"Due to the Uchiha Clan massacre, the Security Team system within the village is now paralyzed, as you are aware. I plan to reorganize the Security Department, incorporating it into the Anbu system, and will have you manage it as well."
Hiruzen stared into Kakashi's eyes as he spoke.
The surprises seemed to come more abundantly than Kakashi had imagined.
If the Security Team is also integrated into the Anbu and managed together, the power of the Anbu Minister position will be further enhanced.
This means Kakashi can place his personnel freely among the four Anbu sub-teams and the forthcoming Security Team department.
"Yes."
Kakashi answered solemnly.
"I've already had Shikaku handle the personnel for the new Security Team; you'll be in charge of review and discussion with Shikaku. Once all personnel pass the tests, just report to me."
The reason Hiruzen was not personally reviewing the personnel was because he received information that Danzo seemed to be secretly planning something forbidden, possibly related to Tailed Beast Chakra.
Hiruzen needed to prevent some of Danzo's small maneuvers, allowing Kakashi to manage these matters while he only needed to perform the final verification.
It was also a chance to assess whether Kakashi's capability as the newly appointed Anbu Minister was up to the mark.
If he was not competent, someone else would have to take the position.
This role required assessing not only strength but also the management and coordination ability of subordinate personnel, not a simple job.
Kakashi nodded, indicating his understanding.
"By the way, with your promotion, the position of Sub-Captain of the second team will be vacant, so let Tenzo assume that role."
Hiruzen remembered something and told Kakashi.
"Tenzo, huh? I understand."
Kakashi understood the reason behind Hiruzen's actions very well.
Although the Anbu Minister position was handed to him, the full authority over the Anbu had not been completely given.
Tenzo was a loyal Anbu Jonin to the Hokage, and Sub-Captains of the other units were in similar situations.
If one thought that becoming the Anbu Minister would allow unchecked actions within the Anbu, he wouldn't last long in that position.
Apparently, he couldn't fully let his guard down yet, Kakashi thought.
Thinking it over, it makes sense. Once the Security Team was integrated into the Anbu, the power would become tremendous. Letting a single Anbu Minister dominate alone in Anbu would not reassure anyone, so there would definitely be added restrictions within the Anbu.
However, as long as he performs his duties diligently, the Hokage would only turn a blind eye without interference.
This authority of selecting personnel to join the Anbu and Security Team was the biggest gain for Kakashi.
With these two powers in hand, he could easily dismantle Konoha's and the Security Team's systems entirely, rendering Konoha's Anbu and Security Team ineffective for half a year.
Such development, piece by piece, is squeezed out like this.
"Is there anything else to instruct, Lord Hokage?"
Kakashi asked.
"There's one more thing, concerning Uchiha Sasuke."
After pondering for a while, Hiruzen decided to raise Sasuke's issue with Kakashi.
"Uchiha Sasuke? The sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan massacre? Has something happened to him?"
Kakashi asked in confusion.
A trace of awkwardness appeared on Hiruzen's face, as he said to Kakashi, "It's not that anything unexpected happened to him, but according to him, a stone tablet under the meeting room of the Nankai Shrine's main hall has disappeared. That stone tablet seems to be something important to the Uchiha Clan. He approached me before to find the whereabouts of the stone tablet. Hmm... let the Anbu investigate this matter temporarily as well; you handle it."
"I understand. I will handle this matter well."
A stone tablet under the meeting room of the Nankai Shrine's main hall?
That thing might have been transported away when the Land of Demons' envoy visited Konoha previously.
However, Uchiha Sasuke certainly doesn't know about this matter.
The visit of the Land of Demons' envoy to Konoha was actually conducted in secret, not publicly announced in the village, and only a few personnel were aware of it.
This was arranged because the higher-ups did not want to cause unnecessary trouble in the village.
Personnel aware of this matter were also ordered not to publicize it.
After completing the negotiation, the Land of Demons' envoy promptly left Konoha, and overall, it didn't cause any unexpected conflicts, allowing the high-level officials in the village to breathe a sigh of relief.
But the subsequent resolution of problems won't be easy.
For example, the stone tablet mentioned by Hiruzen, which has already been taken to the Land of Demons—how to investigate this matter?
Even if it's clarified, it wouldn't be possible to retrieve it.
No matter what, Konoha can't dispatch people to the Land of Demons to retrieve that stone tablet.
Since the stone tablet has been taken back to the Land of Demons, it signifies that the stone tablet's significance to the Uchiha Clan is extraordinary.
Obtaining the stone tablet again from the hands of the Land of Demons would indeed be incredibly difficult.
So, the implicit message Hiruzen wants to convey is very clear: just find a believable reason for Uchiha Sasuke to let this matter slide past.
Kakashi scratched his head, realizing that it seems there will be no time to rest and read books recently.
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Mount Myoboku.
The Sacred Land ruled by the toads.
Here, toads can be seen everywhere, whether they are palm-sized or as large as a small mountain, they are all present.