"Then that proves nothing." Urashiki Otsutsuki turned his head away, no longer looking at him.
The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, his eyes held no expression.
Fujiwara's answer did not satisfy him.
Not even close.
If Shihōin Naraku was still in Konoha, they could not settle on their next plan.
And the intelligence Fujiwara had brought back explained nothing.
"So..."
Isshiki's words lowered the temperature of the entire space another few degrees. "You ran around for three days, got injured, and all you brought back was that you couldn't find him."
Fujiwara lowered his head.
"I have failed you."
"Useless!"
Urashiki sneered.
"What now?" Urashiki straightened up and looked at Isshiki.
"Should I make another trip?"
"You?" Isshiki glanced at him. "If Shihōin Naraku really is in Konoha, going there would be courting death!"
Urashiki curled his lip and said nothing more.
The atmosphere was so heavy it seemed to have frozen solid.
Ōtsutsuki Isshiki raised his fingers slightly, aiming them at Fujiwara.
To him, if a subordinate could not perfectly complete the task he had assigned, there was no need for them to remain alive.
Fujiwara could feel the pressure inching toward his throat, as though an invisible hand were tightening around it.
But he dared neither flee nor resist.
"Lord Isshiki."
Just as Isshiki was about to act, a cool female voice broke the silence.
Mizuki stepped out from behind Fujiwara. Rough bandages were still wrapped around her left shoulder, and her pale face showed little expression, but her eyes were exceptionally clear.
"While Fujiwara was investigating in Konoha, I was also secretly gathering intelligence and analyzing it."
She paused, making sure both of them were listening, then continued.
"Over those three days, I heard many people chatting."