Kirigakure, Mizukage Building The living room on the third floor.
Obito is currently sitting on one side of the long table, holding a teacup in his hand.
His current face is that of a Land of Fire businessman in his forties - a square face, a slightly stout figure, and fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. He has used this face for three days, and it is natural enough.
"Miss Minazuki, I have long admired your name."
He put down the tea cup and showed a standard businessman smile.
The woman sitting opposite was wearing a black high-collar uniform, and her orange eyes were looking at him calmly.
It is Rin Nohara after the disguise.
However, now her name is Minazuki Yuki.
"Land of Fire businessmen have come a lot recently." Rin Nohara's voice was very steady, "Your Chamber of Commerce, I remember, is the third batch to apply for long-term residency."
"Yes, Miss Minazuki." Obito Uchiha nodded, "My name is Ichiro Tanaka, which stands for Land of Fire Kawakita Chamber of Commerce. We are mainly engaged in seafood processing and medicinal material trade. I heard that Kirigakure has opened up foreign trade channels, so I came here to discuss cooperation."
When he spoke, his eyes were always observing the other person.
Those orange eyes.
That obviously unfamiliar face.
There is also that habitual little movement - when she is listening to others speaking, her right hand will naturally rest on the edge of the table and tap lightly with her fingertips.
For a moment.
Two times.
Three times.
Obito's heartbeat skipped a beat.
"This action..."
He searched frantically for memories in his mind.
But nothing.
There was only an indescribable familiar feeling, like a needle pricking my heart.
"Kawakita Chamber of Commerce." Lin opened the file in front of her, "You have three strongholds in Land of Fire. The main customers are Konoha and several medium-sized ninja clans. The source of funds..."
She paused.
"Mr. Tanaka, the source of funds for your chamber of commerce is a bit unclear."
Hearing Rin Nohara ask this, Obito smiled nonchalantly.
"Miss Minazuki is overly worried. As businessmen, there are always some channels that are not convenient for disclosure. But please rest assured that our Chamber of Commerce will never deal in contraband, nor will it involve any Ninja Village secrets."
"Really?" Rin Nohara closed the file, "Then what do you want to do at Kirigakure?"
"Three things." Obito Uchiha held out three fingers, "First, purchase deep-sea medicinal materials. Land of Mist's blood algae, ice crystal shells, and deep-sea Ganoderma lucidum are very popular in Land of Fire's medicinal materials market."
"Second, establish a seafood processing plant. Kirigakure has rich fishery resources, but its processing technology is backward. We can provide equipment and technology, hire local workers, and sell our products to Land of Fire and Land of Earth."
"Third..."
He paused.
"We want to apply for an exclusive route. From Kirigakure to the east coast of Land of Fire, bypassing the pirate area of Land of Waves."
Rin Nohara did not answer immediately.
She looked at the businessman named "Ichiro Tanaka" opposite.
This person spoke very logically, and every question and answer was on point. But Rin Nohara always felt that something was wrong with the other person.
"Is it because of his eyes..."
Lin thought to herself.
This man's eyes are too heavy.
He doesn't look like a businessman at all, but more like a... battle-hardened ninja.
Moreover, the Three-Tails in his body has been restless since he entered the door.
"Be careful, be careful with this guy."
The voice of Three-Tails sounded in her mind.
"He has Chakra, and he's not weak."
Lin remained calm on the surface and tapped her fingers on the edge of the table twice more.
"Mr. Tanaka's proposal is very sincere," she said, "But there are a few issues that need to be confirmed."
"Please speak."
"First, the procurement of medicinal materials. Land of Mist's deep-sea medicinal materials are controlled by the village and can only be mined by licensed chambers of commerce. You need to pass the review first."
"Second, the processing plant. Technology and equipment can be introduced, but the ownership of the factory must be in the hands of Kirigakure. You can participate, but it cannot exceed 40%."
"Third, exclusive route." Lin's voice became colder, "This requires personal approval from Master Mizukage. And you must explain clearly why you want to bypass Land of Waves."
Obito smiled.
"Ms. Minazuki is indeed very professional." He picked up the tea cup and took a sip, seemingly unintentionally but in fact he had been carefully observing the woman in front of him.
"The first question is, we can cooperate with the review. But Miss Minazuki, can you tell us what the review standards are?"
"Source of funds, background of the Chamber of Commerce, and past business records." Lin said quickly, "If there is a guarantee from the Ninja Village or the Great Ninja Clan, the review will be faster."
"Very reasonable." Obito nodded, "As for the second question, 40% is acceptable to our Chamber of Commerce. But there is one condition - the management rights of the factory must be in our hands. Technology is the core. If the management rights are not in our hands, we cannot guarantee product quality."
Lin was silent for two seconds.
"This matter still needs to wait for the review to be completed. I will not be able to give you a reply before the review is completed."
"Then I'll trouble Miss Minazuki." Obito smiled again, "Then the third question... is actually not a secret. It's that pirates have been rampant over Land of Waves recently. Three merchant ships were robbed last month, one of which belonged to our chamber of commerce. All the goods on the ship were lost, and two guards died."
When he said this, a wry smile appeared on his face.
"We small businessmen can't afford to offend those pirates. So we want to go a little further. Even if we spend more time and money, we can at least ensure the safety of the goods."
Rin Nohara looked at him.
This reason sounds very reasonable.
But she always felt something was wrong.
"Pirate?"
She mentally reviewed the latest information.
There are indeed pirates over there at Land of Waves, but their activity is not high. Moreover, Land of Fire's merchant ships are usually escorted, so unless they encounter a particularly strong pirate group, they won't even have a chance to resist.
"Mr. Tanaka." Lin said, "Which sea area did you say the ship that was hijacked last month was in?"
Obito was stunned for a moment.
This question... he was not prepared for.
Because he made up the story itself, how did he know that the hijacked cargo ship was in that sea area...
"The specific location..." He frowned and pretended to remember, "It's probably on the outer sea where Land of Waves and Land of Fire meet, near the group of rocks."
Lin nodded.
"I'll have someone check it out. If it's true, we can consider the exclusive route."
"Thank you, Miss Minazuki." Obito picked up the tea cup and took another sip. Then he put the cup down and suddenly asked:
"Miss Minazuki, I have a presumptuous question."
"Please speak."
"Excuse me, are you... a local from Kirigakure?"
Upon hearing this question, Rin Nohara's fingers suddenly stopped.
Obito noticed this detail.
"Mr. Tanaka, why do you ask that?" Lin's voice did not change.
"It doesn't mean anything special." Obito smiled, "I just think your temperament... is not quite like the ninjas of Kirigakure. Most of the ninjas of Kirigakure are more... well, how should I put it, sharp-edged. But you give people a very gentle feeling, like the people over there at Land of Fire."
Lin stared at him for two seconds.
"Mr. Tanaka is really good at observing people."