Kurenai's expression changed after hearing Ryosuke's words.
If the Nine-Tails' Rampage really had been caused by the Uchiha, there's no way the Konoha higher-ups would've allowed them to live peacefully in the village.
Plus, it was her father and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who led the defense and protected the village during the chaos.
None of the other village leaders had even shown up. The Third Hokage didn't step up to face the Nine-Tails head-on.
Danzo, head of the Root division, also conveniently vanished.
If what Ryosuke said was true—if they'd joined forces, if all those powerful ninja had attacked together—maybe they really could've subdued the Nine-Tails with minimal loss.
Maybe the Fourth and her father wouldn't have died.
Seeing her reaction, Ryosuke decided to ramp up the drama.
"When Uchiha Madara wanted to lead us in rebelling against Konoha, we didn't follow him. That's because we Uchiha love peace—we love this village."
"We built this village alongside the Senju. Why would we ever want to destroy something we helped create?"
"I don't even understand why the higher-ups treat us this way. Why did they let your father and the Fourth face the Nine-Tails alone? Why didn't they step in? Why did they even stop us Uchiha from helping?"
"Did you know? Our clan leader's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, was not only a classmate of the Fourth Hokage's wife—they were close friends. There's no way we'd be behind the Nine-Tails attack."
Kurenai felt like her head was spinning.
Everything he said made so much sense—it shattered her worldview.
So the Uchiha had deep ties to the Fourth Hokage?
And during the Rampage, the other higher-ups would rather block the Uchiha from helping than go back up the Fourth and her own father?
If the Uchiha had been allowed to act—plus the Third Hokage—the damage could've been way less. Maybe her dad wouldn't have had to die.
Her mom wouldn't have to suffer. She wouldn't have to carry this burden alone.
Hearing all this changed her impression of the Uchiha.
She lowered her head and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I wrongly accused you."
She now truly believed the Uchiha weren't behind the Nine-Tails' Rampage. Konoha was just as much their home—who would burn down their own house?
And if they were locked out by the higher-ups, how could they have even caused the chaos?
She never expected that the Uchiha and the Fourth's family were so close—that made it even more impossible for them to be the culprits.
But Ryosuke didn't blame her—instead, he doubled down on blaming the higher-ups.
"It's not your fault. It's Konoha's leadership and their pointless suspicion."
"Even now, I still don't get it. Why was it only the Fourth and a few jonin like your father who fought the Nine-Tails?"
"Why didn't the Third Hokage or advisors like Danzo, Homura, or Koharu lift a finger?"
"What were they doing?"
"They even stopped us from helping."
"That's what got the Fourth and your father killed. We Uchiha grieve their deaths, too."
Throwing shade was easy—and the higher-ups really had no defense. If they'd stepped in, maybe the Fourth and Kurenai's father would still be alive.
Maybe they were just afraid of dying and stood back to watch the show.
Ryosuke found himself sneering a little at the so-called Will of Fire.
What a joke. Was their "will" just about sacrificing others while they sat back collecting benefits?
The Third Hokage was the king of double standards.
He loved preaching sacrifice, but had zero battle record himself.
Even becoming Hokage was probably just an act—a performance in front of the Second Hokage where he pretended to sacrifice himself.
Who knows if that wasn't staged, too?
Kurenai wasn't a kid anymore. Normally, the village's propaganda made her think the Uchiha were in the wrong. But now, thinking calmly—Konoha's leadership was seriously rotten.
During the Rampage, they didn't just do nothing—they actively made it worse. They tied up their top fighters, making it impossible to properly defend the village.
A wave of sorrow welled up in her chest. If only they'd done something—just something—her father might still be alive.
She looked at Ryosuke with shame in her eyes.
"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you—and the Uchiha."
Ryosuke could see she truly meant it. She was convinced.
There were still three years left before the Night of the Massacre. He had time to rack up rewards from the Blessed-with-Many-Children System.
He definitely had to make a move on Kurenai.
Forcing it was off the table—that wasn't his style.
She was a victim of the higher-ups, too. They were both caught in the same storm.
Ryosuke smiled at her.
"If you're free, treat me to a meal again sometime."
Hearing that, Kurenai felt relief.
At least he didn't seem upset about what she said earlier.
"Sure. As much as you want."
After parting ways with Kurenai, Ryosuke was in high spirits.
Clearing up that misunderstanding meant there was a chance for the future.
He kept wandering the streets—since he couldn't complete the Blessed-with-Many-Children mission yet...
Might as well use the Auto-Cultivation System to level up.
Last time, Uchiha Itachi's disdain evolved his Sharingan to two tomoe.
That was huge progress.
Now he really wanted someone to insult him again.
Sure, it felt a little masochistic—but if it made him stronger, who cared about pride?
Before he knew it, he'd arrived at the Konoha ninja training grounds. Plenty of kids and ninja were training there.
In a corner, he spotted a guy in a green jumpsuit with a bowl haircut, next to a kid with a matching look.
Wasn't that Might Guy—the man who nearly kicked the series to the finale?
Next to him was Lee.
If he could unlock the Eight Gates, that'd be insane.
The ultimate taijutsu in the Naruto world.
With all Eight Gates open, you could momentarily surpass the power of the Five Kage several times over.
You'd become the strongest human alive.
Sure, it burned your life force and killed you—but who said you had to open all eight?
Just opening seven was more than enough to crush those two Uchiha traitors.
That hunger for the Eight Gates pulled Ryosuke toward the master and student duo.
Guy, who had been overseeing Lee's training, sensed something and turned around.
There he saw a young man in a high-collared Uchiha robe walking toward them.
He was immediately suspicious.
That outfit made it clear—he was Uchiha.
And the Uchiha were Konoha's true nobles. Proud, arrogant, always looking down on others—especially taijutsu users like him.
Was this guy here to mock them?
But looking at his face, that didn't seem to be the case.
Lee, who had been practicing, noticed that Guy had stopped correcting his form and paused.
He followed Guy's gaze—
And immediately felt fear and inferiority.
The Uchiha—one of Konoha's most elite clans. Their Sharingan alone could turn them into top-tier ninjas.
He envied them so much, but there was nothing he could do. He had no kekkei genkai, no talent for ninjutsu.
Until he met Guy-sensei. Taijutsu gave him hope.
With taijutsu, he could still become strong.
And now, Ryosuke stood before them.
Guy kept a calm face, but inside he was uneasy.
"Senior Might Guy."