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Inside the Leaf Village Defense Force headquarters.
Qianyu and Uchiha Shisui sat in their seats. Standing before them were fifty ninja. Thirty were Root operatives. Twenty were Anbu.
Qianyu spoke, unhurried. "Vice-Captain. It's time to divide them into squads and assign them patrols throughout the village. Any thoughts?"
Uchiha Shisui answered immediately. "Since there are exactly fifty, we should form ten squads. Five members each. They can patrol the Leaf in two shifts. What do you think, Qianyu?"
Qianyu chuckled. "Since we're in the Defense Force, we should use our proper titles, Vice-Captain."
Shisui's brow furrowed slightly. Was he really going to nitpick over something so trivial? "Understood… Captain."
"Your squad formation proposal is excellent, Vice-Captain. I approve."
Shisui looked at Qianyu, surprised. After the emphasis on formality, he'd expected a flat rejection.
In Qianyu's eyes, Shisui was far too green. Suppressed and desperate to prove himself. But scrambling for influence over routine assignments? Pathetic. Though, it made sense.
Vice-Captain of the Defense Force was Shisui's first real leadership role. His goals were clear: be Minato's eyes and aid the soon-to-be-targeted Uchiha clan. Realizing he had no real authority here, he was grasping for any shred of control.
Too late.
If their roles were reversed—if Shisui had announced the new regulations first—Qianyu would have shut him down without hesitation. He wouldn't have cared about Hiruzen's or Minato's opinions. Even if the rules benefited him, he'd reject them first. Establish dominance.
"Five per squad," Qianyu continued. "Let's mix our people. Three of my Root, two of your Anbu, per team. Sound acceptable?"
Shisui nodded. "Agreed. Proceed."
"Listen up," Qianyu announced to the assembled ninja. "From your current positions, form squads. Three Root, two Anbu. That's the pattern. Starting tomorrow, you patrol the Leaf. Any criminal activity you witness, or any behavior you deem likely to become criminal? Arrest them on the spot. One more thing. Aside from the Vice-Captain and myself, no one has the authority to command you. Anyone obstructs your patrol duty? Deal with them. No mercy. Now, form your squads."
Once the fifty ninja had finished grouping, Qianyu turned to Shisui. "Vice-Captain. Should we appoint squad leaders?"
Shisui shook his head. "Unnecessary at this stage. Our numbers are low, and everyone is unfamiliar. Let them work together first. We can decide on leaders later."
He knew. If they appointed leaders now, most—if not all—of the ten squad captains would be Qianyu's Root operatives. Minato's Anbu couldn't compete. Establishing leaders now would mean total suppression, not just for him, but for all his Anbu. He couldn't allow that.
"A fair point, Vice-Captain," Qianyu conceded. "We'll revisit the leader issue later. Anything else to add?"
"Regarding recruitment…" Shisui began.
Qianyu waved a hand. "Already underway on my end. You're free to send your own people to recruit as well."
Shisui's expression darkened. Qianyu had started recruiting without consulting him. Any ninja Qianyu brought in would be loyal to Qianyu. He'd have to recruit his own people, and fast. He couldn't let the Defense Force become Qianyu's personal army. "Understood. I will dispatch recruiters."
Qianyu stood. "Then we're done for today. This is a new operation. Issues will arise. We'll address them as they come. The Leaf Village Defense Force begins its duties tomorrow. Dismissed."
The thirty Root operatives turned and left without a word, a clean, disciplined exit. The Anbu remained, waiting for Shisui's order.
"Dismissed," Shisui said finally. "Assemble on time tomorrow."
Once the Anbu had scattered, Qianyu left the headquarters. He didn't head home. His destination was the Root base.
The thirty Root ninja who had just dispersed were now standing in perfect formation in the main hall. Danzō was there as well.
"Everything went smoothly?" Danzō inquired as Qianyu entered.
"Without issue," Qianyu confirmed. "Uchiha Shisui will remain on the periphery. He poses no real threat."
A cold sneer twisted Danzō's lips. "Minato is still too green. Choosing a mere boy as Vice-Captain to check you? Wishful thinking. Uchiha Fugaku might have barely been qualified."
"Lord Danzō," Qianyu said. "I'll need your assistance next."
"Speak."
"When our patrols are active, have some of your people provoke the Uchiha clansmen. Inflame their tempers. Give us legitimate grounds for arrest. Naturally, it cannot be traced back to us. I imagine a few ordinary villagers muttering insults about the clan would be enough to set them off. Even if they merely argue back, we can arrest them for 'exhibiting criminal intent.'"
"Consider it done," Danzō agreed instantly. "I have plenty of methods to make them lose composure. You just focus on making the arrests. Proceed as you see fit."
The next day.
The Leaf Village Defense Force began its first patrol.
Elsewhere in the village, three Uchiha clansmen were also on a routine patrol.
"Absolutely humiliating," one of them grumbled. "That Defense Force is a blatant move against us. Why did the Clan Head agree to hand over those two key authorities?"
Another sighed in agreement. "Yeah… Clan Head Fugaku just doesn't compare to the late Lord Masaki. He's… too soft."
The third Uchiha held up a hand. "Enough. What's done is done. What can we do about it now?"
As the trio passed by a narrow alleyway, they heard a peculiar sound from within.
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