After hearing Mizukawada's confession, Nishikawa Tetsu's brows drew tightly together.
"The Daimyo knew about this?"
Nishikawa Tetsu turned those words over and over in his mind.
If the Land of Water's Daimyo had truly taken part in this conspiracy against Konoha and the Shinobi World Community of Shared Destiny, that changed the nature of the matter entirely. This was no longer mere smuggling by a special-interest group, but confrontation and betrayal at the national level.
Still, this guy is only an envoy following orders. What he saw might just be the facade that powerful minister wanted him to see.
Nishikawa Tetsu glanced at the terror in Mizukawada's eyes as he lay on the ground, silently weighing the possibilities.
And according to Terumi Mei's earlier analysis, the situation in Kirigakure is extremely delicate right now. The Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, carried out a sweeping purge of the Conservative Faction. With the Daimyo's Mansion making a move like this now, are they trying to weaken the Mizukage's authority, or do they have something else in mind?
Whatever the truth is, I have to uncover that lord backing Mizukawada!
A cold glint flashed through Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes.
He asked no further questions. With a flick of his wrist, two senbon soaked in a special anesthetic pierced Mizukawada's neck with perfect accuracy.
"Urgh..."
Mizukawada barely managed a muffled groan before his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness completely. As for the rogue Kirigakure shinobi, the potent neurotoxin had already left him lying stiff as a corpse.
Nishikawa Tetsu dusted off his hands and searched both men. Once he confirmed they had no hidden explosive tags or trackers, he walked behind a secluded stone pillar in the Temple.
He took the special kunai Minato had given him from his ninja tool pouch. Channeling chakra