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The office door clicked shut, leaving only two people inside: Qianyu and Shisui Uchiha.
Neither spoke. Qianyu had nothing to say to the young Uchiha, and Shisui, it seemed, had nothing to say to him. The air grew thick, stale, suffocating.
With a deliberate slowness, Qianyu returned to his seat. He sank into the chair, crossed one leg over the other, and let his gaze drift back to Shisui. A faint, cold amusement touched his lips. "The Fourth really went through the trouble, didn't he? Inserting you into the Leaf Village Defense Force to keep an eye on me. Even planted a squad of ANBU in your corner for backup."
Shisui's face hardened. "The Fourth Hokage assigned me here to assist, not to spy. The ANBU are here to support the unit, not me. He placed his trust in me, which is why I am here. To help you manage the department."
Qianyu chuckled, the sound dry and humorless. "Hah. Call it whatever you want. Think whatever helps you sleep at night. I'll give you one piece of advice, Shisui. Don't get in my way. You know what I'm capable of."
Shisui's expression sharpened, his eyes narrowing. "Showing your true colors so soon, Qianyu? I won't let you act recklessly!"
"My true colors? Hardly," Qianyu's tone turned mocking, dismissive. "Everyone knows what this Defense Force is for. As for 'recklessness'—rest easy. I'm a man of rules. If you find me breaking even a single regulation, feel free to run straight to the Fourth. He's your backer now, right? Yours and the whole Uchiha clan's. Let him deal with me."
Shisui's face paled, then flushed with frustration. "Why, Qianyu? Why must you target my clan like this? What happened before… that was our clan's mistake. But in the war… how many Uchiha died because of you? Isn't that enough to satisfy your hatred?"
The last trace of amusement vanished from Qianyu's face. Not a flicker of emotion remained. But the pressure radiating from him swelled, pressing down on the room, making Shisui's muscles tense instinctively.
Qianyu's voice dropped, cold and flat. "You've got it all wrong. 'Because of me'? They died because they were weak. Too weak to survive the enemy. Are you trying to pin their deaths on my head?"
Shisui opened his mouth to protest, but Qianyu didn't give him the chance.
"Actually, go ahead. Blame me. I did it on purpose." Qianyu leaned forward slightly, his eyes boring into Shisui's. "And the ones who gave me the authority? The Third Hokage. Danzō Shimura. The blood of those Uchiha is on their hands, too. So why don't you march over to them right now? Repeat every word you just said to me, to their faces."
He paused, letting the venom settle. "And 'hatred'? Who gave you the right to decide a few dead Uchiha is enough? Let me make myself crystal clear. I won't be satisfied until the entire Uchiha clan is ground beneath my heel. Until there is no chance—none—of you ever getting back up."
Rage flashed in Shisui's eyes. Bright, bloody crimson bloomed in his irises. The complex, spinning pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan activated without conscious thought.
Qianyu didn't move. He simply met Shisui's furious gaze. The air seemed to crackle. Then, identical, terrifying scarlet blossomed in Qianyu's own eyes. His Mangekyō pattern, alien and severe, stared back.
A cruel smirk twisted Qianyu's lips. "What's this? Planning to use Kotoamatsukami? To worm your way into my mind and rewrite my will?" His voice was a taunt. "Go ahead. Try. Maybe that's the only way you can stop me. But know this—if you fail, if that little mind-control trick of yours doesn't stick—your Mangekyō will be mine."
Shisui stiffened. His jaw went slack for a split second, shock momentarily overriding his anger.
How?
He had never told a soul about Kotoamatsukami. The potential of that power… the fear it would inspire, the greed it would attract… it was too dangerous. He'd guarded the secret with his life.
And yet… Qianyu knew. He knew the name. He knew its function.
Worse—a cold shame washed over Shisui. The thought had crossed his mind. For a fleeting, desperate moment, he had considered using it.
Qianyu saw the realization dawn, the horror in Shisui's eyes. His smirk widened. "No? Not brave enough? Then don't you dare look at me with those eyes. To me, that's nothing but a challenge."
Shisui flinched. The crimson light in his eyes died, his Sharingan deactivating. His face was a mask of pale fury and helpless confusion.
Qianyu stood up. The movement was smooth, deliberate. He walked around the desk, stopping directly in front of Shisui's chair. He looked down, a predator surveying cornered prey.
"You can try Kotoamatsukami on me anytime. Test if your ultimate genjutsu works on this mind. But the moment you do, it's a declaration of war. Against me."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "You can't stop me, Shisui Uchiha. Fugaku Uchiha can't stop me. The Fourth Hokage certainly can't stop me."
He held Shisui's gaze for one last, long moment. Then he turned on his heel and walked out of the office, the door shutting softly behind him.
Silence rushed back in. Shisui slumped in the chair, his head bowing. A crushing weight settled on his shoulders, squeezing the air from his lungs.
He had never worked directly with Qianyu before. He had thought, with the Fourth Hokage's backing, he could stand his ground. Create a balance of power within the Defense Force.
Reality was a slap in the face.
From the very first second, he'd been suppressed. Outmaneuvered. Now, he couldn't even lift his head under that man's gaze.
Facing Qianyu… you only understood the true pressure when you stood in front of him. It felt like being stripped bare. Every thought, every intention, laid open and defenseless.
Outside, Qianyu didn't spare the closed office door a second glance. He moved to the main hall and summoned his operatives.
"Assemble."
Thirty black-clad figures materialized from the shadows, kneeling before him in perfect unison.
"Go to every public bulletin board in the village," Qianyu commanded. "Post recruitment notices for the Leaf Village Defense Force. Any shinobi who wishes to join may apply directly at this department. List the standard Root benefits and salary. All successful applicants will receive the same. Make it clear: recruitment is limited. The first intake is for twenty members only."
No confirmation was needed. No questions asked.
Shunshin!
Thirty faint whispers of displaced air. The operatives vanished, scattered across the village to execute the order with lethal efficiency.
As for Shisui Uchiha? Qianyu didn't give him another thought. In his eyes, the boy wasn't even qualified to be an opponent. He lacked the spine, the resolve. He was a leaf in a storm, nothing more.
Qianyu returned to a side room, poured himself a cup of tea, and settled in to wait. The brew was bitter, fragrant. Perfect.
Three hours later, the Root operatives returned, one by one, materializing silently in the hall.
"Lord Qianyu. All bulletin boards have been posted."
Qianyu took a final sip, placed the cup down with a soft click, and stood. "Good. Wait here."
He walked back to the main office. The door swung open without a knock.
Shisui was still there, head bowed in the same chair, lost in thought. His mind was a whirlpool of strategies and dead ends. If this continues… I'll be useless here. A figurehead. How can I stop him if I can't even stand up to him?
The sound of footsteps broke his reverie. He looked up.
"Vice-Captain," Qianyu said, the title a clear insult. "Get your ANBU squad. It's time to assign duties."
Shisui met his gaze, swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth, and gave a stiff nod. He pushed himself up from the chair.
He followed Qianyu out, gathered the waiting ANBU team, and led them to the main hall. They formed a line opposite the silent, impassive ranks of Root, with Qianyu standing between them—a lone figure dividing black from grey. His eyes swept over them all.
"Now," he said, his voice cutting through the tense quiet. "Let's get to work."
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