After the anomaly classification system was established, Konoha remained stable for the time being.
But the pressure had not disappeared.
It had merely begun piling up in a different way.
New minor reports arrived at the Hokage Building every day.
Trade route markers had been altered.
A border informant had gone out of contact for half a day.
A way station had received a vague warning.
Patrol ninja had discovered unfamiliar footprints.
None of these incidents warranted Konoha immediately deploying troops.
But every one required a judgment.
Making judgments wore people down.
By the third night, the Anbu recorder's hand had begun to stiffen.
He could not help saying, "If this keeps up, even the classification system will buckle."
Shikaku heard him but did not reprimand him.
Because it was true.
Rules did not run themselves simply because someone had written them down.
They needed people to read, record, and judge.
If the enemy kept manufacturing minor incidents, Konoha would eventually grow exhausted.
And when people were exhausted, they were most tempted to take shortcuts.
Danzo seized on this.
"Anomalies at multiple points prove that intelligence requires more centralized authority."
His delivery was steady.
"Root can handle preliminary screening and ease the pressure on the Hokage Building."
It still sounded reasonable.
But Fugaku was all too familiar with this kind of reasonableness.
He asked, "Will the original sources be retained after preliminary screening?"
Danzo did not answer immediately.
Shikaku followed up. "Will other departments be allowed to review the preliminary screening conclusions?"
The Anbu chief also asked, "Will screened-out intelligence be archived?"
With those three questions in succession, granting Root centralized authority became much less straightforward.
If the original sources were retained.
If the conclusions could be reviewed.
If even screened-out intelligence had to be archived.
Then Root taking over