Ryosuke noticed Izumi stepping between him and Itachi. He knew that if he tried to fight Itachi now, it would only anger her.
After all, Izumi clearly favored Itachi far more than she favored him.
Besides, even if he activated his two-tomoe Sharingan, he was almost certainly no match for Itachi.
Itachi was already eleven, and had joined the Anbu—an organization made up of only the most elite shinobi of Konoha.
Such a waste, Ryosuke thought. That kind of talent and strength, yet not put to use for the clan.
And then there was Uchiha Shisui. No doubt he had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and was filling Itachi's head with his so-called great ideals.
"To fight for the village."
That phrase wasn't wrong in itself—but not at the cost of the clan's destruction.
Without the Uchiha, there was no Konoha.
And without the Uchiha, what worth was Konoha at all?
If not for the scheming of the higher-ups, why would the Uchiha ever think of rebellion?
If they had wanted to rebel, they would have followed Uchiha Madara from the very beginning.
But no—they had chosen a peaceful life.
Ryosuke exhaled slowly, and the tomoe faded from his eyes. His Sharingan vanished, his pupils returning to their normal color.
Izumi finally let out a sigh of relief. At least the two of them hadn't come to blows.
"Ryosuke-nii, let's wait until I'm an adult before you ask me that again, okay?"
She dared not provoke him further. What if he grew angry again and activated his Sharingan?
"…Fine."
Ryosuke, of course, didn't believe she would so easily agree to his request. And truthfully, her delicate frame didn't seem suited for bearing children anyway. Best to look for another target.
With that, he turned and left, heading toward the village center.
Still, he felt strangely satisfied. To stand before Itachi and openly try to take away his childhood companion—it had vented much of the fire smoldering in his chest.
Left behind, Izumi's face was full of puzzlement.
Until now, she had only ever seen Ryosuke treat her as a younger sister. Never had he shown her that kind of look between a man and a woman.
As a girl, her sensitivity told her something had changed.
Could it be that she was nearly of age now, and her womanly charm was beginning to show?
The thought brought a faint smile to her lips.
Itachi caught that smile and frowned slightly in concern.
"You're not actually thinking of accepting Uchiha Ryosuke's request, are you?"
Izumi chuckled softly.
"Ryosuke-nii is a good man, and handsome too… but how could he ever be as cute as you?"
Itachi's cheeks flushed red. Cute? His Anbu comrades already saw him as a grown man, yet Izumi called him that…
Still, her words eased his heart. At least she wouldn't slip away from him.
After all, he had so few friends. Perhaps it was because he had never been good at connecting with others.
But now he spoke with rare solemnity.
"Izumi, Ryosuke said I couldn't protect you. I promise you now—I will always protect you."
His talent was undeniable. Though still a Chūnin, his strength already rivaled many Jōnin. He had even awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Once his chakra and body caught up, he would be considered among the strongest of Jōnin.
Of course he could protect Izumi.
Uchiha Ryosuke was wrong.
Izumi's heart fluttered with joy at his words.
Her own talent was high, yes—but she was still a girl, weaker in physique and chakra than Itachi.
Itachi was a true genius. At just eleven, he had awakened the full three-tomoe Sharingan.
With him by her side, she believed no danger could touch her.
"Then Itachi… if I ever face danger, you must protect me well."
"Of course."
Meanwhile, Uchiha Ryosuke continued walking. After more than ten minutes, he reached the very heart of the village.