Kurenai reluctantly agreed to her mother's words.
She had always been a filial daughter. Without her mother's strength, their home would have collapsed long ago.
But after hearing everything… her impression of the Uchiha clan shifted sharply.
If the Nine-Tails incident had truly been caused by the Uchiha…
Then that Uchiha boy — even if he wasn't personally involved — was still the descendant of those who killed her father.
Her father's stern yet gentle face flashed in her mind.
Strict but caring.
Respected by every shinobi under his command.
How had such a good man died so young?
A familiar ache formed in her chest.
And now, anger and grief pushed her toward a single thought:
She wanted to confront that Uchiha boy —
and hear what kind of excuse he could possibly give.
The Next Morning
Ryōsuke woke only when the sun was already high in the sky.
Normally, someone preparing to prevent the Uchiha Massacre would train at dawn, pushing body and chakra to the limit.
But he wasn't normal.
He had two systems.
He didn't need morning training.
Last time, Itachi's taunt alone had triggered his evolution to two-tomoe.
If someone mocked him again…
Would he evolve to three-tomoe?
And if mocked a second time…
Would he awaken the Mangekyō?
Then, on the night of the massacre…
Good luck killing a clan full of Mangekyō wielders, Itachi.
Ryōsuke scratched his chin thoughtfully.
Maybe he should… find someone to insult him?
Someone arrogant, someone who liked provoking Uchihas.
Like the Hyūga clan.
They always proclaimed themselves Konoha's "strongest."
Surely one of them would say something irritating.
Yes — the Byakugan had 360-degree vision, could see chakra flow, and observe at extreme distance.
But that was it.
In potential, the Sharingan still reigned supreme.
Three-tomoe vs Byakugan? Fifty-fifty at best.
And the Uchiha could evolve into Mangekyō.
The Hyūga had no Tenseigan.
Bloodline too diluted, Ryōsuke thought casually.
The Tenseigan rivaled the Rinnegan in status — awakening it was impossible for modern Hyūga.
Kakashi had shown how versatile the Sharingan was, copying countless jutsu.
Meanwhile, Uchiha ninjas were known for Fire Release and usually only had a single chakra nature…
I need to learn more ninjutsu.
More ninjutsu meant more ways to live.
While he was pondering his growth strategy, fate intervened.
He ran straight into Kurenai.
She saw him as well — and last night's conversation with her mother resurfaced.
Resentment flickered in her heart.
She had planned to question him calmly, but seeing him again stirred memories of her father's death.
Even so, she forced a polite smile.
"Thank you for helping me yesterday," she said softly.
"May I treat you to a meal to thank you?"
Ryōsuke blinked.
Already making a move?
Is she… interested in me?
This could work.
He grinned.
"Just call me Ryōsuke. And sure — Ichiraku Ramen is fine."
Cheap, safe, delicious.
Kurenai was surprised.
An Uchiha… eating ramen like a normal villager?
But she nodded.
"Alright."
They enjoyed a warm lunch together — paid for by Kurenai, of course.
Afterward, she suggested taking a walk.
Ryōsuke agreed immediately.
A beautiful kunoichi spending private time with him?
A perfect target for the child-bearing system.
She led him toward a quieter part of the village.
Ryōsuke blinked.
A secluded place?
Already?
This is fast date progression…
But the deeper they walked, the more serious her expression became.
When they reached a deserted clearing, she finally stopped.
She turned, and her polite smile vanished.
Her eyes were cold.
Ryōsuke straightened.
So… not a date.
He waited.
Kurenai's voice was sharp, trembling with suppressed emotion.
"Was the Nine-Tails incident caused by your Uchiha clan?"
"My father died protecting the village that night."
Ryōsuke froze.
So that's her true purpose.
Was she planning to attack him?
He raised both hands quickly.
"Why do you think it was the Uchiha who did it?"
"If the Uchiha could control the Nine-Tails,
why were we pushed to the edge of the village after the attack?"
Kurenai's expression shifted.
His words… made sense.
"But if it wasn't the Uchiha," she pressed, "then who else could it be?"
"Only Madara was ever recorded controlling the Nine-Tails."
Ryōsuke knew the truth.
It was Obito — the lunatic who killed his own sensei's wife, released the Nine-Tails, and triggered everything.
But he couldn't reveal that.
Even if he did, the village would still blame the Uchiha.
It would only give the elders more fuel to use against the clan.
So he spoke calmly, with sincerity:
"No one in the current Uchiha clan can control the Nine-Tails."
"And I'm truly sorry about your father. His sacrifice… I remember it clearly."
"During the Nine-Tails attack, your father fought alongside the Fourth Hokage to protect the village."
"Our Uchiha clan wanted to help too —
but the Konoha leadership, the Third Hokage and Danzō, blocked us at the gate."
"Our strongest fighters were held back."
"If they had trusted us — if we had joined the battle —
your father and the Fourth Hokage might still be alive."
"We're still living in Konoha today. Doesn't that prove the leadership has no evidence against us?"
"Otherwise, we would have been driven out long ago."
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