Yūhi Kurenai's expression changed upon hearing Ryosuke's explanation. Indeed, if the Uchiha clan had truly been behind the Nine-Tails incident, Konoha's higher-ups would never have allowed them to remain safely within the village. Furthermore, it was true that during the attack, it was her father and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who had defended the village, while none of the higher-ups, not even Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped forward to fight the beast. The Root leader Danzo didn't appear either.
If what Ryosuke said was true, and the Uchiha clan had been willing to join the battle, then Konoha's casualties could have been much lower. Her father and the Fourth Hokage might not have needed to sacrifice themselves.
Ryosuke noticed the shift in her expression and pushed further, adding emotional weight to his words.
"When Uchiha Madara once tried to lead us away from the village, we refused," he said solemnly. "We Uchiha love peace. We helped build this village with the Senju—we would never destroy our own home."
"I don't know why the higher-ups treated us with such suspicion. They let your father and the Fourth Hokage face the Nine-Tails alone and even blocked our clan from aiding them."
"Lady Mikoto, the wife of our clan head, was close friends with Kushina Uzumaki. They studied at the Academy together and had deep trust between them. There's no way the Uchiha would harm her or Minato."
Kurenai felt her world turning upside down. Everything she had been taught was being challenged. She never knew the Uchiha had such close ties with the Fourth Hokage's family. She realized now that perhaps her father's death and her mother's suffering could have been avoided had things played out differently.
She bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry. I misjudged you... and your clan."
Ryosuke smiled inwardly. She had taken the bait.
He didn't hold her earlier accusation against her, but continued to throw shade at the village leadership.
"It's not your fault. It's the higher-ups who planted this seed of distrust," he said with a sorrowful tone. "I still don't understand why, during such a crisis, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu did nothing. They even stopped us from helping. Had they acted differently, your father and the Fourth might still be alive. We Uchiha grieve their loss too."
There was no cleaning this up—Ryosuke was ruthlessly laying the blame at the feet of the village leadership.
He inwardly scoffed at the so-called "Will of Fire." Was it just an excuse for others to die while the elite reaped the rewards?
Hiruzen was a hypocrite. All his so-called accomplishments were nothing but emotional performances in front of Tobirama Senju. And Kurenai—no fool herself—began to see through the lies she had been told. For the first time, she doubted the authority of Konoha's ruling elite.
A wave of sadness hit her. If only someone had spoken up—her father might not have died.
She looked at Ryosuke again with guilt. "I really am sorry... I judged your clan wrongly."
Ryosuke could see the sincerity in her eyes. He knew then she was no longer a threat. With three years still remaining before the Uchiha Massacre, he had time—and with the Many Children, Much Fortune system active, there was no need to rush.
Of course, he wasn't going to force things with Kurenai. She too had been a victim of the system.
He smiled playfully. "If you ever have time, feel free to treat me to another meal."
Kurenai was relieved. She hadn't offended him after all.
"Sure," she chuckled. "As much ramen as you want."
After parting ways, Ryosuke walked the village streets in a good mood. With the misunderstanding resolved, the path forward with Kurenai seemed smooth.
Since he couldn't yet fulfill his fertility system's goals, he turned back to the Auto Cultivation System.
Thanks to being humiliated by Uchiha Itachi earlier, his Sharingan had evolved into the two-tomoe form. Now, he just needed someone to mock him again—maybe then it would progress to three tomoe. And maybe, just maybe, the Mangekyō would follow.
He didn't care about pride anymore. Power was power, even if it came through provocation.
As he wandered, he found himself near the Konoha training grounds. There were plenty of ninja and children training, but what caught his attention was a green-jumpsuited man with a bowl haircut, coaching a smaller version of himself.
Wasn't that Might Guy? The same man who once nearly kicked Madara into oblivion?
Beside him was a young Rock Lee.
If Ryosuke could learn the Eight Gates technique...
The Eight Gates Formation was the pinnacle of taijutsu. When all eight were opened, the user gained strength surpassing the Five Kage by many times, becoming the strongest human weapon—though at the cost of their life.
But what if he could learn to open seven gates without sacrificing his life?
With that kind of power, he could certainly challenge the "two traitor Uchihas" of the future.
His curiosity peaked, Ryosuke approached the training duo.
Guy, sensing someone behind him, turned and was surprised to see a young man in traditional Uchiha attire.
He immediately grew cautious.
The Uchiha were known for their pride, and especially for their disdain of taijutsu users like him.
Was this boy here to mock him?
But Ryosuke's face was calm, his eyes respectful.
Rock Lee also noticed and froze. A real Uchiha?
He instinctively felt intimidated. He had no bloodline, no ninjutsu talent—he had always felt inferior to shinobi like this.
But Guy-sensei had shown him that even without talent, hard work could lead to strength.
Ryosuke stopped before them.
With a respectful tone, he spoke: "Might Guy-senpai."