Kuki Shinobu’s Concerns

The younger gang members called out too, "Boss, we're back! We brought some snacks from the Grand Narukami Shrine!"

But no matter how many times they called, there was no response from Arataki Itto.

They stepped inside to check—sure enough, Arataki Itto wasn't home. He must have gone out again to challenge Yoimiya or the kids to a kabuto fight.

One of the younger members suggested, "Let's go look for the boss."

Kuki Shinobu nodded. "Yeah, let's go together."

Usually, Arataki Itto didn't have many places he liked to hang out.

He'd either be on the streets looking for kids to kabuto-fight...

Or he'd be challenging Kujou Sara to a wrestling match—only to be arrested or chased away...

Or he'd be off playing with Yoimiya...

Sometimes, he'd go to the docks to do some hauling work, but he had done that just yesterday—so today was unlikely.

Following that logic, Kuki Shinobu led the gang members around town to search. They first asked the kids on the street, but none had seen Arataki Itto.

Next, they went to look for Yoimiya...

She was surprised. "He hasn't gone back yet? He was wandering the streets a couple of hours ago looking bored. He even said he was going to look for the Traveler. I figured he went back to the gang..."

Hearing that, Kuki Shinobu frowned. "Going to find the Traveler?"

By now, the Traveler should already be in Natlan. That nation was incredibly far from Inazuma—across the sea and nearly halfway across Teyvat.

There's no way Arataki Itto could've made it there. He didn't have enough Mora.

Just then, Yoimiya gasped, "Wait, you don't think he actually went to Natlan to find the Traveler, do you?"

Kuki Shinobu shook her head. "No way... If the boss really wanted to head to Natlan, the first thing he'd do is go to the docks and earn money for the trip."

Still unable to find Arataki Itto, Kuki Shinobu took the gang members to ask around town. It took more than a dozen people before they found a lead.

"You're looking for that oni kid? I saw him heading outside the city. Try looking out there."

"Thanks for the info."

They made their way outside Inazuma City.

Kuki Shinobu asked farmers working in the fields, the tea stall owner by the roadside, even nearby Shogunate guards...

They gathered quite a few clues.

Finally, those leads brought them to a Statue of The Seven. Someone had seen Arataki Itto go near it—but not leave.

But when Kuki Shinobu arrived at the statue, Arataki Itto was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, one of the younger gang members shouted, "Look! Over here—boss's footprints!"

Arataki Itto wore traditional black wooden clogs. The prints were distinct, not like regular shoes—easy to recognize.

The trail led them right to the base of the statue...

Then vanished.

Another gang member called out, "Shinobu, look at this—it's the boss's wristband! He never lets me touch it. Why would he just leave it here?"

Kuki Shinobu took the wristband with a frown. It was definitely the one Arataki Itto always wore—but there was no trace of him around. Even the footprints had disappeared.

Something wasn't right.

One of the younger gang members muttered, "It's like the boss vanished into thin air."

Another suddenly shouted, "I got it! The boss must've been kidnapped! Shinobu, we have to go save him!"

The missing footprints… the discarded wristband…

All signs pointed to Arataki Itto being taken.

But Kuki Shinobu remained skeptical.

With the boss's strength, normal bandits wouldn't stand a chance. Who could even pull off such a kidnapping?

Unless… Arataki Itto let them take him.

Even if she didn't believe he was kidnapped, Kuki Shinobu couldn't come up with a more reasonable explanation. So for now, she chose to go along with the others.

"Alright. Let's keep looking..."

If he really was kidnapped in broad daylight, there had to be more evidence.

She instructed the gang to fan out and search the area for any other signs.

They searched the entire afternoon.

And found nothing.

No Itto, no culprits, no fresh clues.

In the end, Kuki Shinobu had no choice but to head to the Grand Narukami Shrine and ask Yae Miko for help.

As soon as she arrived, she spotted Yae Miko.

After hearing the full story, Yae Miko looked intrigued. "You're saying that guy vanished near a Statue of The Seven?"

Kuki Shinobu nodded. "Yes."

Yae Miko smiled. "He's bigger than a bull. No way some random robbers kidnapped him."

Kuki Shinobu sighed. "I don't believe he was kidnapped either. But it's like he disappeared into thin air—all the traces end at the statue."

This wasn't the kind of matter she'd usually bring to Yae Miko.

But worried something serious had happened, she came to ask for help.

Yae Miko narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Disappeared by a statue, huh? Maybe the statue swallowed him."

Kuki Shinobu was speechless. "..."

Yae Miko chuckled. "I mean teleportation. You know—Statues of The Seven are connected to ley lines. Archons can travel through them to various places in Teyvat. Even the Traveler uses that function."

Normally, powerful beings like Yae Miko—or adepti from Liyue—could also use it.

As long as the archons granted permission.

And as long as you had a Vision, you could teleport using the statues.

After hearing that, Kuki Shinobu frowned. "You're saying the boss might've teleported to another nation?"

She suddenly recalled what Yoimiya had said—that Arataki Itto wanted to go to Natlan and find the Traveler.

Could he really have gone?

Yae Miko smiled again. "I'm not sure. But don't worry—come with me. We'll ask the Shogun. If Arataki Itto really used a Statue of The Seven to teleport, the Shogun would know. No one uses them without her permission."

Kuki Shinobu nodded. "Thank you. Sorry for the trouble."

...

The two of them headed to Tenshukaku to find Raiden Shogun.

Not long after, Kuki Shinobu received confirmation from Raiden Ei herself:

Arataki Itto had, in fact, used the teleportation function of the Electro Statue of The Seven.