Chapter 197: Removing Armor
Coming out of the headquarters tent, whether it was Mito Mon’en or Lord Kiiroinu, or even Yoru, all felt a sigh of relief.
Lord Kiiroinu’s ambush battle was a great victory, and the high command’s collective pressure forced Danzo to swallow this humiliation.
After discussing a few words with Mito Mon’en, Lord Kiiroinu gathered his battalion and said:
“From now on, Fox will serve as the acting battalion commander of the battalion.
Fox, your last mission on the Land of Whirlpools battlefield is to receive the compensation from the Hidden Mist Village and return the Twin Blades Flounder to the Hidden Mist Village.”
“Yes, Lord Kiiroinu.”
Lord Kiiroinu formally became part of the Konoha high command.
Heads of departments such as the Konoha Jonin Class, Anbu, Internal Affairs Department, Guard Department, and commanders of various battlefields are all part of the Konoha high command.
A battlefield commander like Sakumo Hatake would seem to lack sufficient power in peacetime.
I wonder if Sakumo Hatake has any plans to become the minister of some department.
Yoru is now the acting battalion commander, and after the Anbu reforms upon returning to the village, he can formally become a squad leader.
After Lord Kiiroinu left, Yoru had Hippopotamus and Yak, the two squad leaders, enter his tent.
Although they were previously part of the same battalion, Yoru had carried out few missions jointly with the other two squad leaders, so they weren’t too familiar with each other.
Yoru said to the two: “Hippopotamus, Yak, what I’m about to say, you must never tell anyone.”
The two immediately listened carefully.
The Purple Cat nearby was also very interested, wondering what Fox was going to say, so mysteriously.
Yoru said: “Currently, Anbu has six battalions plus Root, over 360 people.
Advisor Koharu Utatane says that such a large Anbu is too bloated, and there’s no need to maintain such a massive Anbu in peacetime.
Post-war condolences, rebuilding border fortresses, etc., all require massive funds, and the high command’s intention is to streamline Anbu.
After streamlining, Anbu will have at most no more than 80 people. That means, out of the current Anbu, only one in four can stay.”
Hippopotamus and Yak exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat uneasy.
They had been in Anbu for this year, enduring the most grueling war period, and to be streamlined out in peacetime would be too awful.
Many Anbu members carry family missions on their shoulders and must serve the Hokage in Anbu; this is their attitude of loyalty to the Hokage.
Being streamlined out would be hard to explain back to their clans.
The streamlining proportion is huge, directly from over 360 people to
Yoru revealed some intelligence to the two in advance, making them think Yoru already regarded them as his own people.
After the two digested this news, Yoru continued:
“In peacetime, our battalion will be streamlined into one squad, with 4 teams under it.
The specific streamlining list will be decided by Anbu Deputy Minister Lord Kiiroinu.
Of course, as battalion commander and future squad leader, I have the qualification to recommend.
Hippopotamus, Yak, give me a recommendation list in the next two days.
Each of your two squads should recommend four people to stay in Anbu.”
Hippopotamus and Yak nodded repeatedly.
Hippopotamus is a ninja of the Akimichi Clan, and Yak is a civilian ninja skilled in Earth Release.
Both have considerable strength and rich experience, and for Lord Kiiroinu’s sake, Yoru had to make them team leaders.
After Hippopotamus and Yak left, Purple Cat asked: “Captain, can our squad only have four people stay in Anbu too?”
“No.” Yoru said:
“Our squad will keep two teams, with Aries and Hanashika as team leaders.
Purple Cat, do you want to stay in Anbu, or retire from Anbu and become a normal ninja?
If you stay in Anbu, I’ll have you continue as my assistant, responsible for the squad’s mission registration and report writing.
If you want to return to your clan and be a normal ninja, I’ll apply for many mission rewards for you.”
Purple Cat asked uneasily: “What about you, Captain? How do you want me to choose?”
Yoru reached out and put his arm around Purple Cat’s slender waist, saying:
“Of course I hope you stay by my side; as my assistant, you won’t carry out any particularly dangerous missions.
As squad leader, I’ll try to be as fair as possible, but you are so special; I’m willing to use my privilege for you.”
Favoritism is love.
Whether from personal feelings or family arrangements, Purple Cat wanted to stay in Anbu.
“Good! Then I’ll continue as your assistant!”
“The War of the Land of Whirlpools is almost over, Purple Cat. Tonight, take off armor.”
“Take off armor? What does that mean?”
“It means taking off the combat vest.”
He scooped Purple Cat up by the waist, walked behind the side curtain, and threw Purple Cat onto the mat.
“Come on, I like watching you take off armor yourself!”
Half an hour later, Yoru left the tent refreshed, while Purple Cat was too exhausted to put her vest back on.
Fox’s strength was too great; Purple Cat really wished she were a taijutsu-type ninja.
Three days later, the Fox Battalion arrived at Lu Jing Port in the Land of Whirlpools.
The dock had been cleared empty, reserved today solely for Konoha Village and Hidden Mist Village.
A large ship sailed in from the sea surface, with Suikazan Fuguya standing at the bow.
Suikazan Fuguya looked at the Konoha Anbu Battalion on the shore, especially the Copper Fox in the center, assessing in his mind what chance he would have of winning in a life-and-death battle with Copper Fox.
According to intelligence, Copper Fox not only had the Absolute Defense Secret Jutsu, but also strong Water Style prowess.
After calculating, Suikazan Fuguya realized he probably couldn’t kill Copper Fox.
After coming ashore, Suikazan Fuguya said:
“We’ve come to fulfill the ceasefire agreement with Konoha Village.
21 Konoha prisoners, handed over to your Konoha.
240 million Ryo, to your Konoha.
200 million Ryo, to the Land of Whirlpools.
Check them, Copper Fox. I don’t want to waste time here.”
Yoru waved his hand, signaling Purple Cat to take one squad to carefully tally.
The 21 Konoha prisoners didn’t have severe injuries.
Purple Cat led out 15 Mist Ninja prisoners.
Suikazan Fuguya didn’t check, gave the prisoners a disdainful look, and signaled his subordinates to herd the prisoners onto the ship.
Box after box of compensation, each suitcase containing 5 million Ryo.
Purple Cat had people open each one and verify carefully.
Yoru picked up a stack of bills, looking at the Daimyo of the Land of Water’s portrait on them.
Ninja World currency is issued by the five great nations; amazingly, there is no exchange rate between the currencies of the five great nations.
The Lords of the Treasury of the five great nations hold regular talks each year to agree on the total amount of currency to issue.
The currency talks are also full of verbal sparring, with no concessions.
The strong Land of Lightning and Land of Fire issue more currency. The weak Land of Water and Land of Wind issue less.
Under ninja pressure, the Daimyo of Various Countries tacitly maintain cooperation, forming an alliance that seems loose but actually mutually supportive.
Each country prints its own currency according to the currency talk results.
The denominations are the same; the difference is the Daimyo portrait printed on them.
Under the strong pressure of ninjas, the Daimyo of Various Countries try to avoid meaningless losses.
If there’s a conflict, let the ninjas fight it out, and accept whatever result comes.
After the compensation handover was complete, Yoru also untied the Twin Blades Flounder from his back.
He was about to open the sealing bandages when Suikazan Fuguya stopped him.
“Don’t move! Just give me the sealed Twin Blades!”
“So afraid the Hozuki Clan will summon away the Twin Blades Flounder?” Yoru said:
“During the War of the Land of Whirlpools, you Mist Ninja successively snatched the Samehada from the Hozuki Clan and the Twin Blades Flounder. Even as an outsider, I think you went too far.”
Suikazan Fuguya said: “That’s none of your business. It’s hardly as excessive as your side exterminating the Uzumaki Clan and Senju Clan.”
“Slander. You really just say whatever comes to mind.”
