News that the Former Informant had asked for Shisui by name soon spread through the clan meeting's core members.
Some were worried.
Some were angry.
Others instinctively felt that his willingness to meet Shisui meant Shisui's reputation still carried weight.
Gen, however, said only one thing.
"Too deliberate."
Shisui sat beside him without arguing.
He knew those words were not questioning him.
They were reminding everyone that the other party had chosen him not out of trust, but because goodwill could sway him most easily.
In the past, Shisui had been willing to believe in people.
He had been willing to seek a balance between the village and the clan.
He had also been willing to shoulder more danger himself in exchange for even a chance of easing tensions.
That quality was precious.
But in an enemy's eyes, it could also be fashioned into a way in.
Fugaku looked at Shisui.
"Your thoughts?"
Shisui raised his head.
"I'll meet him."
Uchiha Jun immediately frowned.
Shisui continued, "But only with three parties present as witnesses. The Uchiha, the Hokage's Anbu, and either a medical ninja or border garrison personnel must all be there. The team will confirm the location together. We won't accept any last-minute changes from the Former Informant."
His words quieted the Meeting Hall.
Gen nodded slightly.
Shisui really had changed.
He had not lost his goodwill.
He had simply learned at last to let rules protect it.
Itachi was responsible for verifying the Former Informant's identity.
When the Old Archives arrived at the Records Room, their pages had already yellowed.
The Former Informant was named Morikawa Kai.
He was not an Uchiha clansman.
Nor was he a core member of any shinobi clan.
Around the time of the Night of the Nine-Tails, he had handled intelligence on border