Since there was still no news about Kira's survival at this stage, Kura no suke became doubtful of his death and sent ometsuke Masakata TANAKA to Edo and the head of the group Goemon ITO to Miyoshi Domain to investigate his death.
この段階でも吉良の生死の情報はなく、いよいよ吉良の死を疑いだした内蔵助は、吉良の生死を確かめるために藩大目付の田中正形を江戸へ、番頭の伊藤五右衛門を三好藩へそれぞれ派遣した。