After border security was tightened, the air in Konoha grew noticeably tense.
In the mission hall, missions that took shinobi outside the village were screened again.
More Anbu patrol routes were added.
The ninja tool depot began checking its reserves.
Even ordinary villagers could feel it. The village was like a bowstring slowly being drawn taut.
At times like these, someone was bound to say it.
Deal with the external threat first.
Internal matters could wait.
It sounded perfectly reasonable.
But that very reasonableness was what Gen guarded against most.
Because many reviews that were postponed would ultimately never happen again.
Many deferred retroactive approvals would ultimately be buried beneath a new crisis.
In the Clan Leader's office, Fugaku, Shisui, Itachi, and Gen broke down the border reports again.
External security was one track.
The review of Root's authorization was another.
The trial implementation of the Temporary Handling Guidelines was a third line.
All three tracks had to run in parallel.
Fugaku said, "The problem is that the Hokage Building will consider parallel processing too costly."
Gen replied, "Then reduce the frequency of the reviews, but don't stop them."
Shisui nodded.
"As long as they continue, they won't be buried completely."
Looking at the report, Itachi said, "If we suspend them, Root will say a crisis is no time to question past events."
Gen glanced at him.
Itachi was becoming increasingly able to anticipate where the issues beneath the surface would lead.
That was good.
At the meeting in the Hokage Building, Danzo did indeed propose expanding emergency powers.
His justification was that the border situation remained unclear, and the Anbu needed greater operational flexibility.
"Including Root?"
Shikaku's question was blunt.
Danzo looked at him.
"Root is, by its very nature, a force for handling unconventional threats."
Fugaku said, "If