After the old supplyman was rescued, the first interview did not ask whether the masked man was Obito.
The medical ninja first confirmed that the old man could withstand recounting his experience.
His condition report showed mild genjutsu-induced pressure, dehydration, and a strained right shoulder, but his memory timeline was largely continuous.
Shikaku began with the details that were easiest to verify.
How many cups of tea he had poured before being taken.
Which way the cup handles had faced.
What he had first seen in the other dimension.
How many times the masked man had asked about the direction of the drag marks.
The supplyman's answers matched the evidence in the room, the brief message exchanges, and the rescue timeline.
His account could therefore continue to be used in the identity investigation.
"How did he react when he heard Obito's name?" Kakashi asked.
The old man thought for a moment.
"He paused first, then asked what grounds I had for being certain."
"Did he deny it?"
"No."
"Did he admit it?"
"No, not that either."
It was the same as his written reply.
The masked man had consistently avoided saying "I am" or "I am not."
He had only said that the name was already dead.
Danzo believed this was enough to regard Obito as having voluntarily renounced his Konoha identity.
Itachi, however, pointed out that the meaning of an identity and responsibility for actual deeds were not the same thing.
A person could reject an old name.
He could believe that his former self had already died.
But that could not make his present deeds disappear along with it.
The Night of the Nine-Tails had indeed happened.
The evidence rubbings had indeed been altered.
The border attacks had indeed caused casualties.
The old supplyman had indeed been kidnapped.