The old seal could not give the Hokage's approval.
After Fugaku said those words, the Conference Room fell completely silent.
Because what they touched on was not just Root.
It was the Hokage's own authority.
If an old seal could still represent the Hokage's will years later, then outdated procedures could render the Hokage himself powerless.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the impression of the old seal, his expression even grimmer than before.
Of course he knew the Hokage Building had many seals for administrative procedures.
In wartime.
In the aftermath of disasters.
In emergencies.
The Hokage could not personally sign and approve every low-level supplemental document.
But this one was different.
It was no ordinary document.
It expanded Root's scope of action against high-impact individuals connected to the Uchiha.
And it had subsequently been cited in the Shisui impact assessment, Underage Observation, and contingency plans for handling high-impact individuals.
This was no longer an old seal completing a procedure.
This was an old seal giving the Hokage's approval in his place.
Danzo said coldly, "Hiruzen, the village had just suffered the Nine-Tails' Attack. You couldn't possibly have personally reviewed every supplemental authorization."
Hiruzen Sarutobi did not immediately argue.
Danzo's words had struck at the truth.
But Gen knew that a fact did not justify every extension of it.
Fugaku spoke.
"Temporary use of an old seal after the Nine-Tails' Attack can explain the expanded authorization at the time. It cannot explain its continued application years later."
Mitokado Homura nodded.
"There should indeed have been a post-disaster review."
Danzo looked at him, his gaze icy.
This time, Mitokado Homura did not look away.
Because he, too, had realized that unless this was reined in, many old procedures the advisory council had once participated in would become liabilities.
Fugaku made a formal