Izuna's Obsession

Uchiha Tajima stood with his back to Qin Mo. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Mo, what do you think of the direction this war is taking?"

Qin Mo's gaze was calm. "The Senju Clan's surprise attack failed this time, so they won't attack rashly in the short term, but they'll definitely look for a new opening." Tajima turned around. "Then where do you think... they'll strike?"

"The clan grounds." Qin Mo answered without hesitation. "Although their sneak attack failed this time, next time, they may choose a more covert method—such as turning people inside our ranks."

Tajima's expression turned extremely grim. "Are you saying... there are traitors in our clan?"

Qin Mo shook his head slightly. "Not traitors, but 'pieces.'"

"The Senju Clan excels at intelligence warfare. They'll definitely use certain people who are dissatisfied with the Uchiha for brainwashing, thereby weakening our strength."

Candlelight... flickered in Uchiha Tajima's sharp eyes.

"The Kaguya Clan and the Snow Clan..." Tajima slowly said. "They have indeed been far too quiet lately."

Qin Mo nodded slightly. "The Kaguya Clan lives for battle, while the Snow Clan has always been cautious. The attitudes of these two clans will very likely decide what happens next."

Tajima narrowed his eyes. "Then who among them do you think will betray us first?"

A cold smile tugged at the corner of Qin Mo's mouth. "The Kaguya Clan."

"Oh?" Tajima raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because they're stupid," Qin Mo said coldly.

"Their Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai is indeed very strong, but its only weakness is that their bodies can't withstand the backlash brought by that power."

"So the stronger the Kaguya Clan's kekkei genkai is, the shorter their lifespan becomes."

"If at this time, the Senju Clan promises to have the Uzumaki Clan help delay their symptoms..."

"Then the Kaguya Clan will absolutely choose to sell out us Uchiha."

Tajima stared at Qin Mo, then suddenly changed the subject. "Then what do you think of the Snow Clan?"

Qin Mo's gaze flickered slightly. "The Snow Clan... is more dangerous than the Kaguya."

"Why?"

"Because they're smart enough," Qin Mo said slowly. "If they betray us, they definitely won't do it openly like the Kaguya."

"Instead, they'll stab us in the back at the most critical moment."

Tajima's gaze turned deep. "So, what do you think we should do?"

Qin Mo raised his head. The three-tomoe Sharingan glowed with an eerie light under the candlelight.

"Strike first."

"Before the Kaguya Clan is incited by the Senju, we take the initiative and use thunderous methods to intimidate them."

"As for the Snow Clan..." Qin Mo paused. "We can give them some appropriate 'sweeteners' and make them stay neutral for the time being."

Tajima was silent for a moment, then said coldly, "It seems we need to make some preparations in advance."

Qin Mo said mildly, "Father is wise."

Tajima suddenly changed the subject. "Did Madara awaken the Sharingan?"

Qin Mo nodded.

Tajima's gaze was deep. "You helped him awaken it?"

Qin Mo did not deny it. "Yes!"

"What did you make him see?" Tajima stared at Qin Mo and asked.

"The scene from when Mother was killed by the Senju back then." Qin Mo's voice did not ripple at all. "Only by personally experiencing the truest pain can the power of the Sharingan be awakened."

Tajima's pupils shrank slightly, then quickly returned to calm.

He slowly walked up to Qin Mo and reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Mo, your talent far surpasses Madara's."

Qin Mo lifted his eyes and met Tajima's gaze.

"But you must remember, no matter how strong your power is, the future of the Uchiha Clan must ultimately be led by Madara," Uchiha Tajima said in a deep voice.

Qin Mo gave a soft laugh. "Father is worried I'll threaten Big Brother's position?"

Tajima did not answer directly and continued, "Madara is the eldest son and the future clan head."

"And you... can become the one who assists him, becoming his right and left hands together with Izuna."

After a moment of silence, Qin Mo bowed slightly. "Father is overthinking it. I have no interest in the position of clan head."

"My goal has never been to control the Uchiha, but to make the Uchiha Clan stand at the peak of the ninja world."

"And Big Brother is indeed the most suitable person to lead the Uchiha Clan."

A trace of surprise flashed through Tajima's eyes, then he revealed a gratified expression. "I'm very relieved that you can think this way."

"However..." Qin Mo changed the subject. "If one day Big Brother Madara strays from the right path, I will correct him without hesitation."

Tajima frowned slightly. "What do you mean by that?"

"Nothing." Qin Mo turned and walked toward the door, his long black hair drawing an elegant arc in the candlelight. "I only hope Father remembers that everything I do is for the Uchiha."

Tajima watched his son's departing back with a complicated expression. He vaguely felt that this second son contained power and ambition even more unfathomable than Madara's.

Qin Mo murmured to himself, "The position of clan head? Heh... what I want is to rule the entire ninja world and become the unprecedented lord of the ninja world!"

From the distance, the sounds of Uchiha Madara instructing Izuna in training came from the training grounds from time to time.

Qin Mo withdrew the sharpness in his eyes and returned once more to that gentle, refined third young master of the Uchiha, slowly walking toward them.

"Big Brother, Second Brother!"

Madara and Izuna nodded slightly.

"What did Father say to you?" Madara asked calmly.

Qin Mo smiled slightly. "Nothing much. We just discussed the next strategic deployment."

Madara frowned slightly, clearly not believing him, but he did not continue asking.

Izuna put down the kunai in his hand, his childish face filled with anticipation. "Mo, you helped Big Brother awaken the Sharingan... then do you have a way to help me too?"

Qin Mo looked at this second brother, who was only ten years old, and a trace of complexity flashed through his eyes. "Does Second Brother truly want to awaken the Sharingan?"

"Of course!" Izuna clenched his fists. "I want to contribute to the clan too, and protect everyone!"

Madara frowned from the side. "Izuna, the Sharingan isn't child's play. It requires true..."

"Pain," Qin Mo softly supplied, the three tomoe slowly revolving in his eyes. "The most bone-deep, unforgettable pain."

Izuna's little face went somewhat pale, but he still nodded firmly. "I'm not afraid!"

Qin Mo put away his smile and said seriously, "Even if failure in the end causes a mental collapse and turns you into an idiot, or even costs you your life, you... still want to try?"

Izuna nodded without hesitation. "I want to become stronger!"

Qin Mo's deep black eyes gazed at Izuna, and the three-tomoe Sharingan slowly revolved. "In that case..."

His voice suddenly became ethereal and unreal as his hands formed a complex seal. "Genjutsu: True Rewind!"

Izuna's pupils suddenly contracted, and the scenery around him instantly twisted and changed.

He found himself back on that bloody night six years ago.

"No! Mother!" The young Izuna watched helplessly as the Senju Clan's ninja stabbed a kunai into his mother's chest.

Blood sprayed onto his face, the warm sensation so real.