After noticing that something was wrong, Akaseki had planned to summon a little snake from Ryūchi Cave to send a message to Orochimaru, but...
Summoning Technique!
"Hm?" After forming a set of hand seals, Akaseki realized it had failed.
"Don't bother trying. Space-time itself is strange here in Rōran, probably because of the Ryūmyaku. I haven't been able to use the Summoning Technique since we entered," Minato reminded him.
Minato had noticed this as soon as they arrived.
"So space-time is being affected constantly..." Akaseki murmured thoughtfully.
"But my space-time Body Flicker Technique still works. It probably only prevents us from using Space-Time Ninjutsu over long distances or across large areas," Minato added.
Akaseki did not understand what that meant, either.
Hikari, on the other hand, could look into it herself...
After all, Hikari possessed most of the ocular techniques of the Mangekyō Sharingan that had emerged among the Uchiha Clan over seven hundred years, so her knowledge was extensive!
"Then how about this? Tomorrow, we split up. Hikari and I will ask An Lushan exactly who was captured yesterday. You two can find the people who saw those four petty crooks and ask whether they have any clues. After that..." Akaseki wanted to split up and get straight to work.
But before he could finish...
"No!" Ranwu refused outright.
Minato shook his head beside her as well.
"If we're going to see An Lushan, we're going together," Minato stressed.
Clearly, Minato had already grown suspicious of An Lushan.
Although Minato knew Hikari was probably no ordinary fighter, he still... could not feel at ease letting the two of them go see An Lushan alone.
As for Ranwu, it went without saying. She still believed Hikari was a Chunin at most!
Early the next morning, Akaseki and the other