The Power of Bloodlines

The grass and trees rustled, a gentle breeze swept through the young boy's hair, and the rustling forest seemed to sigh—the bloodline power of the Uchiha Clan, one of the oldest clans in the Shinobi World, began to gather and surge in the eyes of the young boy before Kato Osamu.

Bloodshot eyes, alluring yet dangerous.

"So that's how it is..."

Feeling the Yin Release power within Itachi Uchiha reach its peak in an instant, like a sharp pulse breaking through invisible barriers, a unique and rich bloodline aura flashed by, and a Tomoe slowly solidified.

As if suddenly understanding something, Kato Osamu's eyes lit up. The moment Itachi Uchiha activated his Sharingan, he sensed the change in the Sharingan through the fluctuations coming from Itachi's mind.

It was as if a ninja apprentice who had worked hard for many years, accumulating rich knowledge and experience, but still could not enter the inner sanctum, had suddenly had the door to a new world opened. The process of an Uchiha Clan member giving birth to the Sharingan from scratch caused countless experimental data and phenomena in Kato Osamu's mind to collide continuously.

His eyes grew brighter as he looked at Itachi Uchiha.

"It seems that Itachi's talent in the Sharingan is even more outstanding than his talent in ninjutsu..."

As she slowly emerged from the woods, Kato Osamu looked at the three boys and girls standing there in a daze. She snapped out of her reverie, narrowed her eyes slightly, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it actually awakened the power of the Sharingan Itachi Uchiha. Moreover, Kato Osamu could sense that the fleeting bloodline aura on Itachi Uchiha was something he had never observed before, but it was definitely the key to completely solving his doubts.

"Bloodline... heredity..."

"The Kekkei Genkai..."

"It seems we might need some more material..."

"Smack!"

"Wake up!"

With a light snap of his fingers, Itachi Uchiha instantly broke free from the illusion. His gaze swept over his two teammates, who were still dazed but unharmed. The moment he saw Kato Osamu, he let out a long sigh of relief, and his Sharingan slowly closed.

After mastering the power of Yin–Yang Release, his genjutsu had reached a level of realism that was indistinguishable from the real thing. Even though Itachi Uchiha was exceptionally talented, he was still a novice at this stage, so how could he possibly detect it immediately?

"Haven't seen you for a long time..."

"Teacher Xu's illusion magic is becoming increasingly sophisticated..."

Although awakening the Sharingan greatly enhanced the strength of the Uchiha Clan, Kato Osamu still detected a hint of resentment in Itachi Uchiha's tone.

"It seems you two get along quite well..."

Upon hearing Kato Osamu's words, Itachi Uchiha glanced briefly at Uzuki Yugao and Iruka, who were still in the illusion. He neither admitted nor refuted, but instead looked at Kato Osamu, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

"Perhaps you want to say something..."

"You should understand that if there's anything you want to say, now is the best opportunity..."

Kato Osamu's voice made Itachi Uchiha suddenly understand something. His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but ask, "Osamu-sensei, you seem to know what I'm going to say?"

Isn't this moment, where only the two of them are conscious, something deliberately created by the man standing before them?

"So, you want to talk to me, an outsider of Konoha, about the Uchiha Clan's situation? The eldest son of the Uchiha Clan?"

He chuckled softly, his gaze fixed intently on Itachi Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha seemed to be pondering something, or perhaps he had figured something out. His gaze suddenly turned straight to Kato Osamu, and after a long silence, he spoke solemnly.

"Teacher Xu, what do you think...?"

"How should villages and families coexist?"

Seemingly for the first time, Uchiha Clan's eyes revealed a complex mix of emotions: hope, hesitation, worry, and anticipation.

"Haha, so this is the question you've been pondering?"

Kato Osamu chuckled twice, then fell silent, taking another look at the eldest son of the Uchiha Clan Head. If he didn't die young, this boy would most likely become the next Uchiha Clan head.

"Has it gotten to this point?"

"It seems there's already a great deal of dissatisfaction with the Third Hokage within the Uchiha Clan, to the point that even a slightly sensitive child like Itachi could sense this atmosphere."

"The Uchiha Clan..."

Thinking of the Uchiha Clan inevitably brought to mind the Kato Osamu Madara Uchiha, who lurked in the shadows of the Shinobi World. Did he never consider the Uchiha Clan -being even for a moment?

If Madara Uchiha is included, the Uchiha Clan, which Kato Osamu originally thought had extremely slim chances of winning, suddenly became more unpredictable.

Is the Uchiha Clan preparing for a military coup?

Kato Osamu's soft voice drifted over, as if she had never considered such a thing before. Itachi Uchiha's eyes widened instantly, his face showing a hint of shock.

Konoha has been established for nearly 50 years. Despite constant wars and the presence of some rogue ninja, there has never been a large-scale rebellion.

For over thirty years, the Third Hiruzen Sarutobi, ruled with the Will of Fire. Loyalty to Konoha was deeply ingrained in the hearts of every ninja. Ordinary ninjas would never have such thoughts, and even if they did, they would know how powerful a powerful interest group they were facing.

"No, the family would never do that, absolutely not!"

"Hahaha..."

"Force will always be the last resort for the government. Although it will not be used lightly, when it must be used, it should be with thunderous force to sweep away all obstacles."

"Itachi, you are still too young..."

He paused, a chilling look that Itachi Uchiha couldn't ignore appeared on Kato Osamu's face, his icy gaze fixed on him.

"You ask me how the clan and the village coexist? I'll tell you, if I were the Hokage, the Uchiha Clan would never exist!"

"What?!!"

Itachi Uchiha secretly regarded Kato Osamu as a true teacher, hoping to gain some help or hope from him.

A storm raged within his small chest in an instant. His eyes were filled with disbelief and horror. His thoughts trembled, his blood surged, his fists clenched involuntarily, and his face flushed red.

"Why...?"

"In the very act of considering this question, you have already placed your clan and Konoha in opposition, haven't you?"

"As the leader of a military organization, the Third is too weak. Perhaps his subordinates have various other problems, which can be tolerated, but they must never have any rebellious thoughts."

"If I were the Hokage, all the major clans of Konoha would cease to exist. These clans were far too dangerous, especially a powerful clan like the Uchiha Clan..."

There's only one thing I'll do...

All the clans were broken up and integrated into the common people, with smaller clans replacing the larger ones.

This may be difficult, but a competent politician has plenty of methods...

The Bloodstained Secret Technique will then spread throughout Konoha, and commoners will gradually become a force to be Konoha with, eventually replacing the dominant position of the major clans.

"When the small family replaced the extended family, it completely lost the ability to resist. Even if there were some dissenting voices, they couldn't possibly make a ripple..."

"Only in this way can Konoha obtain a stable political environment, and only then can the leader of such a military group unleash the full power of this 'weapon'."

Itachi Uchiha's throat bobbed, as if he had heard something unbelievable, and he looked at Kato Osamu with a hint of fear.

"Teacher Xu, what are your thoughts? What are your thoughts...?"

Itachi Uchiha had to admit that if such a thing were to actually happen, Konoha might be temporarily weakened by the loss of its major clans, but it would definitely become stronger and surpass any previous era.

However, as a member of the Uchiha Clan in Konoha, Itachi Uchiha couldn't help but look at Kato Osamu with a hint of fear, and even felt a sense of relief that 'thankfully he will never become Hokage '.

Does Konoha have the capability to do this?

Perhaps not now, but those in power naturally have more options than their families. They only need to proceed slowly, and with a strong leader, there is nothing they cannot do.

In today's Shinobi World, there are no longer any figures like Hashirama Senju hold off an entire nation. No one can withstand a purely violent organization through sheer willpower.

If there is such a person, the now frail and elderly Madara Uchiha can only be considered half of one. After all, if he truly possessed such strength, he wouldn't need to hide in the shadows.

"Your idea is too dangerous! You will become the enemy of all the clans in Konoha. If your idea is exposed, you will be torn to pieces and left with no trace!"

Kato Osamu glanced at Itachi, his gaze softening slightly.

"Haha, you're right. There are aristocratic families that have lasted for a thousand years, but no dynasties that have lasted for a thousand years..."

Therefore, I cannot become Hokage, and I will never become Hokage...

"However, a person's behavior is mostly related to their position. But if I were the Uchiha Clan Head, I would try to support a puppet Hokage. If there is hope, I would unite with the major clans to force the Third to step down."

"Power is a pyramid, seemingly descending from top to bottom, but actually ascending from bottom to top. When everyone opposes it, the so-called ruler is nothing but a chicken and a dog, a lonely figure."

"If things are hopeless, then make a decisive move and rebel by force. If successful, one will reach the pinnacle of power; if unsuccessful, one will flee far away and seek a comeback."

"Those who undertake great things must avoid being indecisive and wavering between two sides. When one person holds absolute power, success will last for generations, but failure will make one a sinner for all time."

After a pause, Kato Osamu glanced at the motionless Itachi Uchiha and chuckled.

"The current Uchiha Clan is far from possessing such ambition."

"If the Uchiha Clan wants to become independent, it must first eliminate internal dissidents. But even if you are the son of the clan head, if a child like you can know the clan's secrets, then your Uchiha Clan is probably already riddled with holes and is as transparent as a shadow in front of the Third."

"How could this be...?"

Kato Osamu glanced at Itachi Uchiha, whose face was pale but who was still trying his best to process the possibilities, and chuckled softly, his voice growing even deeper.

"Time is running out for the Uchiha Clan..."

It could be the day the Third steps down, but at the latest, it won't be later than the time the Third passes away.

If the Uchiha Clan continues as it is now, it's like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

In order to leave a better political environment for their successor, the Uchiha Clan will inevitably face annihilation...

"They will either become domesticated pigs and sheep, or be completely erased from the history of the Shinobi World..."

"Perhaps, the best-case scenario won't be better than that of your former mortal enemies, the Senju Clan..."

Kato Osamu's voice abruptly stopped, and Itachi Uchiha remained silent for a long time.

"Xu... Teacher..."

Perhaps it was alarmist talk, or perhaps it was disbelief, but Itachi Uchiha's face turned deathly pale. Kato Osamu's words struck him like a heavy hammer.

He had heard differing opinions within the clan and had pondered the relationship between his family and the village, but he never imagined it would be this serious, never...

No matter how intelligent a child may be, their life experience is too immature to comprehend the cruelty of political infighting...

Kato Osamu chuckled, looking at Itachi Uchiha with interest, his tone tinged with a hint of teasing.

"It's a pity the Second died so young, otherwise you wouldn't have this problem..."

"After all, if you had more time, you might be called something strange like 'Mountain Weasel' or 'Tree Weasel' now..."

Kato Osamu's voice made the already speechless Itachi Uchiha even more silent...