Qianyu claimed the Leaf had strayed from Hashirama Senju's original vision. Mito Uzumaki finally snapped.
"Qianyu," she reprimanded, her voice sharp. "You have no right to question the Leaf."
Qianyu's smile only widened. "No right? When my own parents were hounded by the Uchiha, hunted by the Leaf itself, I have no right? Then perhaps I should bring Kakashi next time. Kakashi, who lived through the incident with Lord Sakumo. Would he have the right to question the Leaf? And if Kakashi doesn't qualify, what about Kushina? The one who never forgot she was an Uzumaki, through and through. Surely she has the right?"
Mito Uzumaki felt her resolve waver. Deflate. Both Qianyu and Kakashi… they had truly suffered the Leaf's injustices.
She studied his eyes. "Qianyu. You were always so good at wearing masks. Why drop it now? Is it because my time is short, so you see no point in pretending?" Her gaze hardened. "Aren't you afraid I'll tell Hiruzen?"
Qianyu met her gaze calmly. "Lord Mito. I am about to undertake a mission for Lord Hokage and Lord Danzō. A mission concerning the Uchiha. So what if you tell him I harbor resentment? My identity, my strength—I am the perfect tool to use against the Uchiha clan. And with Kushina soon to be free of the Nine-Tails… in their eyes, any conflict between me and the Leaf is resolved. Believe me, if you told Lord Hokage of my 'discontent,' he would only compensate me. Placate me. Because he still needs me to do his dirty work. I am not that powerless boy anymore. As long as I stand against the Uchiha, the Hokage needs me. He needs my blade. Besides…" Qianyu's smile turned icy. "In their view, I am the last person who would ever betray them."
Mito frowned, confused. How could Hiruzen and Danzō be so certain of his loyalty?
Qianyu answered silently. He opened his mouth, extended his tongue, and revealed the cursed seal etched upon it.
Mito's pupils contracted. "Root's exclusive seal… the Tongue Eradication Seal. I see. You've joined Root."
Qianyu retracted his tongue. "I have. And it's because I joined Root that Lord Danzō agreed to persuade the Hokage to change the jinchūriki. Lord Hokage has already visited you, hasn't he? He came to seek your opinion on the matter. But your consent… it doesn't matter anymore, Lord Mito. Tomorrow, I leave for the Land of Waves to command the Uchiha forces against the Mist. By then, even the Hokage cannot force Kushina to become the jinchūriki against all reason—especially with Lord Danzō backing me. Because I'm the one controlling those Uchiha. If they learned the Hokage himself sent me to suppress them… well, the consequences in the middle of a war are unpredictable. Lord Hokage would never allow such instability. And your time is running out." His voice was final. "The outcome is already set, Lord Mito."
Mito stared at him for a long, silent moment. Then, a sigh escaped her, heavy with resignation. "You've gone to incredible lengths, Qianyu. A scheme this elaborate… and it worked. From finding Miyuki Uzumaki, to joining Root. Everything proceeded exactly as you planned."
Qianyu shook his head. "No."
"No?" Mito echoed, puzzled.
"My planning," Qianyu said, his gaze unwavering, "did not start with Miyuki Uzumaki. It started the day Kushina and I became friends. That was the day I began working to ensure she would never become the jinchūriki."
Mito's heart skipped a beat. Qianyu and Kushina had become friends… back at the Ninja Academy. They were nine years old. Now they were eighteen. Nearly a decade. For nearly ten years, this boy—now this man—had been working toward this single goal?
"That doesn't make sense," Mito argued, brow furrowed. "How could you have known Kushina was the next candidate back then?"
Qianyu's smile returned, enigmatic. "Lord Mito, everyone has their secrets. And secrets, by their nature, are meant to be kept. Aren't they?"
Mito took a deep breath, her eyes locked on him. The boy she once knew had grown. And she understood him less and less now. He was shrouded in mist, an enigma. Yet, looking at him, she felt a flicker of familiarity. A shadow of someone else. Her eyes suddenly turned piercing, sharp as steel. "Qianyu. I have only one question. Will you… become the next Madara Uchiha?"
Qianyu met her fierce gaze without flinching. "I will not be anyone else. I can only be myself. I will only be myself. No one is worthy of me becoming their echo." Arrogant. Decisive. Unshakable. Cold. Ambitious and fiercely independent. That was what Mito sensed radiating from him now.
A bitter smile touched her lips. "My time is short. The future is beyond my reach. Since Hiruzen and the others have agreed to your demand… how could I refuse? Qianyu, I have one request. No—a plea. Do not make an enemy of the Leaf. If you are dissatisfied with it… then use your own strength to change it. For better or worse, the Leaf is still your home."
Qianyu's eyes darkened, shadowed. "Home?" he murmured, his voice low. "My home was where my parents were. That home is gone. But I can promise you this: I will never be the one to initiate hostilities against the Leaf. I have lived here for many years, after all. I owe it that much for the shelter it provided."
With his promise given, Mito nodded slowly. "Good, Qianyu. I hope you remember that vow. You leave for the Land of Waves soon. Perhaps this is the last time we will meet." Her expression softened, a genuine warmth breaking through. "I truly am… proud of you."
Qianyu bowed deeply. "And I am grateful, Lord Mito, for all the years you spent guiding Kushina. I will be there… to see you off on your final journey."
Mito offered him a tired, almost helpless smile. "Even to the very end… Ah, never mind. It's done. I am weary, Qianyu. You should return and rest as well."
Qianyu left Mito Uzumaki's residence. Outside, he took a deep breath of the night air. A weight was gone. A tension uncoiled. Before tonight, victory was almost certain. After facing Mito, after that conversation… It was in the bag. All that remained was to witness the passing of an era, and the birth of a new jinchūriki.
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