Unsure where to find good food, the two picked a crowded restaurant and went inside. With so many people eating there, the taste surely couldn't be too bad.
As it turned out, a crowded restaurant doesn't necessarily mean good food. Following the waiter's recommendations, Torifū and Naori ordered several specialty dishes. They looked decent, but the taste was truly nothing to write home about. However, since they had already paid, they couldn't just waste it. The two reluctantly finished their meals and left the restaurant after paying the bill.
Naori took several large gulps of water to feel better, then couldn't help but complain, "This is the first time I've eaten something so bad! Is the food in the Land of Lightning just different?"
Torifū shook his head, "That doesn't make sense. The street food tasted great. It must just be this restaurant." The two had initially thought about eating at a restaurant instead of just street food, hoping to experience the Land of Lightning's cuisine. They hadn't expected such a rude awakening, and it seemed they might never have the courage to try another one. Thankfully, they would be leaving the capital in two days anyway, and there was still plenty of street food they hadn't tried, enough to keep them satisfied.
After an unpleasant lunch, the two strolled around the capital. Their mission was complete, so they could spend the remaining time freely, enjoying a bit of sightseeing.
"This capital really isn't bad. I wonder how the Land of Fire's capital is doing now. I imagine it must have been renovated by now," Naori said, admiring the surrounding architecture. Torifū chuckled: "We can always go again if we get the chance."
"Hehe, you're right."
The next morning, Torifū and Naori woke up early. Today, they would be leaving the capital for Kumogakure. Being a secret operation, they were both excited and nervous; this was their first intelligence-gathering mission.
It was worth noting that after the little rogue returned Naori's wallet, he seemed to have left the capital. For two consecutive days, no one reported any robberies. Everyone assumed he had gone to fence his stolen goods again and paid no attention. Only Torifū kept an eye on the matter. Since it concerned Naori, he had to ensure her safety. So, while walking with Naori, he had secretly planted seeds in every hidden corner of the city. These seeds could monitor everything in the city on Torifū's behalf. If the little rogue returned to the capital, Torifū would know immediately. If he disappeared permanently, the seeds could serve as embedded eyes in the capital. Each seed was rooted in a very concealed spot but could monitor a very wide area. They were chosen with meticulous care.
"Owner, thank you for your hospitality these past few days. My sister and I are returning to our village now." Torifū thanked the owner with a smile.
"Did you find your relatives?"
Torifū feigned disappointment and shook his head: "No."
"Relatives can't always be relied upon. To live a good life, you have to rely on yourself. Keep striving." The owner patted Torifū's shoulder. After thanking him, Torifū left the inn with Naori, heading towards the city gate.
"This owner seems like a good person."
Torifū affirmed this: "Indeed. He provided us with a lot of information, much of which was useful." Naori stretched: "Finally, we're going home. I hope this meeting with the informant goes smoothly."
"Yes, otherwise, in the unfamiliar Land of Lightning, it would be difficult to resolve anything," Torifū said, though he knew that even if something unexpected happened, it wouldn't be particularly difficult to resolve; it would just mean revealing some of his hidden cards. Being cautious certainly had no downsides and could reduce a lot of unnecessary trouble.
After leaving the capital, Torifū and Naori headed in the direction of Kumogakure on the map. It was still early before the agreed-upon time, so the two chose to walk, also enjoying the scenery along the way. They strolled leisurely, completely devoid of the tension usually associated with a mission, acting as if they were on vacation. However, despite their relaxed appearance, they had formulated many contingency plans on the way, outlining how to successfully extract themselves and the informant if they were discovered. One could say they were thoroughly prepared.
Time flowed like water, and soon it was the day of the meeting. Torifū and Naori successfully reached the designated meeting point near Kumogakure and hid themselves, quietly awaiting nightfall.
As dusk slowly descended, it was almost the appointed time. The two were on high alert, not daring to lose focus for a single moment. Just then, Torifū's crystal flowers, planted earlier, transmitted a sensory message: a man in his thirties was heading in their direction. The man seemed unaware of Torifū's crystal flowers as he walked directly to a very thick tree. He lightly tapped the tree trunk three times, producing dull thuds. Torifū, seeing this, also tapped the tree trunk three times in response.
"Come out." The man said blandly.
Then, Torifū and Naori, clad in black cloaks, emerged from the nearby bushes. The three had exchanged the code, confirming each other's identities.
The man noticed Torifū and Naori's somewhat short stature and said, "Hokage-sama only sent you two? Is there no one else?" Torifū and Naori knew they were being underestimated, but they said nothing.
"It's just the two of us. Do you have the intelligence?"
The man hesitated for a moment, then pulled a letter from inside his clothes: "This letter is of great importance. It must be opened personally by Hokage-sama!" Hearing this, Torifū retracted his hand, which had been about to open the letter, and placed the document into his spatial ring.
"Don't worry, we'll deliver this letter to Hokage-sama. How about you? Have you been suspected?" The man shook his head: "No, the Nidaime Raikage trusts me quite a lot, so I can obtain more intelligence. I've always been very cautious and never reckless." Torifū expressed his admiration for this. For a spy to gain the Raikage's trust, he must have put in a lot of effort.
"Is Konoha Village doing well? How is Shodaime Hokage-sama? Is he alright?"
"Don't worry, everything is fine. Remember, the village has not abandoned you. Konoha Village is your eternal home." The man was visibly moved, tears welling up in his eyes. He hadn't returned to the village in a long time. He imagined everything in the village must have changed drastically. When he heard that Shodaime Hokage had stepped down, due to the lack of information, he became very worried. And there were rumors that Hashirama had passed away, which made him even more distraught. Now, receiving news from the village directly restored about eighty percent of his morale, allowing him to continue performing missions for another two or three years.