Shadow Squad

"I'm glad you're confident," said Edward. "However, you should not underestimate the difficulty ahead of you. The Empire has now controlled over 100 Star Systems, thousands of planets, and hundreds of them with life. Currently, the population is more than 100 trillion.

"So, being the head of any department is not a simple thing because of how fierce the competition is. As such, although I have the power to appoint you to that position, whether you can control such power is another thing entirely.

"Plus, if you're truly terrible at your job, according to the Empire's rules, the people have the right to depose you."

"I understand," nodded Tsunade after pausing for a few seconds. She understood the concept that only the best person is required for certain positions, similar to the Hokage Position.

So, she decided to have a better mindset and not underestimate the value of the opportunity granted to her.

"I will take this time to prepare."

"That's good."

Edward chatted with her, giving her some suggestions. For example, what people she can trust, people she woe to ensure her position, and who her competitors are.

Subsequently, he also told her to train her own people or team. For example, her genius apprentice Sakura. If trained properly in the medical field, she can be a great boost for her.

Edward also recommended she use a similar method as him and teach talented children at Hogwarts and Bones Advance Magic School. These talented individuals can become her greatest support for her future position.

Finally, he left and went to another pocket dimension in his laboratory. As soon as he arrived, someone appeared before him.

"Your majesty."

"Itachi, how are things going?"

"The initial training is completed. However, I won't know the result until we complete our first mission."

Before leaving, Edward made Itachi the Deputy Director of his Shadow Squad to lead an elite group of spies and assassins for the Empire. According to his previous plan, he wanted to wait until he returned home to begin training this squad.

However, Itachi insisted and even asked him to use Time Acceleration and Time Dilation to begin the training.

Edward understood the latter wanted to use this opportunity to ensure that the Ninjas took the majority of places in this new squad. This method is the way Itachi thought of ensuring the status of the Ninjas after returning to the Empire.

Additionally, this method will also allow him to have as much power as possible before the Commander arrives. After all, Itachi did not know what kind of person this commander was and if they would forcibly take over all his power and make him a figurehead.

But now, he has complete control of the Shadow Squad, and all its members are of the same origin as him. In the future, he would ensure the Ninjas dominate the Shadow Squad. As such, he would not have to worry about the future commander.

Itachi understood that if the situation were normal, his actions would create a gap between him toward his master–his majesty. After all, his actions could be interpreted as him trying to secretly build power.

However, Itachi knew the situation was not a problem since he handed his soul to the Emperor and was utterly loyal.

As for the future Commander and their relationship with the Emperor? Itachi knew Edward was the kind of person who valued talented and capable people. So, he knew Edward would view his actions as a test for the future Commander.

If the commander cannot find ways to control the Shadow Squad and take back power, then it will only show that they were not capable and not the person for this job.

"Show me," said Edward, and Itachi led him to the squad.

"You two are here too?" said Edward after seeing Kakashi and Jiraiya.

"I could understand Kakashi's presence, but why are you here, Pervy Sage? Shouldn't you be peeping somewhere?"

Jiraiya laughed embarrassedly.

"Well, peeping is a crime. And with your strength, it's easy to be captured by the golems."

Jiraya coughed lightly to hide his red face; he remembered some not-so-pleasant memories. If not for Tsunade's interference, he should have spent a few days in a cell and paid a hefty price.

"I ask them to help develop the training session for the squad," explained Itachi, and Edward nodded. He followed the group as he saw approximately 10,000 Ninjas, all well-trained in Shadow, Space, Invisible, Chameleon, Illusion, Spiritual Magic, and Ninjutsu.

Of course, they are also trained in assassination and information gathering and analysis.

"I have combined the inheritance of all villages with training this squad," explained Itachi before pointing at another group. "We have begun studying an Anti-Divination Sealing Jutsus. Unfortunately, the progress is slow."

Edward calmly watched the training of these Ninjas, including some real-life stimulation done via Virtual Reality.

"Your majesty, what do you think?" Itachi was slightly nervous.

"So far, there is no problem besides the lack of achievements."

"But?"

"But…the number is too small," said Edward. "Your mission will be spread across the entire galaxy. Once the war with Guznad is over, you will be sent to the entire universe across multiple planes and even parallel timelines."

Itachi was quiet; this fact was one of the fundamental flaws of his plan–the Ninja's population was too small. There are less than 500 million people on the entire planet, and the number of ninjas is not even 1% of that number.

And his squad also requires elites.

"Your majesty, I ask you to let me choose from the people the automatons brought back," said Itachi.

Edward frowned after hearing this. He sent the automatons to the multiverse to plunder resources–including people. However, a while ago, he received some bad news.

The people discovered were variants of the people of this timeline; in other words, the population discovered was copies of the people of the Ninja Planet, with only a few small differences. Furthermore, the situation is the same for humans living in other galaxies.

So, Edward did not want to bring these people back to prevent dealing with variants; it would make things too complicated and could easily reveal the fact that the Empire mastered Multiverse Technology.

After pondering for a while, Edward rejected Itachi's proposal and explained why.

"I know what you're thinking," added Edward before Itachi spoke. "We could change their faces or modify their minds to make them think they were clones. However, the risks were not worth it.

"If the news that the Empire has any connection to the Multiverse, we will become the enemy of all factions in the universe."

The Multiverse is the key for these Tier 10 Gods to reach Tier 11. So, as long as there is the slightest news, they would all become mad to get their hands on it.

"I understand," said Itachi, not hiding his disappointment.

"Your squad will incorporate the Metamorphmagus Agency."

The Empire's most elite spy agencies are composed of Metamorphmagus, capable of disguising as any race or species in the universe. They are scattered all over the universe, dormant as they slowly form a terrifying force.

Unfortunately, they are too young and have not shown their capabilities yet.

"As you wish."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes."

"Orochimaru designed a new type of golem. I would like to use them."

Itachi wanted to reduce the casualties of his squad, so he thought of creating a disposable death squad that could be used as discarded pawns during dangerous missions.

The solution to his problem was to use clones. However, he felt uncomfortable. So, he thought of using golems or robots. So, he asked Orochimaru to design a multi-purpose golem only for his squad.

"Orochimaru created this?" asked Edward as he looked at it. "He is indeed a talent if he has such an achievement in such a short time. However, his designs have too many flaws and manufacturing problems.

"The Empire has already designed a special golem for your squad. You can use it."