The Last Time the Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force Was Asked to Cross the Border to Make an Arrest

When the cross-border operation order reached the border station, only four hours remained until sunset.

The first draft contained just one sentence.

Konoha's police forces were authorized to enter the Old Trade Road and arrest Kuriyama and his accomplices.

Fugaku did not sign it.

"How large an area does the Old Trade Road cover?"

"Who counts as an accomplice?"

"Who do we hand them over to after the arrest?"

"If we don't find Kuriyama, when do we withdraw?"

The issuing official could not answer all of those questions.

Urgency could not make those blanks disappear.

The second draft was rewritten.

The operation was restricted to the abandoned tunnel and the Three-Ri Southern and Northern Roads.

Its objectives were to confirm the safety of twelve minors, end any immediate coercion, preserve specific evidence, and assist Enforcers from the neighboring territory in detaining anyone who had committed an assault or refused a lawful inspection.

Kuriyama was to be investigated over the current escort mission and the old Kiriya case.

Those accompanying him were to be assessed according to their individual actions.

The authorization expired at sunset.

At that point, Konoha personnel had to withdraw, leaving custody of the detainees and control of the scene to the neighboring territory.

If a rescue was still underway, they could complete the actions necessary to move the injured to safety, but they could not use "the rescue isn't over" as a pretext to keep pursuing anyone.

Fugaku signed the second draft.

The Uchiha Konoha Military Police Force dispatched six people.

Shisui was responsible for reconnaissance and rapid rescue.

Two were responsible for sealing inspections.

Two were to preserve evidence.

The last would only record the operation's timing and the reasons for each crossing of the authorized boundary.

Fugaku himself remained at the border station.

He would