Kakashi held the sealing fragment, his fingertip brushing along the edge of the words written in blood. The blood had already dried dark red.
"Among the Council of Elders?" Choza pushed his chair back a little. "Everyone here tonight just pressed their blood seal."
Hiashi had activated his Byakugan to its limit, his gaze sweeping over everyone's shoulders and neck. "There are no abnormal chakra fluctuations. If anyone is disguised, I can tell."
Inoichi stared at the sealing fragment. "This may not refer to the person himself. Someone may have used a seat on the Council of Elders to sign a transfer order."
Shikaku flipped the meeting records on the table to the page detailing last night's patrol transfers, his finger stopping at the signature field. "The transfer order for the northeastern barrier. Issued by the Hokage Building's Internal Affairs Office, reviewed by the Barrier Team, bearing the Council of Elders' old filing stamp."
Sasuke reached over, took the sealing fragment, and placed it in a transparent Evidence Box.
Fugaku asked, "Should we seal off the meeting hall?"
"No." Sasuke pushed the Evidence Box toward Yamada Naoto. "Sealing it off will make the real person go into hiding. Send the order: everyone who entered the meeting hall just now is forbidden to leave the Konoha Military Police Force Headquarters, but they should continue working as usual."
Kakashi looked at Matsui Takashi on the floor. "Is he still alive?"
"Yes," Yamada Naoto replied. "After he spat out the seal at the root of his tongue, he convulsed and passed out. Lord Inoichi has Yamanaka Ninja watching him."
"Bring him over."
As soon as Sasuke spoke, two Konoha Military Police Force ninja outside the door dragged Matsui Takashi in. Matsui's mask had already been torn off, his mouth was stuffed with cloth