"Don't touch the box."
When Sasuke's order passed over, Neji had already pinned the four corners of the sealed box with the Gentle Fist, and the Hyuga Byakugan Squad surrounded the deep part of the Internal Affairs Storehouse in a half-circle.
Inside the water mirror, that sealed box lay quietly at the bottom of the old cabinet, its surface carved with a Hokage Seal, yet its edges embedded with a Root Black Mark.
The Third Hokage's face changed completely.
"That is the Hokage Succession Secret Box; the Council of Elders has no right to open it."
Sasuke did not look at the box, only looking at the Third.
"You're flustered."
The Third gripped the Adamantine Staff tightly.
"I am preventing you from destroying Konoha's last remaining order."
Kakashis lowered his head to look at the black-sealed scroll in his hands, his voice growing heavy.
"If order has to rely on a Root Black Mark hidden inside a Hokage's secret box, then it rotted long ago."
A response suppressing anger came from the Evacuation Shelter.
Yamazaki Masanari slapped the Daimyo's Residence Document onto the table.
"The Daimyo's Residence demands this box be sealed and verified by the Joint Review Team."
The Third looked at Yamazaki Masanari.
"Special Envoy, you don't understand shinobi village secret orders."
Sasuke raised a hand, stopping Yamazaki Masanari from continuing to argue.
"Neji, don't open the box yet; record the box surface and the seal patterns, and have all three parties stamp it."
"Understood."
Neji inside the water mirror stepped back half a step, and the Hyuga Recording Ninja began recording the seal patterns.
Sasuke turned toward the square, taking the scroll from Kakashi's hands.
"Check what can be checked first."
The Third stared at that scroll, his voice tightening.
"Sasuke, think carefully. Once this thing is