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The next day.
Qianyu put on his ninja uniform for the first time in weeks.
After saying goodbye to Kushina Uzumaki, he headed for the Root headquarters.
He stepped inside. Thirty Root ninja stood in perfect, silent formation in the main hall.
Each one was utterly expressionless. The pressure they emitted was palpable. These were clearly products of Root's unique 'erase the self' training—no names, no emotions.
Danzō Shimura emerged from a side room. "Qianyu. These thirty are my personal selection. They will follow any order. Use them as you see fit in your new post."
Qianyu nodded. "Understood. I will not fail your expectations, Lord Danzō."
A cold glint flashed in Danzō's eye. "Go. They've grown too comfortable. Time for them to remember hardship."
Qianyu led the thirty Root operatives toward the Leaf Village Defense Force's new compound.
The Uchiha clan was currently… unpopular. But not yet at the point of outright ostracism.
So the Konoha Military Police Force's headquarters, while not in the village's absolute center, was still in a decent, central-ish location. Their exile to the literal outskirts wouldn't happen until after the Nine-Tails incident.
Qianyu's group arrived at the Defense Force's front gates.
The building looked impressive—far more so than the KMPF headquarters across the street.
Two Uchiha guards stood at the KMPF entrance, their eyes burning with resentment as they glared at the new building.
The day after Minato's visit, Fugaku Uchiha had called a full clan meeting at the Naka Shrine. He'd explained the new Defense Force and issued a stern warning: during this sensitive period, no one was to cause trouble. Violators would face the clan's discipline.
Now, a crowd had gathered outside the Defense Force's gates. Everyone was curious about this new department. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Fourth, Minato Namikaze, were already there.
The villagers saw Qianyu approaching with a group of ninja who looked dangerous. They quickly cleared a path.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Qianyu needed no introduction. Everyone in Konoha knew him.
The thirty ninja behind him? They reeked of elite. Deadly elite.
The conclusion was obvious: this new department was Qianyu's. Why else would he bring them?
Qianyu marched his unit straight to the entrance. Besides Hiruzen and Minato, Shisui Uchiha was also present.
Shisui stood behind Minato, with twenty ninja at his back—a squad Minato had pulled from the ANBU to assist him.
"Lord Third. Lord Fourth," Qianyu greeted the two Hokage at the door. "I've arrived."
Minato and Hiruzen's eyes immediately went to the thirty Root ninja. Their brows furrowed in unison.
These were clearly Root elites. Danzō had handed over a significant force to Qianyu.
Their gazes shifted to Shisui and his twenty ANBU. The comparison was stark. The ANBU assigned to him were only of average skill, making his team seem far less formidable.
Then Orochimaru arrived. He offered Hiruzen a casual nod before stopping in front of Qianyu. A cool, thin smile touched his lips. "Good. You look sharp."
Qianyu smiled back. "Do I? Glad to hear it."
Neither Hiruzen nor Minato had expected Orochimaru. They blinked in surprise. Since Minato took office, Orochimaru had buried himself in his lab. Even Hiruzen hadn't seen him in ages.
Recovering, Hiruzen offered a kindly smile. "I didn't expect you to come, Orochimaru. Well then, let's begin, Minato."
Minato nodded, his own warm smile appearing. "Right. Qianyu, Shisui. Stand beside me."
Minato stepped forward, facing the crowd. Qianyu and Shisui took positions to his left and right.
Minato announced, "After deliberation, it has been decided that the duties of the Konoha Military Police Force are too numerous. To alleviate their burden, Konoha will establish a new department: the 'Leaf Village Defense Force.' Its duties are to establish village regulations and arrest ninja with criminal tendencies!
"The Captain of the Defense Force will be Qianyu. The Vice-Captain will be Shisui Uchiha. Their appointment begins today!"
The crowd stared, dumbfounded.
This pairing was… bizarre. Qianyu, who seemed to have a personal vendetta against the Uchiha. And Shisui Uchiha, of the Uchiha clan.
Would Shisui even survive under Qianyu? Would he get sabotaged at every turn? And whose department was this, really? Qianyu's? Or another Uchiha stronghold?
Minato turned to the two. "Say a few words to everyone."
Qianyu 'deferred' politely. "Let Shisui go first."
The onlookers felt like they'd been struck by lightning. This… was this really Qianyu? An imposter?
Even Shisui's eyelid twitched at the offer. But he stepped forward. "Thank you for your trust, Lord Hokage. It is an honor to serve as Vice-Captain. I will not fail your trust, or the trust of the village. I will perform my duties to the best of my ability and dedicate my full strength to Konoha. Thank you."
A sparse, lukewarm smattering of applause followed. Shisui of the Body Flicker was famous, but he was still an Uchiha. And Konoha's villagers had a deep-seated dislike for the clan. If not for Qianyu's involvement, they'd assume this was just another Uchiha private army.
Shisui pressed his lips together. Changing the clan's image in the eyes of the villagers… it was a long, long road.
He finished and stepped back behind Minato.
Qianyu took his place. All traces of his earlier 'politeness' vanished. A cold, severe aura radiated from him. "Starting today," his voice cut through the air, "I am the Captain of the Leaf Village Defense Force. Our duties may not be fully understood. So let me explain them in clear, simple terms!"
Hiruzen and Minato's frowns deepened. Qianyu was being too aggressive. Wouldn't this alienate the villagers?
They needn't have worried. The villagers didn't mind. In fact, they relaxed.
This was the Qianyu they knew. The real one. The vibe was right.
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