Chapter 201: Anbu Ninjas, Take Off Your Masks
Over three hundred Anbu Ninjas made the training hall seem very crowded.
After the Anbu Ninjas had gathered, Danzo showed no intention of speaking.
Not long after, Hiruzen Sarutobi emerged from the darkness and came to the presidium.
Lord Kiiroinu quickly stood up, sitting down only after Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken his seat.
Danzo remained completely still.
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked, looking at the full hall of Anbu Ninjas, and said:
“Fellow Anbu Ninjas, the Second Ninja War is over.
Konoha went through several grueling wars—the Land of Hot Water War, the Land of Grass War, the Land of Rain War, the Land of Earth War, the Land of Rivers War, the War of the Land of Whirlpools—and finally won this Ninja World War.
Konoha suffered heavy losses from top to bottom. The greatest sacrifices were from us Anbu.
Missions dangerous to the point of zero chance of survival were carried out by us Anbu.
Infiltration assassination missions behind enemy lines were carried out by us Anbu.
Ambushes targeting enemy Jonin or even Elite Jonin were carried out by us Anbu.
The Anbu casualty rate was twice that of ordinary Ninjas.
Now the war is over, finally over.
You are all outstanding Ninjas willing to burn your lives for the village, the toughest Ninjas in the shadows of Konoha’s big tree.
After the war ends, most Anbu Ninjas should not continue to lurk in the darkness.
You can return to the sunshine, as ordinary Leaf Ninjas, and continue to shine for Konoha.
Anbu Ninjas who leave will each receive an extra A-rank mission reward.
Now distributing Anbu Ninja resignation scrolls and rewards.”
The Hokage’s assistant quickly distributed 280 scrolls to the designated Ninjas.
Many Anbu Ninjas did not know that Anbu would undergo large-scale downsizing; the moment they received the scrolls, their eyes showed panic.
They opened the scrolls and looked; they found their Ninja records that had been taken by Anbu, along with their mission records after joining Anbu.
The mission records only showed counts, not the specific contents of Anbu missions.
The day they became Anbu Ninjas, their Ninja records were sent from the Hokage Building to Anbu; now they had them back.
Taking the records to the Hokage Building to register would make them ordinary Ninjas.
Some were reluctant, others relieved.
Finally, no more high-mortality Anbu missions; as ordinary Ninjas, they could lead teams as responsible Ninjas, reunite with family, stroll or fish without worry.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, and even Danzo stood up.
Everyone looked toward the presidium, unsure what the three high-ranking officials would do.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s resounding voice echoed through the hall.
“Your service records in Anbu are the most special experiences in your Ninja careers.
The Hokage Building will mark you as the most trustworthy Ninjas.
On behalf of Konoha and Anbu, I thank you for your arduous and outstanding contributions in the war.
Where the leaves of Konoha dance, the fire too burns endlessly.
Whether in Anbu or in the village, you are the dancing leaves, the burning fire.
Take off your masks, young man.
Next time we meet, it will be at the Hokage Building assigning village missions to you.”
The training hall’s ground was so hard.
Tears dropped onto it, making splashing sounds.
Anbu Ninjas who removed their masks had two trails of tears on many faces.
No matter how their Anbu careers were—grievances, fear, terror, or resilience—at this moment of parting, it all turned to reluctance.
Yoru remembered when Captain Kurozaru retired; he went to remove Kurozaru’s mask, but Kurozaru said wait.
That mask, the next day when Yoru went to the medical bay tent, he saw Kurozaru’s mask neatly placed on the pillow.
Yoru adjusted his fox mask, wondering in what way he would leave Konoha.
Those who removed their masks lined up to hand them to the Equipment Department Ninjas on the side, bowed to the Third Hokage, Anbu Minister Danzo, and Vice Minister Lord Kiiroinu on the presidium, then left Anbu.
After the long farewells, the training hall suddenly felt empty.
Footsteps echoed from the dark corridor on the side.
Orochimaru, wearing a robe, slowly walked out.
His slender eyes scanned everyone present, then he walked to the presidium and sat beside Danzo.
Orochimaru was one of the only three people here who didn’t need to wear a mask.
Danzo’s expression visibly relaxed a bit.
Yoru somewhat understood Danzo’s thoughts.
Danzo’s most important matter now was to join forces with Orochimaru, using experiments to enhance his own strength.
Power and prestige were illusory; strength was real, and power and prestige would naturally follow strength.
Danzo hadn’t strongly opposed the Anbu reforms.
The atmosphere in the training hall became even more solemn with Orochimaru’s appearance.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said:
“Next, proceed with Anbu’s downsizing reforms.
Anbu will be divided into the following departments.
Root, commanded by Minister Danzo, including Orochimaru, with a total of 10 formal members. Responsible for training new recruits for Anbu and Root, as well as some secret missions.
Four squads.
Kuroari Squad as the intelligence squad, responsible for passing on my orders and organizing intelligence.
Golden Eagle Squad as the guard squad, responsible for guarding key people and things in the village.
Lynx Squad and Fox Squad as assassination squads.
In addition, Anbu has support organizations such as the Scroll Department and Equipment Department.”
Each department and squad stood in a line.
On the far left was Root; besides Orochimaru, there were now only 6 people.
Three died in the Land of Whirlpools, unluckily all at Yoru’s hands.
Then the four squads.
Kuroari, Golden Eagle, Lynx, Fox stood at the front, with their respective team members behind them.
As far as Yoru knew, Kuroari was from the Nara Clan, Golden Eagle from the Hyuga Clan, Lynx from the Shimura Clan, and himself as Lord Kiiroinu’s direct subordinate.
It felt a bit sorry to Lord Kiiroinu, who trusted him quite a bit, but unfortunately he… no, better to keep pretending to be Lord Kiiroinu’s direct subordinate.
The Scroll Department handles Ninjutsu distribution, mission scroll archiving, and such.
The Equipment Department handles creating disguises like enemy village Ninja headbands and vests, providing standard ninja swords, kunai equipment, and other logistics.
With this, the Anbu reforms were officially complete.
Yoru became an Anbu Captain.
After the high-ranking officials left, Yoru went to Lord Kiiroinu’s office.
“Lord Kiiroinu, any missions lately?”
Lord Kiiroinu said: “Yes, a very important mission.”
Assistant Butterfly brought a scroll and handed it to Yoru.
Lord Kiiroinu said: “I’m sending you to the northeastern border of the Land of Earth.
Our Hidden Stone Village spy sent back intelligence: Hidden Stone Village was badly defeated by Hidden Cloud Village because Hidden Cloud Village’s Two-Tails Jinchuriki unexpectedly went berserk.
Hidden Cloud Village’s Tailed Beast sealing jutsu may have achieved a qualitative breakthrough; Jinchuriki can not only be thrown onto the battlefield as a superweapon but also safely recovered.
Fox, go to the northeastern part of the Land of Earth, investigate the battlefield traces, see if you can obtain some intelligence.
Additionally, capture a few Ninjas skilled in Earth Release; Root’s laboratory over there needs them.”
“I understand.” Yoru nodded, then said:
“Lord Kiiroinu, after the Anbu downsizing reforms, can some people be promoted to Special Jonin?
The current squad leaders have more weight than before.
In my squad, Hippopotamus and Yak are both Special Jonin; I’d like to recommend Aries and Hanashika become Special Jonin.”
Lord Kiiroinu said: “Yes, treat this mission as their assessment. If they complete it splendidly, I’ll recommend them with you to become Special Jonin.”
