Sea Wave City was the most prosperous port on the Land of Fire's East Coast.
Unlike Konoha, with its quiet streets and deep roots, this city bustled with trade and the salty dampness of the sea breeze.
At the heart of its commercial district stood an aging six-story building.
It lacked the gleaming facade of the new shopping centers nearby, but the sign above its entrance read "Konoha Office in Sea Wave City," and ninjas in Konoha uniforms came and went downstairs. No one would mistake the building for an ordinary office.
It was not only Konoha's office for East Coast affairs, but also the largest regional hub for Konoha Express Delivery's logistics network and the Heian Corporation.
Bang!
The door to a spacious conference room on the top floor was pushed open.
Nishikawa Tetsu walked in, his expression grave. Kana, Shizune, and Terumi Mei followed, still somewhat shaken.
They had carefully settled the unconscious Uzumaki Kushina and Sasori into comfortable rooms.
"Lord Nishikawa!"
The office director hurried over when he saw them. He had met the promising young deputy minister many times back in Konoha.
"No need for formalities. Get the best medical supplies and restorative medicine you have. Then seal off the top floor. No one comes near it without my permission!"
"Yes!" Though full of questions, the director took one look at Nishikawa Tetsu's expression and immediately left to carry out his orders.
Nishikawa Tetsu went to the beds and carefully checked on Sasori and Kushina.
It was just as Shizune had said on the beach.
Sasori had no fatal external injuries, but he had taken the Giant Sea Hare's terrifying shock wave head-on, leaving his internal organs badly shaken.
If Shizune had not treated him immediately, he might well have died on that beach.
Kushina's condition