If You Don't Give Me Face, I'll Just Call You an Old Man
Danzo suddenly realized that he had always been led by the nose by Chi Yu, and now, for the first time, he began to doubt Chi Yu's loyalty.
Facing Danzo's pointed questioning, Chi Yu stuck out his tongue, revealing the Curse of Hatred Seal.
After showing Danzo the hollow imprint of the seal, Chi Yu said calmly,
"Have I not always been Lord Danzo's subordinate? Everyone in Konoha knows this much. Doesn't Lord Danzo think so?"
Danzo's single eye remained fixed on Chi Yu. The air grew heavy. Chi Yu, however, met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.
Finally, Danzo's expression shifted. He gave a thin, cold smile.
"Of course you are my man. I merely asked in passing. And you are correct… for now, we must let the Uchiha breathe. Striking too early would be unwise. You may go."
Chi Yu nodded slightly.
"Thank you for your understanding, Lord Danzo. Then I'll take my leave."
Turning his back, Chi Yu walked out with measured steps.
The moment the door closed, Danzo's face darkened.
Though Chi Yu had revealed the Curse of Hatred Seal and his answers carried no flaw, Danzo could not shake the feeling that Chi Yu was slipping beyond his control.
The Curse of Hatred Seal was only a measure to prevent Root operatives from leaking secrets—it did not bind a shinobi's will. Chi Yu's composure and tone had not been those of a subordinate, but of an equal.
Danzo's fingers tapped rhythmically on the desk.
Chi Yu was undeniably a sharp blade—perhaps the sharpest in his arsenal. But every blade had two edges, and this one seemed to point directly at him.
---
Outside, Chi Yu's expression carried open disdain.
That Danzo was already suspicious of him was no surprise. But to abase himself before that old schemer now? Absolutely impossible.
If Danzo chose to push him, Chi Yu could simply walk to Minato Namikaze's side. What could Danzo do? Minato would welcome him with open arms—probably leap for joy three times over.
For the moment, Danzo was still of some use. So long as it remained convenient, Chi Yu would not burn the bridge. But if Danzo failed to "know his place," then…
If you give me face, I'll call you Lord Danzo. If you don't, then you're just an old geezer.
Chi Yu was certain that Danzo wasn't foolish enough to break with him now. If Danzo did, he would be crushed between Hiruzen and Minato while his schemes against the Uchiha fell apart.
---
By the time Chi Yu returned home, Kakashi had already left.
After informing Kushina that he intended to bring Kakashi into the Konoha Defense Force the next day, Chi Yu went to Ryūchi Cave to refine his Sage Mode training before returning quickly.
It was a sleepless night.
The next morning, Chi Yu departed feeling refreshed.
He found Kakashi and walked with him toward the Defense Force headquarters, giving instructions on the way.
"The thirty Root operatives loyal to me, and the twenty regular shinobi, will obey your word. Command them as you like. They are resources—don't waste them.
As for Uchiha Shisui, whether you pay him mind or not makes little difference. He's more concerned with appearances than substance. But after I leave, he will almost certainly approach you, hoping to shape the Force's regulations to his advantage. This will be good training for you—handle it however you see fit.
I've also spoken with Lord Orochimaru. If something arises that you truly cannot resolve, you may seek his counsel at the base. He'll lend assistance."
Kakashi listened silently, then replied with uncharacteristic seriousness,
"I understand, Lord Chi Yu."
By then, they had reached the Defense Force hall. Chi Yu snapped his fingers, and a Root shinobi knelt immediately.
"Gather everyone," Chi Yu ordered. "Recall those on patrol as well."
"Yes, sir!"
The stir in the hall drew Uchiha Shisui from his office. His brows knit as he saw Chi Yu.
"What's going on now?"
Chi Yu answered evenly, "I have an announcement. Deputy Captain, you should listen as well."
Shisui frowned deeper. His gaze flicked toward Kakashi—Chi Yu's disciple. Could it be that Chi Yu intended to place him here?
Within ten minutes, the entire Konoha Defense Force had assembled—one hundred shinobi in all.
Thirty Root operatives and twenty regular shinobi under Chi Yu's banner. Twenty Anbu and thirty regular shinobi under Shisui's.
Originally, Shisui had hoped to recruit more, but Chi Yu's benefits rivaled those of Root, while Shisui's personal resources were limited. Many had drifted toward Chi Yu, leaving Shisui to scrape together a smaller force of mostly genin.
When all were gathered, Chi Yu spoke clearly:
"I will be leaving Konoha for a time. From this day, Kakashi will serve as Acting Captain of the Konoha Defense Force. He inherits my full authority. You will follow his commands without question."
The Root operatives bowed without hesitation. The regular shinobi exchanged looks of surprise. Everyone in Konoha knew of Kakashi—the genius of the Hatake clan, Chi Yu's pupil, already a jōnin despite his youth.
The twenty Anbu under Shisui's command turned their eyes to their captain.
Shisui, however, felt a flicker of satisfaction. Suppressed under Chi Yu for too long, he saw this as his chance. Kakashi, in his eyes, was only a stand-in, a figurehead.
If Chi Yu truly left, then the Defense Force would be his to shape.
And so, instead of opposing the move, Shisui gave a thin smile, already planning how to use this to his advantage.
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