At home, Ryosuke searched through the memories in his head, then found a bottle of medicinal wine in the living room.
He pulled off his shirt and began rubbing it into the bruises that covered his body.
Sure, gaining strength felt amazing—but this so-called Auto-Training System forcing him to get beaten up to improve?
It might as well be called the Punching Bag System… or maybe the Masochist System.
When he dabbed at the bruises on his face, the sting was so sharp he couldn't help but cry out in pain.
"Ahh, that hurts!"
Guy really hadn't held back. A single-minded fool to the core—
But maybe that was why his taijutsu was so terrifying.
And Ryosuke had been the one to ask for it. No point in complaining.
Just then, a figure entered.
When the old man saw Ryosuke's battered face and the medicine in his hands, his expression darkened with fury.
"Ryosuke! What happened? Who did this to you?"
"Tell me, and I'll avenge you."
There was no way his grandson had done this to himself.
This was his only family left. Who dared beat his grandson so badly?
Ryosuke felt warmth stir in his chest.
But he also feared his grandfather might lash out at Guy, just like the other Uchihas had tried to.
He quickly explained,
"I sparred with Might Guy. This isn't a beating—it was training."
Elder Uchiha Shin's rage eased a little, though dissatisfaction still clouded his face.
"Even so, he went too far."
Ryosuke gave a sheepish smile.
"I asked for it. At first, he didn't even want to fight seriously. But if it isn't full force, how could I improve?"
Shin sighed.
If it had been his grandson's request, then he couldn't hold Guy accountable.
"…But why spar with him, of all people?"
"Because his taijutsu is incredible, of course," Ryosuke replied without hesitation.
As for his get-stronger-by-getting-hit system, that part he kept to himself.
Shin could only shake his head.
This boy wanted to grow stronger—that much was good.
He bent down and took the medicine bottle from Ryosuke's hand.
"You're growing up, with thoughts of your own now. But remember—safety first."
"Here, let me do it. You missed some spots."
Ryosuke obediently sat still.
Shin dabbed the medicine onto his bruises, massaging firmly, heat spreading through Ryosuke's body. The pain ebbed, replaced by a soothing warmth.
"Apply the medicine, massage hard, keep the blood circulating. That's the only way to drive out the bruises and recover properly," Shin explained.
"Got it," Ryosuke said gratefully.
His grandfather truly cared for him.
There was no way he could let the man die the way he had in the original timeline.
Meanwhile, inside the Uchiha Police Headquarters, marked by the clan's great fan crest—
Several Uchiha entered the captain's office to report.
One spoke out,
"Captain Fugaku, Might Guy sparred with Ryosuke and left him beaten. This has shamed the Uchiha. How should we punish him?"
Uchiha Fugaku lowered his head, deep in thought.
Punish him, my ass.
Ryosuke was Elder Uchiha Shin's grandson.
If he punished Ryosuke now, Shin would storm into his office and rip him to shreds.
And Fugaku's own face would be the one smeared with disgrace.
Besides, these were sensitive times. The Uchiha's relationship with Konoha's leadership was crumbling.
The higher-ups didn't trust them, and many in the clan no longer trusted the higher-ups.
"It was just a simple spar. No need to make a fuss," Fugaku said finally.
"The village's situation is tense enough. Don't create more trouble over trivial matters."
The others exchanged dissatisfied looks but said nothing more.
Their captain was competent, yes—but far too soft.
The Uchiha were Konoha's foremost clan.
The Senju had long since declined.
That left only the Uchiha as the village's greatest power.
The fact that Konoha's higher-ups dared to ostracize their clan naturally left the Uchiha deeply dissatisfied.
They wanted to restore their clan's prestige, to once again make the Uchiha name respected in Konoha.
But since the captain had already decided to let the matter drop, they had no choice but to stay silent.
The Uchiha clan head's authority was absolute.
News of Ryosuke scolding members of his own clan quickly spread throughout half the village.
And naturally, it reached the ears of the Third Hokage.
This boy who had publicly rebuked his son, Sarutobi Asuma, causing Asuma to make a fool of himself—and tarnishing the Hokage's image—of course, he remembered.
It was just a sparring match with Might Guy, yet the boy had ended up beaten black and blue.
The Uchiha had even wanted to drag Guy into the Police Force.
Pathetic Uchiha weakling.
As for Guy—he had been a pawn the Hokage had chosen by chance back in the day.
It wasn't because he saw potential in him, but because, as Hokage, he couldn't afford to think like the common folk.
Ordinary villagers dismissed Guy as a useless failure.
But the Hokage couldn't allow himself the same prejudice.
So, he had given Guy the chance to enter the Ninja Academy.
In the end, Guy hadn't disgraced him. He became a chūnin—at least not sullying the Hokage's image.
But entering the ANBU was out of the question.
Without ninjutsu, what use could he possibly be for such missions?
The Hokage had once worried Uchiha Ryosuke might steal away Asuma's girlfriend.
Now, that worry felt laughable.
How could Kurenai ever like a failure like him?
That evening, at Kurenai's home, her mother had already prepared a hearty dinner.
Before long, Kurenai returned, dragging her weary body home.
Seeing her mother had finished cooking, she sat down to eat.
As Kurenai ate, her mother struck up conversation.
"Today was truly strange. An odd fellow appeared among the Uchiha.
Though his clansmen tried to defend the clan's honor, he scolded them instead."
Kurenai looked puzzled as she chewed.
"Who?"
Her mother replied,
"It was that boy who ruined things for you and Asuma last time. I think his name was Uchiha Ryosuke.
He sparred with Might Guy, got beaten black and blue, humiliating the Uchiha clan—but then he went and berated the Uchiha Police Force members who wanted to avenge the clan's honor."
Kurenai was speechless.
Her mother really did want her to end up with Asuma.
But there wasn't even the faintest possibility of that.
Her impression of Asuma was simply too poor.
She asked in confusion,
"Mother, don't you think what Ryosuke did was right? It was only a sparring match. Just because someone got hurt, does the clan really have to interfere?"
Her mother patiently explained,
"From an ordinary person's perspective, yes. But from the viewpoint of a great clan, it's different.
Our Yūhi clan was once great as well. If one of our members were injured in such a way, it would have been seen as a loss of honor for the whole clan.
Of course we would have sought to restore face. And the Uchiha are an even greater clan.
That's why this boy is unusual—he doesn't seem to care much for the pride of his clan."
Kurenai asked,
"Mother, do you mean you actually admire him?"
She herself found Ryosuke rather agreeable—handsome, about her age, and lacking the arrogance typical of noble clan heirs.
Not like Asuma with his reckless nature.
Her mother said,
"Admire is too strong a word. But at least he seems like the sort who's willing to do things for the village.
Remember, even the Uchiha have produced people who sacrificed for Konoha. Uchiha Kagami, one of the Second Hokage's guards, gave his life to draw away the enemy for him. Just like your father did—for the sake of the village."
"Such men are worthy of respect."
Kurenai's mood brightened considerably.
It seemed her mother's impression of this boy wasn't bad after all.
Which meant she could likely continue seeing him in the future without resistance.
Still, her mother's attempts to pair her with Asuma gave her a headache.
If her mother had ever been harassed that way in her youth, surely she would have been furious too.
Why couldn't she understand her daughter a little better?
Better to just eat quietly.