The Evil Ninja He Sensed!

Shinichi possessed exceptional talent for practicing Sensing Jutsu—so exceptional that even Kushina had been repeatedly surprised by it.

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina's own talent for Sensing Jutsu far surpassed that of ordinary people. Yet Shinichi's progress was now even faster than hers.

In merely one afternoon, Shinichi had already grasped the essentials of Sensing Jutsu. On his very first attempt, light appeared in what had once been a dim inner world, and he could even sense the Nine-Tails sealed within Kushina.

After an afternoon of familiarization and repeated practice, Shinichi Hyuga's Perception Field could already cover Konoha's bustling commercial district.

As Hokage, Minato Namikaze's residence was not particularly large, but it was located in Konoha's central district, less than a kilometer in a straight line from the Hokage Building.

This was Konoha's most central area. Since Shinichi's Perception Field could cover Konoha's bustling district, it meant his sensing radius had already exceeded three thousand meters.

On just his first day of practicing Sensing Jutsu, while his proficiency was still limited, he already possessed such a range. Once Shinichi fully mastered this technique and continued to delve deeper into it, his Perception Field might even rival—or surpass—Kushina's as a member of the Uzumaki Clan.

As Shinichi's sensing range expanded, his understanding of the village rose to another level as well.

Within Shinichi's Perception Field, he discovered many powerful Chakra signatures he had never sensed before.

The feelings these powerful Chakra signatures gave Shinichi varied. Some were warm and gentle, while others were cold and sinister.

Based on their locations, Shinichi could roughly determine which areas these powerful individuals were currently active in.

The Hokage Building, the Uchiha Clan Compound, bustling streets... and there was even a Chakra signature located within the Cemetery.

"Hmm?!"

Konoha Cemetery?

The setting sun painted the sky crimson. Shinichi, who was using Sensing Jutsu inside the house, suddenly focused on the powerful Chakra signature in the direction of Konoha Cemetery.

Upon closer inspection, that Chakra carried a cold aura. The feeling was extremely similar to several Chakra signatures he had sensed within the Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Could it be..."

As he pondered, Shinichi Hyuga formed a seal with one hand. Veins immediately bulged around his eyes as he activated his Byakugan.

Focusing in the direction of Konoha Cemetery, the scene before Shinichi's eyes rapidly changed. As his vision penetrated layer after layer of obstruction, the scene within Konoha Cemetery soon appeared in his sight.

It was evening, and the Cemetery was empty. Only a child about Shinichi's height and age stood blankly before the Memorial Stone.

Shinichi looked at the boy's back and noticed the Uchiha Clan's Family Crest on the back of his clothes.

"Hmm?!"

"Isn't that guy...?"

Shinichi had assumed the powerful Chakra appearing at Konoha Cemetery at this time would be Obito Uchiha. According to memories from his previous life, Obito Uchiha had already been lurking in Konoha for a long time before Kushina gave birth, beginning to make covert moves.

According to the information he had unlocked, Obito Uchiha had two reasons for remaining hidden in Konoha. One was that he could not let go of his deceased beloved, Rin Nohara, and often appeared at Konoha Cemetery.

The other purpose was to confirm the truth of the Moon Eye Plan that Madara Uchiha had told him about.

The young Obito Uchiha's Dojutsu Power naturally could not compare to Madara Uchiha's at his peak. Thus, even now, Obito Uchiha had been unable to successfully decipher the contents of the inscription left behind by "Ancestor" in the shrine.

Whenever Obito felt that his Dojutsu Power had grown, he would secretly infiltrate the shrine and attempt to decipher the inscription.

Yet even now, he had been unable to confirm the Moon Eye Plan's authenticity.

Up to this point, Obito had not yet taken action for the so-called Moon Eye Plan. He was merely in the stages of plotting and observing.

Although Shinichi Hyuga knew that the Uchiha stone inscription had long been altered by Black Zetsu, he had no way to tell anyone this information.

Of course, even if Obito learned the truth, it would not mean much. After Madara Uchiha rescued Obito back then, he had already carved a Cursed Seal into Obito's heart.

And Black Zetsu and White Zetsu were not only Obito's assistants—they were also people who replaced Madara Uchiha in monitoring him.

The child Shinichi saw in the Cemetery was not Obito Uchiha. However, the person he saw was also from the Uchiha Clan. Although this was their first meeting, Shinichi still recognized him at a glance once he saw his face clearly.

"Uchiha... Itachi!"

Shinichi did not know why the young Itachi Uchiha was standing dazed before the Memorial Stone. Of course, Itachi Uchiha presumably had his own reasons. After all... the Third Hokage had described him as "a child with the mind of a Hokage."

But as far as Shinichi was concerned, he truly did not want much contact with Itachi Uchiha.

Someone capable of slaughtering his parents and his entire clan... Shinichi had no interest in dealing with him.

Itachi Uchiha's ideals were completely different from Shinichi Hyuga's.

If it was to protect his family, Shinichi would never spare any enemy! Even if they were Konoha's upper echelon, anyone who threatened his family was absolutely unforgivable.

But Itachi Uchiha was far more "noble" than Shinichi. For the sake of the so-called village, he could turn his hand against those closest to him.

Shinichi truly could not understand what sort of existence the village Itachi Uchiha protected was.

Wasn't a village a "refuge" where weak ninja clans gathered to ensure their families' continuation, and where weak individuals gathered to survive in chaotic times?

People joined a village for survival. But if they could abandon even their families for the sake of the village, wasn't that putting the cart before the horse?!

In this regard, Shinichi Hyuga's thoughts were actually somewhat similar to Madara Uchiha's back then.

Madara Uchiha had founded Konoha with Hashirama in order to protect his family and friends. But when he looked back... he discovered that Hashirama could actually abandon his friends and family to protect the village.

That was what it meant to put the cart before the horse.

Looking at the youth standing dazed before the Memorial Stone, Shinichi's thoughts drifted.

Just then, Kushina, who was sitting nearby, seemed to notice Shinichi's odd behavior. She waved a hand in front of his eyes and teased, "Kid, why did you activate your Byakugan?"

"Spacing out, are you?"

Kushina's words pulled Shinichi back to reality. He deactivated his Byakugan, then seemed to think of something and said, "Teacher Kushina, I wasn't spacing out."

"While using Sensing Jutsu, I sensed a powerful and evil Chakra signature, so I used my Byakugan to investigate."

As he spoke, a glint flashed through Shinichi Hyuga's eyes. He had already made up his mind.

The person standing in the Cemetery really was Itachi Uchiha, but... what exactly had Shinichi seen? Wasn't that up to him to decide?!

"A powerful and evil Chakra?"

Kushina frowned in confusion. She slightly closed her eyes and sensed the area, but she detected nothing at all.

Although she had not sensed any abnormal Chakra, Kushina did not doubt Shinichi's words. This kid was a true genius and the future heir of the Hyuga Main Family. There was simply no need for Shinichi to tell such a lie in front of her.

At least... that was what Kushina believed.

"You used your Byakugan? What did you see?"

As Kushina asked this, Shinichi could not help smiling inwardly.

"Mm... That person seemed to have noticed me watching him. The moment I looked at him, he immediately disappeared."

"However... he was wearing a Tiger-Striped Mask. Beneath it, his face was split into black and white. Half of it was normal, while the other half was disfigured."

As he spoke, Shinichi Hyuga's gaze seemingly casually swept over a table in the living room where a Photo Album had been placed.

Then, feigning surprise, he pointed at one of the framed photographs. "Huh? The good half of that person's face looked a lot like the person in that photo!"

Upon hearing Shinichi Hyuga's words, Kushina looked in the direction he indicated. In the frame Shinichi pointed to was a group photo of Minato and the three members of Team Minato.

The four people in the photo were Minato Namikaze, Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, and Rin Nohara...