Ryoma and Kushina attended Uchiha Mikoto's birthday banquet, and for the first time, all the major clans of Konoha took notice.
What exactly was the Uchiha clan planning?
What would the Senju clan and the Uzumaki clan think of this?
The eyes of every clan were on this gathering, interpreting and speculating about its meaning.
"This glass of wine, I'll drink first. Thank you both for coming to my daughter's birthday celebration."
The speaker was none other than Mikoto Uchiha's father, a respected elder and high-ranking member of the Uchiha clan.
At his side stood Mikoto's mother, graceful and elegant.
Everyone raised their cups in unison, echoing his toast before drinking in one gulp.
Alongside Mikoto and her parents sat Ryoma, Kushina, and Uchiha Fugaku—the young rising star of the Uchiha clan.
It was clear to everyone that the clan intended to pair Mikoto with Fugaku.
Fugaku, already captain of the Konoha Military Police Force at such a young age, was poised to inherit the role of clan head in the near future.
Before long, Mikoto's parents excused themselves, leaving the younger generation together.
Ryoma took the opportunity to lighten the atmosphere, introducing the dice game Big Talk. What started as a simple diversion quickly became the heart of the gathering.
The game wasn't only about luck—it demanded boldness, quick wits, and the ability to bluff convincingly.
Even someone like Uchiha Fugaku, who usually carried himself with a stern, disciplined air, couldn't help but laugh and immerse himself in the excitement.
"Six sixes!"
"Twelve sixes!"
"Call your bluff!"
The lively shouts filled the room, the atmosphere warming with every round as faces grew flushed from drink.
Between rolls, Fugaku leaned toward Ryoma, his tone low.
"Ryoma-kun, the other day you mentioned that among Danzō's Root operatives, you saw someone using the Sharingan?"
Ryoma nodded. "Yeah. I saw it with my own eyes. Why?"
Fugaku's expression darkened, his voice carrying a quiet weight. "It's fortunate you told us. Otherwise, we would still be in the dark."
"Hm?" Ryoma tilted his head.
"It's no secret within the clan. None of us have joined Root. Even in the ANBU, only one or two of our people serve, and their names are recorded in our archives. If someone was seen wielding the Sharingan within Root…"
Ryoma's eyes narrowed. "You mean…?"
"That person isn't Uchiha." Fugaku's gaze was firm.
"…Interesting."
Their conversation paused as the game continued. Fugaku called out, "Twelve threes!"
Mikoto smiled playfully. "Split!"
"Counter-split!"
The dice were revealed—five threes from Fugaku, the rest nothing but bluffs. Laughter rang out around the table.
Fugaku took the loss in stride, chuckling as he shook the dice again. "Still, this is amusing. By the way, our patriarch is currently in negotiations with the Third Hokage. The matter concerns a… creation, a monster born from the blood of our clan."
His words silenced the table.
"They say it was the only surviving subject of a Root experiment. If not for your discovery, Ryoma-kun, we would never have known. It's an insult to the Uchiha name!"
He raised his cup to Ryoma. "Thank you, for destroying that abomination on behalf of our clan."
Ryoma's eyes widened in surprise. So that was the truth.
An Uchiha clone?
His thoughts drifted to Yamato, the ANBU raised as a child experiment from the First Hokage's cells.
If that Sharingan user he killed wasn't truly Uchiha, then he had stumbled across another hidden piece of Konoha's dark history.
The world of Naruto was deeper than it first appeared. Even knowing the broad strokes of history, there were countless secrets buried beneath the surface.
This "Uchiha experimental subject" would likely have been erased from history—if not for Ryoma.
Uchiha Fugaku's words of gratitude carried more than simple courtesy—they were a gesture of goodwill from the Uchiha clan itself.
The truth was, no matter how strong the clan appeared on the surface, its leadership knew well that after reaching a peak, decline was inevitable. If they could secure an ally like Ryoma, it would be invaluable for the future.
After several rounds of drinking, Fugaku began to loosen up. Whether he was truly drunk or only pretending was hard to say, but in his haze he revealed matters that should have been kept secret—details of Root and Danzō's punishment.
"That so-called Uchiha 'experimental body'… it was secretly created by Danzō, using funds from Orochimaru. But all of Orochimaru's experiments have now been shut down."
Fugaku's eyes half-closed as he swayed with his cup.
"And more than that… Danzō has already committed a crime that would enrage both gods and men. As punishment, he's been sent to Kumogakure as an undercover agent. Unless he achieves great merit, he won't be allowed to return!"
A faint smile lingered on Fugaku's lips before he finally slumped forward, completely unconscious.
Ryoma watched him fall and sighed inwardly. So he really was drunk. No wonder he let such confidential things slip.
"Come on, drink!"
Kushina's cheeks were flushed red, her beauty only heightened by the alcohol.
Mikoto, equally rosy, grabbed hold of Ryoma's arm and laughed. "Drink with us!"
Ryoma snorted. "Drink your size…"