Orochimaru, ever prepared, had all the materials set aside, just waiting for Shinki's approval. Now that he had it, he set to work crafting the puppets in no time. Meanwhile, the Anbu's operations department, under Shinki's directive, went into motion.
With dozens of Anbu ninjas, led by captains Tiger and Eagle, the Shimura clan was swiftly surrounded. Seeing the Anbu forces advancing once more, the on-duty Shimura ninjas panicked and rushed to alert their leader.
"Chief, the Anbu are here again!" a guard reported frantically.
Chief Shimura, jolted awake, ran outside in his pajamas, hardly believing it. "The Anbu again? How many this time?"
"A lot, Chief," the guard replied, his face filled with dread.
"Hyuuga Shinki!" Chief Shimura bellowed in frustration, realizing this was likely Shinki's doing. They'd been thwarted by the Third Hokage's intervention earlier, but now Shinki had returned with a full force under the guise of a "special operation."
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage observed the commotion. He hadn't gone home, having anticipated that Shinki wouldn't let this go. Sure enough, the Anbu had launched a full-scale operation, surrounding the Shimura clan with no subtlety.
"Huh..." the Third Hokage sighed, realizing this confrontation wouldn't end easily. Shinki had made it clear he would persist, retaliating against any interference.
If the Shimura clan, who had openly supported him, wasn't protected now, it would damage his reputation irreparably. If he couldn't protect his loyalists, what incentive would others have to stay allied with him?
Leaving immediately, the Third Hokage rushed to the Shimura compound, arriving quickly to find the clan surrounded, with the Anbu and Shimura ninjas in a standoff.
Upon seeing the Third Hokage, the Anbu operatives lowered their weapons and saluted.
The Third Hokage advanced with a dark expression and demanded, "What is the meaning of this? Who authorized the Anbu to encircle the Shimura clan?"
The Anbu operatives remained silent, looking down, well aware that this operation had been ordered by Shinki, and they were merely following orders.
"Enough. Dismiss your teams and return to the headquarters," the Third Hokage ordered, trying to de-escalate the situation. He expected them to withdraw promptly, as they had during the day.
To his surprise, the Anbu members didn't budge.
"What's going on? Do you intend to ignore my orders?" The Third Hokage's frustration grew, his authority seemingly questioned.
Tiger stepped forward hesitantly. "Hokage-sama, we do wish to follow your command, but…"
The Third Hokage waited, eyes narrowing, clearly expecting an explanation.
"But the deputy minister instructed that if we retreat without his order, it would be considered a failed mission. Failing a mission means we'll be replaced and dismissed from the Anbu," Tiger clarified, his tone tense.
The Third Hokage's eyes widened. "Replaced? By whom?"
Tiger nodded, glancing at Eagle, who continued the explanation. "Earlier today, the deputy minister dismissed a number of Anbu members, labeling them as traitors. No one wants to be next, Hokage-sama. Additionally..."
Eagle hesitated before finishing, "...the deputy minister has puppets ready to take our places."
The Third Hokage's jaw clenched as the implications sank in. Shinki had puppets—constructs that, unlike human Anbu operatives, would follow orders without hesitation or question.
The idea was astonishing. Normally, Anbu operatives were indispensable, trained to handle high-stakes missions and protect key figures in the village. The notion that they could be replaced by puppets was unheard of.
With Shinki's puppets, the Third Hokage realized he had no leverage. Shinki had anticipated resistance and prepared a workaround that bypassed the need for loyal, living operatives.
No wonder the Anbu operatives remained in place. They feared that leaving might mean losing their place in the Anbu entirely.
Realizing he couldn't win this confrontation, the Third Hokage's shoulders slumped slightly as he grasped the depth of Shinki's resolve.
This wasn't just an operation; it was a statement: the Anbu was evolving into something that no longer answered to him, and any resistance would meet with cold, unwavering persistence.
>>>>>
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