Kyoto, Kabukicho.
It was a famous pleasure district, where Kyoto's gentlemen came to splurge even in wartime.
It stood in stark contrast to the poverty around Rashomon.
The place saw heavy foot traffic, with people from every walk of life mingling together.
You could even run into members of the imperial family.
Besides the female service workers found everywhere, there were killers, ronin, smugglers, and every other illegal person, activity, and commodity imaginable.
And ninjas and yokai.
"Greetings, Hattori-san."
A ninja dressed in black and red pressed his palms together and bowed at a forty-five-degree angle.
Hattori Hanzo returned the greeting. "Greetings, Naraku-san."
Wolf watched the two of them, not quite understanding what was going on.
From their language to their behavior, they seemed to inhabit a different world from his. He supposed ninjas in the outside world were probably just like this.
Then Hattori Hanzo spoke at length with the ninja to learn about the current situation.
Dealing with the tanuki had taken some time.
That had given the ninja organization that stole the black Mortal Blade ample opportunity to cover its tracks and shake off pursuit.
But Hattori Hanzo was not alone.
This was when the Iga Clan's strength showed itself, as ninjas of every rank operated in the shadows.
After repeated clashes with the ninjas of Kōga and Saika, they had obtained valuable intelligence.
Inside an unremarkable Japanese-style room in Kabukicho, they exchanged intelligence concerning affairs that would affect the entire realm.
In the end, Hattori Hanzo and Wolf could confirm that the enemy had already transported the black Mortal Blade into Osaka Castle.
What had they taken it there for?
There was no way to know.
The Iga Corps had yet to infiltrate the enemy's headquarters.
"It seems we'll have to venture deep into the enemy's