"So I've seen," Ibiki agreed, still carefully neutral. In truth, it wasn't the sickness alone that ensured Itachi wasn't a threat -- after all, one didn't need to be physically robust to do quite a bit of damage, as Ibiki well knew.

Besides. He'd seen the reports that quietly came through, via circuitous routes. Technically, they hadn't gone to him, but he had his ways, and people loyal to him. An Akatsuki, yes, but a spy nontheless.

"There doesn't appear to be much to gain here, either," he added thoughtfully; not that that was necessarily true, but for the moment, it was his impression.