The political packaging of a critical condition notice and protective restraints on a family member

Before the words "The source was the Fourth Hokage himself" had fully left the mouth behind the Fox Mask, the air in Room 3 seemed to have been sucked dry.

Tsunade lurched forward, her chair legs scraping the floor with a piercing screech. Fugaku Uchiha instinctively clenched the stamp he had just set down, his knuckles turning white.

Every gaze converged on Baishi at the head of the table.

Baishi's expression did not change. He did not even look at the ANBU kneeling on one knee, as though he had heard a routine weather report rather than earth-shattering news that could overturn Konoha.

He merely raised his hand and made a steady downward gesture.

"Everything discussed in this meeting, including that report, is classified as S-Rank top secret."

His voice was calm, without a ripple, yet carried an unquestionable weight.

"Until martial law is lifted, no one present may disclose any details of today's meeting to anyone outside, in any form. Shikaku, you will keep the record."

Shikaku Nara nodded and picked up his pen.

Only then did Baishi turn his gaze to the ANBU.

"Give me the details."

"Yes." The ANBU did not dare raise his head, his voice somewhat dry with tension. "The energy pulse was B-Rank in intensity and lasted zero point three seconds. Its waveform was highly irregular, accompanied by a powerful psychic shock. The ANBU's dedicated monitoring system determined that it indicated... a severe deterioration in vital signs, not a revival."

The ANBU deliberately emphasized "deterioration."

The taut atmosphere in the meeting room eased slightly. Tsunade's brow, however, furrowed even more deeply. She wanted to speak, but caught Baishi's gaze.

It was a look that told her to stop.

"What do the Medical Department's specialists think?" Baishi asked.

"With Lady Tsunade absent, the specialist on