Chapter 73: Scales of Justice (Part-4/12) [Investigations 2/3]

Chapter 73 - Scales of Justice (Part-4/12) [Investigations 2/3] {Read the notes below, kind of important} ~~~ Once Team 1 received their tasks, they finished reviewing everything and divided the areas they would explore. Ren laid out the scroll on the floor and began giving instructions. "Yugao, you take the Blade Archive. With your sword hanging by your side, you won't attract much attention, and you might even blend in with the crowd, if they allow you to. But don't try to cozy up too much to them. It'd be bad if they just shut down entirely." Yugao nodded. Ren continued, "Hitoshi, you take the Trade Depot. Your insects would be better at keeping an eye on people. I'll take the Records Pavilion. Any questions?" Both of them shook their heads. Ren then took out another scroll. "These are the drop points that were marked. Remember the ones closest to your location, and head there if you find something. As a precaution, go to a false location first and wait for a while to check if you're being followed. In case any of us finds nothing, we'll meet up at this location." He marked a point on the scroll. "We'll operate in 3-hour shifts and return back once the shift is done. If any of us don't reach the meet-up point within 10 minutes after the 3-hour mark, that means someone found something that does not allow us to leave, or got caught. If that happens head here alone, and avoid drawing attention." Hitoshi then handed a small insect to both of them. "I've given an insect and a few behavioral patterns to Utakata-sensei just in case I'm the one compromised." Yugao and Ren nodded, letting the insect settle quietly on their bodies. After reviewing everything one last time, the three of them stood up and exited the room through different routes, each blending into the crowd as they began their investigation. ~~~ [Yugao - Blade Archieve] The Blade Archive was located near the eastern martial training district, surrounded by samurai dojos and private practice fields. Yugao entered the open area, adjusting the position of her sword to appear more casual. She was stopped at the entrance by a tall samurai who checked her registration papers from the Konoha delegation. With a short glance at her sword and a nod, he let her through. Inside, the archive was split into multiple halls. Scrolls and documents detailing the history of notable swords, their wielders, and records of confiscated or imported weapons were stored carefully under watchful eyes. She moved carefully, not to raise suspicion. She spent time in the general weapon history section, pretending to look up scrolls for cultural research. Her attention was drawn to a whisper between two samurai in the back. "Still no news on the missing shortblade? I heard it was last logged under the ambassador's name." "Nonsense. They already have him locked up, don't they? Doesn't matter what really happened now." After overhearing the whispers about the missing shortblade, Yugao carefully slipped out of the archive's general section and circled around the outer halls, pretending to examine the historical exhibitions. She kept her presence neutral, maintaining the air of a visiting shinobi interested in learning about samurai culture. As she moved between shelves and displays, she spotted a narrow corridor labeled Internal Lending & Handling - Clearance Required. Yugao couldn't enter directly, but her ears were sharp. She paused outside and leaned against the wooden wall, pretending to fix the wrapping on her sword's hilt. Inside, she caught muffled voices. "...said it was collected by a man with Shikeru's tag, but the request form was signed off by a dojo, not directly from the diplomatic residence." "Which dojo?" "Mugai-iai. They submitted a request for a blade weeks ago for a ceremony with the konoha embassy. Then this particular shortblade gets marked as 'loaned for ceremonial display' but it never came back." Yugao stepped away calmly, eyes narrowing. 'Mugai-iai... wasn't that the dojo named after one of the sword masters?' She walked away without looking back. Once she was sure no one was following her, she circled the eastern district and arrived at the Mugai-iai Dojo. It was a well-maintained training ground with wide wooden doors and a traditional stone path leading up to it. Above the gate, a painted wooden sign bore the name of the dojo in clear kanji. The moment she stood at the gate, Yugao's steps became lighter, more precise. She took a deep breath and slid the door open. She stepped inside. As the door opened, the first thing she saw was a wide training hall filled with samurai students in traditional uniform, practicing their forms under strict discipline. Yugao didn't hesitate. She called out, her voice strong and formal. "My name is Yugao Uzuki from Konoha. I wish to challenge the top student of this dojo to a sword duel." Every student paused. Training stopped instantly, and all eyes turned to face her. There were no mocking glances, no laughter. This was the Land of Iron, the birthplace of sword culture. Here, a sword duel was sacred, and the right to challenge was honored, regardless of the challenger's age. From the other side of the room, an older man with a short beard and a clean-shaven head stepped forward. His robe was marked with the symbol of the Mugai-iai style. He gave Yugao a measured look and spoke in a deep, composed voice. "My name is Mugai, the founder and master of this dojo. Do you truly wish to challenge my top student?" As he said this, a tall boy, easily a foot taller than Yugao, stepped forward with a wooden practice sword in hand. Yugao didn't flinch. She bowed slightly in respect. "Yes, I am sure. Please allow me to challenge your student." Master Mugai nodded once. "Very well. I accept this duel." Immediately, the atmosphere in the dojo shifted. All students silently stepped to the walls, giving the center of the hall to the two duelists. The tall boy stepped forward and introduced himself: "My name is Kazuo Sakurada." Then, Mugai stepped between them. "The rules shall be as follows: You will use only wooden swords. The use of chakra is strictly forbidden. The match will end once either participant gives up or is rendered unable to continue. Do you understand?" Both nodded. Yugao gently removed the blade from her side and placed it on the sword stand prepared beside the wall. She picked up a wooden bokken and took her stance. Kazuo mirrored her, bringing his bokken forward in a classic Mugai stance. A moment of silence fell over the dojo. Master Mugai raised his hand and brought it down. "Begin." ~~~ {Hitoshi - Trade Depot} Hitoshi adjusted the collar of his uniform and quietly slipped into the bustling streets of the Trade Depot. Compared to the stoic serenity of the rest of the Iron Capital, this section buzzed with activity. Merchants shouted prices, traders negotiated over crates, and foreign caravans unloaded goods by the dozen. With his hood slightly pulled up, Hitoshi moved through the crowd silently, already having released his insects into the air, letting them spread out over the region. He didn't walk with any sense of urgency or focus, but anyone watching him wouldn't know he was already listening in to dozens of conversations simultaneously. It was about an hour later when he felt one of the chakra-linked insects twitch against his wrist. Two men standing near a stall selling imported silks were whispering to each other, but the insects picked up every word clearly and relayed it to him through vibrations. "Told you it was worth it," one of them chuckled, stuffing something into his sleeve. "Yeah, and we're getting the rest today. Easy job, good money. Hope these kinds of orders keep coming." "Right? Can't believe they paid this much for that easy job we did days ago." Hitoshi didn't react. His insects quietly marked the men, and he continued browsing a few stalls before he turned away from them. Maintaining a long distance, he trailed them from behind as his insects continued to feed him information on their direction and movements. The two men made several turns through the market before entering an inn named "Silver Frost Rest." Hitoshi didn't follow them in, instead climbing up to the roof of the adjacent building and hid beneath the roof. From a high vantage point, he positioned his insects by the window openings. Inside the inn, he caught the next exchange. A man in neatly pressed, pristine traditional robes sat waiting with a small cup of tea. His posture and mannerisms were refined and he didn't look like someone who spent time around hired laborers. The two men greeted him with enthusiasm, throwing in flattery before one of them said, "You're generous as always, sir." The man offered a faint smile and handed them a small envelope. After checking its contents briefly, the men thanked him once more and left without delay. The refined man stayed behind a few minutes longer, sipping his tea, then stood up and walked out of the inn alone. Hitoshi narrowed his eyes and followed the man from a safe distance, switching to a new insect formation to avoid detection. As a precaution, he released a few chakra-sensitive insects toward the man, and confirmed something strange. No chakra at all. Not even the faintest trace. 'A civilian?' Hitoshi frowned as he followed. The man walked calmly until he reached a large store built into the side of a broad plaza. Its entrance was adorned with dark wood beams and white paper banners. The sign hanging overhead read: "Ironroot Exchange" A well-known trading post in the capital. Merchants from other nations often stopped here first to trade, barter, or exchange local currencies. The man entered the store, greeted politely by several employees and customers alike. A few of them bowed. Hitoshi now realized the man was someone important. 'A manager. High-ranking.' He waited a few minutes before using the Transformation Jutsu to change into a mid-tier delivery worker, slipping in through the crowd and pretending to be running a supply check. No one questioned him. Inside, the man had gone to a private office on the second floor. There were no visible guards inside, only a few posted outside the main hall and at the store's outer perimeter. The store's reputation was good enough that internal security was rarely questioned. Hitoshi positioned a few of his insects on the ceiling and walls near the manager's office. They began relaying faint vibrations. Soon, they gave him a signal. The sound of a hidden latch, the creaking of a compartment, the flutter of pages. The man had taken out a diary and scribbled something in it. He stayed inside for no longer than ten minutes before he left again, stepping out through a different hallway and down the stairs. Hitoshi waited three full minutes, then quietly crept to the manager's office. There were no barriers, no traps, just a standard chakra-based lock, which he bypassed easily using a low-level disruption seal on a slip of paper. Inside, he kept his steps light and eyes sharp. The hidden compartment was found just behind a decorative panel on the side wall. Inside was the diary, no identifying names on it. Just neat, methodical entries. All of them were financial in nature. Hitoshi didn't give it much thought, just checked enough to be sure it was important and copied everything quickly. There were only a few pages with numbers only so he was able to copy them quite fast. Once done he slipped the diary back into the panel, returned everything to its place, and left as silently as he came. Once outside, he dispelled the transformation and disappeared into the crowd, blending into the late afternoon bustle of the capital. ~~~~~ {There might be some questions about this Chapter and everything that is going on but it'll be answered soon since right now they are only collecting evidence. I wanted to make some great investigation scene but no matter how I tried it didn't come out the way I wanted so I stuck to the movie style. The mc would just happen to hear something that is related to their task. BUT there would be a reason for that too and I won't just shove it up to luck.} {I wanted to add a bonus Chapter for the stones but I can't because right now I am stacking Chapters for the first 3 weeks of May, since I will be having my exams during that time and won't have the time to write. I could have taken a break but the story is kind of hot right now so I don't want to take a break for now. Anyway we'll see how it goes.} {IF you guys still want an extra Chapter make sure we reach top 50s this week and you'll have one.} {STONES!!!!!}