Batch Traceability in the Old Archives and the Advisor Faction's Unexpected Involvement

The lights in the Hokage's Office cast a cold white sheen over the case files piled across the desk.

Night lay deep beyond the window. The village had already fallen asleep, but the air here was taut as a bowstring because of a report that had just arrived.

Baishi's fingers tapped lightly against the report's cover, producing a steady, restrained sound.

Standing across from him was an ANBU squad captain codenamed Crow. He was entirely concealed beneath a standard ANBU uniform, revealing only a pair of emotionless eyes.

"Speak." Baishi's voice was calm.

"Yes." Crow bowed. "Lord Hokage, the forensic analysis of the Special Kunai left at the inn assassination scene has been completed."

He presented a thin case file with both hands.

Baishi did not take it, merely gesturing for him to continue.

"Based on the micro-engraved code inside the kunai's pommel ring, we traced it back to production batch 'Fire-77-D.' This batch of ninja tools was sealed by the Konoha Logistics Department three years ago and placed on the disposal list."

The office fell silent.

Being on the disposal list meant those items should never have appeared again.

"Who handled it?" Baishi asked.

"The sealing records at the time were signed by Jonin Nakai, supervisor of the Logistics Department's Third Warehouse. The files, physical evidence, and his Chakra signature all match perfectly."

Crow's report was as precise as a machine, without a trace of personal judgment.

Baishi's fingertips stopped.

Nakai.

He remembered that name. A few days ago, Mitokado Homura had paid him a late-night visit to plead for a subordinate named Nakai. Going along with it, he had removed Nakai from the ANBU investigation and demoted him to the Ninja Academy library.

An inconspicuous thread had silently connected itself.

"Nakai's record." Baishi's tone did not change.

"Nakai,