Shinichi Kudo is a high school detective renowned as the "Detective of the East" for his exceptional deductive skills. His parents are Yusaku Kudo, a famous mystery novelist, and Yukiko Kudo, a retired actress. Shinichi demonstrated advanced observational abilities from early childhood, solving his first case involving his father's disappearance as an infant. His analytical mindset was shaped by a fascination with mystery fiction, especially Sherlock Holmes. During kindergarten, he met Ran Mouri, forming a lifelong bond after protecting her from bullies. A pivotal incident occurred when Shinichi witnessed suspicious activity at an amusement park and was captured by members of the Black Organization criminal syndicate. Forced to ingest the experimental drug APTX 4869, he physically regressed to the appearance of a six-year-old while retaining his full cognitive abilities. To conceal his identity and investigate the organization, he adopted the alias Conan Edogawa, combining names of authors Arthur Conan Doyle and Edogawa Rampo. He resides with Ran and her father, private detective Kogoro Mouri, using Kogoro's agency to access cases potentially linked to the syndicate. As Conan, he utilizes specialized gadgets created by his neighbor, Dr. Hiroshi Agasa: a voice-changing bowtie for impersonation (often Kogoro during deductions), power-enhancing shoes, eyeglasses with tracking, a stun-gun wristwatch, and a turbo-engine skateboard. He attends Teitan Elementary School, forming the Detective Boys with classmates Ayumi Yoshida, Mitsuhiko Tsuburaya, and Genta Kojima. Ai Haibara, a scientist formerly with the Black Organization who was similarly de-aged by APTX 4869, later joins the group and provides him with temporary antidotes to reverse his condition. Shinichi's intellect extends beyond deduction. He excels in soccer, receiving professional scouting offers in middle school, and possesses martial arts proficiency gained from observing Ran's training. He handles firearms adeptly due to childhood visits to shooting ranges with his father. Linguistically, he is fluent in English and demonstrates knowledge of German, Italian, and coded communication. His personality blends confidence with introspection; his de-aging experience fostered humility, leading him to prioritize discretion. He maintains deep concern for human life, rejecting murder as justifiable and preventing culprits from suicide. Key relationships define his journey. Ran Mouri remains his emotional anchor, though he withholds his true identity to protect her. Rival detective Heiji Hattori from Osaka deduces Conan's identity and becomes a trusted ally. Collaboration with law enforcement, including Tokyo Metropolitan Police inspectors and FBI agents like Shuichi Akai, aids his pursuit of the Black Organization. In "The Scarlet Bullet," he coordinates with the FBI during the WSG event, unraveling kidnappings connected to a 15-year-old case and confronting antagonist Maiko Shirahato aboard a high-speed maglev train. Temporary reversions to his original form occur via Haibara's prototype antidotes, used strategically to preserve his secret. During one such reversal in London, he confesses his feelings to Ran. Subsequent interactions, including a school trip, solidify their romantic bond. His investigative efforts gradually expose the Black Organization's hierarchy, including undercover CIA agent Kir and syndicate leader Renya Karasuma. Throughout all media, his core principle remains: "There is only one truth!"