Yūhi Kurenai, though conflicted, agreed to her mother's request. After all, she had always been a filial daughter. Life at home had only been manageable because of her mother's unwavering support, so Kurenai respected her wishes.
Yet, her impression of the Uchiha clan boy had started to shift. If the Nine-Tails' Attack really was orchestrated by the Uchiha, then even if this Ryosuke wasn't directly involved, he was still from the clan that caused her father's death. That made him an enemy, regardless.
Kurenai could still faintly recall her father's face. He had been a strict man, yes, but also incredibly gentle with both her and her mother. He was well-respected among his peers, and to this day, his loss stung deeply. How could someone like him die so early?
With those thoughts weighing on her heart, Kurenai felt a surge of grief and resentment. She decided—she had to confront that Uchiha boy and hear what he had to say for himself.
The next day, Uchiha Ryosuke didn't wake up until the sun was already high in the sky.
Ordinarily, with the Uchiha massacre looming over his head, anyone else in his position would be up at dawn, training rigorously to gain strength. But Ryosuke wasn't just anyone—he had two systems. He didn't need to rely on normal methods to grow stronger.
He chuckled to himself as he remembered: after Uchiha Itachi taunted him, his Sharingan had immediately evolved into a two-tomoe state. Now, he was wondering… if he got mocked again, would it turn into a three-tomoe Sharingan? And if he kept getting provoked, could he eventually awaken the Mangekyō?
That thought excited him.
"Maybe I should go out and find someone to ridicule me," he mused. "If everyone in the clan has Mangekyō by the time of the massacre, let's see if Konoha still dares to move against us."
As he strolled through the village streets, he thought about who might oblige him. The Hyūga clan came to mind. Their haughty attitude and "noble" airs made them likely candidates.
Despite Hyūga's claim of being the most powerful clan in Konoha, Ryosuke knew the truth: the Uchiha and Senju clans were the real top dogs.
Sure, the Hyūga's Byakugan had impressive 360-degree vision, the ability to see chakra flow and tenketsu points, and even telescopic sight. It was undoubtedly a powerful dojutsu—but that was it. In a one-on-one fight, the Sharingan had more flexibility and potential.
Once he reached three tomoe, he'd be on equal footing with the Byakugan. And beyond that, the Sharingan could evolve into the Mangekyō—a power the Hyūga line had no equivalent of, like the Tenseigan. Ryosuke chalked that up to bloodline limitations.
Speaking of powerful Sharingan users, Ryosuke thought of Kakashi Hatake—the famous "Copy Ninja." Though not an Uchiha, Kakashi had made full use of his Sharingan's potential, replicating taijutsu and many non-kekkei genkai jutsu thanks to his broad elemental versatility.
In contrast, most Uchihas specialized in Fire Release. Their Fire Style jutsu were strong, but not very accurate. Ryosuke decided that learning a wider range of jutsu would definitely increase his combat effectiveness.
Just as he was lost in thought, wandering the village, he unexpectedly ran into Kurenai Yūhi.
She spotted him too—and remembered everything her mother had said the night before. A wave of suppressed anger surfaced, and she made up her mind. She was going to question him.
Putting on a friendly face, she approached him with a light smile.
"Thank you for helping me out yesterday," she said. "Can I treat you to a meal to properly express my gratitude?"
Ryosuke was surprised. Had this beautiful woman already taken a liking to him? That would make things very convenient for his "Many Children, Much Fortune" system…
"Heh, just call me Ryosuke," he said with a grin. "If you're buying, then I'd be happy with a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen."
He hadn't eaten yet, and Ichiraku was famous for good reason. Tasty and safe—perfect for lunch.
Kurenai was taken aback. She hadn't expected an Uchiha to enjoy such a simple pleasure, but she agreed with a nod. "Alright."
The two headed to Ichiraku Ramen and enjoyed a satisfying meal. Kurenai, of course, paid. Afterward, she suggested they take a walk—and Ryosuke happily agreed. She was beautiful, kind, and physically healthy. In his mind, she was a prime candidate for producing strong offspring.
But as they walked, Ryosuke began to notice their surroundings growing quieter, more secluded.
Wait a second... was this a date, or...
He gulped.
This was starting to feel like the kind of "private meeting" where couples went to... do things. But when they finally stopped, and Kurenai turned around, her expression was anything but romantic.
Her smile was gone. She stared at him coldly.
Ryosuke instantly killed all perverted thoughts. Something was clearly off.
And then, she spoke.
"Was the Nine-Tails' Attack caused by your Uchiha clan?" she asked sharply. "My father died protecting the village that night."
Ryosuke blinked, caught off guard. She really had brought him here to interrogate him?
He quickly replied, "Why would you think it was the Uchiha?"
"If we had the power to control the Nine-Tails, would the village elders have driven us into a corner—forcing us to relocate to the outskirts of the village?"
Kurenai's expression softened slightly. His words made sense.
"But if not your clan," she asked, "then who else could it be? In history, only Uchiha Madara has ever controlled the Nine-Tails…"
Of course Ryosuke knew the truth—it wasn't the current Uchiha. It was the rogue Uchiha Obito, driven mad and manipulated by Madara's ideology.
But saying that outright was dangerous. Even if he named Obito, the village might still blame the Uchiha as a whole, giving the elders more fuel to act against them.
He couldn't afford to paint a bigger target on his clan's back.
So, he gave her a carefully worded explanation.
"I can guarantee that no one in the Uchiha clan today has the ability to control the Nine-Tails," he said firmly. "I deeply regret your father's passing—he was a hero."
"I remember the night of the attack, even though I was just a child. Your father stood beside the Fourth Hokage, protecting the village."
"We Uchiha wanted to help too—but the Third Hokage and Danzo had us sealed off at the village gates. Our top fighters were literally locked out."
"If the village leadership had trusted us and let us join the defense, maybe your father and the Fourth wouldn't have died."
"If we were truly responsible for the Nine-Tails, don't you think the village would've already executed us? Yet here we are—still living in Konoha."
Kurenai stood there in silence. Ryosuke's voice had been steady, his reasoning sound.
And for the first time, doubt began to flicker in her heart.