When Kushina heard Nishikawa Tetsu's name, she offered her opinion of him, and Kana immediately lifted her chin with pride.
"Of course! Tetsu is the best! That Konoha Express Delivery he started is going to make a fortune! Once I get my share of the profits, I'll treat you all to the best sweets in the entire Shinobi World!"
Kana could already picture herself lying in a pile of gold coins, eating desserts. Her complaints about the weather in the Land of Water vanished at once.
"All right, all right, little rich girl. Stop dreaming."
Kushina patted Kana on the back, her expression turning serious again.
"Don't forget why we came to the Capital of the Land of Water."
Kushina lowered her voice, her gaze sweeping the seemingly ordinary streets like a hawk's.
"The Rivers-and-Seas Trading Company dared to make moves right under Konoha Express Delivery's nose, and it even secured a supplier contract for Kirigakure's top-secret project. It must have deep ties to certain powerful figures here in the capital."
"Mei, didn't you say a few conservative elders who've been sidelined in the village often come to the capital to recuperate?" Kushina turned to Terumi Mei.
"Yes."
Terumi Mei nodded. She took a simple map of the capital from her Ninja Tool Pouch and pointed out several locations.
"These elders no longer hold real power in the village, but they still have the connections they built when they were younger."
"Their lavish estates in the capital usually look deserted, with the gates shut tight. But according to our informants here, unidentified merchants and officials from the Daimyo's Mansion often come and go late at night."
Terumi Mei's expression grew colder. She had no patience for parasites like them.
"If I'm right, they're using these estates as secret bases for