Ryosuke didn't answer his question; instead, he asked,
"Of course I want to revitalize the Uchiha clan. So what's your plan?"
Yatsuyo was pleased with his attitude. Sure enough, this one stood with their faction. To revitalize the clan meant thinking from the clan's standpoint—unlike those two, Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha, who'd joined the Hokage's ANBU despite being Uchiha.
"We radicals plan to unite and pressure the clan head to launch a coup, force the Third Hokage to step down, and put an Uchiha in the Hokage's seat. What do you think?"
Ryosuke was still unsatisfied.
"That's it? You think just forcing him to step down is enough?"
This was political struggle—kill or be killed. The other side wanted the Uchiha wiped out, even the civilians—methods cruel and ruthless. These 'radicals' sounded like they'd lived too long in peace and lost the ferocity of the Uchiha from the Warring States era. With only that resolve, they'd never revitalize the clan.
Yatsuyo looked puzzled.
"Ryosuke, you think an Uchiha taking the Hokage's seat still isn't enough?"
Ryosuke's expression turned grim.
"Of course not. We must eliminate the entire Konoha leadership. Only then can our Uchiha protect ourselves and restore the clan's prestige."
Instead of getting excited, Yatsuyo went cold. This boy was too radical—dangerously so. How could the Uchiha possibly wipe out the whole leadership? Even if the entire clan mobilized, they couldn't easily take on the Hokage's ANBU and especially [Root]. The other clans in the village wouldn't just sit by and watch, either. Push this plan and it wouldn't be the leadership that's doomed—it'd be the Uchiha, to the point of annihilation.
Yatsuyo said, helpless,
"Ryosuke, isn't that too extreme? If we seize power, that's enough—we can reclaim our honor."
Ryosuke replied coolly,
"Elder Yatsuyo, don't be naïve. You think the leadership will just watch us seize power? Hand their authority over nicely?
Power struggles are soaked in blood. If you won't fight to the death, then tuck your tail and play nice."
"Enough. Stop." Yatsuyo snapped.
Ryosuke was far too extreme—this was a fight to the death with the leadership. The radicals only wanted to reclaim what belonged to the Uchiha, not drag the clan to ruin.
"Leave. There's nothing more for our faction to discuss with you."
Ryosuke left Yatsuyo's office without concern. Looked like the so-called radicals had long since lost the ruthlessness needed for brutal struggle.
Waiting outside, Idaho had caught snatches of the argument. He watched Ryosuke stride out and leave, then hurried inside. Yatsuyo's face was dark, edged with anger. Had Ryosuke refused to join and offended him?
"Elder Yatsuyo, does that mean Ryosuke won't join us?" Idaho asked, uneasy. He felt a pang of disappointment—why wouldn't their elites stand up for the clan?
Catching his breath, Yatsuyo said, displeased,
"That kid is a maniac. He actually wants the Uchiha to go to total war with the leadership and kill them all.
That would bring the clan to destruction.
Don't spread this. If the leadership hears it, they'll move against us immediately."
Idaho was dumbfounded. Ryosuke…that extreme?
Starting a war with the leadership now and killing them all was impossible. If the Uchiha tried something that insane, their standing with the village would plummet.
Other clans in the village would even go to war with the Uchiha.
He now fully understood why Elder Yatsuyo was angry—the radicals wanted to restore the clan's glory, not lead it to annihilation.
Ryosuke was walking back toward the compound when a shock of blond hair caught his eye: a little boy standing alone in a corner.
Ryosuke walked over.
Sensing him, Naruto looked up at the man in a high-collared robe. He stayed wary at first. But the stranger's face wasn't cold or hateful—it was calm.
"Uncle, are you a shinobi?" Naruto asked.
Ryosuke hadn't expected the kid to speak first, but the form of address was off—he was only sixteen.
"Don't call me uncle. Call me Big Bro Ryosuke.
And yeah, I'm a shinobi."
Naruto's eyes went wide. Aside from that kindly old man, this was the second person who'd treated him kindly. His spirits lifted, sweeping away the gloom.
"Big Bro Ryosuke, I want to become a strong shinobi too someday."
"You definitely can," Ryosuke said with a smile.
In the original timeline, Naruto really did become the Seventh Hokage.
"Big Bro Ryosuke, you…you don't hate me?" Naruto asked.
Ryosuke blinked. Looked like the kid had been hated so much it left scars.
"Why would I hate you?"
In that environment, the fact that Naruto didn't turn dark was worthy of respect. If it were him—if the leadership and villagers treated him like that—he wouldn't guard them. They didn't deserve it.
"A lot of people in the village hate me," Naruto said, still confused. "They call me 'fox demon.' Do you know what that means?"
He'd looked in the mirror countless times—he was clearly human, with no fox parts.
Ryosuke chuckled.
"'Fox demon'? If anyone calls you that, they're an idiot."
"What does 'idiot' mean?" Naruto tilted his head.
"Someone without a brain—or whose brain is broken," Ryosuke said patiently. The kid was still just a kid.
Naruto nodded. He sort of understood now: those who cursed him were people with no brains—or broken ones. He wanted to believe this Big Bro Ryosuke he'd just met.
Thinking of the shops that had kicked Naruto out, Ryosuke said,
"How about Big Bro treats you to ramen?"
He truly respected the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze; Naruto was his child. He didn't want the kid's childhood to be this miserable.
"Big Bro Ryosuke, what's ramen? Is it tasty?" Naruto asked.
"It's delicious," Ryosuke said with feeling.
Naruto hesitated.
"But I only have ten ryō… I don't know if that's enough."
The old man had given him that money.
Ryosuke frowned. Only ten ryō? The Third Hokage geezer was the one giving Naruto money, right? Ten ryō—for ramen you couldn't even buy a plain bowl of noodles. Had all of the Fourth's assets been embezzled? There was no way the Fourth and his wife left nothing behind. The Third was too black-hearted.
Noticing the big brother's expression, Naruto quickly said,
"If it's not enough, then I won't go," and turned to leave.
He usually ate simple rations—enough to fill his belly, though not tasty. He wasn't resentful; that old man taking care of an orphan like him already made him a good person.
"Don't worry," Ryosuke called after him. "Big Bro's treating."