Chapter 160 Replacing Jiraiya to Garrison the Front Lines
Hyuga Ritsu pondered two seconds before asking directly, "Hokage-sama, I don't mind making another trip to the Yu no Kuni front, but is something happening in the village that requires recalling Jiraiya-senpai?"
Minato didn't immediately answer.
Instead, he stared at Ritsu. After several seconds passed, he said, "Hyuga Clan Head, this matter is significant and full of too many uncertainties, so temporarily it's not suitable for external disclosure. However, I can guarantee this matter has no bearing on your esteemed clan."
He acknowledged something was happening in the village requiring Jiraiya's recall. But because Cloud ninja's sudden high-pressure stance made the front-line situation tense, the front required powerful figures to maintain stability. For this, he'd sought Ritsu.
He didn't choose deception—clearly and unambiguously telling Ritsu he didn't intend revealing the reason for recalling Jiraiya.
Ritsu's brow furrowed slightly, meeting Minato's gaze.
Minato likewise looked calmly at Ritsu.
The girls had all noticed Hokage-sama's arrival, simultaneously sensing that Hokage-sama and Hyuga Clan Head seemed to be discussing something important. Therefore, they didn't approach, merely standing at a distance observing.
"When do we depart?"
Ritsu didn't refuse Minato's request.
Though unclear about why Minato made this decision at this moment, he wasn't the type suffering obsessive compulsion requiring everything clarified before sleeping peacefully.
More precisely, his heart was actually quite broad. He had no interest in investigating everything thoroughly—only willing to invest energy in people or matters he cared about, liked, or found interesting.
Compared to clarifying what happened in the village, he preferred going to the Yu no Kuni front, seeking opportunities to use the Chimera Technique to complete his deficient bloodline.
Therefore, he decisively caught the pillow Minato offered.
Moreover, he considered and asked, "Hokage-sama, could Hiruko-sensei accompany me to the front? Having me clash with Cloud ninja poses no problem, but replacing Jiraiya-senpai managing the front-line camp—I'm truly inadequate. My management capabilities really aren't good."
He hadn't forgotten that not only did he want to use this opportunity to strengthen himself through the Chimera Technique, but Hiruko also needed to do the same.
Minato looked at Ritsu, thinking: you're treating me like a drooling fool to deceive? You as clan head haven't exactly made the Hyuga clan's people destitute! Now telling me management capabilities aren't good... He pressed his lips together. "Acceptable."
Whether Ritsu's management capabilities were poor or excellent, sending Hiruko to the Yu no Kuni front alongside him posed no harm. Rather, this suited perfectly—because he'd authorized Hiruko to establish Konoha Village's Diplomatic Department. The Yu no Kuni situation could precisely let the Diplomatic Department prove useful.
Minato considered several seconds, judging this wouldn't cause problems. Rather, with both Hiruko and Ritsu leaving the village, handling the village's troublesome matters would become more convenient.
Hearing Minato agree to his request, Ritsu's face bloomed with a pleased smile. "Hokage-sama, speaking of which, what exactly is happening at the Yu no Kuni front? Why have Cloud ninja suddenly become so aggressive again?"
He'd heard the front-line situation suddenly grew tense but didn't know why.
Minato shook his head. "Currently unclear. Our spies planted in Kumogakure haven't sent back intelligence, so we also completely don't know what happened on Cloud ninja's side. What we can currently do is prepare for the possibility Cloud ninja truly disregard consequences and go mad."
Speaking thus, he stared at Ritsu, reminding him, "Hyuga Clan Head, I hope you and Hiruko-senpai can exercise some restraint. Between us and Cloud ninja, truly no necessity exists to erupt into war now. Whatever you're planning to do, please move cleanly and efficiently. Don't let your private actions worsen matters, making the village bear unnecessary losses."
After finishing, without waiting for Ritsu's response, he waved toward his students observing from a distance. "Rin, come over!"
Nohara Rin immediately jogged over.
Uchiha Aika and Hyuga Akiba also followed behind the girl.
"Rin, how has training progressed these past days?"
Watching his student with good complexion, Minato's actually somewhat poor mood rarely improved slightly. However, hearing Rin being asked about her training progress proved somewhat uncomfortable.
She lowered her head, saying sullenly, "Not very smoothly."
Minato felt no surprise. This was natural circumstances. If tailed beasts were so easily mastered, initially no need would have existed to bring Kushina from Uzushiogakure to Konoha. In that case, perhaps he'd still be single now.
He consoled his dejected-looking student aloud. "Rin, don't be too anxious. Mastering tailed beasts fundamentally requires prolonged processes. Kushina also spent many years before barely controlling the Nine-Tails."
Hearing Minato's consolation, Nohara Rin bit her lip, making a decision. "Sensei, could you help loosen my seal slightly?"
"What?"
Minato froze, thinking he'd misheard. "Rin, say that again. I seem to have heard wrong—hearing you say loosen your seal."
"Sensei, you didn't mishear. I'm asking whether you could help loosen my seal slightly. No need to completely open it—just loosen it a bit. Ritsu-senpai says the problem might be my seal is excessively tight and solid, preventing me from entering consciousness depths to meet the Three-Tails."
Initially, the girl's voice wasn't loud, but speaking later became exceptionally firm. This training method showing absolutely no progress was truly too tormenting. She felt continuing this way would break her.
Therefore, she decided to trust Ritsu's explanation, preparing to seek changes as he suggested.
Minato didn't speak, instead casting inquiring eyes toward Ritsu, who'd caused this troublesome matter.
Ritsu's proposal of befriending tailed beasts completely contradicted conventional confrontational strategies. However, Ritsu had told him Kumogakure's Eight-Tails jinchuriki adopted this method to become a perfect jinchuriki fully controlling the tailed beast. This information required no verification—Minato confirmed its authenticity.
Because last year on the battlefield, he'd exchanged blows with Kumogakure's "AB Brothers." A was the current Fourth Raikage, while B was the Eight-Tails jinchuriki. That battle saw slight victory over the future Fourth Raikage and a draw with the Eight-Tails jinchuriki. Ultimately, both sides chose withdrawal.
During that battle, that Eight-Tails jinchuriki displayed extraordinary control over tailed beast power—levels Kushina still couldn't achieve now.
Therefore—that should be a perfect jinchuriki.
But loosening Rin's seal to facilitate dialogue with the Three-Tails—such methods remained somewhat too risky and radical, right?
Ritsu noticed Minato's gaze. He temporarily set aside Minato's previous reminder, smiling. "Hokage-sama, I indeed said this. Please don't glare at me. I spoke truth. Rin's seal truly is excessively strong—reducing Three-Tails rampage and loss-of-control possibilities to near zero while simultaneously creating vast distance between Rin's consciousness and the Three-Tails. Under current circumstances, no matter how hard Rin tries, she's performing futile work."
"Have you told Rin about the consequences of opening—no, loosening—the seal?"
"Haven't had time yet, have I? Moreover, wanting to obtain the tailed beast's tremendous power without paying some price—how could that work?"
Ritsu shrugged, his face innocent.
Minato didn't look at Ritsu, instead directing his gaze toward the girl, speaking gently. "Rin, once the Three-Tails' seal loosens, you'll suffer beast erosion regardless of day or night. Sleeping peacefully will become a luxury then. You... in any case, consider carefully. Don't make hasty decisions."
"Conveniently, Hyuga Clan Head is about to go to the northern front. Consider the seal-loosening matter slowly. You can ask Kushina what being eroded by tailed beast consciousness feels like. Then after Hyuga Clan Head returns to the village, we'll discuss whether to loosen your seal."
Hearing Minato's arrangement, Nohara Rin nodded.
Ritsu had no opinions either. In any case, this matter didn't warrant his anxiety. Speaking harshly, whether Rin could master the Three-Tails made no difference to him.
Minato used Flying Thunder God to bring the entire Anti-Colossal Combat Weapon Disposal Unit back to the Hokage building. Ritsu waved dismissively, disbanding his three subordinate soldiers.
Ritsu himself also returned home once. If merely riding Minato's hyperspace humanoid transport device for short trips, nothing needed saying. But replacing Jiraiya to garrison the Yu no Kuni front-line camp—even if not a long-term mission, still constituted a medium-term task.
As clan head, long absences from the clan required informing the elders and making arrangements.
Minato's matter obviously hadn't reached "every second counts" urgency, giving Ritsu time to arrange household affairs. After entrusting clan matters to various elders and finishing lunch at home, he finally brought Hyuga Arima and several other loyal confidants to the Hokage building.
"Sensei."
Ritsu first came to Hiruko's office.
Hiruko was reviewing documents. Hearing Ritsu's voice without raising his head, he asked, "Ritsu, have you settled your clan affairs?"
"All handled. Honestly, nothing particularly needed instructing. Without the Main Family, the clan is quite stable now."
"Good then."
Hiruko set down his documents, standing up and circling out from behind his desk. He scrutinized Ritsu up and down, his gaze sweeping across Arima and the others. "Ritsu, if you're prepared, let's go see Hokage-sama!"
Speaking thus, Hiruko also summoned a group—including Hyuga, Uchiha, and civilian ninja. All were Diplomatic Department members Hiruko had recruited and integrated during this period. This front-line trip would bring these newly trained confidants along.
This was inevitable.
If rushing to assume front-line positions without any confidants, though not reducing them to rubber stamps, whatever they did would certainly require adjustment time—needing more time to get started.
Thus, master and student led numerous confidants leisurely toward the Hokage's office.
Before reaching the Hokage's office, Ritsu turned his head toward Hiruko. "Sensei, do you know why Hokage-sama is recalling Jiraiya-senpai from the front?"
Hiruko shook his head. "I'm unclear. Apparently ANBU discovered some situation, but current ANBU under our Hokage-sama's control is iron-solid throughout. Even I as Hokage Advisor honestly don't know what happened."
"However, whatever the matter, it bears no relation to us. Ritsu, stop worrying needlessly. Let our Hokage-sama handle village matters. We master and student must seize this rare opportunity to swiftly perfect ourselves."
"Sensei speaks correctly. I'm just asking casually."
Speaking thus, the two had already crossed this short distance, arriving at the Hokage office door. Master and student simultaneously ended their idle chat. Hiruko stepped forward, knocking on the ajar door. "Hokage-sama, we're entering!"
Speaking, he gently pushed the door open.
"Hiruko-senpai, Hyuga Clan Head—you've arrived!"
Minato, vigorously signing documents, greeted them. He dropped his pen, his gaze circling the master-student pair. "All prepared?"
Hiruko answered, "Ready to depart anytime."
Minato didn't hesitate. Immediately walking out from behind his desk, he stated directly, "Then let's depart!" He approached, extending his hand onto Hiruko and Ritsu's shoulders.
The next instant, Flying Thunder God activated. Three figures vanished, but the next second Minato's figure reappeared, transporting all dozen-plus confidants Hiruko and Ritsu brought two by two to the Yu no Kuni front-line headquarters mountain fortress.
When Minato brought the final pair to the fortress's keep, over ten people crowded inside. Jiraiya looked somewhat bewildered at everything before him. Seeing Minato no longer using Flying Thunder God, he urgently asked, "Minato, are these all dispatched reinforcements? Isn't this formation excessive? Are we declaring war on Cloud ninja first?"
No wonder Jiraiya thought this way. Honestly speaking, just their group in the keep possessed capability to severely damage Cloud ninja defenses.
Seeing Jiraiya's misunderstanding, Minato quickly said, "Jiraiya-sensei, we're definitely not here to war with Cloud ninja. Hiruko-senpai and Hyuga Clan Head came to replace you. Something extremely significant happened in the village requiring you to return with me."
Hearing this, Jiraiya immediately frowned, asking uneasily, "What happened in the village?"
But Minato didn't answer, instead saying, "Jiraiya-sensei, village matters are quite complex. I'll explain in detail after returning. For now, please conduct handover procedures with Hiruko-senpai! From now on, Hiruko-senpai will replace you as front-line supreme commander, with Hyuga Clan Head as deputy commander."
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