Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived in the Death Forest, following the information provided by the Anbu on duty to the approximate location. Based on some clues in the surroundings, he quickly reached the place where Mingxi and Ketsuna had fought earlier.
"There are traces of Fire Release here, but the power is relatively small..."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen speculated, he was secretly shocked. If he wasn't mistaken, the first-year Academy Student named Uchiha Mingxi already possessed the strength of a Genin. To describe her as a genius was simply too fitting.
"If that's the case, then the title of 'Hyuga's Strongest Genius' might truly be well-deserved..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered to himself again, after all, according to the Anbu's description, Uchiha Mingxi had been defeated by Hyuga Ketsuna...
Several years ago, the Hyuga Clan suddenly announced a major event: a 'genius' had been born within their Main Family, and she was called the 'Hyuga's Strongest Genius'!
At that time, Hyuga Ketsuna was only 2 years old, and now, at 6 years old, his strength would certainly not be weaker than a Genin, and might even be stronger...
After a brief stop, Sarutobi Hiruzen continued to follow the clues in a certain direction.
Soon, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived at the place where Uchiha Shinji and the two Hyuga were fighting. He only stayed for a moment, not lingering, before instantly moving to another location...
Torrential ocular power, woven through the Sharingan, unleashed a terrifying genjutsu upon Ketsuna. With Jonin Shinji's strength and the high-quality ocular power of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, subduing a six-year-old first-year Academy Student should have been incredibly easy, even if Ketsuna possessed the Byakugan and had some resistance to genjutsu...
But the reality was a harsh slap in Shinji's face. No matter how much ocular power he expended, Ketsuna, opposite him, seemed immune to genjutsu, completely unaffected. He continued to gaze at Shinji with that 'cold' look, as if looking at a dead man.
"What kind of monster are you?!"
Shinji was afraid for the first time. He could accept so-called 'geniuses' and the 'geniuses' surpassing him in the future, but he could not accept a 'monster' like Ketsuna!
"I didn't want to reveal these eyes, but you seem to have angered 'it'."
Ketsuna spoke to Shinji, his tone somewhat cold.
"W-what?"
Shinji looked at Ketsuna, puzzled, completely not understanding what he was saying.
Ketsuna didn't explain anything to him. Instead, a trace of sapphire blue light suddenly burst forth from the depths of his pure white eyes, gradually invading his pupils, transforming them into a noble sapphire color, as deep and enchanting as the stars, yet exuding a heart-pounding pressure!
"Your eyes..."
Shinji looked at Ketsuna's eyes in astonishment. The sapphire blue in his eye sockets gave him a feeling of being from a 'superior being,' just like when he first activated his One-Tomoe Sharingan and was suppressed by the Two-Tomoe and Three-Tomoe Sharingan of his clan members...
In fact, to some extent, Shinji's Three-Tomoe Sharingan was even afraid of the sapphire blue eyes in Ketsuna's eye sockets!
"These eyes are called 'Tenseigan,' an evolved form of the Byakugan..."
Ketsuna had no intention of hiding it from Shinji, or rather, his purpose was not to speak to Shinji, but to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was currently hidden on a nearby tree trunk.
"An evolved form of the Byakugan... Tenseigan?"
Shinji opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but all the words caught in his throat were swallowed back down.
That's right...
The Sharingan has evolved forms like One-Tomoe, Two-Tomoe, and Three-Tomoe, so it seems reasonable for the Byakugan to have evolved forms as well!
Shinji thought to himself.
"Tenseigan?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked surprised after hearing this. The Hyuga Clan had seemingly never produced such an 'Tenseigan' evolved form since the Warring States period.
"Is this why Hyuga Ketsuna is called the 'Strongest Hyuga Genius'? I wonder what the abilities of that 'Tenseigan' are..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had only just arrived, did not immediately reveal himself to stop Shinji. Instead, he hid on a large tree branch not far away, also wanting to know the limits of Ketsuna's strength.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's initial goal was to rescue Ketsuna when he was about to be harmed or had no other options, thereby gaining Ketsuna's favor.
However, he didn't expect that in such a short time, he would learn the Hyuga's greatest secret...
"Even if it's an evolved form of the Byakugan, so what?"
Uchiha Shinji withdrew the ocular power he used for genjutsu. He looked at Ketsuna somewhat gloomily, then spoke in a low voice: "With your age and physique, how much of those 'eyes' abilities can you display?"
With that, Shinji quickly formed hand signs, a hint of killing intent flashing deep within his crimson eyes. This was due to his fear of the 'Tenseigan' in Ketsuna's eye sockets, fearing that his growth would affect the future balance between the Uchiha and the Hyuga!
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
A linear flame rapidly shot out from Shinji's mouth, its release speed so fast that even ordinary Chunin would find it difficult to dodge!
When Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was in hiding, saw this scene, he immediately cursed inwardly, then immediately performed a ninjutsu to rescue Ketsuna. Regardless of whether Ketsuna was the Hyuga's 'Strongest Genius,' if he died at the hands of the Uchiha, it would cause infighting between the Hyuga and Uchiha, two great noble clans. This would undoubtedly be a difficult problem for Konoha at this time, not to mention that Ketsuna also possessed the evolved form of the Hyuga Byakugan—the Tenseigan, making his existence extremely important to both the Hyuga and the village. He absolutely could not be lost!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A wide earth wall several meters high suddenly appeared in front of Ketsuna, blocking the rapidly approaching linear flames aimed at Ketsuna at the last moment, isolating the powerful, scorching flames outside.
At the same time, a figure instantly appeared before Ketsuna. When his gaze fell upon the latter, a gentle smile appeared on his majestic face.
"Don't worry, with me here, no one can harm you!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke, his tone domineering.
Ketsuna looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen who had appeared before him, but said nothing. There was no excited or thrilled expression on his face, which was somewhat different from what he had expected, leaving him standing there a little awkwardly, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.
As an Academy Student, Ketsuna saw himself, the Hokage, personally save him. Did he really have no reaction at all?
Sarutobi Hiruzen wondered inwardly.
"Lord Hokage?!"
Shinji, seeing his Fire Release blocked, was about to continue his attack when he realized the identity of the person standing in front of Ketsuna. He immediately spoke in horror, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back.
"Uchiha Shinji, as a veteran ninja of the village, you actually disregarded village rules and attacked a comrade, and what's more, you targeted an Academy Student who just entered the Academy!"
Shinji's outburst redirected Sarutobi Hiruzen's embarrassment. He spoke to the former with authority, his tone extremely displeased.
"And it seems you even harbored killing intent just now..."
This was the real reason for Sarutobi Hiruzen's anger. The Uchiha's arrogance truly needed a major rectification!
"... ..."
Shinji immediately fell silent. He couldn't refute, because he had indeed harbored the thought of killing Ketsuna just now.
"Lord Hokage, I was actually just 'sparring' with Senior Shinji earlier."
At this moment, Ketsuna, who had been silent, spoke. However, what he said surprised both Sarutobi Hiruzen and Uchiha Shinji.
Was Ketsuna, this boy from the Hyuga, pleading for Uchiha Shinji...?