Kurenai's expression shifted at Ryosuke's words.
Yes… if the Uchiha really had been behind the Nine-Tails' attack, Konoha's leaders would never have let them remain in the village afterward.
And she remembered clearly: during the Nine-Tails' rampage, it had been her father and the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, who led the charge to protect the village.
None of the other high-ranking officials had stepped onto the battlefield.
Not even the Third Hokage had fought directly against the beast.
And Danzō, the head of Root, had been nowhere to be seen.
If things truly were as Ryosuke said—if those leaders had joined forces—then with so many powerful shinobi attacking together, perhaps the Nine-Tails could have been subdued at far less cost.
Maybe the Fourth Hokage and her father wouldn't have needed to die.
Ryosuke, seeing the turmoil in her face, pressed on, his tone solemn, each word weighted.
"Back then, when Uchiha Madara wanted our clan to defect, we refused. Because we Uchiha loved peace. We loved this village."
"This village was founded by both the Uchiha and the Senju. How could we ever think of destroying something that is ours?"
"I don't know why the higher-ups target us so relentlessly. During the Nine-Tails' attack, they not only refused to help—they even stopped us from joining the battle. They let your father and the Fourth Hokage fight alone, until both were lost."
He paused, then added pointedly:
"Did you know? Lady Mikoto, the clan head's wife, was not only a classmate of Minato and Kushina at the Academy, but a close friend as well. With that bond, do you truly think the Uchiha would ever unleash the Nine-Tails on them?"
Kurenai's thoughts whirled.
Could that really be true?
The Uchiha leadership had such deep ties with the Fourth Hokage and his wife?
And the other elders… instead of helping, they had chosen to blockade the Uchiha compound?
If the clan had been allowed to fight, alongside the Third Hokage, the casualties would have been far smaller.
Maybe her father would still be alive.
Her mother wouldn't have suffered so much.
And she herself wouldn't have had to carry such grief.
Her gaze softened. She bowed her head slightly.
"…I'm sorry. I wronged you."
In that moment, she began to believe—the Uchiha weren't the ones who unleashed the Nine-Tails.
Konoha was just as much their home. Who would ever burn down their own house?
And if they had been blocked inside the compound during the attack, how could they have been the culprits?
Learning of the clan's bond with Minato and Kushina made it even clearer—they couldn't have been behind it.
Ryosuke showed no hint of blame, only continued to throw mud on Konoha's leadership.
"This isn't your fault. It's all because of the baseless suspicion of the higher-ups."
"During the attack, I don't know why… but only the Fourth Hokage and your father fought the Nine-Tails. The Third Hokage, Danzō, Koharu, Homura—none of them lifted a hand."
"They even stopped the Uchiha from intervening."
"And so the Fourth Hokage and your father fell. We of the Uchiha grieved just as deeply."
Anyone could sling accusations. And against Konoha's leaders, there was no way to wash the stains away.
Had they fought, the Fourth Hokage—and Kurenai's father—might not have died.
But perhaps they had simply feared death, choosing instead to sit back and watch.
The more Ryosuke thought about it, the more he scorned the so-called Will of Fire.
How laughable was it, to preach about self-sacrifice while letting others die in their place?
The Third Hokage was a hypocrite.
He spoke of noble ideals, but had little to show in terms of real battle achievements.
The only reason he had become Hokage at all was by playing on the Second Hokage's emotions, performing a show of selfless resolve.
Who could say that wasn't just a calculated act?
Kurenai was no child.
Though the village's propaganda had shaped her to blame the Uchiha, now that she thought calmly, it was clear.
Konoha's leadership was rotting from within.
(T/N: missing part XD)
The Konoha higher-ups had done absolutely nothing during the Nine-Tails' Rampage—in fact, they had only made things worse, preventing the village's top fighters from even taking the field.
A wave of sorrow welled up in Kurenai's heart. If only those people had acted, even just a little… her father wouldn't have had to die.
Ashamed, she looked at Ryosuke and said,
"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you—and the Uchiha clan."
Seeing the sincerity in her expression, Ryosuke knew she had been convinced.
There were still three years before the Night of the Massacre. That gave him time to secure rewards from the Many-Children System.
He had to win Kurenai over.
Using force wasn't something he would consider. Now, she too was a victim of Konoha's leadership—they shared the same sense of betrayal.
Smiling at her, Ryosuke said,
"When you have time, just treat me to another meal."
Hearing this, Kurenai felt relieved. It seemed her questioning hadn't upset him.
"Sure. However much you want to eat, it's no problem."
After parting ways with Kurenai, Ryosuke felt in good spirits.
The misunderstanding had been cleared. That meant he had opportunities in the future.
He continued strolling through the village streets. Since the Many-Children System's task couldn't be completed right away, he would rely on the Auto-Cultivation System to strengthen himself.
Previously, when he was scorned by Itachi, his Sharingan had evolved into a two-tomoe state.
That was a huge improvement.
Now, he almost wished someone would insult him again.
Sure, it felt a little masochistic, but if it meant gaining power—what did pride matter?
Unconsciously, his steps carried him to the Konoha training grounds, where many children and shinobi were practicing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a man in a green vest with a bowl-cut hairstyle, training alongside a small boy with the same haircut.
Wasn't that Might Guy—the man who nearly kicked the entire story to its conclusion?
And beside him was young Lee.
If only he could master the Eight Gates Formation.
That was the pinnacle of taijutsu in the Naruto world.
When all eight gates were opened, one could instantly surpass even the Five Kage, wielding dozens of times their strength—becoming the strongest human alive.
Of course, opening all eight meant death, as life energy itself was burned away.
But as long as he didn't open the final gate, he'd be fine.
Even opening seven gates would be more than enough to deal with those two Uchiha traitors.
His yearning for the Eight Gates pushed him to approach the training pair.
Sensing something, Guy turned his head, spotting a young man in a high-collared Uchiha robe walking toward them.
Confusion flickered in his heart.
The distinctive clothes made it clear this was an Uchiha.
The Uchiha were one of Konoha's most prestigious clans—arrogant to the core.
They normally looked down on everyone else, especially taijutsu specialists like him.
Could this one be here to mock him?
But… the look on the young man's face didn't seem like mockery.
Noticing his teacher had stopped correcting his form, Lee halted his training and followed Guy's gaze.
The sight made him feel both fear and inferiority.
The Uchiha clan—so proud, so powerful. With their Sharingan alone, they could become mighty shinobi.
How he envied that. But he had no bloodline limit, and no talent for ninjutsu.
It was only after meeting Guy-sensei that he found hope—that through taijutsu, he too could become strong.
And now, Ryosuke had stopped right in front of them.
Guy's face remained calm, but inside he felt a trace of unease.
Ryosuke inclined his head slightly.
"Might Guy-senpai."