"Lord Hokage, here are the complaint letters collected over the past month. About a hundred villagers are dissatisfied with the way the Anbu handled matters. Some of them I've kept back and haven't reported yet."
Kakashi placed the hundred complaint letters from villagers on Hiruzen's desk, speaking with a serious, business-like attitude.
As one of the four sub-captains of the Anbu, and with the Uchiha Security Team system in collapse, Kakashi's squad's responsibilities have increased by one more task.
That task is to mediate various civil disputes within the village or to handle severe criminal incidents, imposing punishments, monitoring, and detaining offenders.
With the current manpower of the Anbu, and having lost both the minister and deputy minister in leadership, not only is personnel scarce, but efficient action is lacking as well. This has led to a rising trend in illegal activities within Konoha, with no timely means of damage control.
If matters proceed like this, it's certain to shake the reputation of the Anbu and affect the Hokage's prestige.
Previously, responsibilities could be shifted to the Uchiha Clan's managed security team, but now with the Uchiha Clan destroyed, the security team naturally no longer exists, making the Anbu the target of complaints.
Particularly with the considerable population of Konoha Village, the members involved in practical actions of the Anbu, not counting various logistics personnel, total only seventy people.
Considering the four Anbu squads whose tasks vary widely, the personnel available to manage the village's illegal activities is less than that of one squad.
The primary challenge now is how to stabilize the internal environment of the village.
At this time, Jiraiya has just left to find Tsunade, to persuade her to take on the role of the Fifth Hokage. Although things seem to be moving in a good direction, Hiruzen knows it's entirely a delusion upon seeing the large stack of complaint letters on his desk.
The situation is not heading towards a positive resolution.
For a long time, the management of illegal activities within Konoha has been handled by the Uchiha Clan, with the Anbu acting as support.
Because, compared to the large number of personnel in the security team, attempting to deal with illegal activities within a ninja village relying solely on the Anbu's strength would underestimate the villagers' ability to cause trouble.
Due to the lack of school institutions targeting ordinary groups, most villagers in Konoha Village have not received good quality and moral education.
The only existing school is also meant for ninja training, and similarly, ninja training is not aimed at quality and moral education but rather for researching murder and combat skills, cultivating students into combat talents.
This means that if there's no strong armed force to regulate, the civilian populace within the ninja village can easily breed criminal incidents.
Like the Uchiha-led security team in the past, it was an indispensable department for security management in the village.
Now with a vacancy in this security management department, the probability of illegal activities occurring within Konoha has risen as expected.
Hiruzen is pondering whether to re-establish a brand new Security Department to manage the internal security of the village.
While Jiraiya plans to persuade Tsunade to take on the role of the Fifth Hokage, Hiruzen feels he should also do something so as not to leave all the mess for Tsunade to clean up.
"Thank you for your hard work, Kakashi. By the way, go and bring Shikaku here, I have something to discuss with him."
After thinking for a while, Hiruzen ultimately issued this command.
Kakashi nodded, disappeared from the office to summon Shikaku.
Not long after, Shikaku came to the office, standing in front of the desk.
"Lord Hokage, do you have something to discuss with me?"
Shikaku asked.
"Yes, there's something I want to discuss with you. Look at this first, I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Hiruzen pointed to the stack of complaint letters on the table.
Shikaku stepped forward to pick up the complaint letters, initially reading slowly, then flipping each one after four or five seconds. It took only a few minutes to review all the hundred complaint letters.
"Lord Hokage, are you considering re-establishing the Security Department?"
Shikaku's keen mind immediately saw through Hiruzen's thoughts.
Indeed, this issue isn't hard to guess, and after the Uchiha massacre, it became one of the sharp internal conflicts within Konoha.
Uchiha Itachi wiped out Konoha's arm, and it was Konoha's strongest arm.
He didn't know whether this was tacitly approved by the higher-ups; if so, it can only be said that the decision was quite irrational and foolish.
But now that the matter has occurred, no amount of speculation from Shikaku will change anything.
It is an irrefutable fact that Uchiha Itachi committed the heinous crime of clan destruction... as for the truth, it's become less important.
"That's correct, the recent security issues in the village are worth paying attention to. I'm planning to set up a new department within the Anbu, to replace the functions of the former Uchiha Security Team, dedicated to managing the village's internal security issues. Shikaku, what do you think?"
Hiruzen looked seriously into Shikaku's eyes.
Shikaku contemplated for a moment, setting up a new Security Department within the Anbu would in effect increase the Hokage's power.
For the Hokage, this is undoubtedly a good thing.
For the village, quickly forming such a department is also more beneficial than harmful.
"I think there's no problem, but regarding Elder Danzo…"
Yes, the only problem is whether Root agrees.
Integrating the Uchiha Security Team's power into the Anbu system increases the Hokage's authority. Shikaku's only concern was Hiruzen's chronic indecision—whether he'd again partition these powers, letting internal power struggles within Konoha escalate.
"I'll talk to Danzo. Shikaku, I need you to draft a list for me as soon as possible to form a new Security Team."
"Understood."
This is a very tedious and troublesome task, but as a Jonin Squad Leader, there's no reason to refuse.
"Also, with vacancies in the positions of Anbu Minister and Deputy Minister, do you have any recommendations?"
Hiruzen asked Shikaku.
Shikaku is Konoha's brain figure, and if Tsunade is to succeed as the Fifth Hokage, Hiruzen needs to start fostering a strong enough team for her to suppress Danzo's Root.
Root and the Security Team will become the two sharpest blades in the Hokage's hands.
Shikaku didn't expect Hiruzen to suddenly ask him such a question, skipping the usual high-level meetings for internal decisions.
Sometimes, Shikaku feels perhaps he's not the most influential Jonin Squad Leader, unable to intervene in high-level decisions, a marginal figure.
However, now Hiruzen directly pulls him into the core, is he seeking to reclaim the powers a Hokage should hold?
Or, is it due to angst caused by the issue with the Land of Demons?
Disregarding these external factors, Shikaku believes Hiruzen's actions likely signify a form of self-negation.
"For the positions of Anbu Minister and Deputy Minister… I believe Kakashi could competently fulfill the role of Anbu Minister."
Shikaku chose to test Hiruzen's reaction.
If Hiruzen truly intends to enact change, then making Kakashi the Anbu Minister would undoubtedly be an essential bargaining chip.
Otherwise, continuing to select Jonin from the Sarutobi family to serve as Anbu's minister and deputy would also be a good way to balance the situation.
This is a tactic Hiruzen commonly uses.
Though it maintains internal stability in the village, it diminishes Konoha's potential for growth, with power being eroded in the name of balance.
This is the cost of balance.
"Kakashi?"
Hiruzen murmured, his eyes flickering, pondering over something.
"Yes, as a ninja, Kakashi is extremely outstanding. Among the younger generation, his strength is unmatched, and his loyalty to the village is sufficient. He's an ideal candidate for Anbu Minister."
"Since you think so, I will consider it seriously later."
Hiruzen did not immediately make a decision, as the Anbu Minister position is extremely important. A ninja who takes this position will control part of the Hokage's power, undoubtedly stepping into Konoha's core.
Precisely because of this, the selection for Anbu Minister demands not only strength but primarily loyalty.
Otherwise, if one betrays the Hokage, the consequences would be unimaginable.
However, Hiruzen is inclined towards appointing Kakashi as Anbu Minister.
One reason for consulting Shikaku was merely to further confirm Kakashi's capability.
Hiruzen never doubts Kakashi's loyalty to Konoha, and amid the Anbu's current leaderless state, Kakashi might just be the best candidate to turn things around.