Fujiwara and Mizuki walked down three streets before Fujiwara stopped beside a dango stall, pretending to rest as he casually glanced toward the Hokage Building.
The Hokage Building stood in the center of the village.
A few ninja were moving around the square in front of it, and lights shone in the upstairs windows.
Fujiwara silently spread his sensory perception like an invisible net, extending it toward the Hokage Building.
His sensory range was not particularly wide, but it was extremely precise.
He could distinguish the slightest fluctuations in every chakra signature around the Hokage Building and gauge their strength and characteristics.
There were quite a few people inside the Hokage Building.
ANBU standing guard, clerical staff handling official business, and Jonin reporting on missions.
All kinds of chakra fluctuations intertwined.
Fujiwara examined them carefully, then frowned slightly after a while.
Mizuki stood beside him, pretending to choose snacks from the dango stall.
She said nothing, but kept watching Fujiwara's expression out of the corner of her eye.
Fujiwara withdrew his perception and lowered his head, pretending to look at the goods on the stall.
The two left the dango stall and continued down the street.
Only when they reached a quiet alley did Mizuki speak in a low voice.
"Well?"
Fujiwara was silent for a moment, then shook his head.
"His chakra isn't in the Hokage Building."
"Are you sure?" Mizuki asked.
"I checked three times."
Fujiwara kept his voice very low. "I've seen Shihōin Naraku more than once, though I was hardly noticeable in front of someone like him."
"But I remember his chakra very clearly."
"There's no similar chakra in the Hokage Building. Especially in that office-there are two very strong chakra signatures there, but they're far too different from Shihōin Naraku's."
Mizuki fell silent for a