Inside a town in the Land of Rain.
Kushina's original target was still in that towering castle, drinking with the lord of this Land of Rain city while watching song and dance performances.
"Kawahira-san, drink!"
Chikamatsu Kawahei was that minor noble of the Land of Rain. One of his family elders had been old friends with Kato Tsukitani, lord of Hakoami Castle in the Land of Fire.
However, as the older generation of the family died off, the new generation of nobles proved rather incompetent, causing his branch to decline.
After the lord of Qiyue City in the Land of Rain learned of the Chikamatsu Family's decline, he immediately sought out Chikamatsu Kawahei.
He had long held a grudge against Kato Tsukitani, but the Land of Fire was a major nation, and the lord of Qiyue City did not dare provoke Tsukitani beneath the Land of Rain daimyo's watchful eye.
So he naturally chose to help Chikamatsu Kawahei, giving him the chance to infiltrate the Land of Fire and seek refuge with Kato Tsukitani.
Then, according to the plan, he would abduct Kato Tsukitani's new wife and the assets they had long since located.
Chikamatsu Kawahei had no other choice. Without any remaining assets, his family would sooner or later fall into ruin. For the family's continued existence, he chose to cooperate.
The outcome had been quite good. The plan succeeded; they not only swept away a large sum of wealth but also abducted Kato Tsukitani's new wife, and finally killed the ninjas sent in pursuit.
To be honest, Chikamatsu Kawahei felt it had been worth it.
Most of the valuables had already been transferred to his family, while the things he retained were almost all empty boxes. He had even been prepared to sacrifice himself for the family.
That