The source of the paralytic drug was established sooner than the Earth Release traces.
Only two apothecaries in Liuchuan Town could process rain wisteria.
One had acquired a batch of substandard medicinal ingredients from the Black Market three months earlier. The middleman listed in its ledger used the same business name as the counterfeit medicine dealer on the Eastern Trade Route.
The same peripheral trade network had surfaced again in an actual attack.
The Nara analysis ninja divided the evidence into two columns.
On the left was the attack itself.
At least three ninja.
Proficient Earth Release.
Matching gray armor.
On the right were the preparations.
Medicinal ingredients from the Land of Rain.
A Black Market middleman.
Advance knowledge of the guards' shift changes.
The two columns of evidence could belong to the same group, or they could point to a hired operation.
Itachi drew an empty line between them.
"The connection is missing."
Akito asked, "Who gave the drug to the attackers?"
"We don't know yet," Itachi said. "It's also possible the attackers were only responsible for using it according to plan and had no idea where it came from."
The local official grew increasingly agitated as he listened.
"They used Iwagakure Earth Release. Isn't that enough?"
Kakashi did not deny the facts.
"It's enough to prove the users received the relevant training. It isn't enough to prove Iwagakure ordered the attack."
"Are we supposed to wait for Iwagakure to admit it?"
"We don't need an admission. We need to find the source of their orders, payment, or communications."
The official's anger did not subside.
But he finally agreed to write only "ninja suspected of possessing Earth Release techniques from the Iwagakure system" in the formal report.
A few fewer words meant one fewer unproven claim of state responsibility.