The door to the mission desk stood open, light slanting through it onto the table.
A roster and a form lay spread across the table, with several people's hands resting on them.
The administrator turned to a page in the ledger and stopped.
"The ink from the last trip hasn't dried yet."
That was what he meant.
Someone on the other side of the table answered quietly.
Before the words following that reply were finished, the meeting moved on. It moved faster than it should have, while the papers on the table remained untouched.
Kiyoshi stood beside the table. The Transcription Notebook in his arms lay open against his forearm.
He set the notebook open on the corner of the table.
The first page held only one line, with a short gap at the end.
A character had been added in that gap, its strokes pressed hard into the paper.
No one touched that character again.
A route plan lay spread on the table, with three things drawn on it.
One line left the village entrance, took two turns, and stopped at a ferry crossing.
One covered the sentry posts, with three shifts taking turns, changing three times a night.
One separated the people from the cargo, dividing the cabin into two levels.
A finger tapped along the lines, pausing at each point, laying out the three routes one by one.
There were just those three on the paper.
The administrator studied the line, his brow tightening.
"Why take such a long detour?"
Kiyoshi did not answer.
"You're taking this route?"
The question was directed at the team leader.
Kakashi leaned against the doorframe, one hand tucked into his sleeve.
"Yes."
His reply was soft. Before the village representatives' hesitation could settle, he took over the conversation.
He drew the