The Third's hands trembled as he took the compiled list Shikaku handed him and read the familiar names on it.
The Anbu were the Hokage's most trusted subordinates. They even had access to secret information unavailable to the village's Jonin.
The entire Anbu organization numbered only seventy, yet nearly sixty percent had already been affected. No one knew whether the remaining Anbu had been compromised as well...
Was it even possible that the enemy had influenced not just the Anbu, but others in the village too?
Once the seeds of suspicion were planted, no one could be considered safe without absolute proof.
“...Elite Ninja from each clan have temporarily taken over surveillance in their respective areas and are screening for suspicious individuals.”
"As for the other Anbu, we've checked the details of their missions over the past year and found no records related to Shisui Uchiha..."
"But my personal recommendation is that, if circumstances allow, we refrain from using them for now."
After conducting a comprehensive analysis of the intelligence, Shikaku Nara advised:
"After all, the Anbu answer directly to you, Lord Hokage. Once their reliability is in question, we can't keep using them."
"In any case, if Team 7 hadn't discovered this in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable..."
There had been forty Anbu present that day alone, and the subsequent investigation confirmed that all of them had received orders from the Third to investigate Shisui Uchiha's corpse—
But those assignments had not all been issued at the same time.
"In other words, we still can't confirm whether anyone under his control remains among the current Anbu."
The Third Hokage rubbed the space between his brows, barely able to muster any strength.
Shikaku waited quietly for the Hokage to make his decision.
"...Gather everyone."
After a long silence,