Changes in the Tenseigan

"Uchiha Shisui is a pretty good guy..."

The next day, in the dense forests of the Land of Whirlpools.

After bidding farewell to Uchiha Shisui's team, Hyuga Makoto could not help sighing.

But those words nearly made Kakashi roll his eyes.

After the battlefield had been cleaned up last night, Uchiha Shisui had taken the initiative to invite them to stay over.

After all, they needed to rest after the battle, and the mission to investigate that abandoned laboratory was not urgent.

Kakashi had therefore not objected, and they had been treated quite well last night.

But he had not forgotten what Hyuga Makoto had said yesterday, nor Uchiha Shisui's dejected state last night.

"So now you know how good he is?"

Kakashi was somewhat helpless as he looked at Hyuga Makoto and spoke.

"Watch what you say from now on."

"Yeah, he didn't sleep well all night..."

Tenzo joined in with a tease, but when he saw Kakashi glaring at him, he immediately changed his tune.

"See? Isn't that awful?"

"Senior, weren't you the same as me?"

Hyuga Makoto looked at Tenzo with amusement and asked in return, leaving Tenzo curiously scratching his head.

"Was I? Why don't I remember anything?"

"You two..."

Kakashi was rendered speechless by Hyuga Makoto and Tenzo, these two "troubled youths," yet there was nothing he could do about them.

Still, he did not stop them, because that lively atmosphere seemed to let him see echoes of the old Team Minato...

Only after the two had quieted down did his expression turn serious.

"Makoto, you're already a member of the Anbu, and since we've happened to meet Uchiha Shisui, there are some things you need to understand. It'll keep you out of trouble in the future."

"Hmm?"

Hyuga Makoto found it strange, but he obediently nodded.

"Please teach me, Captain."

"Do you know much about Konoha's current situation?"

Kakashi considered his words before speaking slowly.

"Especially its relationship with the Uchiha."

"I've heard some things, but I don't know the specifics."

Although Hyuga Makoto wanted to be as "honest" as usual, it was impossible for someone from the Hyuga Clan not to have heard anything. He simply nodded and said,

"I heard from people in the clan that after the Nine-Tails Incident, the relationship between the Uchiha and the village became very delicate. The Police Department has also become increasingly strict."

"That's right, but it's more than merely delicate."

Kakashi's expression became grave as he said in a low voice,

"Suspicion has already arisen between them. Both sides are suffering from a crisis of trust."

"Didn't you just say that the Police Department has become more demanding? That's because the Uchiha didn't mobilize during the Nine-Tails Incident."

Tenzo sighed and added from the side.

"That has left many people resentful. When that resentment reached the Uchiha's ears, it made them even more dissatisfied, and their actions became increasingly excessive."

"..."

Hyuga Makoto could not help glancing at Tenzo.

Wasn't the Uchiha's failure to join the battle the work of your former boss?

"After the Nine-Tails Incident, the village suspected that the Uchiha had been pulling strings behind the scenes. After all, legend says the Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails."

Kakashi unconsciously touched his left eye before continuing.

"The village therefore placed the Uchiha district under twenty-four-hour surveillance. The Uchiha also sensed the village's distrust, and with some historical factors added in, so..."

"I see."

Hyuga Makoto nodded in "sudden realization," unable to keep from sighing.

"It seems the relationship between the Uchiha and the village truly has fallen into a vicious cycle."

"That's right."

Kakashi patted Hyuga Makoto's shoulder.

"So when you encounter Uchiha people in the future, it's best to be a little more careful."

"I understand."

Hyuga Makoto nodded, but inwardly he could not help complaining.

Danzo's move was truly ruthless. He used the Nine-Tails Incident to turn the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha into this!

If I didn't know Uchiha Obito had acted on his own, I'd suspect Danzo had conspired with Obito beforehand.

But he still had a question, so he asked tentatively.

"Captain Kakashi, then what about Uchiha Itachi?"

"He's our companion."

Kakashi paused before speaking slowly.

"Moreover, the Third Hokage has said that the Uchiha are our companions, not our enemies."

"I understand, Captain."

Hyuga Makoto nodded thoughtfully. Now, he truly began to suspect something.

Was sending Uchiha Itachi to monitor his own clan something the Third Hokage did deliberately?

In his memories, the Third Hokage had genuinely wanted to resolve the matter peacefully.

And Uchiha Itachi—who did not know he was a double agent...

Could it have been meant to tell the Uchiha that every move they made was under Konoha's watch, warning them not to act rashly?

Hyuga Makoto was not sure whether that was the case, but he remembered that Uchiha Itachi did not seem to have revealed it to his family.

If my guess is right, then Uchiha Itachi truly possessed astonishing wisdom...

Hyuga Makoto could barely hold it together. Given the Uchiha's temperament, it was very possible their response would be, Even if you know, I'll still do whatever I want!

But even if Konoha stepped in, they would not slaughter the elderly, children, and women alike, leaving no one alive... right?

"All right, let's continue onward."

As Hyuga Makoto pondered, Kakashi's voice rang out again.

"The sooner we finish the mission, the sooner we can return. You accomplished something major this time."

"Yeah."

Tenzo no longer wanted to discuss the Uchiha. Smiling, he patted Hyuga Makoto's shoulder.

"The 'Byakugan Killer' fell into your hands. Impressive!"

"You're too kind, you're too kind."

Hyuga Makoto also put those thoughts aside. He did not want this mess to affect his mood.

Still, he really should thank Uchiha Shisui properly.

Because the Yin Release Shisui had provided had helped him improve yet again!

[Name: Hyuga Makoto]

[Bloodline: Moon Ōtsutsuki (10%)]

[Dojutsu: Tenseigan (2%)]

[Chakra Attributes: Yin, Yang]

Perhaps because Uchiha Shisui's Sharingan had already reached the Mangekyo level, the effect of this Yin Release was better than Tenzo's Yang Release!

The 3% increase in Bloodline Development had brought him a tremendous boost in Chakra and physical ability, which had already delighted him immensely.

Most importantly, his Tenseigan had finally changed as well.

Although it had only increased by 1%, the effect was indeed obvious!

"My perception has improved again, and the Tenseigan's abilities seem to have grown stronger too..."

His perception had been an enormous help in battle. Ao was the best example.

Improving it again would only make him stronger and stronger. He had even begun looking forward to the possibility that, someday, he might reach Uchiha Madara's level!

As for the Tenseigan's abilities, although he had not used them even once so far, he could clearly sense the changes within them.

Those abilities would also be exceedingly crucial to his future.

After all, he had already decided what he intended to do. The stronger these abilities were, the better!

"What are you thinking about, Makoto?"

Perhaps sensing Hyuga Makoto's good mood, Tenzo could not help asking. Kakashi also turned to look over.

"Thinking about going back to the village?"

"Yeah."

Hyuga Makoto came back to his senses and said with a smile,

"After all, there's a huge bounty waiting for me when we get back!"

"..."

Kakashi fell silent, and Tenzo felt that perhaps he should not have asked. Yet Hyuga Makoto only grew more excited.

"Captain, Senior, you absolutely have to help me with this!"

"..."

"And Senior, let me correct you: Ao didn't fall into my hands."

"?"

"His head is in my pocket..."

"..."