The words "Blue-Line Seal" left the Small Conference Room silent for a long time.
This was not something a merchant caravan from another village could casually obtain.
Nor was it like the temporary logistics authorization slips that had circulated in large numbers after the disaster.
Within the Hokage Building's document-routing system, a blue line designated a temporary form that had not yet been archived.
It was not an official order.
Yet it could convince junior clerks, archive ninja, and gate guards that a matter had already entered the Hokage Building's procedures.
That was how Aokihara had let his guard down.
No one had forced him to hand over the Wooden Pass at knifepoint.
A single blue line had tricked him into setting aside his judgment.
After Shingo Nara finished explaining the document seal system, his expression remained grim.
"Every use of a Blue-Line Seal has to be registered."
He said quietly, "But in those first few days after the disaster, documents piled up in the Hokage Building. Some temporary forms were issued first and entered into the records later."
At the words "entered into the records later," Uchiha Gen's gaze shifted slightly.
With logistics authorization slips, they let things through first and completed the accounts later.
With the classified archive's Wooden Pass, they borrowed it first and then pretended it had been in their possession all along.
Now the Blue-Line Seals were also issued first and registered later.
Different departments.
The same loophole.
Someone was not creating entirely new rules.
They were exploiting the chaos Konoha already had.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had clearly realized this too.
He looked at Shingo Nara.
"Who controls the Blue-Line Seals?"
"The document-routing team."
Shingo Nara answered.
"During the temporary post-disaster arrangements, three clerks took turns issuing them."
Mitokado Homura immediately said, "The list."
Shingo Nara