Kurenai's expression changed drastically as Ryōsuke spoke.
If the Uchiha had truly caused the Nine-Tails attack, Konoha's leadership would never have let them stay in the village afterward.
That much was undeniable.
And yes—during the Nine-Tails attack, it had been her father and the Fourth Hokage fighting on the front lines.
The Third Hokage hadn't appeared.
Danzō hadn't appeared.
Not a single high-ranking official had shown their face.
Only the Fourth and a handful of elites fought the beast head-on.
If what Ryōsuke said was true…
If the Uchiha had joined the battle…
If the higher-ups hadn't blocked them…
Maybe the casualties would have been far fewer.
Maybe her father wouldn't have died.
Ryosuke noticed the change in her eyes and pushed further—perfect timing.
"Back then, Uchiha Madara tried to lead our clan to betray Konoha," he said solemnly.
"But the clan rejected him—because the Uchiha desire peace. We built this village with the Senju. Why would we destroy our own home?"
"I still don't know why the leadership hates us so much," he continued.
"Why they let your father and the Fourth Hokage fight alone."
"Why they stopped us at the gate."
"Why they refused our help while the Nine-Tails destroyed the village."
"Our clan head's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, was Minato and Kushina's former classmate. They were close friends."
"Would she ever attack her own friends?"
Kurenai felt her mind trembling.
Everything he said… made sense.
She had never heard any of this.
The village narrative had always been simple:
The Uchiha were suspicious. Dangerous. Untrustworthy.
But now…
Could it be the leadership who caused everything?
Could they have doomed her father?
If the Third Hokage and Danzō hadn't blocked the Uchiha—
If they had trusted the clan even a little—
Maybe the tragedy wouldn't have happened.
Maybe her father wouldn't have died.
Maybe her mother wouldn't have struggled alone.
Maybe she wouldn't have become the family's breadwinner at such a young age.
Her heart sank painfully.
"...Sorry," she whispered.
"I wrongly blamed you."
Her beliefs—her entire worldview—were collapsing.
The Uchiha hadn't caused the Nine-Tails attack.
They had been locked out of the battlefield.
They had no chance to fight, let alone cause chaos.
And if their clan head's wife had been close to Minato's family, the idea that they would betray the village was ridiculous.
Ryōsuke smiled gently—no grudge in his expression.
"It's not your fault. Konoha's top brass has always been paranoid."
"I still don't understand why—during the Nine-Tails attack—only the Fourth and your father fought on the front lines."
"Where were the Third Hokage, Danzō, Homura, Koharu?"
"Why didn't any of them fight?"
"Why did they block the Uchiha instead?"
He sighed softly.
"We mourn the Fourth Hokage just as deeply as you do. We mourn your father.
If they had allowed us to fight with them… maybe they'd still be alive."
Then he gave a short, derisive laugh.
"These leaders… they can't wash their hands clean."
Kurenai's heart trembled.
Everything he said matched the facts she knew.
The high-level officers had done nothing during the attack.
They hadn't helped the Fourth Hokage.
They hadn't helped her father.
All they did was block the Uchiha.
She clenched her hands as grief surged through her chest.
If only… if only someone had done something…
She bowed her head.
"…Sorry. I truly misunderstood you… and the Uchiha."
Ryosuke could see that she was fully convinced—
The resentment had dissolved completely.
Perfect.
He had three entire years until the Night of the Uchiha Massacre.
Plenty of time.
He smiled warmly.
"If you have time… treat me to another meal."
Kurenai relaxed.
She had been worried he would resent her.
"Of course. As much as you want."
After they parted ways, Ryōsuke walked off with a light heart.
The misunderstanding was gone.
The future looked promising.
Since he couldn't complete the Many-Children system task yet,
he might as well use the Auto-Training system to grow stronger.
After all—
A single insult from Itachi had evolved his Sharingan to two tomoe.
Powering up through humiliation…
Ridiculous, but effective.
He needed someone else to mock him.
Face? Pride? Didn't matter.
Strength came first.
While wandering, he unknowingly arrived at one of Konoha's training grounds.
Children and shinobi practiced everywhere.
And then—
he spotted a familiar duo.
A man in a green jumpsuit with a bowl haircut—
and a small boy with the exact same hairstyle.
Guy-sensei.
And Lee.
Ryōsuke's eyes lit up.
The Eight Gates —
the peak of taijutsu.
The strongest power the human body could unleash.
Eight Gates Open → power surpassing even Five Kage.
Sure, it killed the user…
But Ryosuke didn't need to go that far.
Seven Gates was enough to overwhelm most enemies—
Including two certain Uchiha traitors.
Excitement surged through his veins.
He walked toward them.
Guy, mid-correction of Lee's stance, suddenly froze.
He sensed a presence and turned.
An Uchiha was approaching.
Guy's expression stiffened.
The Uchiha were proud and distant.
They rarely talked to others—especially to a taijutsu specialist like him.
Guy's heartbeat quickened.
Is he here… to mock me?
He braced himself.
Little Lee sensed his teacher's tension and paused.
He looked up and saw the Uchiha approaching—
handsome, confident, elegant.
Inferiority struck him instantly.
The Uchiha had bloodline power—Sharingan—and natural talent.
Lee had none.
No ninjutsu.
No genjutsu.
Barely any talent.
But still, he bowed respectfully.
Ryōsuke finally reached them.
Guy straightened, tense but polite.
Ryōsuke spoke with complete seriousness:
"Might Guy-senpai."
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