~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter! Your votes keep this climbing. Thanks!
To prevent Danzō from causing trouble, Minato Namikaze settled the matter of the Leaf Village Defense Force captain within three days. He pushed Nara Shinsuke into the position and abolished the role of vice-captain entirely.
He didn't make a big announcement. It was presented as a routine personnel change.
As for why Qianyu stepped down, Minato used Qianyu's own explanation: he was too busy taking care of his pregnant wife, Kushina Uzumaki, and had voluntarily resigned.
Seeing the situation was settled and irreversible, Danzō could only recall all thirty of his elite Root ninja from the Defense Force in a fit of frustration.
Minato, however, was thrilled by this move.
If Danzō hadn't recalled them, Minato would have had a hard time dismissing those Root operatives. Their presence would have remained a thorn in his side—a troublesome one. These ninja answered only to Danzō. If Danzō used them to stir up trouble, Minato would have had few options.
But now, Danzō had pulled the thorn out himself. It was like a pillow arriving just as one felt drowsy.
At that moment, Minato was in the Uchiha district, sitting across from Fugaku Uchiha.
"Thank you, Fourth Hokage," Fugaku said sincerely. "This way, my clansmen can finally go outside without fear of being inexplicably arrested."
Minato smiled. "It was mainly because Qianyu broke with Danzō. Otherwise, this opportunity wouldn't have arisen."
Fugaku let out a sigh of relief. "With Qianyu and Danzō split, the Uchiha clan's situation can improve significantly. When those two were together, our living space was constantly being compressed."
Minato offered a reminder. "However, Clan Leader Fugaku, while the Defense Force will no longer arrest Uchiha ninja as before, you must exercise even stricter self-restraint. Only then will some people have nothing to say, and I can begin to work on changing the clan's current circumstances."
Fugaku nodded firmly. "I will enforce strict discipline among my clansmen. I won't cause trouble for you, Fourth Hokage. And I ask for your continued efforts on our behalf."
"As fellow villagers, I will do my best," Minato replied with a gentle nod.
…
Days passed. Konoha was eerily calm.
But it was the quiet before the storm.
A month went by in the blink of an eye.
Kakashi had resumed taking missions and was out on assignment.
Since stepping down, Qianyu spent every day at home caring for Kushina.
Entertainment options in the ninja world were limited, but having a TV was nice. Most of the shows were ninja-themed movies. Qianyu wasn't a fan, but Kushina loved them. She watched with rapt attention.
They were currently watching a film about a romance between ninja. The male and female leads were from two warring villages. Caught between their duty as shinobi and their love for each other, they faced a heartbreaking choice.
The movie was halfway through. Kushina, nestled in Qianyu's arms, was fully absorbed.
Qianyu's previously unfocused gaze suddenly sharpened. "Kushina," he whispered. "Keep watching. I need to step out for a moment. I'll be right back."
Kushina's eyes remained glued to the screen. "Okay. Come back soon."
Qianyu rose from the couch, walked to the door, and created a shadow clone to stand guard. He then took a dozen steps forward before stopping cold. "Out," he commanded, his voice icy.
A face, split black and white, emerged from the wall.
It was Zetsu. He had come for Qianyu.
Before Zetsu could utter a word, Qianyu violently seized him by the hair and dragged him at blinding speed out of the village and into the forest beyond.
Reaching the trees, Qianyu released his grip, brushing stray hairs from his hand. He stared down at Zetsu, killing intent pouring off him in waves. "You have some nerve. Coming near my home. You have a death wish?"
Black Zetsu's mind reeled. His Mayfly Technique allowed him to merge with the earth, traveling at high speed through networks of roots and underground water—completely undetectable. Even the Uzumaki's unique sensory perception couldn't find him.
Yet Qianyu had. It was unbelievable.
SHINK!
A ninja blade pierced Zetsu's chest, pinning him to a tree trunk.
"No answer? Then die."
Lightning crackled across Qianyu's body, surging through the blade. Zetsu convulsed violently under the electric current.
A minute later, Qianyu yanked the blade free. Zetsu slumped to the ground like a ragdoll.
Qianyu sheathed his sword, looking down at the motionless form. "That was just a warning. If you keep lying there playing dead, I'll seal you right now."
Zetsu shot upright instantly, his mismatched eyes wide with shock and a deep, creeping dread. The blade through the chest, the lightning… anyone else would be dead.
But Qianyu called it a warning. Said he'd seal him.
That meant… Qianyu knew. Knew he couldn't be killed, only sealed.
How? This was their first meeting. How could Qianyu possibly know his secret?
Zetsu's brow furrowed deeply, his gaze locked on Qianyu. "What do you know?!"
Qianyu's lips curled into a contemptuous smirk. "You think I'd tell you? Talk. Why are you here? Did Obito Uchiha send you, or is this your own idea? Make it quick."
Zetsu stared. He had initially considered Qianyu a potential nuisance to his plans. Now, he seemed a direct and lethal threat.
"One more thing," Qianyu added casually, his tone turning deadly serious. "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you dare plant one of your spores on me, I will seal you immediately. Then I'll kill Obito Uchiha. And Nagato. You can gamble on whether I'll notice your little spores or not."
Before coming, planting a spore had been part of the plan. Now, Zetsu wouldn't dare. If Qianyu could detect him during the Mayfly Technique, he'd likely spot a spore too.
And Nagato… Qianyu even knew about Nagato.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/GoldenLong
Happy reading, everyone!