Chapter 196: Anbu Reform
The negotiations ended, and Advisor Mito Mon’en brought Kiiroinu and others to the Front Line Camp.
As soon as he entered the camp, Advisor Mito Mon’en kept greeting the ninjas he knew.
Everyone’s faces were filled with joy.
The war was over, and the War of the Land of Whirlpools was over.
After entering the Headquarters Tent, Uchiha Kane quickly stood up and greeted Advisor Mito Mon’en.
Danzo, on the side, sat there motionless, head down looking at the scroll.
Advisor Mito Mon’en said, “Danzo, you can’t communicate normally with anyone. For negotiations with Yuan Shi, I had to make a special trip from the village.”
Yoru recalled the scene of Advisor Mito Mon’en and Yuan Shi hurling insults at each other, thinking that Advisor Mito Mon’en wasn’t very suitable for negotiations either.
In the Land of Rivers war negotiations, Nara Shikaku controlled the field, which was truly neither humble nor arrogant, steadily applying pressure—he was a principled man.
Danzo asked, “Did Yuan Shi compromise?”
“Compromise, he had to compromise. Does he have a second path if he doesn’t compromise?” Advisor Mito Mon’en said:
“Danzo, once Yuan Shi’s ceasefire scroll arrives, we can return to the village for New Year.”
Danzo nodded.
Advisor Mito Mon’en said to Uchiha Kane, “Clan Head Zhong, and all you strategists, please leave the tent to me. Danzo Advisor and I have some private words to say.”
Uchiha Kane said, “Please go ahead.”
He wasn’t too worried; what Advisor Mito Mon’en wanted to say should have nothing to do with him.
He had just won a war as Deputy Commander; the village wouldn’t target him at this time… right?
After Uchiha Kane left with the strategists, only the two advisors, their assistants, and Anbu remained in the tent.
Advisor Mito Mon’en looked to the side and asked, “Where’s Otoyo?”
“Otoyo?” Danzo said, “Sacrificed.”
“Sacrificed? That’s such a pity. Otoyo’s abilities were very special, excelling at infiltration and assassination.”
Advisor Mito Mon’en sometimes specifically named Otoyo for missions.
His body disintegrating into insects, slipping through window cracks, reassembling at the nobles’ bedside into Otoyo again—an Insect Clone in hand, assassinations never failed, and crucially, he could escape with Lightness of Being afterward, without leaving a single footprint.
Advisor Mito Mon’en said, “Danzo, I have one more thing this time—announcing several appointments on behalf of Hiruzen.”
Carefully observing Danzo’s expression, Advisor Mito Mon’en realized he had worried unnecessarily; Danzo was expressionless, revealing nothing.
Advisor Mito Mon’en continued, “Kiiroinu completed a perfect ambush battle, achieving brilliant results—killing Hozuki Murgetsu and several jonin in one battle, plus over three hundred Mist Ninja.
Hiruzen appoints Kiiroinu as Anbu Deputy Minister.
You and I are getting older.
People still need the young ones.
Konoha ultimately belongs to these young men, don’t you think?”
Danzo looked at Kiiroinu.
Kiiroinu didn’t respond or make eye contact. These were all elders; there was no need for him to speak.
Danzo said, “Fine, Konoha ultimately belongs to the young ones. However, the captain of the Crocodile Turtle Battalion will be Prop.”
Yoru thought to himself, this is the compromise.
Danzo agreed to Kiiroinu becoming Deputy Minister, but Danzo wanted to claim another Anbu Battalion in return.
Anbu has a total of six battalions.
Golden Eagle Battalion and Kuroari Battalion handle the Third Hokage’s security and mission delivery, rarely leaving the village for long periods.
Bay Leopard Battalion and Lynx Battalion are completely controlled by Danzo.
Kiiroinu Battalion and Crocodile Turtle Battalion generally carry out long-term missions outside the village for the Third Hokage.
Kurokame died, and the captain position has been proxy-held by Otoyo; now Otoyo is also dead, and no formal captain has been decided.
Danzo trades the concession on the Deputy Minister position for another battalion.
In this way, Danzo will directly control three battalions—it’s hard to say whether his power has shrunk or expanded.
After Kiiroinu becomes Deputy Minister, Fox will become the new captain, but Kiiroinu won’t have just the Fox Battalion under him; he will surely strive for the Crocodile Turtle Battalion.
Yoru guessed that Kiiroinu wanted Hippopotamus to become captain.
Advisor Mito Mon’en had anticipated this and said:
“This is exactly the other matter I wanted to discuss with you.
Danzo, the Second Ninja War will end before New Year.
This Ninja War has caused heavy losses to all villages; no new Ninja War will emerge in the short term.
Anbu doesn’t need to maintain the massive scale of six battalions.
Koharu Utatane handles the village’s internal affairs. She told Hiruzen that Anbu has devoured too many resources; in peacetime, there’s no need to support six battalions—just an Anbu of over 300 people.
Post-war, Anbu will undergo streamlined reform.
From six battalions to four major divisions, each division with 4 or 5 squads, totaling no more than 80 people.
Kuroari Squad for Hiruzen’s guarding and order delivery.
Golden Eagle Squad, Lynx Squad, Fox Squad—the three assassination action squads.
Wartime has wartime strategies, peacetime has peacetime strategies.
What do you think, Danzo?”
Yoru was secretly pleased that Advisor Mito Mon’en directly referred to him as squad leader.
Unfortunately, each squad under the divisions has only 4 to 5 squads—stronger than current squad leaders now, but fewer people than a captain commands.
In terms of status, it would actually be more important—one of the four squad leaders, an absolute core of Anbu.
From Advisor Mito Mon’en’s wording, Koharu Utatane used financial burden as the entry point to propose Anbu streamlining, Hiruzen approved, and Advisor Mito Mon’en swiftly announced it.
The high-ranking officials all seemed to be targeting Danzo.
It was unknown what Danzo had done to make them so eager to join forces and weaken him.
Danzo’s eyelids drooped even lower; even Yoru could see that Danzo was on the verge of exploding.
Among the four major divisions, only Lynx Squad is directly under Danzo—how could he not be angry?
He might not explode; more likely, he would suppress his dissatisfaction and retaliate in other ways.
Advisor Mito Mon’en quickly spoke to soothe him:
“Danzo, I told Hiruzen and Koharu Utatane that Root handles many important tasks, whether secret jutsu research or Anbu ninja training—none can be reduced.
My meaning is, Root’s successes are obvious to all; it shouldn’t be limited to Anbu ninja training. Root can, per your wishes, Danzo, execute more covert missions.
After Anbu streamlining, set one Minister and one Deputy Minister, composed of Root, Guard Squad, three major assassination squads, and Logistics Department.
Root becomes more independent, completely under your command.
You are the Anbu Minister. What do you think of such a reform?”
Yoru understood: the high-ranking officials compromised on Root, leaving it entirely to Danzo.
And Danzo should, as Hiruzen Sarutobi expected, compromise on the Anbu reform.
Streamline personnel, then have the Third Hokage fully control Anbu, with Kiiroinu acting for the Third Hokage in daily management.
A change appeared in Danzo’s eyes, as if weighing in his heart whether a fully autonomous Root was worth the concession.
The tent was extremely quiet.
Two minutes later, Danzo spoke: “Root actions require no reports to anyone—responsible only to me.”
Advisor Mito Mon’en nodded: “Of course.”
“Root personnel selected by me personally for recruitment and assignment.”
“Of course.”
“Good, I agree to Anbu’s reform scheme.”
Advisor Mito Mon’en’s expression relaxed, and he began saying some high-sounding words:
“I was just afraid you wouldn’t agree. Koharu Utatane showed me a report—Anbu is like a gold-devouring beast.
Equipment, remuneration, compensation—devouring too much funding; reform is unavoidable.
After reduction to four major divisions, Konoha’s financial burden will lighten considerably.
Post-war, many sacrifice compensations need to be issued; families accept delayed payment, but how can the village bear for heroes’ orphans to go without compensation.
It’s good that you agree, Danzo.”
All power divisions are cloaked in the village’s greater good. Greater good and public opinion are important components of power.
