He could trust Yahiko… most of the time. He wasn't overly worried about him running off to find Nagato.
Men like Yahiko placed their comrades above all else. Anything involving Nagato or Konan's safety would make him extremely cautious.
But if Yahiko did go to Nagato? Then he'd cease to be an ally. He'd cease to be a comrade.
And if he wasn't a comrade, Qianyu would have to make Nagato experience the agony of losing a dear friend all over again.
Though, Qianyu suspected he wouldn't need to lift a finger. That thing lurking in the shadows—Black Zetsu—wouldn't let Yahiko live anyway.
What that creature needed was a Nagato pushed to extremes. Not a kind one.
Qianyu let out a long breath. He hoped Yahiko would stick to their agreement.
If Yahiko succeeded, the resulting Owl Organization would be a massive asset.
"Hope you won't disappoint me, Yahiko… no. Shindai."
…
A few days later.
Uchiha ninja began trickling into the Land of Waves.
By the seventh day, the full contingent had arrived.
Ninety-eight Uchiha in total. Twenty jonin. Forty-five chunin. Twenty-three genin.
This was the foundation of a major clan. And this was only a portion of their forces. Twenty jonin alone.
As soon as they were all assembled, Qianyu called a meeting.
On the training ground, the Uchiha stood on one side. The other ninja stood apart. The disdain in the Uchiha's eyes was plain as day.
Qianyu stood at the front with Nara Kubota. His gaze swept over the Uchiha ranks like winter frost.
He spotted familiar faces.
Uchiha Fugaku. The three who'd once been under his command: Uchiha Kyōsuke, Keiichi, and Ryūhei. And Uchiha Kazue—the one he'd fought before.
Kyōsuke, Keiichi, and Ryūhei kept their heads bowed low. They couldn't meet his eyes. Even after all this time, the fear remained.
Kazue glared at him with pure hatred.
That old trap Qianyu set, followed by Orochimaru's "special assignments"—always on the front lines, always near death. He'd survived. But the resentment had only festered.
Fugaku watched Qianyu with a complicated expression. The boy he once knew was now someone he had to look up to.
The rest of the Uchiha? They looked right through him.
So he had a reputation. So he'd awakened the Mangekyō. In their eyes, he was still the clan's castoff.
"Listen up," Qianyu's voice cut the air. "From now on, all Uchiha personnel are under my direct command. All jonin—step forward."
Kyōsuke, Keiichi, and Ryūhei moved instantly. They stood at the front.
Fugaku followed, positioning himself beside them.
The other Uchiha jonin shuffled forward slowly, lazily.
Beside Qianyu, Nara Kubota kept his eyes firmly on the dirt. Not my problem. If he guessed right, Qianyu was about to make a point. He wanted no part of it. He disliked the Uchiha too, but as a Nara, he couldn't afford to antagonize them.
Qianyu looked at the slack-jawed jonin and let out a cold laugh. "New orders. Each of you twenty jonin will take two chunin. The remaining genin will be assigned among you. Starting tomorrow, you will engage all Mist ninja operating within the Land of Waves. Hunt them down.
All other personnel will remain here. Defend the camp. No one leaves without my express order."
Silence. Then widening eyes. Everywhere except Kubota, who'd seen this coming.
Fugaku's face paled. "Qianyu! Reconsider. I know the situation here. If it's just our forces against the Mist, we're outmatched!"
Qianyu's reply was ice. "I am the commander here. You follow my orders. My decisions are final. Your only job is to obey. You don't get to question me."
Fugaku stared, brow furrowed. He'd felt uneasy ever since hearing Qianyu was in charge. Now his fears were confirmed. This was retribution.
Kazue couldn't hold back. "This is blatant revenge! The clan disowned you, cast you out, and now you're sending us to our deaths!"
Fugaku's gut twisted. A bad feeling, growing stronger. "Kazue! Silence!"
A cold, mocking smile touched Qianyu's lips. "The clan disowned me? Cast me out?" His gaze shifted to Kazue. "Ask Fugaku. Ask your clan head, Uchiha Masaki. Was it the clan that rejected me, or was it me who rejected the clan? Cast out? I was never one of you. So how could I be cast out?"
His voice dropped, deadly calm. "One question. For all of you. Do you follow my order, or not?"
Kazue's mind was white-hot. "Everyone knows you're the clan's discard! A suicide order? Why should we follow it?!"
"Kazue! Stop!"
Fugaku's urgency spiked. This was heading somewhere terrible.
Qianyu lowered his eyes, looking at the sword at his hip. "Last chance. Do you follow my order? If the answer is yes… kneel. Apologize."
Kubota's eyelid twitched. He's not giving a way out at all. Making an Uchiha kneel? Impossible.
Kazue didn't hear Fugaku anymore. All he heard was kneel.
"You bastard! In your dreams!"
Steel whispered from its sheath.
Lightning erupted.
Qianyu vanished.
He reappeared behind Kazue. His blade was already sheathed.
Kazue's hands flew to his throat. Blood poured between his fingers. He choked, gurgled, then collapsed. He didn't move again.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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