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Page 290
Naruto was pulled along by Sara, and mechanically followed her out of the main hall.
Behind her, the Queen's gaze returned to the ancient scroll in her hand, her eyes becoming somewhat profound and complex.
She murmured to herself, her voice so soft that only she could hear it: "A Konoha ninja from the future... appearing at this time... is it a coincidence, or has the gears of fate begun to turn..."
Outside the palace, the sunlight shone brightly, bathing the vibrant city of Loulan.
But for Naruto, the scene before him, though beautiful, was shrouded in an unknown shadow.
Friends, where are you all? Can we still go back together?
Chapter 311 The Strange Beneath the Prosperity
Leaving the cool palace, Sara enthusiastically acted as a guide, leading Naruto through the streets and alleys of Loulan City.
Sunlight filters through the gaps in the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the clean stone path.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of plants, the aroma of food, and a faint smell of metal and engine oil that Naruto had never smelled before.
At first, Naruto's attention was focused on finding Sasuke or Sakura who might suddenly appear.
But soon, his attention was completely drawn to the scene on the street, and his mouth involuntarily opened wide again.
The streets of Loulan are bustling and orderly, with residents coming and going, most of them wearing peaceful and content expressions.
But what shocked Naruto was not the prosperity of the place, but the "workers" bustling about on the streets.
That's not human.
They were mechanical creations, each about chest-high in height, with simple yet sophisticated designs!
Their shells appear to be made of some kind of pale golden metal, shimmering with a unique luster in the sunlight.
These robots come in various shapes and sizes:
Some have wheels underneath, which nimbly transport goods;
Some are equipped with tracks, steadily transporting heavier stones;
There are also many arms, assisting the craftsmen in performing repetitive and delicate tasks.
What Naruto found most incredible was that these robots did not make the deafening roar of the steam boiler that he had imagined when they moved.
There were no huge chimneys or complex piston structures.
Their power source seems to be completely hidden inside, with only a low, steady buzzing sound like the flapping of a swarm of bees.
And the extremely subtle friction sound when the joint rotates.
"Wow ah ah ah!!!"
Naruto couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, pointing at the busy robots with wide eyes: "Sara! What... what are those things?!"
"Robots?! Is Loulan's technology this advanced?!"
This is even more amazing than seeing the train in the Land of Snow!
After all, the train still needs tracks and a visible power source, while these robots seem to be completely self-sufficient!
Seeing Naruto's exaggerated reaction, Sara giggled again.
He seemed to thoroughly enjoy introducing the wonders of his hometown: "Impressive, isn't it! These are all 'Dragon Vein Puppets' designed and manufactured by Minister An Lushan!"
"They operate on the energy of the dragon vein, so they don't need to burn coal or oil, which is very convenient! They've helped everyone a lot!"
"Dragon Vein Puppet... directly powered by the energy of the dragon vein?"
Naruto felt that his worldview had been refreshed once again.
Could we directly use that violent natural energy as a battery for the robot?
This technology sounds even more advanced than the puppetry techniques of Sunagakure!
Meanwhile, within Naruto's consciousness space, this unimaginable scene also sparked discussion among the residents.
"Such a high level of technology..."
Kushina's phantom floated in the air, looking at the intricately operating mechanical puppets outside.
His face was filled with astonishment and a hint of barely perceptible worry: "This is simply unheard of."
"Such a country, such power... how could it have collapsed completely and been buried under the yellow sand? What exactly happened?"
The stark contrast between prosperity and destruction filled her with an indescribable sense of melancholy and unease.
Minato's illusory soul frowned slightly, lost in thought.
A hint of confusion flashed in his azure eyes: "Dragon Vein Puppet... Minister An Lushan... Why did I... receive the mission to go to Loulan?"
He tried hard to recall, but found that his memory of the mission was unusually vague.
The instructions, mission details, and even the specific time points of the third generation were all shrouded in a thick fog.
"I only remember that something seemed to have happened within Loulan, requiring a covert investigation... but I can't recall the specifics at all."
As a ninja known for his exceptional memory, the loss of this crucial memory made him wary.
Nine-Tailed Fox lay on the water's surface, its enormous ears twitching impatiently.
The crimson beast eyes swept across the mechanical puppets through Naruto's vision, revealing a clear expression of disgust: "Don't you guys feel that there's a really nasty smell coming from those metal lumps?"
"Disgusting taste?"
Minato snapped out of his daze, carefully sensing the energy, but shook his head: "I can only sense a steady yet powerful energy flow at their core, which does indeed originate from the dragon vein. What are you referring to?"
"Too faint... mixed with the stench of the dragon vein's natural energy."
Nine-Tailed Fox flicked its tail, looking somewhat irritated: "I can only smell a nauseating odor, it's familiar, but I can't remember which bastard it is!"
"Could it be a trace left by that stinky raccoon cat from this era that couldn't sleep all day?"
"No...it feels different..."
It couldn't be sure, but that faint, almost imperceptible smell that it instinctively disliked was definitely there.
Madara Uchiha, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened his crimson Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan.
He surveyed the mechanical torrent outside, his tone still indifferent, yet carrying a hint of warning: "Using natural energy to drive inanimate objects is certainly ingenious. But relying too much on external forces is ultimately a wrong path."
"Naruto, be careful. What's hidden beneath this prosperity is probably not so simple."
Outside, Naruto nodded subtly, keeping in mind the reminders from his various "parents" within him.
Although he seems carefree, he still has a basic sense of vigilance after experiencing so many battles and conspiracies.
In particular, Minato's amnesia and Kurama's warning made him more cautious about the seemingly dreamlike prosperity before him.
He continued to follow Sarah, but his focus of observation subtly shifted.
He began to pay closer attention to those "dragon vein puppets".
He soon discovered that although these puppets looked very advanced, they did not seem to move quickly, and were even somewhat rigid and slow.
They can only move along fixed paths and perform the simplest and most repetitive physical tasks, such as carrying stones, passing items, and sweeping streets.
They are completely unable to handle slightly more complex tasks, such as helping the elderly carry things or dodging children who suddenly run by.
This could even cause stagnation or chaos, requiring human residents to manually adjust or circumvent them.
Different puppets are responsible for different areas, each performing its own duties without interfering with each other.
The entire Loulan is like a huge and precise mechanical clock with a pre-programmed sequence.
And these puppets are just cogs in a machine.
Naruto couldn't help but ask an old man from Loulan who was resting, "Grandpa, these robots... uh, Dragon Vein puppets, they're so powerful, why don't you let them do more complex jobs? Like... fighting or protecting everyone?"
The old man paused for a moment, then smiled kindly: "Young man, you're from out of town, aren't you?"
“These puppets are the masterpiece of Minister An Lushan. Their power comes from the blessing of the dragon vein. They can only be used for construction and service, not for violence.”
“That would tarnish the sacredness of the dragon vein, and besides, we Loulan are peaceful and have no need for fighting.”
Naruto then tentatively asked, "So... does everyone know how to use chakra? You mean that kind of energy in the body?"
The old man and several residents around him looked bewildered and shook their heads: "Chakra? What's that? Is it some kind of new energy source?"
"Her Majesty the Queen and Minister An Lushan are enough to protect Loulan and utilize the power of the dragon veins."
Naruto understood. In this era of Loulan, the ordinary people seemed to have no idea about the existence of chakra and ninjas.
The entire nation's operation and defense depend heavily on the dragon veins and these puppets driven by them.
Despite its highly advanced technology, it has completely abandoned the ninja system.
The power originates from powerful natural energy, yet the people know nothing about it and rely entirely on the bestowal and control of the upper class;
Society as a whole appears harmonious, yet it exudes a sense of meticulously planned, lifeless mechanicalness...
Naruto gazed at the miraculous city that shone brightly in the desert before him.
Looking at the tireless mechanical puppets and the peaceful and contented people, the sense of unease in my heart grew stronger and stronger.
The aura Kurama dislikes, Minato's missing memories, Madara's warning, and this unusual social structure...
All of this points to one conclusion:
Beneath the splendor of Loulan, there must lie a great secret, or even... a crisis.
The minister named An Lushan, and his puppetry using the power of the dragon vein, are probably the key to all of this.
Naruto secretly decided that he had to find out the truth about An Lushan.
Chapter 312 A Conversation Deep Underground
As night falls, a serene cloak is draped over the once bustling Loulan.
Unlike the hustle and bustle of the daytime, Loulan appears even more mysterious at night.
Those dragon vein puppets did not stop working.
Some parts of their bodies are inlaid with crystals that appear to have absorbed and stored the energy of the dragon vein.
It emits a soft and steady light, like twinkling stars.