Even Uchiha Fugaku was utterly stunned. To think someone could defeat his son in a contest of ocular power—Ryosuke's Sharingan was clearly among the top three within the entire clan.
The first two places undoubtedly belonged to him and Uchiha Shisui, each occupying one. The third, most likely, was Ryosuke. As for whose ocular strength was truly superior among the three, that could only be determined through direct combat.
But seeing Ryosuke's crimson three-tomoe Sharingan, Fugaku could tell how ominous—and powerful—those eyes were. He didn't dare take this young man lightly.
Having such a powerhouse within the clan brought him relief. For too long, he alone had shouldered the pressure from Konoha's upper ranks. One more strong ally—especially one aligned with the radicals—was nothing but good news.
If Ryosuke could one day awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, then the Uchiha clan would have nothing to fear. Even if Konoha tried to move against them, the result would only be mutual destruction.
He even hesitated, wondering whether to tell Ryosuke the secret of awakening the Mangekyō. But that method was too cruel to bear.
At the edge of the field, Uchiha Izumi's small mouth hung open in awe.
'Ryosuke-nii is really that strong?'
Even Itachi had lost. She didn't feel pity for Itachi's defeat—it somehow felt… right.
The Uchiha Grand Elder, on the other hand, could hardly contain his delight.
His grandson was incredible—having awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan and even defeating Uchiha Itachi in a genjutsu duel. He had watched both boys grow up; he knew better than anyone how gifted Itachi was. That only made Ryosuke's victory more shocking.
Fugaku, unwilling to see his son humiliated further, finally spoke.
"That's enough, Ryosuke. Stop. The outcome is already clear."
The Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique was one of the clan's interrogation genjutsu, capable of inflicting extreme mental torment.
Ryosuke obeyed at once, halting the chakra flow to his eyes and ending the illusion. There was no need to crush Itachi completely—defeating him was enough. He wasn't going to kill him, after all.
Itachi staggered as his vision spun, returning to reality. His eyes were blurry, his head dizzy. After a moment, he steadied himself and sighed inwardly.
He could only wait for Shisui's return—perhaps then he could regain face. His father's lack of rebuke only deepened his disappointment.
Fugaku soon dismissed the clan meeting. There was no longer any reason to accuse Ryosuke of wrongdoing. In fact, Fugaku was pleased. Why would he punish the one who had just defended the clan's honor?
The Uchiha dispersed with excitement, their earlier resentment toward Ryosuke gone. Instead, they now respected him deeply.
Everything he had said made sense. Whether radical or moderate, all of them still saw Konoha as their home and wanted it to grow stronger—not be bullied by outsiders.
The only one who remained displeased was Itachi.
His reputation as a prodigy lay in ruins, while Ryosuke's influence grew, empowering the radicals. If they gained too much momentum, conflict with the village leaders would only escalate—and perhaps even lead to war.
The next morning, Ryosuke resumed his usual training in the forest, refining his body's physical power.
Before long, a small figure appeared nearby, watching him curiously.
It was Uchiha Izumi. Ryosuke blinked in mild surprise.
"Why are you here?"
She smiled with interest.
"I wanted to see how Ryosuke-nii trains. You've become so strong—it must have something to do with your training, right?"
Graduation was near, and she too wanted strength like his. Being a ninja was dangerous, and she needed to protect her mother.
Ryosuke's expression twitched as he recalled the mental image of a future "muscle-bound Izumi." Looking at her now—small, cute, and delicate—he immediately refused.
"Izumi, my training method isn't suitable for girls. You should learn something else. Maybe train under Itachi; he's not bad either."
Before the massacre, Itachi had indeed treated Izumi kindly.
But Izumi sighed softly. "Lately, I don't feel very comfortable around Itachi."
Ryosuke could understand. Their ideologies were incompatible. For someone like Izumi, who sided with the clan, being around Itachi must have felt suffocating.
He also realized she didn't have many friends among the Uchiha. Born and raised mostly among the Senju, with her father from that clan, she never fully fit in.
He smiled. "Then I'll teach you some basic taijutsu."
Basic taijutsu wouldn't make her overly muscular—just strong enough to protect herself.
Izumi's face lit up instantly. Ryosuke really was kinder to her than anyone else. Maybe it was because he'd always looked after her.
She didn't even mind that he had once confessed liking her—it never made her uncomfortable.
Ryosuke stopped his own training and began demonstrating some of the techniques he'd learned from Might Guy, guiding Izumi through each motion. Naturally, that required occasional contact—adjusting her stance, correcting her form.
He couldn't help but notice how soft her body felt—her small abdomen, her thighs, her legs. The faint scent of her skin made him momentarily tense. His hands lingered a second too long.
Izumi's cheeks turned red as his fingers brushed her skin. It felt cool, ticklish.
'Ryosuke-nii really likes teasing me… Am I really that cute?'
The thought made her heart flutter. To him, she seemed… irresistible.