Ch 56. Change in the Ninjas world
It's been a year since Kumogakure started trading, and the world has changed. In the vibrant village of Konoha, children could be seen running through the streets, clutching ice creams in their hands, their laughter blending with the hum of daily life. Shops displayed an array of modern appliances, refrigerators humming softly, radios playing the latest broadcasts, and even televisions equipped to play DVDs and movies. These conveniences, once considered luxuries and non-existent, have become increasingly common over the past year.
The world of shinobi had undergone an immense transformation with the rapid emergence of new technologies. More advanced refrigerators and air conditioning units provided comfort even in the sweltering heat, while improved radios allowed people to listen to broadcasts and even communicate through walkie-talkies. Though still a novelty, these handheld devices had become a popular toy among the wealthy and were already being adapted for use in ninja missions.
Merchants, sensing an opportunity, had quickly embraced these technological advancements. In just a year, improved products had flooded the markets, especially in prosperous urban centers like the capitals of major nations and hidden villages. With prices becoming increasingly affordable, ninjas and civilians alike eagerly purchased electric stovetops, refrigeration units, and other household appliances. Housewives, in particular, found these innovations indispensable, transforming daily life in ways previously unimaginable.
According to the natural progression of the world, such advancements were originally expected to emerge gradually during the beginning of Naruto's era. However, due to recent developments, these technologies proliferated far earlier and on a much larger scale. No longer restricted to shinobi villages or the wealthiest households, they had become accessible even to the common people.
At the heart of this transformation were Kumogakure and the Land of Lightning. The village had not only expanded its own trade networks with merchants from the Land of Lightning but had also forged lucrative partnerships with merchants from other nations. This intricate web of commerce and interests ensured that the technology industry flourished, fueling economic growth and strengthening Kumogakure's influence.
Despite the rapid expansion, the technologies currently being sold remained relatively basic, refined, sleek, and more efficient than their future counterparts, but not overwhelmingly advanced. Ron had been careful not to release innovations too far ahead of their time, ensuring that while these civilian products were superior, they were still within the realm of comprehension. More groundbreaking developments remained locked away, safeguarded until it was ahead of many generations so that they could not be copied.
Beyond household appliances, the people of the Land of Lightning, supported by Kumogakure, had also ventured into cultural and entertainment industries. Radio broadcasting had begun to take root, though its reach remained deliberately limited to local transmissions. Like radios which could only be broadcasted over a very limited short distance, televisions were restricted to playing DVDs, ensuring that no one viewed them as a potential military threat. Ron had intentionally limited their capabilities, knowing that if long-range communication became widespread too quickly, other villages would either seek to weaponize it or perceive it as a danger to their own security.
Entertainment has also flourished in other ways. Alongside traditional commerce; which allowed the massive flow of different resources, especially local specialties from all over the world to flow within the land of snow, allowing them to make even more money; the Land of Lightning pioneered the exclusive distribution of various entertainment DVDs, unique culinary products such as newly developed frozen seafood and ice cream, and other luxury goods. Refrigerated transport, powered by rechargeable battery units maintained by lightning-style ninjas, had made it possible to ship perishable goods farther than ever before. However, outside the Land of Lightning, long-distance transportation still relied primarily on carriages.
While Kumogakure dominated the technology and battery markets, it had also strategically allowed other major cities, including Konoha, to adopt broadcasting technology. As a result, radios became commonplace, not just in homes but in businesses and public spaces. Merchant coalitions under Kumogakure had even collaborated with ninja villages and city officials to install large-scale generators, providing electricity to smaller settlements. These generators, designed to run on wood and coal, offered a relatively simple and accessible energy solution.
The impact of these advancements was undeniable. Over the past few years, the outside world has undergone significant changes. In major capitals, radio broadcasts had become a popular form of entertainment, with people tuning in to listen to news, music, and even newly emerging radio dramas. Casinos and racetracks had integrated radio systems to announce events, while small-scale production companies had begun experimenting with creating and distributing their own DVD content. While the idea of movies and television shows had already taken root in the Land of Lightning, it was now gradually spreading beyond its borders.
For Kumogakure and the Daimyo, these developments meant immense wealth. With the monopoly on essential technologies and energy solutions, their economic power had surged, filling their coffers with vast resources, especially those deemed insignificant by other nations but invaluable for future advancements. Ron himself had also amassed a considerable fortune through his share in these enterprises, securing immense resources and financial independence, although he never touched money as the village provided him with whatever he needed, even if anyone was taking accounts, whatever Ron spent would only be a splash in his ocean of amassed wealth, which is managed by the newly emerged banking system, established jointly by Daimyo and Kumogakure, one managed while the other kept it sage.
Currently, the Land of Lightning has fully transitioned to solar energy, a stark contrast to the rest of the world, which still relied on traditional fuel sources such as wood and coal. While other nations struggled to keep up, Kumogakure stood at the forefront of a new era, holding the reins of technological and economic progress.