The conference room door closed behind them, shutting out the breeze stirred by Konan's departure.
Shikaku Nara stared at the scroll spread across the table, covered in names. His brow knotted.
"Lord Hokage, this list..." he began, a barely perceptible gravity in his voice. "Konan's intentions are dangerous."
Baishi looked away from the scroll toward the hazy outline of Kage Rock beyond the window. He said nothing.
The list was like a stone dropped into a muddy pond. Leave it alone, and it would lie quietly at the bottom, with no one knowing how deep the water ran. Disturb it, and it would churn up the mud until everyone was stained by it.
Most of the people on the list were powerful figures from the old guard, allies of Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu. Their connections ran through every department in the village. Their authority had been sharply curtailed, but their influence remained.
"If the Discipline Inspection Department conducts a full investigation, at least thirty percent of the village's mid- and senior-level officials will come under scrutiny," Shikaku said quietly. "The upheaval would rival an S-Rank defection."
Baishi picked up the cup of tea before him, long since gone cold, and took a small sip.
The tea was bitter as it slid down his throat.
"Investigate them. Why wouldn't we?" Baishi set down the cup with a soft clink. "The question is how."
Shikaku watched him, waiting for instructions.
"A public investigation is the Discipline Inspection Department's way. It would drag an internal conflict into the open and force them to band together against us to the bitter end." Baishi ran a finger along the edge of the scroll. "That isn't the outcome I want."
He paused.
"I want them to surrender the last of their power and leave the