Chapter 57.4- One Thousand Eyes

Just what I wanted, as far as I was concerned. Because when we won this, there would be no doubt who the biggest, baddest, scariest kid on the block was, and then we’d see how they reacted and act accordingly— te silk glove or the iron fist. It would all be up to them.

—

“I overruled your decision” I told Uzume, staring her right in the eyes. I knew I was going to be faced with anger, raw fury. The kind of fury that meant that I had assigned the duty of informing her to three different secretaries only for the task to find itself on my desk again and again. I could have forced the issue but a good leader knew when to push and when to pull back/ Informing Uzume that her will had been discarded and she would be forced to do something she did not want to do was the kind of thing that would quite understandably frighten many off. Especially gather the reputation she had been getting in the past few weeks

“What?”

“You failed your team. I passed them. I’ll expect you to report to training ground 41 every day from 0600, and train them either until they are physically incapable of training any further or until 2100 hours, which ever comes first” I ordered. Because that was what it was. I did not bother dressing it up as less than what it was in truth. It was an order and one with a very clear loophole. Something that Uzume would have no problem recognising. Her narrowed eyes said she’d already figured it out even.

“And if I don’t?” She asked, and this time the crowd that was around us did jot even bother pretending to not be listening in anymore. There was a hush in the Jonin filled bar that I’d found Uzume in. It was probably a question that a lot of them had on their minds in he weeks since I’d taken power. I’d done no shortage of unpopular things since taking the top spot— withdrawing from all fronts, forcing a moratorium on missions, and then there was my latest stunt to their eyes— forcing each of them to take on a genin team.

“I’ll kick your ass and then make you” I said with barred teeth. I knew when Uzume was spoiling for a fight. I could smell it from the bar’s entrance the second I’d stepped inside.

“Big words” She said and then put her Han d in her kunai pouch. I felt my eyebrow lift against my will.

“Really?”

“Scared to back up your words, big man?” She aske with a smirk as she dropped the kunai blade first right next to my foot.

“Terms?” I asked tersely.

“Dismemberment or death” She said, teeth sharp. I was about to say yes before someone appeared between us.

“As someone actually down a limb, I’ll intervene here” Uraume said, staring down the both of us with a look in her eyes that said— ‘really guys?’

“First blood, unconsciousness or surrender. No killing blows” She said, laying down the law and glaring at the both of us until we nodded.

“Good. Dawn tomorrow” She concluded, looking up from us and into the crowd.