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Fifteen days passed.
As one of Konoha's top-tier combatants, Qianyu now had near-total autonomy over his assignments. He took missions if he felt like it, and skipped them if he didn't.
For the past two weeks, he'd spent every day with Kushina Uzumaki.
The Leaf Village Defense Force was about to be officially established. Qianyu's plan was simple: secure his position after taking office, train his subordinates on how to deal with the Uchiha clan, and then head to Ryūchi Cave to learn Sage Mode.
So before leaving for the cave, he wanted to spend as much time with Kushina as possible.
His current Witness Points total sat at 86,000.
Purchasing Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode directly from the shop would cost 20,000 points.
Even adding the 50,000 points needed to awaken the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, he could afford it right now.
But Sage Mode could be learned at the cave. Mastering it there would save him 20,000 points.
As for awakening Wood Release… he saw no point.
Without a Sage Body, his Wood Release would be about as potent as Yamato's.
Wood techniques at Yamato's level were… useless but too precious to discard. A disappointment either way.
The reason Hashirama Senju's Wood Release could shake the heavens and split the earth was precisely because of his Sage Body.
For Qianyu, a Sage Body was a distant dream. The price was quintupled—500,000 Witness Points. He couldn't afford that even if he sold himself for parts.
What he was saving for was the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The price tag: 250,000 points.
He had no sibling's eyes to transplant. The shop was his only path to eternity.
He needed to start saving now. The war had forced him to overuse his ocular powers. His vision was already blurring.
His right eye was worse than his left.
He'd used his right eye's Mangekyō ability, 'Unseen Summit,' less frequently. But each use—recording a technique and releasing its full, amplified power—burned through his ocular strength at a terrifying rate. The path to blindness was shorter.
The blurriness didn't affect his daily life yet. But securing the Eternal Mangekyō had to become a priority.
If he waited until his sight failed him in battle, it would be too late.
Qianyu was heading toward the Root headquarters.
A Root agent had just fetched him. Danzō wanted a meeting.
He knew what it was about. The timing was right.
Danzō's first words confirmed it. "The Defense Force headquarters is complete. You assume command tomorrow."
"Come to think of it, Lord Danzō," Qianyu said, "I never asked where the new headquarters is located."
Danzō glanced up at him, a flicker of irritation in his eye. "Directly opposite the Konoha Military Police Force. Qianyu, you've had ample time to rest. Once you take office, I expect you to stop running home every single day."
He was… mildly displeased. Qianyu spending all his time with Kushina, not even knowing where his own department was built.
"Understood, Lord Danzō," Qianyu replied flatly.
Whether Danzō was happy or not meant nothing to him.
He was about to become the captain of the Defense Force. For the foreseeable future, when it came to handling the Uchiha, Danzō would have to rely on him.
Qianyu's goals were simple: pressure the Uchiha, and make money. And not go home? In his dreams.
He'd contacted Yahiko through the ring. Everything was 'proceeding smoothly,' Yahiko said. But a nagging worry tugged at Qianyu's gut.
A feeling that if he didn't make money fast, his organization would crumble.
"Tomorrow, you and Shisui Uchiha will take up your posts simultaneously," Danzō instructed. "Before heading to the headquarters, report here. I've assigned a squad of Root agents to accompany you. Use them to establish your presence. Crush Shisui's momentum from the start. Show everyone who truly holds power in that department."
"Fine. I understand, Lord Danzō."
They discussed a few more details about the next day's proceedings. Then Qianyu left Root.
But he didn't go home. Not yet.
He went to Orochimaru's lab.
He told Orochimaru about his upcoming appointment.
Orochimaru listened, then gave a thin smile. "Excellent. Your influence within Konoha continues to grow."
"You know I don't care about influence here, sensei," Qianyu said with a chuckle. "There's something I haven't told you yet. Let me bring you up to speed."
He explained the Owl Organization.
A spark of intense interest lit in Orochimaru's golden eyes. "Oh? You've already established your own group. Does this mean you're preparing to leave Konoha?"
"Not yet," Qianyu shook his head. "I'm a bit short on funds. Planning to squeeze some money out of the Uchiha first."
Orochimaru let out a soft laugh. "I see. That works. Your members develop power abroad, while you provide financial support from here. You must trust them a great deal."
Qianyu's expression turned slightly odd.
He trusted Yahiko's loyalty, absolutely.
But the others… that trust was harder to come by.
Orochimaru set down the tool in his hand. "I had a thought. If I were ever exposed in Konoha and had to leave, I might establish a hidden village to conduct my research in peace. But since you already have an organization… should that day come, I'll simply join yours."
Qianyu inclined his head. "I would be honored to have you, sensei."
Their alliance was now absolute. They stood on the same side, with no conflicting goals. Qianyu respected Orochimaru deeply.
To him, Orochimaru was a pure scientist. One who happened to view life with a certain… detachment.
And he was still his teacher.
As for Otogakure… even if Orochimaru joined the Owl Organization, he might still establish the Sound Village in the future. An organization and a village weren't mutually exclusive.
"Sensei, I won't disturb your experiments further. I'll take my leave."
Orochimaru nodded. "I will visit the Defense Force headquarters tomorrow as well."
Qianyu smiled. "Then I'll await your arrival, sensei."
He left the lab and started the walk home.
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