Bloodline theory was the true backbone of this world.
Kekkei genkai were, without question, the pinnacle of power in the shinobi world.
When Hanzo had mentioned Kusagakure earlier, this realization had resurfaced in his mind.
Grass Village still possessed a living Uzumaki "blood reservoir."
That woman alone had propped up more than half of the village's medical system.
And Kusagakure also held the Box of Ultimate Bliss—a relic so troublesome that even Hanzo found it difficult to deal with.
Shinobi with bloodlines possessed a natural advantage over ordinary ninja, whether in chakra reserves or combat ability.
Only now did Hanzo recall something else.
Amegakure also had an Uzumaki—Nagato.
He had no idea where the boy was at the moment, but if things followed the original course of history…
Nagato should currently be studying under Jiraiya.
Jiraiya had been captured by him once before.
Would that change anything?
After some thought, Hanzo decided to send people to investigate later.
—
"The Blood Hunt Plan? Kekkei Genkai?"
Yakushi Nono asked cautiously,
"You intend to hunt down bloodline users?"
"More or less. Compared to ordinary ninja, bloodline shinobi have an overwhelming advantage."
Hanzo continued:
"If you think carefully about it, almost every First and Second Kage of the major villages came from kekkei genkai or secret-technique clans."
"Even now, the so-called geniuses on the battlefield are mostly bloodline users."
"Without countermeasures, we'll be at a severe disadvantage in future wars."
"But wouldn't stealing bloodlines from other villages be dangerous?" Nono asked.
...
"There's no need to worry. It's wartime. Losing one or two bloodline users won't attract much attention."
"Do you know Magnet Style? Sunagakure's trademark. I heard recently that Kumogakure abducted a Magnet Style child from Suna—someone named Toroi."
"Others are already making moves. We can't just stand by."
"Besides, didn't we already obtain the Byakugan from Konoha?"
Nono: "…True. You really were impressive back then—hiding someone right under the Third Hokage's nose."
"I heard that Hyūga ninja refused to cooperate entirely, so you had to control him with genjutsu."
"Apparently, he's about to become the father of six children."
...
"Hmm."
"Treat the children and their mothers well. Make them accept Amegakure."
Hanzo paused, suddenly recalling something.
"That Hyūga ninja is still alive, right?"
Nono nodded.
"Good. I just had a bold idea. I need to see him personally."
"…Is there anything left of value on him?"
Nono looked confused. "There shouldn't be, right?"
"Who says there isn't?"
Hanzo grinned.
"The Caged Bird Seal."
"You don't mean—!"
"Exactly. A curse mark that binds both body and soul is something I've never studied before."
"There are only a handful like it in the entire shinobi world. With a living specimen right in front of us, how could we let that opportunity pass?"
Hanzo knew that the shinobi world had two truly broken systems:
The first was the Six Paths' Yin–Yang Release.
The second was Fūinjutsu.
The first could only be used by two people in the entire world—the reincarnations of Hagoromo's sons—and required the Sage's blessing.
But sealing techniques?
Even average chūnin and jōnin knew a little.
Weak techniques like Iruka's Four Violet Flames Formation and powerful ones like Minato's Reaper Death Seal.
With the right conditions, one could even "cheat" the Shinigami itself.
Even immortal beings empowered by kekkei genkai couldn't escape Six Paths–level sealing.
Aside from Six Paths techniques, nearly all sealing arts were usable by ordinary ninja.
"Don't joke around," Nono interrupted.
"You know the Hyūga curse seal has been passed down for centuries. Everyone knows controlling the Caged Bird means controlling the branch family."
"Countless people have tried to break it. None succeeded."
"With Uzushiogakure gone, the Caged Bird Seal is arguably the most unsolvable technique in the entire shinobi world."
"You should give up on that idea."
But Hanzo merely shook his head. "Listen carefully to what you just said."
"The Caged Bird Seal has existed for centuries."
"People did try to break it—but when was that? A hundred years ago? Two hundred?"
"Even when Uzushiogakure still stood, did anyone seriously attempt to crack it? No—because everyone believed the same thing."
"That it was impossible."
"For at least a century, no one has even tried."
"…That's…" Nono paused. She had to admit—he was right.
Hanzo continued. "The Hyūga spent decades centuries ago developing the Caged Bird Seal."
"But that was another era."
"Since the ninja village system was established, ninjutsu has evolved at a pace beyond what the ancients could imagine."
"Don't be trapped by outdated thinking."
"Primitive humans needed a week to make a stone axe. Give me a minute and I can make ten—using better tools. The old ones were abandoned long ago."
"The Caged Bird is no different."
"I'm studying it for two reasons."
"First—the soul binding."
Hanzo knew this well.
During the Fourth Shinobi War, Hyūga Hizashi, even while reanimated by Edo Tensei, still bore the Caged Bird Seal.
Not even death freed him.
"Second—the Hyūga branch family."
"If we succeed, what do you think will happen when caged birds yearning for freedom see a chance to escape?"
"Isn't that… fascinating?"
"…Hanzo," Nono said quietly, "you're an unexpected genius."
"I finally understand the weight of the title 'Demigod.'"
"Your vision and perspective far exceed that of ordinary people."
"Thank you."
Hanzo pulled out a stack of scrolls from his pack.
"These are the ten A-rank jutsus Konoha paid as reparations."
"I thought they'd give us mediocre filler. Instead, they sent premium goods."
"Probably trying to incur favor," Nono smiled. "Your battle record is already legendary."
"Double Tetragram Seal… Eight Sign Seal…" Hanzō counted.
"So Konoha actually handed these over."
"Should I thank them… or call them cunning old foxes?"
Even Nono laughed softly.
"Konoha really outsmarted themselves."
The Double Tetragram Seal and Eight Sign Seal were indeed top-tier fūinjutsu—better than many S-rank techniques.
But they were designed for tailed beasts.
They required physical contact, chakra injection, and time—luxuries unavailable in real combat.
They couldn't be used as traps, unlike simpler techniques such as the Four Violet Flames Formation.
For hostage transport or restraint, other villages already had better sealing or genjutsu solutions.
And Amegakure didn't even possess tailed beasts.
"Still… thanks to Konoha."
"Looks like we'll need to establish a sealing division and study these properly."
Who to assign it to was another issue.
"We're really short on talent."
He decided to have a shadow clone manage it for now.
"As for the Blood Hunt Plan—have your agents gather information on kekkei genkai across the major villages."
"As for the minor villages… Swift Release and Steel Release in Kusagakure, Dark Release in Takigakure, and Crystal, Lava, and Boil Release in the Land of Water."
"I already have some leads. I'll handle those personally."
"Yes." Nono nodded.
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