After leaving the command tent, everyone—Mitokado Homura, Yellow Dog, and even Yōkō—felt a sense of relief.
The great victory of Yellow Dog's ambush and the collective pressure from the higher-ups forced Danzō to swallow his anger.
After discussing a few matters with Mitokado Homura, Yellow Dog assembled his battalion and announced:
"From now on, Fox is the Acting Battalion Commander.
Fox, your final mission on the Land of Whirlpools battlefield is to receive the reparations from Kirigakure and return the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei to them."
"Understood, Lord Yellow Dog."
Yellow Dog had officially become a high-ranking member of Konoha.
The heads of departments like the Jōnin Commander, the Anbu, the Internal Affairs Department, and the Police Force, as well as the commanders of the major battlefields, were all part of Konoha's leadership.
Commanders like Hatake Sakumo, who led in wartime, seemed to lack sufficient authority during peacetime.
Yōkō wondered if Hatake Sakumo had any plans to become the head of a specific department.
Yōkō was now the Acting Battalion Commander. After returning to the village and the Anbu reform, he would officially become a Division Captain.
After Yellow Dog left, Yōkō summoned the two Squadron Leaders, Hippo and Yak, into his tent.
Previously, although they were in the same battalion, Yōkō hadn't carried out many joint missions with the other two Squadron Leaders and wasn't very familiar with them.
Yōkō said to them, "Hippo, Yak, what I'm about to tell you must not be repeated."
The two listened intently.
Purple Cat, standing nearby, was also curious, wondering what Fox was going to say that was so mysterious.
Yōkō said, "Currently, the Anbu has six battalions plus Root, totaling over 360 people.
Advisor Utatane Koharu says an Anbu of this size is too large and unnecessary to maintain during peacetime.
Post-war compensation, rebuilding border fortresses, all require substantial funds. The higher-ups intend to streamline the Anbu.
After streamlining, the Anbu will have at most 80 members. That means only one out of every four current Anbu members will be retained."
Hippo and Yak glanced at each other, both feeling uneasy.
They had been in the Anbu for this past year, surviving the toughest periods of the war. Being cut during peacetime would be terrible.
Many Anbu members carried missions from their clans, obligated to serve the Hokage within the Anbu as a demonstration of their loyalty to him.
Being streamlined out would be difficult to explain to their families.
The streamlining ratio was significant, directly reducing from over 360 to just 80.
By disclosing this information to them in advance, Yōkō made them feel he already considered them his own people.
After letting them digest the news, Yōkō continued:
"In peacetime, our battalion will be streamlined into one division, consisting of 4 squads.
The specific list for streamlining will be decided by Deputy Anbu Head, Lord Yellow Dog.
Of course, as the Battalion Commander and future Division Captain, I have the right to make recommendations.
Hippo, Yak, I want each of you to give me a recommended list within the next two days.
From each of your squadrons, recommend four people to remain in the Anbu."
Hippo and Yak nodded repeatedly.
Hippo was a ninja from the Akimichi clan, and Yak was a skilled Earth Release user from a civilian background.
Both were capable and experienced. Out of respect for Yellow Dog and their own merits, Yōkō had to make them Squad Leaders.
After Hippo and Yak left, Purple Cat asked, "Captain, can only four people from our squadron stay in the Anbu too?"
"No," Yōkō said.
"Our squadron will retain two squads, with White Ram and Spotted Deer as the Squad Leaders.
Purple Cat, do you want to stay in the Anbu, or retire from it and become a regular ninja?
If you stay in the Anbu, I'll have you continue as my assistant, responsible for mission registration and report writing for the division.
If you want to return to your family and be a regular ninja, I'll apply for numerous mission rewards for you."
Purple Cat asked anxiously, "What about you, Captain? What do you want me to choose?"
Yōkō reached out and put his arm around Purple Cat's slender waist, saying:
"Of course, I hope you stay by my side. As my assistant, you wouldn't undertake very dangerous missions.
As a Division Captain, I will strive to be as fair as possible. But you are special, and I'm willing to use my privilege for you."
Favoritism is true affection.
Whether from personal feelings or family arrangements, Purple Cat wanted to stay in the Anbu.
"Alright! Then I'll continue being your assistant!"
"The Land of Whirlpools War is almost over, Purple Cat. Tonight, remove your armor."
"Remove armor? What do you mean?"
"It means taking off your combat gear."
He scooped her up, carried her behind the side curtain, and tossed her onto the bedding.
"Come on, I like watching you remove your armor yourself!"
Half an hour later, Yōkō left the tent feeling refreshed and invigorated, while Purple Cat was too tired to even put her armor back on.
Fox was too strong; Purple Cat truly wished she were a taijutsu specialist.
Three days later, the Fox Battalion arrived at Ryojin Port in the Land of Whirlpools.
The pier had been cleared, reserved exclusively for Konoha and Kirigakure today.
A large ship approached from the sea, with Hoshigaki Kisame standing at the bow.
Hoshigaki Kisame looked at the Konoha Anbu battalion on the shore, especially the Copper Fox in the center, internally assessing his chances of winning in a life-or-death fight against him.
According to intelligence, Copper Fox not only had an absolute defense secret technique but also possessed strong Water Release skills.
After running through the scenarios, Hoshigaki Kisame realized he probably couldn't kill Copper Fox.
After coming ashore, Hoshigaki Kisame said:
"We are here to fulfill the ceasefire agreement with Konoha.
21 Konoha prisoners, transferred to you.
240 million ryo, for Konoha.
200 million ryo, for the Land of Whirlpools.
Inspect it, Copper Fox. I don't want to waste time here."
Yōkō waved his hand, signaling Purple Cat to take a squadron and conduct a detailed inspection.
The 21 Konoha prisoners didn't have severe injuries.
Purple Cat led out 15 Mist ninja prisoners.
Hoshigaki Kisame didn't inspect them, glanced at the prisoners with disdain, and gestured for his subordinates to herd them onto the ship.
The reparations came in cases, each suitcase containing 5 million ryo.
Purple Cat and her team opened each one, carefully verifying the contents.
Yōkō picked up a stack of bills, looking at the portrait of the Land of Water's Daimyō on them.
Currency in the shinobi world was issued by the Five Great Nations. Remarkably, there was no exchange rate between their currencies.
The Ministers of Finance from the Five Great Nations held regular annual meetings to negotiate the total amount of currency to be issued.
These currency meetings were also filled with verbal sparring and stubborn positions.
Powerful nations like the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire issued more currency. Weaker nations like the Land of Water and the Land of Wind issued less.
Under pressure from the shinobi, the various Daimyō cooperated tacitly, forming a seemingly loose but mutually supportive alliance.
Each country printed its own currency according to the results of the currency meetings.
The denominations were the same, differing only in the printed Daimyō's portrait.
Under the shinobi's forceful influence, the Daimyō avoided meaningless losses.
Let the shinobi fight out their conflicts, accepting whatever the outcome.
After the reparations were handed over, Yōkō also untied the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei from his back.
He was about to unwrap the sealing bandages when Hoshigaki Kisame stopped him.
"Stop! Just give me the sealed swords as they are!"
"So afraid the Hōzuki clan will summon the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei away?" Yōkō said:
"In this single Land of Whirlpools War, you seized both the Great Sword Samehada and the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei from the Hōzuki clan one after another. Even I, an outsider, think you've gone too far."
Hoshigaki Kisame said, "That's none of your concern. Surely it's not as excessive as you guys wiping out both the Uzumaki and Senju clans."
"Slander. You just spout nonsense without thinking."
***
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(Chapter End)