Though Uchiha Izumi was an exceptional girl, Ryosuke had no desire to ruin her happiness if she truly loved Uchiha Itachi—so long as Itachi wasn't just another puppet brainwashed by the Will of Fire.
There were plenty of women in the shinobi world. Since fate had named him Uchiha Ryosuke, then of course he was destined to be a man who drove the "big carriage."
Besides, his Many Children, Many Blessings System rewarded him with greater treasures depending on the strength of the woman he bore children with. The stronger the mother, the rarer the prize.
And when it came to powerful kunoichi, none compared to Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin.
At this time, Tsunade was in her thirties—arguably her most radiant years. In the original story, she lived a lonely life, a fate Ryosuke considered cruel.
A woman without a man was just as pitiful as a man without a woman.
So Ryosuke had set his sights on Tsunade—he would "save" her, even if that meant giving her maternity leave.
If he dared dream even bigger, he'd give maternity leave to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya herself.
It was an absurd ambition, yes—but not impossible.
For now, however, Itachi stood across from him, cold and disapproving.
Itachi still despised Ryosuke—especially after the last time, when Ryosuke's possessive words about Izumi had made him seethe. He wanted Ryosuke far away from her.
Izumi was too kind, too good, too young. He couldn't allow this man, or the clan's radicals, to ever harm her.
Sensing the tension, Izumi tried to mediate. She smiled and said:
"Ryosuke-nii, I asked Itachi to help me with kunai practice. Why don't you join us? You can guide me too."
She hoped that with her between them, their hostility would soften.
Ryosuke agreed easily. This was the chance he needed to speak with Itachi—privately, about abandoning that poisonous Will of Fire.
Itachi's face stayed calm, betraying nothing. In his eyes, Ryosuke was unworthy of concern. Even with a two-tomoe Sharingan, Ryosuke's skill was like that of a foot soldier.
His focus remained on Izumi. She needed practical skills, not lofty theories.
Drawing a kunai, Itachi explained:
"The key is grip. Tilt your body slightly, use your waist for power, and let your arm guide the direction. That's how you achieve speed, accuracy, and force. Understand?"
Izumi shook her head. The explanation was abstract.
So Itachi slowed his movements, demonstrating step by step. His kunai whistled through the air and struck dead center on a tree trunk.
Izumi gasped in awe. His throw was flawless, and his teaching filled the gaps left by the academy. She eagerly tried the technique herself.
Her kunai hit the trunk, a bit off-center, but solid. She beamed.
"Itachi, that was amazing! With your method, I can actually hit the target. You really are a genius."
Itachi, hearing her praise, felt a warmth in his chest. Seeing her smile made it worth the effort.
Ryosuke, watching silently, absorbed the technique as well. He understood. But to him, kunai throws were little more than feints, tools to mask jutsu—like the Fireball Jutsu hiding a Clone Technique. Useful, yes, but not decisive.
Then Izumi turned to him:
"Ryosuke-nii, do you want to try?"
He accepted without hesitation. Extending his hand, she placed a kunai in his palm.
Ryosuke mimicked Itachi's stance, tilted his body, and flung the weapon. The kunai thudded into the exact center of the tree.
Izumi's eyes widened.
"You're amazing too, Ryosuke-nii!"
He chuckled.
"When you reach Chūnin, you'll be able to throw like this as well. Itachi's method is excellent."
Itachi froze for a moment. Ryosuke—who last time had bristled with hostility—was now openly praising him. It felt strange, almost disorienting.
Izumi, relieved, felt joy stir in her heart. Bringing them together had eased the tension, just as she'd hoped.
After some time, Izumi's kunai bag was empty. Some throws strayed deep into the grove, and she pouted.
"My aim slipped again…"
Itachi reassured her:
"Keep training. Consistency comes with practice."
Nodding, she scampered off into the woods to retrieve her scattered weapons.
Now, only Ryosuke and Itachi remained.
The air grew heavy, quiet.
Ryosuke decided it was the right moment. Izumi didn't need to hear this.
Smiling faintly, he asked Itachi:
"If the clan ever clashes with the village elders… whose side will you stand on?"
Itachi's heart jolted. He was an Anbu under the Hokage, yes—but in truth, he had already pledged himself as a spy. His father had tasked him to observe Konoha's leadership, but he had chosen instead to leak the clan's secrets to the Hokage.
All to maintain the fragile peace of the village.
Now, Ryosuke's question pierced straight through him.
He could not reveal his true role. Not to a radical, not to anyone.
So he answered smoothly, with a practiced smile:
"Of course I would side with the clan. I am Uchiha, after all."