The Uzumaki-pattern Mask.
When those words landed on the record sheet, most people's first response was silence.
A similar shadow had appeared on the outskirts of the Clan District before.
From Gen's assessment, Shisui also knew that someone had been working in the shadows to push the Uchiha toward collapse.
But the Former Informant at the border mentioning this masked figure changed what it meant.
It meant that person was not operating solely within Konoha.
He might be manipulating both events inside Konoha and leads along the border.
Fugaku studied the message.
"Why did he only speak up now?"
No one could answer.
Morikawa Kai had vanished years ago. His suddenly sending word through the Border Outpost was suspicious in itself.
He might be on the run.
He might be under someone's control.
Or he might have been deliberately released.
Gen said, "Whatever his reason for speaking up now, we need to confirm two things first."
Gen wrote them down on the paper.
When the masked figure appeared.
Whether the masked figure knew about guard rotations inside Konoha.
The first concerned operations leading up to the Night of the Nine-Tails.
The second concerned an internal leak.
If the Masked Man could accurately track Konoha's patrol and guard rotations, this was more than a simple infiltration by an outside enemy.
At the very least, someone had let him know their internal routines.
Shisui volunteered to head to the border.
Itachi also requested permission to accompany him.
This time, the Clan Meeting did not immediately object.
The procedures had already been drawn up.
The route out of the village, the accompanying Anbu, witness forms, contact points, and protocols for irregularities had all been filed.
Fugaku added only one condition.
"Under no circumstances may Shisui and Itachi both separate from the main team."