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"Yes! Since the village treats us unjustly, don't blame us for retaliating! I propose we teach those Anbu ninjas watching us a lesson. Any of you willing to join me?" the Uchiha teenager declared with righteous indignation, looking at the others with anticipation.

However, the Uchiha youths who were previously filled with resentment fell silent. They exchanged glances, then lowered their heads and continued drinking, offering no response. It was as if the indignant group from moments ago had never existed.

"You...you?!" The Uchiha boy flushed with anger, his eyes filled with grief and indignation.

"Hey! Kai, it's not that we lack the courage to join you, but you know that the Hokage lineage and the new faction practically rule Konoha. With our clan's strength, how can we compete with them? Just endure it. We've been doing so for years," one of the youths explained.

"Yeah, the Uchiha clan is no longer in the era of Madara. We...alas!"

"We also want to join you in causing trouble and show Konoha that the Uchiha are not to be trifled with. But the consequences are beyond what we can bear!"

The Uchiha youths appeared embarrassed as they sighed and explained to the boy. It wasn't that they lacked courage, but the current Hokage lineage and the new faction were too powerful.

The Konoha Sannin, the newly emerged top powerhouses in the ninja world, along with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Zashi, and Koharu Utatane, were enough to make the Uchiha clan suffer. Not to mention, Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, was now a renowned ninja.

In the original story, it was only because Konoha had suffered heavy losses in the Third Shinobi World War and then lost two powerful figures, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, in the Nine-Tails attack, that the Uchiha clan dared to rebel.

As for the current Uchiha clan, to put it bluntly, their ability to behave obediently was a blessing. The only reason they hadn't been wiped out was the deep-rooted contradictions between Konoha's various factions, creating a strange balance of power.

Listening to his clansmen's words, the Uchiha boy's expression contorted. He could only sigh helplessly.

His name was Uchiha Kai, a genius comparable to Fugaku Uchiha and a strong contender for the next generation of clan leaders. However, unlike Fugaku's faction, he belonged to the radical faction.

The Uchiha clan was broadly divided into two factions: moderates and radicals. The moderates, with Fugaku as their representative, advocated for easing tensions with the village and integrating into Konoha.

The radicals, on the other hand, advocated for seizing power in Konoha by force and restoring the Uchiha clan's glory and status. Currently, the radicals were far less influential than the moderates. After all, anyone with common sense could see that the radicals' actions were akin to playing with fire.

"Alright, let's drink first. I'm going out to clear my head."

Uchiha Kai, feeling disheartened, left the tavern alone, leaving behind the other Uchiha youths who exchanged glances.

Kai walked aimlessly through the streets, his heart filled with frustration. He was unhappy but faced with the immense power gap, he had to bow his head.

"Hello, you are the young genius of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Kai! Are you interested in having a chat?"

Suddenly, an ordinary-looking young man approached Kai and spoke kindly.

"Who are you?" Kai asked, instinctively wary of the stranger.

"Don't worry, I have no ill intentions. I'm here on behalf of an elder. You can call me Tanaka," the man explained with a smile.

"An elder? Who?" Kai frowned.

A proud smile appeared on Tanaka's face as he whispered, "Master Zashi!"

Upon hearing this name, Kai's pupils contracted and his entire body trembled.

Uchiha Kai, being a member of the Uchiha clan, was certainly familiar with Zashi, a leader of the new faction and one of the most influential figures in Konoha.

"Now, shall we have that chat?" Tanaka chuckled softly.

Uchiha Kai pondered for a moment, then accompanied Tanaka to a restaurant and requested a private room.

"You claim to be sent by Lord Zashi. What proof do you have?" Kai asked, still skeptical. He couldn't fathom why a powerful Anbu captain would seek him out alone.

"When you read this, you will naturally believe my identity and understand the purpose of my visit," Tanaka smiled faintly, retrieving a document from his pocket and handing it to Kai.

Kai observed Tanaka closely, then carefully examined the document to ensure it was genuine. After confirming it was safe, he opened it.

"This is?!"

Upon seeing the document's contents, Kai's expression changed dramatically. The document contained Anbu surveillance information on the Uchiha clan compound, with details about Minato Namikaze and Aizen particularly highlighted.

Kai's expression shifted again.

After a long silence, Kai looked at Tanaka and said in a low voice, "So, you want me to be your pawn to target these Hokage loyalists." He was quick-witted and had quickly pieced together Zashi's plan.

"Not a pawn, but an opportunity. We will turn a blind eye to this matter. The Hokage lineage isn't foolish, they will only blame us and it won't implicate you at all, correct? The decision to act or not is yours. It's your chance to vent your frustration. You should know that the one who initially issued the surveillance order was the current Hokage himself!" Tanaka's words were filled with temptation.

Kai's expression twisted in conflict, his eyes filled with a fierce glint. He wouldn't fully believe Tanaka's words, but the years of persecution the Uchiha clan had endured under the Hokage lineage, the feeling of being treated like prisoners, weighed heavily on him. Now, with the backing of the new faction, he finally had a chance to retaliate.

"Alright, I'll do it!" Kai replied with venom in his voice.