Uchiha Masaki was one of the few in the Uchiha clan who actually had a brain.
Having a brain meant he could see how utterly screwed their situation was.
The day the war ended would be the day Konoha came to collect their debt from the Uchiha.
That was why, years ago, Masaki had already started casting his net wide. He'd even come for Qianyu—a clan outcast. He'd been willing to swallow his pride, to make Fugaku apologize. That alone showed how desperate the Uchiha had become.
And Qianyu was certain: if Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders wanted to deal with the Uchiha, he was the perfect tool for the job. The only man for the job.
Why? Simple. Because Qianyu was the clan's cast-off.
Qianyu's guess: Konoha wouldn't move against the Uchiha after the war.
After the war, the Uchiha's prestige would be at its zenith, forged in battle. Konoha couldn't touch them then.
So the strike would have to come before the war ended. The moment Konoha's own position stabilized just enough, they'd start setting the board.
And if Qianyu played a key role in that purge… Hiruzen would have to weigh his options.
A replaceable Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, versus an irreplaceable man willing to get his hands dirty. It all depended on how Hiruzen did the math.
Qianyu let out a long, slow breath. "So, before then… the name 'Blood-Eyed Asura' needs to echo across the shinobi world. There's a threshold to be met, even for the one who does the dirty work."
Days later, a letter from Jiraiya arrived on Hiruzen's desk.
He read Nara Shinsuke's speculations about Qianyu. His expression darkened.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was Konoha's greatest asset. No mistakes. No errors. Zero tolerance.
Qianyu's actions had crossed a line. A very clear line.
But crossing the line didn't mean punishment. Not yet.
After all, Qianyu had just found an Uzumaki he wanted to use as a replacement. As long as Hiruzen didn't agree, Kushina was irreplaceable.
More importantly, Qianyu was performing brilliantly on the battlefield. The war still needed him.
As for the request to transfer to the Land of Hot Water… Hiruzen had no reason to refuse. The pressure from the Hidden Cloud there was the greatest of all four fronts.
He was drafting the transfer order when another messenger hawk tapped at his window.
Hiruzen took the new scroll. His eyes scanned the contents.
His pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan…" he whispered. "So he's awakened it after all."
He had seen Uchiha Madara fight. The world-shattering power of those eyes was burned into his memory.
His first reaction was pure, unadulterated joy.
Konoha had gained another supreme combatant.
Even better, this Mangekyō wielder didn't bear the Uchiha name. He was the student of his own student, Orochimaru. He was, for all intents and purposes, one of their own.
But the joy was quickly swallowed by a cold, gnawing worry.
A Mangekyō user could control the Nine-Tails.
But it was still a gamble. A huge risk.
Hiruzen thought for a long time. The decision was final. He would not approve a change of Jinchūriki.
Qianyu's value was immense, but not that immense. Not enough to overturn years of planning.
He finished the transfer order. Qianyu and Kakashi were to report to the Land of Hot Water.
Qianyu looked at the transfer order in his hand. A faint smile touched his lips.
Hiruzen had approved the transfer. He'd included some hollow words of encouragement. He had mentioned nothing else.
Which meant he knew about Miyuki Uzumaki. And he'd rejected the proposal.
More importantly, he was choosing to bury it. To act like it never happened.
Just as Qianyu had predicted.
This was the result of Hiruzen's calculus, now that he knew about the Mangekyō.
If the scales were already being weighed… then the situation was already shifting.
Miyuki Uzumaki was already on her way to Konoha, escorted by two Leaf shinobi.
"Lord Jiraiya," Qianyu said with a slight bow. "Kakashi and I will take our leave."
They turned and left the Land of Grass without a backward glance.
After a journey, they arrived at the front lines in the Land of Hot Water.
Orochimaru hadn't changed a bit.
His golden eyes flicked to Kakashi beside Qianyu, and a thin smile stretched his lips. "It seems your progress has been… satisfactory, Qianyu."
Qianyu nodded. "It has. I found the lost Uzumaki clansman in Grass. She's been sent to Konoha."
"And your next move?" Orochimaru inquired, his voice a low hiss.
Qianyu's eyes shifted. The black tomoe spun, melted, reformed into a complex, savage pattern. The Mangekyō Sharingan blazed to life.
"Master Orochimaru," Qianyu said, his voice firm. "My next move… is to make a name for myself. Across the entire shinobi world."
Orochimaru stared at the eyes for a moment. Then his smile widened, genuine this time. "I see… So you've already reached that stage. Then yes, you are more than qualified to carve your name into history."
He leaned back. "From this moment, I assign you no missions. You are free to act. If you wish to build a reputation… you'll need opponents to help you build it."
Qianyu understood. He was to carve that name from the flesh and bone of the Cloud shinobi.
"I understand, Master. Also… please look after Kakashi. The battles I'm heading towards are no place for him."
Orochimaru's gaze slid to the silver-haired boy. "Hmm. I will see to it."
Leaving Orochimaru's tent, they found a small group waiting not far away: Minato Namikaze, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and their other teammate, Takei Katsuhiko.
"Kakashi!" Obito yelled, waving excitedly.
Rin's cheeks flushed a light pink as she looked at him.
Takei bowed respectfully to Qianyu. "Lord Qianyu."
Minato's eyes, however, remained fixed solely on Qianyu.
Qianyu turned to Kakashi. "Listen to Master Orochimaru's arrangements. I'm heading out."
"Yes, Sensei. Please… be careful."
Qianyu chuckled. "Worrying about your teacher now? I'll be fine. Don't slack on your training. I'll be back to check on your progress."
With that, he vanished in a blur of the Body Flicker technique.
Obito ran up to Kakashi. "Hey! Kakashi! I called you! Didn't you hear me?"
Kakashi's expression was icy, his single visible eye dull. "I have nothing to say to you."
He brushed past Obito without another word and walked away.
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