The man hurriedly turned into a narrow alley, with Minato and the others close behind.
"Who's there?"
Sensing movement behind him, the man spun around and saw Minato and the others.
He froze for a moment, then seemed to realize something. His face turned deathly pale, and his voice trembled.
"You... You're with the Night Patrol Bureau?" He stumbled back two steps, waving his hands in a panic.
"Don't... don't arrest me! I only thought those people were going too far just now, making things up without any proof! I... I never meant to speak ill of the Grand Governor!"
Night Patrol Bureau?
Judging by the man's reaction, Minato thought it over briefly and got the general idea. It was probably a special agency under the Grand Governor's Mansion, similar to Konoha's Anbu.
But judging by the situation, the Night Patrol Bureau's reputation for terror surpassed even that of the Anbu, perhaps even Root's. Just being approached by a stranger had been enough to scare this guilty-looking man half to death.
"Don't misunderstand. We're not with the Night Patrol Bureau."
Minato smiled warmly and rubbed the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"We're merchants from the Land of Fire. We heard Tsukimiura has changed a lot lately. Just now, at the restaurant, we noticed that your opinion of the Grand Governor seemed different from everyone else's, so we wanted to ask you about the situation."
His gentle voice eased the man's anxiety a little, but he still asked skeptically,
"You... really aren't with the Night Patrol Bureau?"
At that point, Obito couldn't help but butt in.
"Hey, mister, you're so afraid of this Night Patrol Bureau. You haven't done something to feel guilty about, have you? If we really were with them, we'd have arrested you already!"
"Obito!