Chapter 156 Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit
Over the following days, Konoha Village maintained a state of high alert. After witnessing the Hyuga clan's decisive removal of their barriers, the village's major clans—considering Missing-nin Anonymous's substantial potential threat—eventually chose one after another to dismantle their compound barriers, accepting the great barrier's real-time monitoring and protection.
Whether Konoha's heightened vigilance prevented Missing-nin Anonymous from finding opportunities, or whether he'd long since fled far from the village, remained unclear. Regardless, in the week following Shimura Danzo's death, Konoha operated normally. Missing-nin Anonymous vanished as if evaporating from the human world.
Even so, Minato didn't dare relax—not until Uchiha Shisui came reporting that he'd mastered the Four Red Yang Formation barrier technique. This startled Minato considerably.
After all, this ranked among Konoha Village's highest-difficulty barrier techniques. Even Minato himself had spent approximately ten days training and mastering it—though admittedly, he hadn't devoted himself single-mindedly to this one technique.
But for Uchiha Shisui to master the Four Red Yang Formation in one week—such outstanding, extraordinary talent truly astonished and delighted him simultaneously. Through extended contact, he'd long since discerned Shisui's kind and gentle nature. Combined with such excellent ability, should anything unfortunate befall Minato someday in the future, Uchiha Shisui would make the ideal successor to the Hokage position.
On the ninth day after Danzo's death, Hyuga Takuma—another Shadow Guard member—brought word from Hyuga Ritsu. Ritsu had likewise mastered the Four Red Yang Formation. Including Minato himself and his wife Uzumaki Kushina, four people had now mastered this barrier technique, capable of deploying it in actual combat.
Several more days passed. Hiruko and Uchiha Fugaku also successively brought good news—both had successfully mastered the Four Red Yang Formation. This truly let Minato breathe easier, giving him confidence and restoring his composure. He even somewhat anticipated Missing-nin Anonymous's arrival.
However, Missing-nin Anonymous truly vanished without trace, as if returning to Konoha solely to assassinate Shimura Danzo. Just as Minato anticipated his arrival, he instead received an application that left him somewhat scratching his head.
After Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin were recruited into the Shadow Guard by Minato, the original Kakashi Squad immediately disbanded. However, the friendship among the three girls—Nohara Rin, Uchiha Aika, and Hyuga Akiba—didn't grow distant. Instead, it became increasingly close.
After deliberating together, the three were unwilling to separate, each joining new organizations and squads. They still wanted to form a team and operate together. But Kakashi Squad's abnormal configuration only appeared during wartime.
Under normal circumstances, multiple jonin and special jonin wouldn't be organized into a single squad. Konoha Village's jonin numbers weren't abundant enough for that. More precisely, experienced chunin could serve as squad leaders.
Uchiha Aika was a jonin. Hyuga Akiba was a special jonin. Though Nohara Rin was only a chunin, she was also the Three-Tails jinchuriki.
In short, their situation was complicated. Wanting to continue operating together afterward wasn't something achievable just by wishing. The village had regulations for organizing squads—subordinates couldn't freely combine at will. The girls worried over this for quite some time. Aika and Rin pondered fruitlessly.
Hyuga Akiba—who disliked using her brain—found Hyuga Ritsu, demanding he devise a solution. She pestered him for three days until his head ached, forcing him to conceive a method.
Since Nohara Rin was the Three-Tails jinchuriki, they could center around her and apply to establish a special operations squad. Uchiha Aika and Hyuga Akiba were Rin's good friends. Remaining by her side could serve as stabilizing "anchors."
Thus, after the three girls deliberated, they felt Ritsu's method seemed quite feasible. As a jonin, Uchiha Aika wrote an application, which Nohara Rin then submitted to the Fourth Hokage.
When Minato received this application, he felt somewhat perplexed. But undeniably, how to settle his student Rin was indeed an issue requiring attention. Simply recruiting her into the Shadow Guard didn't mean everything was resolved. In fact, the primary purpose of including Rin in the Shadow Guard was ensuring his control over it.
After pondering moments, he immediately summoned the Hokage Advisor, both Advisor Elders, and his wife—Nine-Tails jinchuriki Uzumaki Kushina. The four held a ten-minute small meeting. Then Minato issued a new administrative order establishing a new organization named the "Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit."
According to the official document produced by the Administration Department, this new organization's purpose was responding to attacks from enemies like tailed beasts and other massive foes. Current membership consisted of only three people: Nohara Rin, Uchiha Aika, and Hyuga Akiba. And this organization's head was—
"What? Serve as head of the Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit? What kind of organization is this? I've never heard of it!"
Summoned once again to the Hokage's office, Hyuga Ritsu looked utterly bewildered at the Fourth Hokage seated behind his desk.
Hearing this, Minato's face showed a pleased smile. "Hyuga Clan Head, wasn't this your suggestion to Rin and the others? Having them establish a special operations squad centered on Rin. I've discussed this with the Hokage Advisor, both Advisor Elders, and Kushina. Everyone believes your proposal is excellent. Kushina thinks such arrangements have tremendous potential to let Rin gradually attempt mastering the Three-Tails."
"This wasn't my proposal. I just gave them an idea."
"Whose proposal it is doesn't matter. What matters is we believe this proposal has high feasibility. Therefore, we've established this Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit and hope you, Hyuga Clan Head, will serve as unit head."
"Then why me?"
Ritsu's face showed resistance. He didn't want to serve as this damned unit head. He didn't possess particularly strong career ambitions. Rather than waste time on such work, he'd prefer using it for rest and entertainment—even training required moderation. Balancing work and rest achieved higher efficiency.
Minato smiled, answering Ritsu's question. "Because you, Hyuga Clan Head, possess the Wood Release bloodline limit and have developed it to quite a high level. Should Rin unfortunately lose control, you have the capability to subdue her, minimizing resulting damage."
Hearing this answer, Ritsu maintained a stern face, desperately rotating his brain to decline. "Hokage-sama, I'm not the only one capable of suppressing rampaging jinchuriki. I believe Kushina-senpai is actually the most suitable candidate—not only capable of suppressing tailed beasts, but since Rin and the others are all girls, having Kushina-senpai as a fellow woman teach them would be more convenient."
Minato didn't deny this, nodding. "If Kushina's condition were good, that wouldn't be impossible. Though simply suppressing the Nine-Tails within her body already proves quite taxing, helping Rin repair her seal and suppress the Three-Tails would indeed work. However, Kushina is pregnant now—she can't assume this position."
"Pregn— uh, congratulations."
The thousand words Ritsu had prepared in his chest were forcibly choked back by a single word: "pregnant." At this moment, nothing but congratulations was appropriate. He couldn't very well tell Minato, "Please have your wife work hard while pregnant, right?"
"Thank you!"
Minato's face radiated the smile of one about to become a father.
Ritsu fell silent two seconds before speaking again. "I believe Shisui—well, Uchiha Shisui—is also a suitable candidate. The Uchiha clan's ocular power likewise possesses strength to control tailed beasts. Moreover, Shisui works earnestly and diligently without shirking hardship. He's completely capable of serving as head of this Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit!"
"Shisui's capabilities are indeed sufficient, and his character likewise has no flaws. I initially considered having Shisui assume this position. However, both Advisor Elders explicitly objected, believing that with Uchiha Madara's precedent, we must avoid letting Uchiha clan powerhouses control tailed beasts as much as possible. Though I feel this thinking is somewhat..."
Minato shook his head, sighing before continuing. "In any case, both Advisor Elders believe Shisui is too young and insufficiently steady. Together with the Hokage Advisor, they recommended you, Hyuga Clan Head, believing you more suitable for this position."
Shisui too young and insufficiently steady?
Then himself—only one year older than Shisui—was very steady?
Ritsu's eye twitched. With matters stated this plainly, he couldn't conceive suitable alternative candidates. Apparently, besides accepting his fate, no other options existed.
He silently sighed inwardly. "This is what's called digging a pit to bury yourself?"
If he'd known earlier, even if that brat Akiba pestered him to death, he wouldn't have offered this terrible suggestion!
"Hyuga Clan Head, I sincerely hope you'll serve as head of the Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit. Given the choice, I wouldn't wish Rin to become the Three-Tails jinchuriki. But now that the rice is cooked, I can only hope she finds a way to master the Three-Tails' power."
Minato spoke sincerely, his expression earnest.
Ritsu sighed, his face showing helplessness. "I can serve temporarily. However, if I discover it's unsuitable, Hokage-sama must allow me to resign then."
Minato's face immediately bloomed with smiles. "Naturally. Forced melons aren't sweet—I naturally understand this principle. However, I also believe that with your capabilities, Hyuga Clan Head, you'll easily handle this small matter!"
Since when did jinchuriki become a "small matter"?
He rolled his eyes, looking at the high hat placed atop his head, sighing once again with utter helplessness.
Thus, Hyuga Ritsu—not particularly willing yet unable to refuse—ultimately gained another position beyond his identity as Hyuga Clan Head: "Head of the Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit."
This position's name sounded quite long and intimidating, but he only commanded three soldiers beneath him.
However, other benefits were all quite substantial. Minato even specially arranged an office for him in the Hokage building. One must understand—the Hokage building had only so many rooms. Those possessing individual offices numbered few.
In this office without any decorations, maintaining a minimalist style, Hyuga Ritsu received his three subordinate soldiers.
"Ritsu-senpai."
Uchiha Aika looked at Ritsu with a smile.
"Ritsu-nii, what should we do now?"
Hyuga Akiba asked enthusiastically.
Nohara Rin didn't speak, but the smile floating at her mouth corners indicated her current mood was quite good.
After becoming the Three-Tails jinchuriki, many of her former friends gradually stopped associating with her. Now only a handful of friends still maintained contact. Uchiha Aika and Hyuga Akiba were two of them. Therefore, she especially cherished this precious friendship. Being able to continue together with two good friends—she truly couldn't help feeling happy.
"Do what? Nothing! Didn't you three create this new organization just to stay together? Now you three are together, and you've dragged me along. The four of us make a perfect mahjong table!"
Ritsu sat behind his desk, speaking irritably.
"Ritsu-nii, there's no mahjong table here!"
Hyuga Akiba looked around, finding no mahjong table.
Ritsu rolled his eyes. "Akiba, shut up."
"Why?"
"If you don't shut up, whatever missions come next, none will be your turn. I guarantee you'll be bored for a very, very long time."
This highly targeted threat instantly made Akiba shrink back. Though her face still showed resentment, she obediently closed her mouth. She didn't fear hardship or exhaustion—she feared having nothing to do. Having her run around outside all day posed no problem, but making her sit quietly for five minutes made her backside feel like it grew thorns—restless and fidgety.
Having intimidated his idiot cousin Akiba, Ritsu's gaze first glanced at the black-haired, straight-haired girl with a cunning smile, then looked expressionlessly toward Nohara Rin. "Rin, our Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit is newly established. Altogether, we're four people. But undeniably, you're this organization's core. This unit head of mine might vacate the position anytime. Akiba and Aika both entered this organization because of their relationship with you. So... if you hope this organization can endure long-term, you must demonstrate corresponding value."
In the position, plan for the position.
Never mind whether he'd been willing earlier—the final result was that he'd agreed. Then this work must be done well. Not necessarily spectacularly, but absolutely not poorly.
"Yes, Ritsu-sen— Unit Head Hyuga. I understand."
Nohara Rin nodded seriously.
Unlike ordinary unaffiliated ninja squads that relied on accepting missions for compensation, their Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit was an institutionalized organization. Having institutional status meant fixed salaries—which also meant periodic reviews to avoid departments that drew salaries without working.
Once judged a shell department, they'd face dissolution. Of course, if the Hokage was willing to intervene, naturally no problem existed. But Nohara Rin possessed ambition—she didn't want to embarrass Minato-sensei.
However, though ambition was plentiful, she had absolutely no ideas. Her mind was currently completely empty, containing only the question Akiba had previously raised: exactly what should their Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit do to count as contributing?
She looked at Ritsu, asking softly, "Unit Head Hyuga, what should I do next?"
****
50+advance chapters at patreon.com/Eatinpieces