The Arisaka family was considered a well-known small gang in Konoha. The reason why a mere small gang could be described as "well-known" was because the Arisaka family had a powerful backer. Arisaka Rokuro's father, Arisaka Katsumasa, had pledged loyalty to the emissary stationed in Konoha by the daimyo, and since then, the Arisaka family had become a loyal servant of the emissary's office. This was a semi-public secret in Konoha.

Out of respect for the emissary sent by the daimyo, and because the Arisaka family knew how to keep a low profile, only engaging in minor gray-market activities through their connection to the emissary's office, the local authorities tended to overlook their actions. Newly appointed emissaries often needed such local figures to help them get accustomed to Konoha.

As long as the Arisaka family didn't cross the line or go too far, both the police department and the ANBU would turn a blind eye to their activities.

"So, according to what you're saying, it's all the Arisaka family forcing you to do these things. Convenient how you've managed to dodge all responsibility," Uchiha Torajiro remarked coldly.

The old woman before him was probably lying in nine out of ten sentences. However, one thing was certain: the Arisaka family was definitely involved in the disappearance case.

"I wouldn't dare deceive a ninja," the old woman sighed deeply, her face showing a bitter and helpless smile. "We women are like reeds by the water, bowing to the wind when it blows. We have no choice but to comply. When Lord Arisaka Rokuro demands something, we cannot refuse. And when you, noble ninja, ask questions, we must answer. Any disobedience or deceit would bring disaster upon us. All we can do is submit."

Her words were... interesting, to say the least.

Uchiha Torajiro raised an eyebrow. Although he knew this was the old woman's way of manipulating the conversation, seeing the frightened courtesans trembling like quails, yet still mustering the courage to peek out cautiously from behind the door, made his desire to give them trouble evaporate.

Picking on these downtrodden women? He couldn't bring himself to do it. If word got out, he'd never be able to show his face among his clan again.

"Take me to see it. How are you making people disappear?" Uchiha Torajiro stopped talking about responsibility and instead inquired about the details of the disappearance.

"Of course, sirs. Please follow me," the old woman said quickly, sensing the change in his tone.

Throughout their conversation, the old woman never asked any questions. She didn't even inquire about their names, merely answering Uchiha Torajiro's questions and fulfilling his requests as best she could. She led Torajiro and Yakushi Kabuto to a room filled with the stench of cheap perfume and cigarette smoke.

The foul environment made Uchiha Torajiro wrinkle his nose in discomfort, while Yakushi Kabuto remained unfazed, his expression unchanged.

"It's here," the old woman said as she walked to the bedside. With little effort, she moved a light, flimsy vanity table, revealing a trapdoor in the floor. She grabbed the handle and pulled it open, exposing a dark, gaping tunnel leading underground. "Every night, the Arisaka family comes through here. They choose their targets, and we drug them in their tea. Once the targets are unconscious, the Arisaka men take them through this passageway. That's why the number of people doesn't match up."

"A tunnel... It's a bit cliché, but without Kabuto's attention to detail, we might've missed it," Torajiro muttered, walking up to the tunnel's entrance. His Sharingan glowed red, his sharp gaze scanning the tunnel's environment. "Where does this tunnel lead?"

"To a vegetable shop across the alley."

"A vegetable shop?"

"I heard that the vegetable shop is owned by the Arisaka family. They deliver large quantities of fresh vegetables to the Arisaka estate daily. I believe that's how the missing people are being transported."

Uchiha Torajiro stared at the old woman for a few seconds. The aged, faded woman met his gaze without flinching, not shying away from his crimson eyes. "You know quite a lot, don't you?"

"It's an honor to be of help to you, sir," the old woman replied humbly.

Torajiro snorted and turned to Yakushi Kabuto. "Kabuto, anything to report?"

"This tunnel was likely created using ninjutsu," Kabuto responded, standing beside Torajiro and peering down into the tunnel. "To create a tunnel this well-formed, the person who did it would need to be at least a chunin-level Earth Release user."

"That's right. This tunnel wasn't dug out with a shovel," Torajiro agreed, his brows furrowed in displeasure.

Kabuto's keen eye had detected the irregularities, but Torajiro had relied on his Sharingan to notice that this rather long tunnel had been dug using ninjutsu, without disturbing the people walking above. He knew exactly what this meant.

This discovery made the disappearance case even more complicated.

Because this was Konoha, and no matter how infamous the Arisaka family might be, they were still just a gang. Even if the Arisaka family offered a hefty reward, they couldn't hire someone of this skill level. According to Torajiro's understanding, there were no official ninja among the Arisaka family.

In other words, the person who created the tunnel likely wasn't part of the Arisaka family.

"When did this tunnel first appear?" Uchiha Torajiro rubbed his forehead and continued questioning.

"About seven days ago. Lord Arisaka Rokuro came to our shop in disguise, accompanied by a man in a black hooded cloak. I didn't see the man's face, but I believe he's the one who made the tunnel. As for the trapdoor, our old doorman used to work with a carpenter, so he knew how to install it to cover up the entrance."

The old woman explained in detail.

Torajiro thought for a moment, realizing he didn't have any more questions. He glanced at Kabuto, silently asking if he had anything to add.

"Captain, I think we've gathered enough information to report this to the department," Kabuto said softly.

"Not going down to take a look?" Torajiro asked.

"There's no need. As long as we've confirmed the Arisaka family's involvement, that's enough. The bigger issue now is not verifying if the other end of the tunnel is a vegetable shop. The real problem is how to handle this situation. What do you think, Captain?"

Kabuto Yakushi remembered something:

Ten days ago, the Fire Daimyo dispatched a new special envoy to Konoha. Many villagers took the opportunity to celebrate, making the occasion quite memorable for Kabuto. It just so happened that the Arasaka family's backer was the envoy's residence, making it hard not to connect the two.

"Sigh..." Uchiha Torajiro sighed. "Let's retreat for now! We've waited all night and at least didn't leave empty-handed. Let's report the intelligence we've gathered so far!" As for how to deal with the Arasaka family, that's something for the higher-ups to worry about.

The envoy's residence is a special place in Konoha.

Unlike the embassy for hosting foreign dignitaries or shinobi from other villages, the envoy's residence, located between the central district and the new area of Konoha, is where the special envoy from the Fire Daimyo's palace resides. Sending a permanent envoy to Konoha might seem strange, but upon understanding the situation, it makes perfect sense.

Nominally, the Fire Daimyo is the highest authority in the Land of Fire, but Konoha, the most powerful military group in the country, has always maintained its own autonomous governing structure.

So, how have the Fire Daimyos over the generations viewed Konoha? Well, that reporter who dared to ask this question in front of the previous Daimyo is likely long gone. Regardless of whether the reporter's bones have rotted away, the former Fire Daimyo responded with a smile, saying, "The system of one country, one village is the foundation of peace in the shinobi world. The Daimyo's palace and Konoha are the best of friends. Anyone who tries to sow discord between us is the enemy of the Land of Fire."

The reason for dispatching an envoy to Konoha is simple: to monitor any significant events and report them to the Fire Daimyo immediately. Before the envoy system, the Fire Daimyo could only passively wait for Konoha to reach out with intelligence.

Particularly during the era of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, The First Great Shinobi War broke out after Hashirama Senju's death. The Fire Daimyo hadn't received any updates from Tobirama and was still contemplating the global impact of Hashirama's death. However, three days into the war, the Daimyo finally learned that it had already begun!

When someone was sent to inquire, Tobirama sarcastically replied, "What's the point of telling you? Can you bring my brother back to life? Or stop the war from happening? I'm busy! I don't have time for nonsense!" He then threw the envoy out.

This cold attitude of the Second Hokage was the main reason the Fire Daimyo began sending envoys to gather intelligence directly. Unlike the warm and bold but still courteous First Hokage, the Second Hokage's love for Konoha was more extreme. In his eyes, Konoha's importance surpassed that of the Daimyo's palace.

Fed up with always learning about Konoha's major events too late, the Fire Daimyo created the envoy's residence to get information sooner.

"Knock knock! My lord?" "Oh, it's Rokurou. What brings you here at this hour?"

"My lord, the goods have arrived."

"The goods... Is it that time already?" The raspy voice inside sounded surprised. Footsteps approached, and with a loud bang, the door was forcefully thrown open. The man standing at the door had already stepped back a couple of paces, avoiding any mishap.

Out stepped an elderly man, seemingly in his sixties, with sparse white hair and an unkempt beard. He squinted up at the rising sun and murmured, "A healthy body is truly a blessing. After staying up all night, I don't feel tired at all. There's nothing more precious in this world than a strong and healthy body!"

The man at the door bowed his head and pretended to be a wooden figure, hearing and seeing nothing.

A glimpse of a demon tattoo could be seen on the back of the humble man's neck. This man, Arasaka Rokurou, was the second-generation head of the Arasaka family, taking over from his father, Arasaka Katsumasa, and now served the important figures of the envoy's residence.

"Take the goods to the usual place," the old man instructed. "And check if Ogasawara is there. If he is, tell him to come see me. If not, don't worry about it."

"Yes, my lord," Rokurou responded gravely.

This old man's name was Hiramiya Saikei, a close confidant of the current Fire Daimyo and a noble of the Hiramiya family, which had deep roots in the Land of Fire. He had come to Konoha as the envoy, and Ogasawara was the head of his personal guards, a ruthless and fierce man.

"My lord, I ran into Lord Kazuuma on the way over," Arasaka Rokurou carefully added.

As expected, the mention of that name made the old man frown. "How careless!"

"It was my negligence," Rokurou admitted, bowing his head in apology.

"Kazuuma... That pretentious monk didn't notice the goods, did he?"

"I don't think so. I only greeted him at the door, and he left right after."

"Fine, let's leave it at that. As long as he doesn't bother you, avoid that rude man in the future."

"Hey! Lord Hiramiya, I'm not that bad, am I?" a voice suddenly called out from the wall.

The old man jerked his head up to see a man with long white hair sitting on the wall, holding a staff and wearing a monk's robe. His expression changed, and his icy gaze locked onto the man. "Kazuuma! When did you get here?"

"Relax, Lord Hiramiya," Kazuuma said calmly. "I just finished eating ramen and heard you badmouthing me, so I couldn't help but hop up here to defend myself. I don't know what you're up to, but you've captured nearly twenty people, right?"

"Kazuuma! You...!"

The old man was both shocked and furious.

Kazuuma had indeed discovered his secret, and for a moment, panic set in. He wanted to rush over and silence Kazuuma, but rationality told him he wasn't a match for this man. Kazuuma was ranked among the top two in the Daimyo's "Twelve Guardian Ninja."

While Hiramiya had some astonishing secrets of his own, they didn't grant him the strength to defeat Kazuuma.

"I already told you, relax," Kazuuma continued. "I'm not interested in your secret. I just want to warn you—don't go too far. This is Konoha, not your Hiramiya family's domain. If you cause any trouble and disgrace the Daimyo, I won't forgive anyone responsible."

With that, Kazuuma jumped off the wall, disappearing from their sight.