Underground Account Fund Flows and the Struggle of the Remnants of the Old Aristocracy

The night was already deep.

Only one desk lamp was lit in the Hokage's Office, dividing the desk into light and shadow.

Baishi sat in the shadows, his fingers tapping silently against the desktop.

The ledger urgently deciphered by the ANBU Technical Team lay quietly in the light. Every name and every flow of funds on it was like a fine strand of spider silk, stretching from within Konoha all the way to that still-standing but rotten residence in Kyoto.

Land of Rice Fields. Orochimaru.

The clues converged here, then pointed toward even deeper waters.

The office door was tapped lightly. Three long knocks and two short ones—the rhythm Shikaku Nara always used.

"Come in."

Shikaku pushed the door open and closed it behind him. He did not approach the desk, instead stopping three steps away and lowering his head slightly.

"Lord Hokage."

Baishi raised his head from the shadows and gestured for him to sit.

Shikaku did as instructed, sitting in the chair opposite him. He occupied only a third of the seat, his back straight as a ramrod. He placed a file folder on the desk with both hands and gently pushed it forward.

"This is the preliminary report handed over by ANBU. The Finance Department worked through the night to analyze the flow of funds. These are the detailed transactions."

Baishi did not immediately look at the report. His gaze remained fixed on Shikaku's face.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"It was my duty." Shikaku's voice was slightly hoarse, clearly because he had not slept all night. "The situation is somewhat more complicated than we expected."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts.

"The source of the funds can be traced to the industries of several old aristocratic families in Kyoto. Over the years, they transferred large