It's a very risky thing I did by coming here. It's no guarantee that she was waiting for word from the Daimyo, that there wasn't a short D rank mission Lady Tsunade would have given me. I think of the last time I snuck away to do something similar to this, and the consequences of that explosion. I think of the young girls and the men I set free, and the men of the Akiyama Group that died in the blast. They may have had a mostly illegal and dark occupation, but they were still people. I'm sure some of them had families they were supporting. I'm not sure how large the razorleaf processing factory is, but I'll try to be more careful this time.
With a smoother and more open run, I made very good time yesterday. It's nearing midday, and I'm only a mile or so away from the plant. I discovered that there is a small village near by, I'm guessing the families of the plant workers. The forest is starting to get thick, crowding over the road, and I decide to take a short break. I gulp down my water, and look around the forest as I catch my breath. There's a subtle aliveness to the growth, and I can hear birds conversing up in the canopy. Pulling out my map, I check the location of the plant, and nod to myself. I turn in its direction and activate my Byakugan, extending its reach until I see a cluster of buildings- that must be the village. Further looking out past them, I can see a smaller group of huts, bustling with activity. Getting ready, I used the Transformation Jutsu, taking on the appearance of my Raiko alias.
The rest of the run goes quickly, and I circle around the village, where I saw a few children running around the green. The production compound consists of a log cabin and a few smaller huts, one of which appears to be sort of office, and the others extra storage. I sit on the tree branch, waiting quietly. A few men stop to talk outside the log cabin, and one comes from deep in the forest carrying a sack full of leaves. Another leaves the cabin, and goes to the office hut clutching a clipboard. A few more workers come in from the forest, and the men from the other huts come out to congregate with the others now talking at the front of the cabin. Several more minutes pass by, and then from the office comes a bell ringing. They all walk back towards the village, sharing jokes and slapping each other on the back. Still I wait, until the man leaves the office hut, clipboard not in hand. I wait until they're well past me, and slowly move towards the compound, looking to see if anyone is coming back or is late coming in from the forest.
Now sure that I'm alone here during their lunch hour, I sneak into the office hut. There are a couple file cabinets, and the distinct scent of razorleaf is coming from a recently extinguished cigar on an ash tray. Rifling through the file cabinets, I see that most of the records are from previous years, the folder tabs marked with the dates. I snatch up the clipboard and folders for the last several months, and seal them into the blank scroll I always carry with me in my hip bag. I open the drawers and peeking around the doorway, step out and prepare for a jutsu. My black mist fills the hut, tendrils of it leaking out. Not good. I shut the windows, and head to the other huts. They indeed are for extra storage, with a few clipboards hanging on the walls for listing and checking the inventory. They too are filled with the black mist, and finally, I walk into the log cabin. There are high shelves lined with bricks of dried razorleaf, the sacks of it carried in just now from the forest, and large clumps of it hanging up to dry on the walls. There's a desk at the front, and in its drawers I find another clipboard for checking the inventory. With a last look around, I shut the windows and fill the cabin with my black mist jutsu. I toss in a kunai with an exploding tag, and do the same for the huts. But as I'm retreating back into the forest to activate the exploding tags, someone calls out to me.
"They started the lunch break yet?" The man is slender, and has the short dark hair to match his boyish looks. I can see that he doesn't recognize me as one of the villagers. He shifts the position of the sack he's carrying over his back, and continues to hold my gaze.
"...They started it several minutes ago. I'd suggest hurrying along to join them."
"You don't look like you're from around here," The man says, taking a few steps closer to me. "Who are you? Did one of the guys pick you up from the Quarters?"
"I'm not that kind of woman. Now, hand me your sack, and get to the village."
"Pff, you aren't getting any of our leaf for free, lady. Just let me put this in the cabin and then I'll get going like you want me to." I draw a kunai, and grab hold of the man before he can react, leading him to the cabin. I rip the bag out of his hands and quickly toss it in the cabin, but not so fast he doesn't see the inside. "W- what was that in there?! Please, my daughter is only two, I..."
I pierce the man with my stare. "Count yourself lucky. Few have seen me and lived." I turn and walk away without another word, and once I'm far enough away I trigger the exploding tags. I barely keep my balance, but I keep strolling into the forest, not looking back.