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Danzo suddenly realized he was being led by the nose again. That suspicion about Qianyu's loyalty reared its head once more.
In response to the direct challenge, Qianyu stuck out his tongue, revealing the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
He showed Danzo the hollow seal. "Have I not always been your subordinate, Lord Danzo?" Qianyu asked, his tone casual. "You could say the entire village knows I serve under you. Surely you don't think otherwise?"
Danzo stared. Hard. Qianyu stared right back, unflinching.
Finally, Danzo cracked a thin smile. "Of course I consider you one of mine. A mere offhand question. You're right. Letting the Uchiha catch their breath will make targeting them later more effective. Proceed as you wish."
Qianyu gave a slight nod. "Thank you for your understanding. I'll take my leave then."
He turned and walked out.
The moment Qianyu's foot crossed the threshold, Danzo's face darkened completely.
The seal was there. The answer was flawless. Yet Danzo felt it—Qianyu was slipping from his control.
The Cursed Tongue Seal only prevented leaks. It imposed no real restraint on the boy himself.
And that answer just now… the tone, the demeanor… it wasn't that of a subordinate. It was the exchange of equals.
Had he given Qianyu too much power? Too much status?
Now, whether in strength or position, keeping Qianyu in check was becoming… difficult.
Danzo's finger tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm on his desk.
An undeniable fact: Qianyu was an exceptionally sharp blade.
But a blade with two edges. One that could very well cut its wielder.
And the tip of that blade… seemed to be turning toward him.
Outside the Root base, a look of utter disdain settled on Qianyu's face.
So Danzo was starting to doubt his loyalty already.
As if he'd bow and scrape for that old fool now. Not a chance.
If Danzo pushed too hard, he'd just walk straight into Minato's camp. What could Danzo do about it? Minato would probably jump for joy on the spot.
For now, Danzo still had his uses. Qianyu would avoid an open break if he could.
But if the old man didn't know his place…
Show respect, and he was 'Lord Danzo.' Don't, and he was the 'old bastard.'
Still, Qianyu was confident. As long as Danzo had a shred of sense left, he wouldn't pick a fight now. Doing so would leave him utterly vulnerable.
His plans against the Uchiha would fall apart. He'd be permanently crushed under Hiruzen and Minato's combined weight.
Back home, Kakashi had already left. Qianyu told Kushina the plan: he'd take Kakashi to the Leaf Village Defense Force tomorrow, then head straight to Ryūchi Cave to train in Sage Mode. He would be back as soon as possible.
A sleepless night passed.
The next morning, Qianyu left the house, feeling refreshed. He found Kakashi and together, they headed for the Defense Force headquarters.
On the way, Qianyu laid out the situation.
"The thirty Root ninja and twenty regulars under my command are yours now. Use them. Don't let them sit idle.
As for Uchiha Shisui… ignore him. He's just a figurehead. Though I expect he'll come sniffing around once I'm gone, trying to push his own rules. Consider it part of your training. Handle him as you see fit.
I've also spoken to Teacher Orochimaru. If you hit a wall, something you genuinely don't know how to handle, go to the lab. He'll advise you."
Kakashi listened intently, absorbing every word.
"I understand, Teacher Qianyu," he replied, his voice serious.
They arrived at the Defense Force building. Kakashi took a deep, steadying breath and followed Qianyu inside.
Qianyu strode into the main hall. A single snap of his fingers.
A Root ninja materialized, kneeling on one knee.
"Assemble everyone," Qianyu ordered. "Recall all patrols. Now."
"Yes, sir!"
The commotion drew Uchiha Shisui from his office. He frowned at the sight of Qianyu. "What's going on?"
"An announcement," Qianyu said flatly. "The Vice-Captain should stay and listen as well."
Shisui's frown deepened. What was he planning now? His eyes flicked to Kakashi. Was he trying to insert his own disciple into the ranks?
Within ten minutes, the entire Defense Force—all one hundred members—stood assembled in the hall.
Thirty Root ninja and twenty regulars loyal to Qianyu.
Twenty Anbu and thirty regulars loyal to Shisui. He'd wanted to recruit more, but Qianyu had set the pay scale to match Root's generous rates. The Uchiha clan was wealthy, but Shisui's personal funds weren't unlimited. He could only offer standard rates.
Faced with that choice, and already disliking Shisui, many of his recruits had simply left. He'd been forced to recruit fewer people at a slightly higher pay, ending up with thirty, the vast majority of them Genin.
"I will be away from the village for a time," Qianyu's voice cut through the murmur. "During my absence, Hatake Kakashi will serve as Acting Captain, assuming all my duties and authority over the Leaf Village Defense Force. You will all follow his orders as you would mine."
The Root ninja showed no reaction. The other regulars stared at Kakashi in surprise. They knew of him—Qianyu's student, the genius Jonin.
The twenty Anbu members all turned their gaze toward Shisui.
Shisui's first reaction to the news was pure, unadulterated relief.
Finally. Suppressed for so long under Qianyu's thumb, he could finally breathe. He could finally act.
As for Kakashi? In Shisui's eyes, the boy was just a placeholder. A symbolic proxy. The real power vacuum was here, and it was his for the taking.
Why would he oppose this? He'd gladly see Qianyu off.
A slow, calculating smile touched Shisui's lips. Things were looking up.
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