Kurenai had agreed to her mother's request. She was a dutiful daughter, after all.
Her mother had always carried the burden of the household, sparing her much of the weight.
But hearing her mother's words the night before had shaken her perception of the Uchiha.
If the Nine-Tails' attack really had been caused by the Uchiha, then even if it hadn't been by this particular clansman, he was still one of them—and thus her enemy.
Her father's face surfaced faintly in her memory. He had been strict, yes, but also deeply gentle with her and her mother. Respected among his peers, admired by his subordinates.
How could such a man have died so young?
Thinking of it brought sorrow to her heart.
Now, more than ever, she felt the urge to confront this Uchiha. She wanted to hear what he had to say.
The next morning, Uchiha Ryosuke rose lazily, long past dawn.
Most who feared the clan's looming massacre would already be up early, training with everything they had.
But he was different.
He was a man with two systems. He didn't need conventional training to gain power.
Just like before—mocked by Uchiha Itachi, and his Sharingan had awakened into two tomoe.
He wondered now: if someone mocked him again, would his eyes evolve into three tomoe? And if he kept being provoked, could he jump straight to the Mangekyō?
If the entire clan bore Mangekyō on the Night of the Massacre, how could they possibly be defeated?
So, all he needed was… more people to provoke him.
And who better than the Hyūga?
The Hyūga were always bragging about being the "strongest clan in Konoha."
But the truth was clear—Konoha's true great clans had always been the Uchiha and the Senju.
The Byakugan had its uses: 360-degree vision, the ability to see chakra pathways, veins, and flow. They could pierce through walls, watch like telescopes, observe with frightening precision.
Enhanced with chakra, the Byakugan could extend its vision for a full kilometer. In terms of pure perception, it rivaled—perhaps even surpassed—the Sharingan.
But that was all.
In battle, the Sharingan reigned supreme.
A three-tomoe Sharingan could already go head-to-head with the Byakugan.
And while the Sharingan could evolve into the Mangekyō, the Hyūga had no such higher awakening.
The so-called Tenseigan was beyond them—its bloodline too diluted, too impure.
That was the true gulf between them.
Even Hatake Kakashi had proven the Sharingan's worth, exploiting it to master countless jutsu outside his own element.
The Uchiha, by contrast, were famed for their Fire Style. Their fire techniques were devastating—if only they actually landed.
The thought made Ryosuke smirk. Perhaps it was time to broaden his repertoire.
Learning more ninjutsu would only make him stronger.
As he wandered the streets, lost in thought, fate intervened.
He crossed paths once again with Kurenai.
She noticed him immediately. Her mother's words echoed in her mind, stirring resentment toward the Uchiha before her.
Her resolve hardened—she would confront him, ask him directly.
But outwardly, she donned a smile.
"Thank you for helping me yesterday," she said sweetly. "Can I treat you to a meal to show my gratitude?"
Ryosuke blinked in surprise.
Could it be… this beauty had already fallen for him?
'Wouldn't that be perfect?'
He chuckled to himself.
"Just call me Ryosuke."
"If you really want to treat me, just buy me a bowl of Ichiraku Ramen."
He realized he hadn't eaten yet today. Ichiraku Ramen was more than enough to serve as lunch—delicious, safe, and never upsetting to the stomach. No wonder it was so beloved in Konoha.
Kurenai was slightly surprised by his answer. Could a proud member of the Uchiha clan really be satisfied with something so simple?
She nodded in agreement."Alright."
The two of them headed to Ichiraku Ramen together and enjoyed a satisfying meal—naturally, Kurenai paid the bill.
Afterward, Kurenai suggested they take a walk.
Ryosuke readily agreed. A young woman like Kurenai was, in his mind, the perfect candidate for having children.
She led him toward the quieter, more secluded parts of the village. She clearly wanted a private place to confront him.
But in Ryosuke's mind, the setting seemed almost romantic.'Could this be a lovers' tryst?'After all, couples usually sought out hidden corners for such things.
When they reached a deserted spot, Kurenai stopped and turned to face him, her smile gone, her expression cold.
Ryosuke's daydreams vanished. He could tell her mood was anything but friendly. He stayed quiet, waiting for her to speak—only then would he know why she had brought him here.
Kurenai fixed him with a piercing stare and demanded,"Was the Nine-Tails' Rampage caused by your Uchiha clan?"
"My father died protecting the village during that disaster."
Ryosuke was taken aback.'Did she bring me here to take revenge?'
He quickly shook his head and replied,"Why do you think it was the Uchiha clan?"
"If we truly had the power to control the Nine-Tails, then why would the Konoha leadership have forced our clan to relocate to the outskirts of the village?"
Hearing this, Kurenai's expression softened slightly. His words did seem to make sense.
"But if it wasn't the Uchiha… then who else could it have been?"
Historically, only Uchiha Madara had ever successfully controlled the Nine-Tails.
Of course, Ryosuke knew the truth—it hadn't been the current Uchiha clan at all. It had been the lunatic Uchiha Obito.
But he couldn't reveal that. Even if he did, the villagers would still blame the Uchiha as a whole, and it would only hand the higher-ups more justification to move against them.
And with Kurenai pressing him so earnestly, he couldn't afford to leave her with a bad impression.
He spoke calmly:"I can guarantee that no one in today's Uchiha clan has the ability to control the Nine-Tails."
"I feel sorrow for your father's death as well. It's truly regrettable."
"Back then, during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, I was still young—but I clearly remember: your father fought alongside the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, to protect the village."
"Our Uchiha clan wanted to fight as well, but we were blocked at the gates by the Third Hokage and Danzo."
"Our strongest fighters were all barred from joining the battle."
"If the leadership had trusted us—if they had let us stand with the rest of Konoha against the Nine-Tails—your father and the Fourth Hokage might never have fallen."
"And the fact that our clan still lives within Konoha proves that the higher-ups had no evidence we were guilty. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been allowed to remain in the village at all."