"Hah… now I finally believe that little fellow is truly an Uchiha…"
Hearing the clan head's sigh, the elder chuckled softly.
He forced his eyes open from the mass of wrinkles on his face and said,
"Indeed. Other than those lunatics from the Uchiha clan, who else would burst into wild laughter at such a young age?"
There was a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
It was the memory of running with Uchiha youths beneath the setting sun.
It was also his long-lost youth.
After watching for a long while, he murmured,
"For some reason… when I look at that child, I seem to see the shadow of that one."
Thump.
Hyūga Hiashi's heart skipped a beat.
Someone whom this elder would refer to only as that one among the Uchiha—
In his memory, there was only a single name.
Uchiha Madara.
Gulp.
He swallowed, disbelief and absurdity mixing together.
"Elder… that's a bit much, isn't it?"
"That one was a figure who founded Konoha alongside the God of Shinobi. This child may be talented, but—"
The elder merely smiled.
Turning around, he slowly made his way back into the house.
The cane in his hand tapped the floor—light, then heavy—
producing a crisp tap-tap-tap.
Only when he reached the bedroom did he speak again, his voice low and haunting:
"That child's dōjutsu… is far more than just three tomoe."
With that—
Swish.
The wooden door slid shut.
Hiashi was left standing alone at the doorway.
His mind felt as though it had been smashed by a giant hammer crackling with lightning.
Utterly blank.
Only after the youths in the courtyard gradually dispersed did he finally come back to himself.
His hazy gaze fell upon his eldest daughter.
"Um… Hinata."
Hinata: "Y-yes…?"
"Do you… like Uchiha Arata?"
Hinata: "Ah… n-no… I… I…"
"It's fine. Father knows—ever since the day you were rescued, you've kept thinking about that child, haven't you?"
Hinata: "I…"
"Actually," Hiashi said calmly, "Father likes that child quite a lot too."
Hinata: "?"
…Did that mean she had gained a rival?
[Defeated Hyūga Neji. Attempting to copy traits.]
[Available traits: Guardian (Black), Byakugan (Purple), Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms (Green), Gentle Fist (Green), Comprehensive Human Meridians & Acupoints (White)…]
[Copy successful. Congratulations, Host has obtained the Legendary Trait: Byakugan (Purple).]
[Trait can be stacked. Stack Byakugan (Purple)?]
Without hesitation, Jin replied,
"Stack it."
[Stacking in progress. Byakugan (Purple) has been enhanced.]
In the depths of his perception, Jin felt a change ripple through his eyes.
He subconsciously activated the Byakugan trait.
His field of vision expanded.
Gradually, the coverage of his Byakugan increased.
If it had originally been a hundred meters in radius, it was now at least one hundred and fifty meters!
Within that range—
Every rustle of wind and grass was laid bare.
The flow of chakra through passersby was crystal clear.
He could even see things like blocked meridians and bone spurs.
"Good grief… with eyes like these, if I became a masseur, I'd be Konoha's number one in no time."
"Looks like Kakashi's reputation wouldn't survive."
Jin clicked his tongue, his steps growing lighter.
"And if I remember correctly, one of the ways to awaken the Tenseigan… is by repeatedly plundering Byakugan, right?"
He reached up to touch his slightly warm eye sockets, a thought slowly forming in his mind.
When there was no hope, he'd scoffed at the Tenseigan.
But now…
It seemed there was hope.
In that case—
Truly fragrant.
Wasn't there a saying?
If I won ten million, I'd donate it all.
But ask me to donate a hundred bucks? Sorry, that's pushing it.
His resolve solidified immediately—
The Hyūga clan's "leeks" had to be carefully protected!
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
His shoes echoed lightly against the stone pavement.
At the center of the village, Jin lifted his head slightly, surveying his surroundings.
Night seemed to have fallen unusually early.
At this hour, Konoha's streets should have been lively—
Yet now, they were completely deserted.
Only an occasional figure hurried away.
A storm was brewing.
Wasn't it supposed to be three days later?
Why act on the very first day?!
That old geezer really had no sense of honor.
Shaking his head, Jin headed toward the outskirts of the village.
Whoosh.
"Stop."
An ANBU ninja wearing a painted mask suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Hm? It's you, Uncle Cat Two."
Jin looked at him in surprise.
Although ANBU masks were similar, body shapes and hairstyles differed.
This particular ANBU was the one who had been sent to monitor him for the
2nd, 12th, 19th, 27th, 31st, 48th, and 69th times.
In ancient times, Zhao Zilong charged in and out seven times.
Today, Cat Two ANBU monitored seven times—and fled seven times.
Seven attempts at surveillance.
Seven mental breakdowns.
And seven times tricked by the Third Hokage into coming back.
"Cough… cough…"
Meeting Jin's gaze, Cat Two felt deeply awkward.
Instinctively, he even wanted to turn around and leave.
But thinking of his mission—and what was about to happen—he suppressed his unease and spoke softly:
"Jin, don't go any further. Stay in Konoha tonight."
"Looks like the Third Hokage still gave Itachi some face," Jin said, shaking his head.
"But I have to go back."
As he spoke, he casually shoved Cat Two aside and continued toward the Uchiha district.
Leaving Cat Two standing rigidly behind him.
Behind the mask, his pupils shrank sharply.
"How is that possible? How does he know about the negotiation between the Third Hokage and Itachi?"
"No… that's not right. He's just a chatterbox. He shouldn't know such things…"
"Unless it's… the Hyūga clan?"
Looking in the direction Jin had come from, suspicion flooded Cat Two's eyes.
After a few seconds of thought, he gritted his teeth and turned back toward the Hokage Tower.
He had to inform the Hokage—
The Hyūga clan might be on the verge of treason!
Above, the clouds grew heavier.
The night grew thick—almost sticky.
Rustle… rustle…
Jin's footsteps did not slow.
Tap.
An elderly man suddenly appeared in front of him.
Gray-haired, carrying a black pot on his back,
with a genin forehead protector hanging at his waist.
He raised a hand, blocking Jin's path.
"Child… how about we—have a little chat?"
"Maruboshi Kosuke?"
That attire instantly brought a name to Jin's mind.
The man jokingly known as Konoha's strongest genin.
"You know me?" The old man was clearly surprised.
He usually guarded the village entrance or handled simple tasks.
Though he'd seen Jin several times, they'd never spoken.
Tonight, unable to bear watching Jin walk straight into the vortex, he finally broke his habit and spoke up.
"Of course," Jin said with a smile.
He lifted his gaze toward the Uchiha district—
Silent and pristine, yet black crows were already circling overhead.
Itachi had arrived.
Three days later?
That was nothing more than a feint.
The real thing—
He paused briefly before continuing,
"Let's chat another time."
With that, he raised his hand.
A seemingly light palm strike—
yet the moment it fell, it erupted with blinding white light!
Eight Trigrams—Air Cannon!
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