Back at home, Ryosuke searched his memory and found some medicinal wine in the living room. After stripping down, he began rubbing the liquid over his bruises. Though increasing his strength was satisfying, he couldn't help but grumble at the Auto-Cultivation System.
"This system should be called the 'Get Beaten to Grow Strong' System, or the 'Masochist Mode'," he muttered, wincing as he dabbed the wine on his face. "Damn, that hurts."
Clearly, Might Guy hadn't held back. That one-track-mind of his might just be the secret to his terrifying taijutsu.
But Ryosuke didn't blame him—it was his own request, after all.
Just then, someone entered the room. It was an older man whose expression twisted in fury the moment he saw Ryosuke's black-and-blue face.
"Ryosuke, what happened to you? Who did this to you? Tell Grandpa—I'll get revenge!"
Ryosuke was touched by the concern. This man was Uchiha Jin, his grandfather and only remaining family member. But Ryosuke was quick to clarify.
"No, no—it was a sparring match with Might Guy, not a beating."
Uchiha Jin's anger cooled slightly, though he still frowned. "Even so, that guy hit you way too hard."
Ryosuke chuckled awkwardly. "I asked for it. He didn't even want to go full force at first."
"If he hadn't gone all out, how could I improve?" he added sincerely.
Jin sighed. "So you're growing up and making your own choices now, huh?" He took the medicinal wine and began helping Ryosuke apply it properly.
"Let me help. You missed a few spots."
As Jin massaged the bruises, Ryosuke felt warmth and relief course through his body.
"You need deep pressure and massage to get the blood flowing. That'll help disperse the bruises and speed up recovery," Jin explained.
"Got it," Ryosuke nodded appreciatively. His grandfather truly cared about him.
In his heart, Ryosuke swore to never let his grandfather walk down the same doomed path from the original timeline.
Meanwhile, at the Konoha Police Force HQ—a building marked with a giant Uchiha fan crest—several clan members reported to Captain Uchiha Fugaku.
One man stepped forward. "Captain, Ryosuke brought shame to the clan by getting beaten up by Might Guy. What punishment shall we hand down?"
Fugaku frowned, falling into deep thought.
Punishment, my foot. That's Uchiha Jin's grandson. If we touch him, Jin will be banging on the door before nightfall.
Besides, the political climate in the village was tense. The Uchiha Clan's relationship with the Konoha leadership was strained. Trust was at an all-time low—both from the elders and the clan.
"It was just a spar. No need to blow things out of proportion," Fugaku said calmly. "Let's not create friction over something minor in these sensitive times."
Although the clan members were unhappy with the decision, they said nothing. Fugaku was the clan head, after all. But they still thought he was too soft.
To them, the Uchiha were the strongest clan in Konoha now that the Senju had declined. How could the village leaders continue to suppress them?
Word of Ryosuke scolding the police force spread quickly throughout the village—and of course, it reached the ears of the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, who still remembered how Ryosuke humiliated his son Asuma in public, sneered to himself.
So that little punk got his face smashed by Might Guy, huh?
And then the Uchiha police wanted to arrest Guy?
Pathetic.
In his mind, Guy had always been a pawn—a throwaway taijutsu specialist he had allowed into the Academy to show that he, the Hokage, supported everyone, even "hopeless cases." And while Guy did become a chūnin and didn't tarnish the village's reputation, he was never going to be ANBU material.
No ninjutsu? No place among elite operatives.
At least Sarutobi no longer had to worry about Ryosuke stealing Kurenai from Asuma. No way would Kurenai fall for a weakling.
That evening, Kurenai returned home to a warm dinner made by her mother.
As she sat down to eat, her mother brought up the day's gossip.
"Something unusual happened today—a very odd Uchiha boy caused a stir. Apparently, he scolded the clan's police officers."
Kurenai paused, puzzled. "Who was it?"
"That boy who ruined things between you and Asuma. Uchiha Ryosuke, I think his name was," her mother said. "He had a sparring match with Might Guy and got thoroughly beaten. But instead of blaming Guy, he yelled at the Uchiha police for trying to intervene."
Kurenai sighed. Her mom really wanted her to be with Asuma, huh?
But that was never happening. She found Asuma brash and unappealing.
Curious, she asked, "But don't you think Ryosuke was right? It was a fair sparring match—why should the clan make a fuss?"
Her mother replied with a gentle tone.
"From a civilian's point of view, yes. But from the perspective of a clan—especially one as proud as the Uchiha—getting beaten like that is a loss of face. And restoring face means action. Our own Yūhi Clan used to be large too, and we wouldn't have tolerated such disgrace."
"Ryosuke is just... different. He doesn't seem to care much for clan pride."
Kurenai smiled, intrigued.
"So... are you saying you like him?"
Her mother laughed. "I wouldn't say that. But he does seem like someone who genuinely wants to serve the village."
She grew more serious. "Remember, the Uchiha once had people like that. Uchiha Kagami, for example—Tobirama's bodyguard. He died protecting the Second Hokage, just like your father died protecting the village."
"People like that are worth respecting."
Kurenai beamed a little. Her mother didn't dislike Ryosuke, and that was a relief.
Maybe spending more time with him wouldn't be so bad.
It was just that her mom's obsession with Asuma really grated on her.
If she'd ever been stalked like that, she'd be furious too.
Time to stop thinking and just focus on eating.