When Matsuno was brought to the Hokage Building, he was far calmer than the porter had been.
He was around forty.
He was slightly plump.
He spoke very politely.
As soon as he entered, he repeatedly explained that he merely helped the Hokage Building find temporary workers.
"When they're short on clerks, I find people who can write. When an old cabinet breaks, I find people who can do woodwork. When the lights go out at night, I find people who can climb ladders. Surely you gentlemen can't leave all that to shinobi."
His explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
And precisely because it was reasonable, it was harder to pick apart.
Gen stood to one side, listening to Matsuno's explanation, his conviction growing stronger.
Temporary staffing was easier to overlook than classified files.
Classified files had seals.
Old case files had locked cabinets.
Access controls had records.
But temporary staffing merely filled vacancies.
Wherever workers were needed, someone was sent.
A pass, a temporary assignment, and a seemingly ordinary position could put someone within reach of doors, cabinets, indexes, and transfer points.
Fugaku did not rush to ask whether Matsuno was acting on Root's instructions.
That question would yield no answer.
He only asked, "Who told you to submit this list?"
Matsuno spread his hands.
"No one told me to submit it. The Hokage Building's Administration Office needed workers, so I sent a list as usual."
Crow asked, "Do you know everyone on this list?"
"I know some of them. I'm not familiar with all of them."
"Where did the people you aren't familiar with come from?"
Matsuno hesitated.
"Referrals from others in the trade."
Gen's gaze shifted slightly at those words.
Referrals from others in the trade.
That was the next layer.
The old-shell system would not put the true