Zou Hyuga smiled without a word and put his mask back on.
Shisui pondered for a moment, then said in sudden realization, "You infiltrated the Akatsuki to gather intelligence on them, senior. Your dedication is truly admirable."
After a pause, Shisui recalled what had happened in Kirigakure. The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became.
Since his senior had reached Kirigakure back then and intervened to stop their pursuit, did that mean Kirigakure had never escaped the Akatsuki's control and was still their plaything?
At that thought, Shisui broke into a cold sweat. If Kirigakure was the traitor in their midst...
The plan secretly devised by the Three Great Shinobi Villages had effectively been laid bare to the Akatsuki, and the surprise attack led by Lord Hokage had become a joke.
Seemingly reading Shisui's thoughts, Zou Hyuga walked over and said, "Things aren't that bad yet. The Fourth Mizukage really did break free of the genjutsu. At most, Kirigakure still has a few spies lurking inside."
Seeing Zou Hyuga's composure, Shisui calmed down again and found his earlier worries rather ridiculous. Senior Zou Hyuga could even earn Oto's trust. There was no need for him to worry.
Then Zou Hyuga reached Shisui's side and tossed him a vial of medicine. Shisui caught it, uncapped it, and drank.
Once Shisui had finished, Zou Hyuga said, "After this battle, I'll find a way to resolve your declining strength. The village still needs a major fighting force like you."
Shisui nodded. After taking the medicine, he felt his vision clear, but that was only an illusion.
His senior's medicine could only slow his decline. To truly resolve the problem, he would have to undergo a dangerous experiment, reportedly with a fatality rate of over fifty percent.
As Zou Hyuga watched