Once the fake list was dissected, the real trouble came to light.
It had not simply come in from outside.
It had passed through at least three sets of hands.
The first was a border informant.
The second was the Anbu squad responsible for compiling reports.
The third was the intelligence transcription office in the Hokage Building.
Someone could have tampered with it at any stage.
Focusing only on the list's contents would mire them in old Uchiha names.
Only by tracing its route could they uncover the hand behind it.
Shikaku Nara drew lines connecting the three handoffs.
Kakashi supplied details about the first handoff from the border.
The Anbu officer in charge checked the records of the second.
The transcription office in the Hokage Building handed over its log of the third.
The Uchiha had not touched the original.
Fugaku had submitted only death records and a request for verification.
That made it difficult for Root to claim the Uchiha were interfering with the investigation.
The first problem surfaced at the second handoff.
The border Anbu squad confirmed that the list they received did indeed include Uchiha Tsurumi's name.
But they had not verified its authenticity and had reported it only as a list of suspected individuals.
The second problem surfaced at the third handoff.
Compared with the border original, the transcription office's copy had two additional annotations.
"Suspected Uchiha connection."
"Internal investigation required."
Neither annotation had been written by the border squad.
Nor had Kakashi written them.
When questioned, the ninja at the transcription office visibly paled.
He said they were supplementary risk warnings added following a "reminder from a superior."
Shikaku asked, "Which superior?"
The transcription office ninja fell silent.
That silence alone was enough to reveal a problem.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened.
Danzo said nothing.