### **Chapter 19: The Ghost of a Betrayal**

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The sun had barely risen over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting long shadows across the training grounds as Ethan moved through the halls of his hidden lair. The air was thick with the scent of rain, and the distant rumbles of thunder hinted at a storm that was yet to come. But inside, Ethan remained unfazed. His mind was sharp, focused—his plan had to proceed, no matter the cost.

Sasuke's resistance had been expected, but the speed with which he had rejected Ethan's offer stung in ways Ethan had not anticipated. His eyes narrowed as he thought about their last confrontation. Sasuke's strength was undeniable, but it was his pride that would ultimately be his undoing. Ethan had seen it in his eyes—the seed of doubt, the flickering fear that he might have overstepped his own boundaries. The very thing that had made Sasuke so useful to Ethan in the past was now becoming his greatest weakness. 

But that was a problem for later.

For now, Ethan had more pressing matters to deal with. The ghost of Kabuto's betrayal still lingered in his mind, and with every passing day, the threat of the rogue scientist grew larger. Kabuto had disappeared into the shadows after their last encounter, but Ethan could feel his presence creeping ever closer. If he was to maintain control over everything he had built, Ethan had to deal with Kabuto soon.

The door to his chamber opened, and a figure stepped inside, breaking Ethan's train of thought. It was Orochimaru, his presence as unsettling as ever. The legendary rogue ninja, the one whose body Ethan had claimed as his own, had become both a mentor and a constant reminder of Ethan's own thirst for power. But Ethan had long since surpassed Orochimaru's reach. Now, the only thing the former shinobi represented was a reminder of what Ethan could lose if he wasn't careful.

Ethan's gaze flickered over the older man. "What do you want, Orochimaru?"

The older man smiled, a knowing smirk that made Ethan's blood run cold. "I could ask you the same, Ethan. You look... unsettled."

Ethan narrowed his eyes, but kept his voice even. "I'm simply preparing. Preparing for what's to come."

Orochimaru stepped forward, his eyes narrowing with subtle amusement. "And what is it that's coming? You've grown stronger, Ethan, but you've also become reckless. You've begun to chase things that may not be yours to control."

Ethan resisted the urge to snap back. Orochimaru's insight was dangerous, but it also held a kernel of truth. He had spent too much time focusing on Sasuke's rebellion, too much time on Kabuto's defection. The truth was, there were other forces at play, and Ethan had to remind himself to stay vigilant. His grip on power was not as firm as he would like to believe.

"I'll deal with it," Ethan said finally, his voice low. "Both Sasuke and Kabuto. But right now, I need to focus on something else."

Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with interest. "And what would that be?"

Ethan let out a soft, almost amused laugh. "I need to make sure that no one can take what is rightfully mine."

---

It had been hours since Ethan's last conversation with Orochimaru, and now he found himself alone once more, deep within his private chambers. His mind was still unsettled, but a new resolve had begun to take shape. He had to act decisively. His experiments, his research, they all led him to this point. The time had come for Ethan to cement his place in the world, to ensure that no one, not even Sasuke or Kabuto, could stand against him.

The rogue bloodline stirred inside him, a constant reminder of his unnatural strength. Ethan had learned to control it, to channel its power, but now it began to take on a more dangerous form. The bloodline had been dormant for so long, but it seemed to recognize that this moment—this critical moment—had finally arrived.

Ethan stood in front of a large mirror, his reflection staring back at him. He could feel the rogue bloodline's influence growing, could feel the very essence of his being shifting, warping into something greater. But it wasn't just the power—it was the hunger. The need to consume, to control. To take from others, to absorb their essence until there was nothing left.

His fingers twitched, his mind flashing back to Sasuke. The boy had nearly broken free from his grasp, and that, more than anything, had pushed Ethan to the edge. Sasuke's potential had always been something Ethan coveted, but now, with the boy slipping away from his influence, the sense of loss was gnawing at him. He had to take more than just Sasuke's allegiance. He had to take his bloodline, his power.

But how?

---

As if summoned by his thoughts, a low chuckle broke through the silence. Ethan didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Kabuto. The man who had once been a trusted ally, a fellow scientist in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge, was now his greatest threat.

"Still thinking of Sasuke, are we?" Kabuto's voice was smooth, calm, but there was an edge to it that made Ethan's skin prickle.

"You've been spying on me," Ethan said, his voice ice cold.

"I wouldn't call it spying," Kabuto replied, stepping into view. "I'd call it... observing. You've become quite the intriguing specimen, Ethan. Almost like the Orochimaru I used to know, but with a much more... unstable edge."

Ethan turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "You think you understand me, Kabuto? You think you know what I'm capable of?"

Kabuto smirked. "I don't need to know what you're capable of, Ethan. I already know. But I am curious... do you? Do you really understand what you've become?"

Ethan clenched his fists, the bloodline stirring inside him, but he kept his composure. "I understand exactly what I've become. And I know exactly what I'm going to do. You've become a liability, Kabuto. You've made a mistake in thinking you can control me."

Kabuto's smile widened, and for a moment, his eyes gleamed with something darker, something more dangerous than Ethan had ever seen before. "You're wrong, Ethan. I'm not trying to control you. I'm simply offering you a choice."

Ethan's patience was wearing thin. "What choice?"

Kabuto stepped closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "You've already taken the first step, haven't you? You've tasted the power, the hunger. But you still cling to this idea of control. I offer you something greater. A partnership. You take what you want, take what is rightfully yours, and together, we can rule. Not as a master and a subordinate, but as equals."

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "You're trying to manipulate me."

Kabuto chuckled, unfazed. "Perhaps. But what's the harm in exploring the possibility? You can't keep fighting this, Ethan. The rogue bloodline is growing stronger, and you are no longer the one in control. You feel it, don't you?"

Ethan's jaw tightened. He could feel it—the growing pull of the bloodline, the temptation to take everything, to dominate. It whispered to him, urging him to give in. He had spent so long building this empire, shaping his destiny. But Kabuto's words struck a nerve. *The rogue bloodline is growing stronger.* 

Ethan had always feared this moment, the moment when the hunger would become too much, when the bloodline would consume him entirely. But now, standing before Kabuto, he realized something: the bloodline was not his enemy. It was his ally. He simply had to learn to wield it—fully.

---

With a cold smile, Ethan met Kabuto's gaze. "I don't need your partnership. I need power. And you... you've become expendable."

Before Kabuto could react, Ethan summoned the full force of his power. His chakra flared wildly, the rogue bloodline awakening within him like a beast unleashed. Kabuto's eyes widened in surprise, but it was too late. Ethan's chakra surged, binding him, restraining him with ease.

"Goodbye, Kabuto," Ethan whispered. "You were useful once. But now, you're nothing more than a stepping stone."

With a flick of his wrist, Ethan ended the threat Kabuto represented. The moment was swift, but final. Kabuto's body crumpled to the floor, his life snuffed out in an instant.

Ethan stood over him, breathing heavily. The rogue bloodline roared inside him, but for the first time, Ethan embraced it fully. No more hesitation. No more restraint.

He was in control now.