"This is a top-secret order from twenty years ago."
Shikaku held the secret letter and ran a fingertip along its seal. The paper had grown brittle, but there was not a trace of mold on its corners.
Sasuke reached out, took the letter, and turned it over.
"Secret order number: Uchiha Police 731."
Kakashi stared at the number, his eye beneath his forehead protector darkening.
"An internal transfer order from the Konoha Military Police Force. Only the clan head and the deputy chief of the police force could issue one. Twenty years ago, Uchiha Fugaku was still in office."
A seized the edge of the table.
"So the Uchiha themselves sent people with bloodline limits into the laboratory?"
"Read it first." Sasuke spread the letter on the iron table. "Don't rush to convict anyone."
Shikaku quickly read the words on it aloud.
"Seize seven missing bloodline limit samples and detain twelve associated individuals for secret interrogation by the police force. If shinobi from other villages are involved, handle the matter under the border conflict regulations. All experimental records are to be classified as clan secrets and must not be reported to the Hokage Building."
Several Konoha shinobi exchanged glances in the summit venue.
A raised his head and asked coldly, "Who were they handed over to?"
"The order doesn't say."
"Then the Uchiha did it."
A stepped forward, Lightning Release Armor crackling over his shoulders.
"You just said the villages' higher-ups sent people into laboratories. Now that the Konoha Military Police Force turns out to be involved too, what do you have to say?"
"I'll investigate."
"Investigate?" A pointed at the letter. "You're sitting in the position of Konoha's commander, with the Uchiha's old records in your hands, and you think saying you'll investigate will sweep this under the rug?"