### **Chapter 21: The Price of Power**
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The storm outside had grown fiercer, the dark clouds swirling violently overhead, casting an oppressive shadow over the land. Ethan stood at the edge of his lair, the deafening sound of thunder reverberating through the walls, matching the storm brewing inside him. The rogue bloodline was restless within him, its power pulsating like a beating heart, but with every passing moment, the gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach grew stronger. It was the feeling of something lost, something slipping through his grasp.
Orochimaru's words echoed in his mind, over and over again. *"Nothing lasts."*
Could he truly control the power he had embraced so fully? Or had he already crossed a point of no return? The feeling of the bloodline's influence had shifted from an ally to a haunting presence. It whispered to him in the quietest moments, urging him to take more, to absorb more. It promised strength and mastery, but at what cost? The hunger was growing, and Ethan was beginning to feel it gnawing at his very essence.
He shook his head, as if trying to rid himself of the doubts that clouded his mind. There was no turning back. He had made his choices, and he was going to see them through. The bloodline was his weapon, his gift—he would control it, bend it to his will.
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As Ethan paced through his chamber, deep in thought, a presence appeared at the doorway. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was. Sasuke Uchiha.
The last time they had met, Sasuke had rejected Ethan's offer, defied him openly, and for a moment, Ethan had almost believed that Sasuke might be a worthy adversary. But now, with the Uchiha standing before him, all of that defiance seemed distant, almost irrelevant. Sasuke's posture was tense, his eyes narrowed, but there was a glimmer of something else in them—something more calculating, more cautious than before.
Ethan met his gaze with cool indifference. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, Sasuke. Have you reconsidered my offer?"
Sasuke's lips curled into a bitter smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I didn't come here to beg for your alliance, Ethan. I came to warn you."
Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "Warn me? About what?"
"About the consequences of your actions." Sasuke's voice was low, carrying an edge of quiet fury. "You're playing a dangerous game. You think you can control everything—everyone—but there's always a cost. You don't understand what you've unleashed."
Ethan's expression hardened, but he kept his voice level. "I understand perfectly. I've freed myself from the shackles of weakness. I control my destiny, Sasuke. You should know better than anyone that power is everything."
Sasuke stepped forward, his eyes locking with Ethan's. "Power comes at a price. And it's a price you're not prepared to pay. You've made enemies. You've pushed the wrong people too far. And now, you're vulnerable."
Ethan's lips curled into a smile, but it was tinged with menace. "Is that your way of admitting defeat? Trying to warn me because you're scared?"
Sasuke's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't back down. "I'm not scared, Ethan. I'm trying to stop you before it's too late. Once you've crossed the line, there's no going back."
Ethan's smile faltered for the briefest of moments. *Once you've crossed the line, there's no going back.* The words reverberated in his mind, like a bell tolling in the distance. He had crossed so many lines already. But was there truly no return?
"You think I've crossed a line, Sasuke?" Ethan's voice was dangerously calm now, almost too controlled. "You don't even understand the power I command. I've already surpassed your limits."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Is that what you tell yourself? That you're better than me, that you're above it all? You've become a slave to the very thing you sought to control. The bloodline has a hold on you, Ethan. You're not the one in control anymore."
Ethan's heart skipped a beat. *The bloodline has a hold on you…* Sasuke's words cut deeper than he cared to admit. But there was no time for doubts. He couldn't afford to let them seep in now. He needed to silence Sasuke's accusations, to show him that his own power far outstripped any weakness.
In an instant, Ethan's chakra flared, a wave of dark energy rippling through the room. Sasuke's eyes widened, but he was fast, already preparing for a counterattack. However, Ethan was faster, his movements a blur as he reached out with his enhanced strength and seized Sasuke by the throat, lifting him off the ground with ease.
"You're mistaken, Sasuke," Ethan hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "I am the one in control. I always have been. You're just a fleeting obstacle in my path."
Sasuke struggled, his hands clawing at Ethan's grip, but it was futile. Ethan's power had grown beyond anything Sasuke had ever experienced. The bloodline coursed through his veins like wildfire, amplifying every one of his abilities. He could feel Sasuke's chakra draining, his resistance weakening.
But even as Ethan's grip tightened, the words that Sasuke had spoken continued to echo in his mind. *You're a slave to the bloodline. You're not in control anymore.* He shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. Sasuke's defiance didn't matter. Nothing mattered except power.
Sasuke's body went limp, his consciousness slipping as Ethan slowly lowered him to the ground, releasing him from the chokehold. Sasuke collapsed in a heap, gasping for air, his face pale from the lack of oxygen.
"Don't ever question me again," Ethan said coldly, his voice like ice. He turned his back on the Uchiha, dismissing him as though he were nothing more than a pest. "You've made your choice. Now live with it."
As Ethan walked away, his mind continued to race. Sasuke was right about one thing: the bloodline was becoming more powerful, more dominant. The surge of energy he had just experienced was almost intoxicating, and yet it left a bitter taste in his mouth. There was no question anymore—he was no longer the man he had been. The bloodline had reshaped him, twisted him into something else.
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The days that followed were filled with tension. Sasuke, still alive but humiliated, had disappeared back into the shadows, licking his wounds and no doubt plotting his revenge. But Ethan was far from concerned. He had dealt with the boy's defiance, and he would deal with whatever else came his way. The world would bend to his will.
Yet, even as he continued to build his power, the doubts lingered. The hunger grew stronger. And each time it surged within him, a part of Ethan knew that it was only a matter of time before it consumed him completely.
Orochimaru's words haunted him still. *"Nothing lasts."* The bloodline was not just a tool; it was a curse. And one day, it would demand its price.
But that day was not today.
Today, Ethan's power was absolute. And nothing—not Sasuke, not Kabuto, not even Orochimaru—could take that from him.
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