Heat filled the hall of the Special Guerrilla Corps command center in the Hidden Leaf's South District.
Dozens of rough wooden tables had been pushed together, covered with large platters of roasted Sea King meat and drinks.
Eight hundred elite corps soldiers sat on the floor, their lightning-insulating seastone armor gleaming darkly beneath the lights.
Qian Ye sat in a high-backed chair at the head of the hall, toying with a green fruit covered in strange spiral patterns.
Bullet leaned against a nearby pillar, tearing into a roasted beast's leg thicker than a human thigh.
In the center of the hall, Uchiha Yan stood straight before the long table, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turning in his eyes.
"The South District Corps showed its strength in that battle on the front lines."
Qian Ye's voice echoed through the hall.
"Those desk-bound big shots in Konoha fear us, but our brothers shed blood. They deserve the best rewards."
Qian Ye raised a hand, then kicked the heavy black iron chest on the table straight to Uchiha Yan's feet.
The lid flew open on impact, revealing twenty neatly arranged refined seastone short blades and dozens of bottles of active serum shimmering with a ghostly blue light.
These were all military supplies extorted from that old bastard Danzo, along with diluted enhancement fluid extracted in Orochimaru's laboratory.
"Yan, let each of the twenty squad leaders pick a short blade. Distribute the serum according to merit among the clansmen who've awakened their eyes and our brothers from the Hyuga Branch Family."
Qian Ye also tossed him the green devil fruit.
"This is the Zoan Bison Fruit. Eating it will greatly boost physical defense and endurance."
"Pick the most loyal brother with the strongest taijutsu foundation and have him eat it."
Uchiha Yan caught the fruit