The first stretch of road after leaving Konoha was quiet.
So quiet that it seemed nothing would happen.
But that very quiet was what put Gen most on guard.
The squad did not travel quickly.
At every checkpoint, the Recorder noted the time, route, each person's condition, and witness signatures.
Crow was visibly impatient at first.
Anbu missions prioritized efficiency and secrecy.
To him, recording every stop like this was practically putting a leash on the operation.
But Gen refused to budge.
"The enemy might not attack us head-on this time."
Crow asked coldly, "How did you reach that conclusion?"
Gen looked toward the forest path ahead.
"Because a frontal attack can't kill Shisui and Itachi, and it can't prove there's anything wrong with the Uchiha."
The truly effective approach was to make someone fall behind.
To have Shisui follow a trail alone.
To have Itachi discover a clue alone.
To make the Anbu and the Uchiha lose the ability to vouch for each other at some point.
One unexplained gap was all the enemy needed to write whatever story they wanted.
That afternoon, the squad encountered its first interference.
A set of fresh footprints appeared beside the forest path.
They led away from the designated route.
Shisui took one look and determined that whoever had left them was fast and might have used the Body Flicker Technique.
Had Uchiha Jun been there, he probably would have immediately called for pursuit.
Shisui stopped instead.
"Record it."
The Recorder immediately noted the location.
Two of Crow's Anbu operatives circled around to inspect the area from the side.
The Medical Ninja confirmed that there were no bloodstains nearby.
Gen looked toward the end of the footprints, his gaze darkening slightly.
This was not a trail left by someone fleeing.
It looked more