The Anbu's reply came quickly.
The Hokage Office confirmed that it had not issued the mission to "privately verify the list of radicals within the clan."
But at the end of the reply, it added another line.
Given the signs of escalating tensions within the Uchiha clan, it recommended that Uchiha Itachi continue monitoring relevant developments and report to the Anbu if necessary.
The sentence seemed mild.
In reality, it pushed Itachi another step toward operating through a private channel.
It did not order Itachi to betray his clan.
Nor did it demand that he hand over a list of names.
But it left an opening.
If necessary.
Those two words were the most dangerous.
They could be interpreted as an emergency at any moment, and justified after the fact no matter what happened.
After reading the reply, Fugaku set the paper on the table.
"They still want Itachi to be their eyes."
Shisui stood beside him, frowning.
He knew that feeling all too well.
The higher-ups would never directly order you to betray your clan.
They would only tell you that the village needed you to watch a little more closely.
Think a little harder.
Take on a little more.
By the time you had taken it all on, you would discover there was no one left behind you.
Itachi did not look up.
His finger rested on the reply's final line.
Report to the Anbu if necessary.
In the past, he might have accepted.
He truly did not want the clan's radicals to push the Uchiha into war.
And he truly feared that the rift between the village and his clan would keep growing.
But now, he could not look only at the apparent "necessity" in that sentence.
Who defined what was necessary?
Who would he report to?