Qianyu asked Orochimaru if any clan shinobi were among the reinforcements sent by Konoha this time.
Orochimaru nodded.
Qianyu pressed on. "Did the Uchiha clan send anyone?"
Orochimaru nodded again. "Correct. Five Uchiha chūnin and one jōnin will be dispatched as support."
"I understand," Qianyu replied. "Don't worry, Sensei. Any personal issues with the Uchiha won't interfere with the war."
Orochimaru shook his head. "No. I'm not worried about that. I know you're not the type to let personal feelings cloud your judgment. I intend for you to lead those five chūnin."
That surprised not only Qianyu but Jiraiya as well.
Jiraiya couldn't hold back. "Orochimaru, isn't that too rash? You know how those Uchiha are. They're sending a jōnin for a reason—to lead his own people. Qianyu has good strategic sense and judgment. I agree he can lead a team. But leading five Uchiha chūnin? There's no way they'll listen to him!"
No one ever truly liked the Uchiha clan. Jiraiya was no exception.
Orochimaru looked at him. "Precisely because I know their temperament, I want Qianyu to lead them. I need shinobi who follow my orders, not ones who might disobey and act on their own whims."
Jiraiya frowned. "But can Qianyu handle it? He performed well in Yumegakure, but keeping five proud Uchiha in line… that's a different challenge."
Ignoring Jiraiya, Orochimaru turned to Qianyu. "Well? Will you accept this assignment?"
Qianyu's brow furrowed. He fell silent for a long moment.
Orochimaru didn't rush him. He simply waited.
Jiraiya, however, was certain Qianyu would refuse. He was a logical kid. Accepting this task was like picking up five burning-hot potatoes with your bare hands. Who would do that?
Finally, Qianyu looked up at Orochimaru. "Sensei, I have one question. What are my authorities?"
A faint smile touched Orochimaru's lips. "Regarding those five, you have full authority. However, you must have a justifiable reason for any order you give."
Qianyu smiled back. "Then I accept the assignment, Sensei."
Jiraiya wasn't a fool. The moment Qianyu asked about his authority, he knew exactly what the kid was planning. When Orochimaru granted him 'full authority' and Qianyu accepted, Jiraiya suddenly felt a pang of sympathy for the five Uchiha chūnin who hadn't even arrived yet.
With full authority and a valid reason, Qianyu could order those five to do anything. They weren't hot potatoes anymore. They were punching bags.
Jiraiya gave Qianyu a complicated look. This kid wasn't a kind soul like Minato. Those five Uchiha wouldn't escape without losing a few layers of skin, if they were lucky enough to survive.
Curious, Qianyu asked, "Sensei, aside from the Uchiha, there should be shinobi from other clans coming too, right?"
"Correct," Orochimaru confirmed. "The Hyūga, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans, among others, will send personnel. Normally, clans with Kekkei Genkai or secret techniques are withheld until the war escalates, to prevent their abilities from being captured by the enemy. But Konoha's current situation is dire. They must participate now, or we simply won't have enough manpower on the front lines. With the Hyūga and Yamanaka providing support, a lot of the pressure will be off us. War is an intelligence game. Having the Byakugan and the Yamanaka's secret techniques will make gathering intel on the enemy significantly easier."
Qianyu felt some of the pressure lift.
The situation in the Land of Hot Water had been weighing on him. They'd marched from Konoha with little rest, launched a raid on Yumegakure the day after arrival, and were now pushing the front line tomorrow. No break. Once reinforcements arrived, they could finally catch their breath.
After bidding farewell to Orochimaru and Jiraiya, Qianyu headed to eat. His stomach was practically screaming.
With no dedicated supply corps left—they'd all been lost in previous skirmishes—a few shinobi who could cook took turns preparing meals.
The shinobi serving food, Tanaka Kazuyoshi, trembled the moment he saw Qianyu.
Qianyu eyed him strangely. Was shaking the ladle some universal chef's habit? Or did this guy have a problem with him?
To be fair, he couldn't blame Tanaka for shaking.
In Tanaka Kazuyoshi's eyes, Qianyu was a ruthless, cold-blooded monster. So young, yet so vicious.
During the Yumegakure raid, Daigo had been blasted by a Cloud ninja's explosive tag. He should have been the one caught in that blast. Daigo had pushed him out of the way. Daigo was the one who landed at Qianyu's feet. And Qianyu was the one who handed Daigo more tags to charge the Cloud ninja and die with them.
If not for Daigo, he would have been the one making that final charge.
So seeing Qianyu again? Of course his hands shook.
Qianyu couldn't be bothered to explain. He simply took the ladle from Tanaka's trembling hands and served himself.
Qianyu devoured a heaping portion and left. Only then did Tanaka Kazuyoshi let out a heavy sigh of relief.
He thought of Daigo, who'd been blown up twice to save him. A sigh escaped him. "Don't worry, Daigo. If I survive this war… I'll take good care of your wife and kid."
…
With a full stomach, Qianyu sought a quiet place to train.
His battle against Kuroiwa Tatsuaki had yielded valuable experience, especially with the Seventh Form: Honoikazuchi no Kami. He needed to consolidate his gains.
He found a relatively flat clearing in the woods. Just as he was about to begin, a rustling sound caught his attention.
A figure darted through the trees nearby—also training.
Qianyu focused. It was Minato Namikaze.
Minato suddenly stopped on a thick branch. He'd spotted Qianyu too.
Their eyes met.