Because the Kamisato Clan's Yashiro Commission is the cultural representative of Inazuma, responsible for sacrificial rites and festival entertainment.
Therefore, their estate is not located within Inazuma City like the Kujou Clan of the Tenryou Commission, but rather at the foot of Mt. Yougou, making it convenient to discuss important sacrificial matters with the Grand Narukami Shrine on the mountain.
Normally, anyone wishing to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou for worship must also pass by the Kamisato Estate.
Today, Kamisato Ayato was not handling official duties at home as usual, but was standing with his hands behind his back on the edge of a cliff outside the Kamisato Estate.
The mountains of Inazuma could not compare to the layered ranges of Liyue, but they excelled in their abundance of strange and perilous peaks.
Due to the scarcity of land and abundance of water, cliffs and isolated islands surrounded by the sea could be seen everywhere.
Looking out to the southwest from here, one could see the Tenshukaku, enveloped by a sea of cherry blossoms.
The Raiden Shogun's style of conduct was becoming increasingly bizarre. If not for the divine might she had displayed at the training grounds previously, Kamisato Ayato would have thought that Her Excellency, the Shogun had been replaced by someone.
On the other hand, the Kujou and Hiiragi clans were growing more and more arrogant, to the point where they no longer bothered to conceal their connections with the Fatui.
Their Yashiro Commission had also submitted petitions, but alas, these petitions, like snowflakes, flew into the Tenshukaku without receiving any response. He even suspected whether the petitions he submitted had ever reached Her Excellency, the Shogun.
After all, besides the Okuzumeshuu, there were also people from the Tenryou Commission outside the Tenshukaku.
If they saw that it was a petition from the Yashiro Commission, they would surely tamper with it.
It wasn't just matters here; on Kannazuka, there was also a very important issue.
"Swish—"
As a leaf drifted by, a person dressed as a fisherman knelt behind Kamisato Ayato at some unknown point.
He looked haggard, no different from the refugees affected by the Tatarigami.
But the look in his eyes was exceptionally profound; it was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person.
"How is it?"
Kamisato Ayato did not turn his head. His long sleeves fluttered with the sea breeze, making him appear both noble and elegant.
However, his slightly clenched fists indicated that he was not as relaxed as he seemed.
As the head of the Kamisato Clan, he knew better than anyone that not showing one's emotions was the proper conduct for someone in a high position.
But compared to Sangonomiya Kokomi, who forced herself to appear more like a leader... Kamisato Ayato's cunning was far deeper than hers.
"We have searched the mountains and forests of Kannazuka, but apart from a secret sign she left in the woods near the Kujou Encampment, we have found nothing else."
The man dressed as a fisherman lowered his head slightly, reporting all the intelligence to his master.
Sayu was missing.
Originally, everyone had assumed that she was, as usual, slacking off in some corner.
Because she was still young, no one took her slacking off and sleeping seriously, and would often assign her to safer locations.
For example, this mission.
The matter on Yashiori Island was related to the Tatarigami, and no one knew if the Tatarigami would affect Sayu, so it was unanimously decided to station her in Kannazuka, a place less affected by the Tatarigami.
But even though she liked to slack off, she never neglected the tasks assigned by the master.
Even when she did slack off, it was usually after completing her mission.
When time could be delayed no further, she would leisurely make her way back to the Kamisato Estate.
But this time...
She was truly missing.
"Have you inquired with that general of the Kujou Clan?"
The Shuumatsuban was Kamisato Ayato's private force. The fact that he would risk potential exposure by sending his men to the Kujou Encampment to look for someone was enough to show how much he valued Sayu.
"We went to inquire in our capacity as acting agents of the Yashiro Commission and did not obtain much information, except..."
"Speak freely."
"According to that general, during the days Sayu was on her mission, the water source they regularly used became incredibly sour. And according to the clues we've investigated, the last place Sayu left a clue was somewhere upstream of that water source. Moreover, we found this."
The man dressed as a fisherman fumbled in his waist pouch for a moment before taking out a piece of a withered grass blade.
Kamisato Ayato recognized this item. It was one of the tools used by Shuumatsuban ninjas to perform concealment techniques.
It was typically used for breathing while hiding underground, underwater, or in the sand.
At that time, the Shuumatsuban ninjas dispatched nearby were almost all on Yashiori Island.
There could only be one person who would use such an item in Kannazuka.
Sayu.
"My lord, this item... has a peculiar smell."
Seeing Kamisato Ayato casually toying with the withered grass blade in his hand, the man dressed as a fisherman couldn't help but remind him.
When they found this item, they discovered that there seemed to be some kind of substance inside.
It looked like fruit pulp.
Since there was truly nothing else to investigate, they started with this substance.
After testing it and finding it non-toxic, a specialized poison taster tried it.
And then... there was no 'and then'.
What is a ninja?
It is one who endures what others cannot.
They are trained. Whether being baked in the scorching summer sun or lying on ice in the harsh winter, they can persevere and endure.
They can even endure pain.
They can be called professionals.
Unless they can't help it.
The result was that this piece of what looked like mostly evaporated dried fruit actually took down their most professional poison taster.
Upon examination, there were no toxins in the person's body, and they later woke up.
According to him.
This substance is extremely sour, do not consume it.
Some of the more clever ones have already begun collecting this dried fruit, preparing to develop new weapons or poisons.
But what kind of fruit this is remains unknown.
Because no one has ever eaten anything this sour.
"Smell?"
His subordinate's reminder made him subconsciously bring it to his nose and sniff.
Hmm... there was a unique fresh fragrance of fruit, which should not be the scent of this withered grass blade.
"Yes, a certain fruit pulp inside is incredibly sour. We suspect that the reason the Kujou Encampment's water source turned sour is related to the pulp in here. Perhaps... Sayu was ambushed by someone while hiding underwater."
The Shuumatsuban ninja was quite capable; based on this information, he had managed to piece together something close to the truth.
But his words raised a doubt in Kamisato Ayato's mind.
"Such a small amount of pulp can make a water source sour?"
This grass blade was extremely thin. Even if it were filled with pulp, how much could there be?
And from what he knew, places used as a water source by troops were often large mountain springs.
Did it have that much power?
"Absolutely!"
Even the person within the Shuumatsuban most tolerant of sourness would find it difficult to maintain their sanity in the face of this flavor.
And this was just the taste after it had become dried fruit.
When it was still intact... what would it have been like?
"Is there any more? Bring some over for me, I'll try it."
After returning the withered grass blade in his hand to his subordinate, he made a request that sent a cold sweat down his subordinate's back.
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