well.
With a whooshing sound approaching from afar, a high-speed train stopped at the platform, the doors opened, and people began to get on and off.
"Let's go." Shikamaru put his hands in his pockets, turned around with a flourish, and got into the car with Choji and the others.
"Have a safe journey." Menma stood on the platform with Naruto and Sasuke, watching them board the train.