Root submitted its roster quickly.
Too quickly for reluctant cooperation.
The Hokage Building issued the request that morning, and the list arrived by evening.
Just three thin pages.
There weren't many names.
Their duties were vague.
Most entries listed peripheral support, supply transfers, or temporary liaison work.
After reading it, Mitokado Homura's first reaction was relief.
Since there was a roster, Root was willing to accept at least some restrictions.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't so quick to reach that conclusion.
He knew Danzo too well.
Whatever Danzo was willing to hand over usually wasn't the most dangerous part.
When a copy reached the Uchiha, Fugaku wasn't surprised either.
Gen read only two pages before setting the roster down.
"It's too clean."
Uchiha Jun paused in surprise.
"Isn't clean a good thing?"
Beside him, Che shook his head.
"If Root's peripheral operations were really this clean, those earlier incidents wouldn't be connected."
His sensitivity to records now far surpassed that of an ordinary clan member.
Some names on the roster matched parts of the shops' supply chains.
They also matched certain routine supply transfers.
But the most critical periods were blank.
No personnel were listed for the period surrounding the Records Room fire.
No personnel were listed for the period when the complaint templates spread.
Nor was anyone responsible during the period when the torn pages appeared at the Old Training Ground.
It was as though someone had wiped away the most obvious mud, only to leave a ring of wipe marks behind.
Gen laid the shops' ledgers, the torn pages from the Training Ground, and the records of sealing wax from the fire scene on the table.
"Don't look at what's on the roster."
He pointed to the gaps in the timeline.
"Look at what's missing."
Itachi picked up the