The exclusion of the pharmaceutical department left the village's medical system in an awkward position. Mitokado Hamura, after observing the unwavering stance of the Third Hokage, finally resigned himself to the outcome.
"I understand. I will arrange the manpower and ensure the equipment is prepared and sent to the Anbu as soon as possible."
The conditions had been set, and there was little point in resisting. The F4 group, though unified, had a clear hierarchy, with the Third Hokage as its leader. Once he made a decision, the others could only comply, even if reluctantly. After all, their positions and power were largely due to his influence, even though they had supported him in their own ways.
Once a consensus was reached, and Shimura Danzo remained imprisoned, the logistics department moved swiftly to act on the decision. Shinki initially expected it would take a few days to gather all the equipment, but he underestimated Konoha's preparedness. By noon the next day, the equipment was delivered to the Anbu, every piece accounted for.
With the delivery complete, Shinki had no further reason to maintain the siege around the Shimura clan. He ordered the Anbu to withdraw. The operation had been worth it. The Anbu now boasted over 300 members, making its headquarters quite crowded. Fortunately, the puppets under Shinki's control weren't included in the official Anbu roster.
The arrival of more than 300 puppets brought significant changes. Some Anbu duties, such as guarding bases and monitoring key individuals like Kushina, were now managed by these puppets. Unlike human operatives, puppets were tireless and unwavering in their vigilance.
The idea of an enemy sneaking into Konoha to kidnap Kushina was no longer a threat Shinki entertained. The puppets' absolute loyalty and tirelessness provided a sense of security unmatched by human guards.
The Anbu ninjas, however, found themselves in an unfamiliar position. Many of their duties were taken over by puppets, leaving them feeling displaced. The situation grew tense enough that Eagle and Tiger approached Shinki to voice their concerns.
They needed to take action; otherwise, the Anbu risked being entirely replaced, leaving its members redundant and idle—something none of them could accept.
Shinki, anticipating their visit, was straightforward.
"Puppets have their advantages, but they can't replace humans completely. There are still tasks that require your expertise, and complex missions will still depend on you. The current adjustments are temporary, so spread the word that no one needs to panic. You will not be replaced or discharged from the Anbu."
Rearranging roles within the Anbu was no simple matter, and Shinki was still contemplating how best to integrate the personnel. Yet, one thing was certain—he wasn't going to abandon them.
"How do you plan to reassign these operatives?" Eagle pressed.
"How should I know?" Shinki retorted with a touch of irritation.
Nara Shikako, nearby, sighed. "In the past, the Anbu was always short on manpower. Every small team was stretched thin, deployed wherever there was an urgent need. Only you could manage to overstaff the Anbu."
Shikako's bemused expression spoke volumes. Konoha—and indeed every other village—had always struggled with Anbu shortages due to the stringent selection process and the myriad of tasks requiring their attention. The idea that the Anbu would suddenly have an excess of personnel seemed almost absurd.
And yet, Shinki's innovations had led to this exact situation. The idea that Anbu members would fear job loss or idleness was almost laughable—an unprecedented problem.
Despite his complaints, Shikako brainstormed solutions. "Could we send a group to the front lines?"
"Tsunade already has at least three teams with her, and several others are gathering intelligence on the battlefield," Shinki responded.
"Konoha Prison?" Shikako suggested.
"We're sufficiently staffed there."
"The Hokage's office?"
"No need," Shinki said. "The new Hokage Guard manages the Hokage's security."
"..."
Shikako groaned inwardly. No place needed more manpower, and even he was stumped on where to place these operatives. With a resigned sigh, he turned back to his documents, effectively dismissing the problem. "Figure it out yourself."
With no immediate crises in the Anbu, Shikako decided to head home early, leaving Shinki pondering over his options as he walked through the village. Using Anbu operatives as laborers felt wrong, and disbanding them was unthinkable.
Arriving home, Shinki noticed an unusual number of shoes neatly arranged by the entrance. Guests?
"Shinki, you're back!" Kushina's cheerful voice called as she bounded into view, latching onto his arm. "Misaki-sister came by, and she brought someone with her."
"And where are Nawaki and Minato?" Shinki asked, ruffling Kushina's vibrant red hair while changing his shoes.
"They went out together, didn't tell me where. They didn't take me!" Kushina pouted, hopping beside him.
Shinki chuckled, amused by Nawaki's playful antics. Whenever Kushina's relentless energy overwhelmed him, Nawaki's only escape was to venture out without her. It was his silent way of getting back at her for all the teasing.
"If he doesn't take you, then don't take him when you go out to play," Shinki teased.
Kushina laughed, brightening at the suggestion.
"Sir," Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Fugaku greeted as they stood from the couch. The Uchiha had been vigilant ever since Shinki's casual remarks during the last high-level meeting, which had left the Third Hokage and others visibly unsettled. The clan was still unsure of Shinki's intentions—was he looking to provoke the Third Hokage or was he extending an olive branch to the Uchiha?
If it was the former, the Uchiha would have to tread carefully; they had enough internal issues without involving themselves in the complex power plays of the Hokage factions.
Unless Tsunade's faction explicitly expressed support for the Uchiha, they needed to be cautious.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 320 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
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