By the time Shimizu left the ANBU headquarters, it was already noon.
All of Konoha was now in a state of intense activity. Large quantities of war supplies were being transported continuously to several key military fortresses.
The most important among them was Kikyo Castle.
Konoha Village was surrounded on all sides by mountains and forests—natural barriers that made it difficult for large-scale ninja forces to march or deploy battle formations.
The only main access route was Kikyo Castle, built at the foot of Mount Kikyo.
It could be said that if Kikyo Castle fell, Konoha's gates would stand wide open, with no defensive barrier left.
Thus, Konoha stationed a significant number of ninja there year-round to ensure its absolute security.
Not only that, Kikyo Castle was also Konoha's largest strategic supply depot.
Nearly all strategic materials were distributed from Kikyo Castle to other military strongholds throughout the Land of Fire.
During the Second Great Ninja War, Kikyo Castle had played a crucial strategic role.
War might break out at any moment.
Shimizu decided he should visit one of his few remaining old friends—his former ANBU comrade, code-named "Starfire," a Konoha jōnin whose real name was Kurokawa Masakazu.
Now, however, he had long since left the battlefield and become an ordinary shopkeeper in a wheelchair.
The Third Hokage had once invited him to teach at the Ninja Academy, but Masakazu had declined.
Instead, he used the compensation Konoha had granted him to open a shop called "Kurokawa Ninja Tools."
The store specialized in shuriken, kunai, short blades, kodachi, and various other ninja tools, along with some supplies.
Generally speaking, ordinary civilians would never have the opportunity to access procurement channels for such strategic materials.
Ninja tools were like firearms in a previous life—strictly controlled by those in power.
Therefore, those who controlled these supply chains were usually major clans deeply trusted by the Third Hokage.
But Masakazu came from an ordinary ninja family.
No need to guess—this had to be the Hokage granting him special access.
Seen this way, the Third Hokage had treated the two of them fairly well.
He had indeed made considerable amends.
"Shimizu? What brings you here?" Masakazu, resting inside the shop, spotted him from afar.
It was Shimizu's first time visiting the store.
The location wasn't great. The space wasn't large either.
It didn't look like business would be good.
Because of his limited mobility, Masakazu had hired a clerk to help manage the shop.
Which made Shimizu genuinely wonder about the commercial logic behind it.
It didn't seem profitable at all.
Such a large investment—and no return?
Wasn't capital supposed to pursue profit?
"Just came to see how you're doing," Shimizu replied.
It had been several months since they last met. Masakazu seemed to have put on some weight.
"How's business?" Shimizu asked.
"Still in the early stages. Not great at the moment."
Shimizu wasn't optimistic either. The shop was far from Konoha's bustling districts.
Although it wasn't far from the Uchiha clan's residential area, why would Uchiha ninja buy tools and supplies here?
The Uchiha had their own clan-run shops.
Were they counting on passing ninja?
In such a remote spot, how many ninja would even pass by?
Shimizu had stood there for half an hour already—no one had come through.
"Feels like this place might close down… it's so deserted."
"Funds were limited. The rent here is cheap," Masakazu replied calmly. "But I've already spoken with a few small clan heads I used to know. We've arranged long-term supply agreements. At least I won't starve."
"That's something."
The two had once been close comrades, and soon they were chatting about their recent lives.
"Congratulations, Shimizu. You've been promoted," Masakazu said sincerely.
"Not necessarily a good thing. This captain's position feels like something I picked up off the ground. And things picked up that way are easy to lose."
"Even so, that means the Hokage values you. So many people fight tooth and nail for an opportunity like that and never get one. You should cherish it."
Soon, their conversation shifted to the issue of the Wind Release chakra weapon Shimizu had previously commissioned.
"You're saying your funds were withheld in the Land of Artisans?" Masakazu asked in surprise.
"Yes… I never received my most important weapon… But I've already written back agreeing to their terms. In three months, it should be delivered."
"That's impossible. If your funds were withheld, the Land of Artisans' officials would have issued a formal notice or document," Masakazu said firmly.
Now that he was in the ninja tools trade, Masakazu was quite familiar with how things worked—including certain policies of the Land of Artisans.
A country that demanded full payment upfront before delivery couldn't possibly afford to lose credibility. Without a solid reputation, how could customers trust them?
"But I really didn't receive the weapon…"
"Think about it. If the Land of Artisans dared to withhold clients' funds at will, and word got out, who would ever commission weapons from them again?"
"…True."
Shimizu suddenly realized a possibility.
He'd been played.
Senruri might have been a princess—but of the Land of Iron. What ability would a mere girl have to interfere with the business dealings of a master swordsmith in the Land of Artisans?
Thinking back carefully, his brain really had short-circuited at the time. He'd been desperate to get the weapon he had longed for, and other matters had been weighing on him… He hadn't carefully considered the suspicious details.
According to Masakazu's reasoning, Senruri had tricked him.
That hand seal…
Most likely hadn't been his either.
In reality, even if he had ignored everything, the Wind Release longsword would probably have been delivered in three months regardless.
A dignified transmigrator, actually hoodwinked by a little girl?
How embarrassing!
After parting ways with Masakazu, Shimizu immediately drafted a letter and delivered it to the post station, inquiring with the master in the Land of Artisans about the current status of his commissioned weapon.
All he could do now was wait patiently for a reply and see what was really going on.
"Captain Kūryū, this is Midori from Team 8 of Division 9. We've made a new discovery regarding the missing genin case! We need you to personally come take a look."
The sudden appearance of the ANBU member didn't surprise Shimizu, since the man approached openly without concealing his presence.
And Shimizu knew that the Third Hokage had indeed assigned an ANBU squad to assist with the investigation.
If he remembered correctly, it was a team under the Ninth Division of the First ANBU Corps. Their leader's codename was Libra—a seasoned jōnin of considerable strength.
"Where?"
"Northeast of Training Ground 44, near the river close to Entrance 42."
Training Ground 44 was, in fact, the Forest of Death. Entrance 42 was near the edge of Konoha, a rather remote area.
A river ran through the entire Forest of Death, passing through Entrance 42 and extending beyond the village. Normally, no ninja would go there.
After all, it was nearly 40 kilometers from the center of Konoha.
"What did you find?"
"A hidden chamber… Captain Libra said he would explain it to you personally. It's a serious matter—please follow me to Gate 42 immediately."
Could it be that they had discovered Orochimaru's hidden laboratory there?
"Alright. Lead the way."