Chapter 146
Shinki didn't intend to play any tricks with the Third Hokage, and the Anbu members couldn't withdraw first. If they did, the Third Hokage could come up with countless excuses, such as incomplete equipment, to delay. And then, who would Shinki turn to for justice?
It was clear to him—everything had to be straightforward. The equipment needed to be gathered and sent over, only then would Shinki order the Anbu to stand down. This was non-negotiable.
Could the logistics department gather over 200 sets of equipment? Of course, they could. Konoha's resources were substantial. But even though it was possible, the Third Hokage was reluctant to release this much gear to Shinki.
If the Anbu hadn't caused such a ruckus, the Third Hokage wouldn't have considered handing over that equipment at all.
The Third Hokage wanted the Anbu to withdraw first, but Shinki stood firm.
"No, if the Anbu retreats, I won't get the equipment. Who would I turn to then?"
"Would I have to mobilize the Anbu again?"
The very thought of it was unsettling. The Anbu had already taken drastic measures, surrounding the Shimura clan's compound and terrifying its members. If that happened again, how could anyone bear it?
If nothing else, the Shimura clan would definitely march to the Hokage's office to protest. While they wouldn't dare confront the Anbu directly, they would make a scene in front of the Hokage.
They were known as his loyal supporters, after all. If they couldn't appeal to the Hokage for justice, where else could they go?
"I'll have the equipment assembled as soon as possible," the Third Hokage said, his face darkening as he swiftly left.
At that moment, he didn't want to exchange another word with Shinki. His only goal was to gather the equipment quickly, have the Anbu withdraw, and restore peace and order to the village.
If the Anbu truly kept the Shimura compound surrounded, who could predict the kinds of rumors that might spread? One only needed to look at what happened with the Uchiha in the past to know. The Anbu's mere surveillance of the Uchiha had sparked endless rumors. What was happening with the Shimura clan wasn't surveillance—it was an outright siege.
The compound was surrounded, cutting off any chance for members to enter or leave. Even their basic needs would be impacted. If the Anbu didn't pull back, the Shimura clan would descend into chaos within days.
And would the Shimura dare to launch an offensive? Shinki thought not. If the Shimura clan made the first move, they would be at fault, especially if they attacked the Anbu. That would be a serious crime.
Back in the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage summoned Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Hamura.
"Hiruzen, we heard something happened with the Shimura clan?" Koharu and Hamura burst in with anxious expressions.
The Third Hokage, pipe in hand, took a long drag and exhaled heavily. "As you've heard, the Shimura clan stepped forward for us and became a target for the Anbu. Their compound is surrounded, and no one can enter or exit."
"..."
Koharu and Hamura's eyes widened in shock. Koharu muttered, "How could he dare..."
Letting the Anbu surround a clan without hesitation—was there no law?
"Indeed, he dared. And the Anbu wouldn't retreat, even under my direct order."
The Third Hokage's frustration was palpable. The idea that, as Hokage, he couldn't command the Anbu to stand down was absurd.
Any other time or situation, the Anbu would have obeyed. But under Shinki's strict command, they wouldn't dare disobey. If they retreated without orders, they'd risk expulsion.
"How do we handle this?" Hamura asked, breaking the silence.
The Third Hokage sighed deeply. "I've spoken to Shinki. The logistics department will prepare and send 260 sets of equipment. Then the Anbu will withdraw."
"This is impossible!" Hamura shouted, unable to control his voice. "Hiruzen, are you out of your mind? Do you have any idea how valuable that much equipment is? Even if we were expanding the Anbu, we wouldn't need that many sets."
He knew better than anyone the immense value of this equipment.
The Third Hokage took another calm drag from his pipe. "The Anbu has expanded overnight by dozens."
"No way," Koharu interjected. "Ninjas selected for the Anbu go through rigorous processes. Even finding ten suitable candidates at a time is considered good. There hasn't been any recent recruitment—where would these new members come from?"
They seemed to have forgotten something.
The Third Hokage's eyes moved between his two old advisors, and he sighed. "The additional members are Hyuga Shinki's puppets. He plans to use these puppets as substitutes in the action department. These puppets possess unwavering loyalty, are fearless in the face of death, and have unique surveillance and communication capabilities that normal Anbu members lack."
With the puppets, Shinki always held an advantage. The puppets' capabilities were undeniably formidable.
The emergence of these puppets brought mixed feelings to the Hokage's office. On the one hand, they represented a new, cost-effective special force under the village's control. On the other, Koharu and Hamura knew these assets were beyond their grasp.
"The village needs stability," the Third Hokage said wearily. "Koharu, Hamura, I hope you understand. The logistics department must send the equipment quickly to end this situation before it damages the village's credibility and our authority."
"..."
How could they refuse? Two hundred and sixty sets of equipment weren't a small matter. Though the logistics department could provide them, it felt like cutting away a part of themselves.
The pain was evident on Hamura's face. The equipment for the Anbu was of the highest quality, with each set being a complete and valuable unit.
Koharu's expression was equally grave. With peace talks on the horizon, the Third Hokage needed to maintain village stability at all costs, at least until the war ended. This meant leaving the Anbu's privileges untouched and sacrificing some assets to secure that peace.
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