Worried Itachi

After watching the footage near the Konoha Barrier, Youhu did not stop. Instead, he began reviewing the other recordings.

After painstakingly going through them for half an hour, he found that the blurry figure had appeared around the Hero Cemetery, Konoha Street, and the outskirts of Naka Shrine.

In the footage from outside Naka Shrine, one could even faintly make out the blurry figure's Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Itachi finally understood why the figure had seemed familiar. He had seen this person when he was a Genin—a rogue Uchiha living outside Konoha, a mysterious ninja who possessed the Mangekyo.

Itachi suspected that he was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Night, but he had no proof.

Itachi did not know the blurry figure's exact identity, but Youhu knew it all too well.

The only ninja who could enter and leave Konoha at this point in time while possessing Space-Time Ninjutsu was that successor of Uchiha Madara—the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Night, Uchiha Obito.

Ever since the Fourth Hokage had died for love, Konoha no longer had any ninja capable of threatening Obito.

Obito treated Konoha like his own backyard, dropping by from time to time. While paying respects to Rin, he also searched for new members for the Akatsuki.

And Uchiha Itachi was the person Obito had chosen.

After watching all the relevant footage, Youhu spoke first. "Itachi, who do you think he is? Why does he have our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan? Why did he appear outside the shrine?"

Itachi fell silent. He did not know how to answer. He knew nothing about it either.

Just as Itachi was about to say something, Youhu downloaded the footage, put it onto a Video Tape, and then walked toward the door.

"This matter is of great importance. We must notify Captain Kakashi immediately."

The move left Itachi stunned. He had never intended to report this matter.

At such a critical moment, the appearance of an Uchiha who possessed Space-Time Ninjutsu would undoubtedly tug at the sensitive nerve between the clan and the village.

The village would become even more wary of the clan, while the clan would develop unnecessary delusions.

This sort of matter could be handled privately.

However, even after Youhu had made his choice, he did not bring up deleting the footage again. He was not confident that he could persuade this mysterious clan elder brother.

Before long, Youhu found Kakashi and Yamato.

The two of them were each holding a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, their faces covered in lecherous smiles. The moment they saw Youhu approaching, their expressions became serious.

"Youhu, do you want to read it too?"

Youhu glanced at the cover of Icha Icha Paradise. Critical thoughts immediately surfaced in his mind, but he quickly suppressed them and dragged Kakashi and Yamato into the Surveillance Room to watch the footage.

"This..."

The moment they saw the Masked Man in the video, Kakashi and Yamato immediately grew solemn.

They had originally intended to enjoy slacking off at work, but the appearance of the Mysterious Masked Man made them realize that they would definitely be working overtime today.

Still, they were somewhat surprised that Youhu and Itachi were willing to share this information with them.

After all, the Mysterious Masked Man's Sharingan pointed straight at the Uchiha Clan.

"Do you know him?" Kakashi asked Youhu and Itachi.

"I don't know him..."

Youhu gently shook his head, then shifted the focus to the Nine-Tails Night.

"However, I think he should be connected to the Nine-Tails Night. The village has always believed that our Uchiha Clan was involved in the Nine-Tails Night, but based on my understanding of Fugaku Clan Head, if he really possessed that kind of power, he would have rebelled long ago."

You idiot, don't drive a wedge between us...

Kakashi glanced at Youhu, then at Itachi beside him. Who would curse someone's father right in front of his son?

Itachi was speechless, but Youhu had at least cleared his father of suspicion and shifted the blame for the Nine-Tails Night onto the Mysterious Masked Man.

Yamato turned a deaf ear to it all and silently flipped through the Icha Icha Paradise magazine.

During the Nine-Tails Night, he had only been an experimental subject at Orochimaru's base. The incident had nothing to do with him. If anything, his very existence had been meant to deal with the Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts.

But why did Youhu think this person was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Night?

Before Kakashi could continue thinking, Youhu asked, "Captain Kakashi, what should we do next? Should we go capture him directly?"

Youhu looked eager for action and continued, "As long as we capture him, we can clear the Uchiha Clan's name."

"Youhu, do you think the few of us can defeat this Masked Man?"

Kakashi glanced at Youhu, thinking that he was being a little too naive. He did not know how strong the Masked Man was, but he understood how formidable Space-Time Ninjutsu could be.

The last ninja in the village to possess Space-Time Ninjutsu had been his teacher, the Fourth Hokage.

In other words, Youhu was asking their team to fight an opponent at the Hokage's level.

"How will we know if we don't try? I think the few of us working together should have no trouble defeating a Masked Man. If he really possessed invincible strength in the Ninja World, there would be no need for him to hide his face and identity."

Youhu had finally told the truth for once.

But ninjas often preferred to listen to lies.

"Absolutely not..." Kakashi rejected Youhu's proposal and stated his own thoughts. "This matter must be reported to the Hokage immediately."

"Yamato, stay here and keep watch. Youhu, Itachi, and I will go to the Hokage Building."

"Sure, no problem!"

Yamato only wanted to be left alone so he could enjoy Jiraiya's masterpiece.

On the way to the Hokage Building.

Youhu tirelessly promoted his idea. "Captain Kakashi, can't we really attack the Masked Man directly? I think there's no need to trouble the Hokage over such a minor matter."

"Captain Kakashi, you're so strong. Defeating the Masked Man should be a piece of cake."

"And if that doesn't work, we still have Senior Itachi. Senior Itachi is a genius of the clan. He awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan at such a young age. I think he might even have the potential to awaken the Mangekyo."

"Maybe it'll suddenly evolve during a life-or-death trial."

Kakashi grew somewhat annoyed listening to him and said impatiently, "You have the Three Tomoe Sharingan too. Why don't you go yourself?"

"Aren't I just worried about stealing Captain Kakashi's credit? I'm very powerful, you know."

Youhu replied with a confident look, leaving Kakashi at a loss for words. He could only nod repeatedly. "I know you're powerful. From now on, whenever we encounter an enemy during a mission, I'll let you go first. How about that?"

"Then thank you, Captain Kakashi. But I'd rather hear you tell me stories about Brother Obito."

While Youhu and Kakashi argued, Itachi looked worried. He was concerned that the clan might be colluding with the Masked Man, and that the village might fall into chaos because of the Masked Man's appearance.

After we meet the Third Lord, how will he handle this matter?

And what does the appearance of the Masked Man really mean?

Itachi knew nothing about it.

Yet he could not stop himself from guessing and speculating. His heart refused to calm down.

If only I could get a chance to talk to the Masked Man. He seems to have been waiting to meet me as well.