Uchiha Fugaku's Conspiracy

The two Uchiha guards had just opened the door to the Shrine Basement when Ryosuke already appeared behind them.

Using Sonido once more, he had already appeared outside the shrine.

That was close, I almost got caught by them.

Ryosuke dared not linger around the shrine and immediately ran into the forest.

However, a figure soon blocked his path.

It was Itachi.

"Another shadow clone?"

Ryosuke said helplessly.

Itachi stared at Ryosuke and said, "Who exactly are you? How do you know about the Stone Tablet in the shrine's basement?"

Itachi couldn't help but be suspicious.

After all, he had learned about the Stone Tablet in the basement through Madara.

Yet this child named Ryosuke, who was even a year younger than him, had actually managed to sneak into the shrine.

"I just followed you in, and I didn't even see the real text on the Stone Tablet. That requires the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to see, doesn't it?"

Ryosuke tried to bluff his way through.

"There are many problems with what you just said. First, how do you know the Stone Tablet has hidden content, and that it requires a Three-Tomoe Sharingan to see? Who told you all of this?"

Itachi became vigilant, simultaneously activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Between two eight or nine-year-old children, a hint of murderous atmosphere suddenly emerged.

Ryosuke felt immense pressure.

Itachi's insight was simply too strong.

He realized now that saying too much leads to mistakes, so he decided to stop explaining.

Both of them drew their Kunai at the same time, preparing to face off.

Itachi stared intently at Ryosuke, not making the first move.

Because he knew his Sharingan could perceive and copy the opponent's movements, reacting to motion with stillness was a better strategy.

"Sonido!"

Ryosuke, however, adhered to the strategy of striking first to gain the advantage, launching the attack.

It wasn't that he truly wanted to do anything to Itachi.

Rather, he had always felt a bit unconvinced in his heart.

Itachi was known as a genius of the Uchiha clan, and through these two encounters, Ryosuke was indeed very surprised by his skill and intellect.

But he had a system, an advantage that ordinary people could never reach.

If he still couldn't surpass Itachi with that, it would only prove that he was a failure.

Ryosuke appeared behind Itachi in an instant.

A look of surprise flashed across Itachi's face.

"Body Flicker Technique?"

Sonido and Shisui's Body Flicker Technique were both high-speed movement arts.

Itachi and Shisui were close friends, so he naturally knew his signature ninjutsu.

"You lost."

Ryosuke's Kunai was already pressed against Itachi's neck.

Itachi turned his head, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan putting inexplicable pressure on Ryosuke.

"What is your relationship with Shisui?"

"None."

Ryosuke felt some aversion to the expressionless Itachi.

He had clearly gained the upper hand, so why wasn't he afraid at all?

"You are a decent opponent. I hope we won't ever truly have to fight."

After Itachi finished speaking, his figure suddenly twisted and vanished.

"Genjutsu?"

Ryosuke was truly taken aback.

Even though he had activated his Sharingan, he hadn't been able to see through the opponent's genjutsu.

It was evident that the other's proficiency with the Sharingan was far above his own, and since the system hadn't even recorded the opponent's ninjutsu, it meant that it was a dōjutsu of the Sharingan.

Itachi already has such skills now; one can only imagine how strong he will be in four years. The person who truly carries out the clan massacre will most likely be him.

Ryosuke felt his mood grow heavy.

The encounter with Itachi made him feel that his previous plans needed to change.

Even if he could truly avoid the day of the Uchiha clan's annihilation, would Danzo, Obito, or even Itachi let him off the hook?

Furthermore, even if his ninjutsu level truly surpassed Itachi's, he did not have a hundred percent certainty that he could defeat him.

That was a man who had created countless myths.

And that was even with the buff of little Sasuke added to the mix.

Ryosuke returned to his house in the village with a weary expression.

Collapsing onto his bed, he wondered how he could survive in this world.

"What are you thinking about, Ryosuke?"

In the darkness, a pair of red eyes suddenly appeared by Ryosuke's bedside.

Ryosuke was startled; it was a pair of Sharingan.

He had already recognized that it was Uchiha Fugaku's voice.

"I have already heard about what happened at the academy. I do not oppose your desire to graduate early; in fact, it is not a problem even if you stop attending classes."

"However, after you graduate, you must join the Uchiha clan's Police Force."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke in an unquestionable tone.

"But, Clan Leader, isn't the Police Force only open to ninjas of Chunin rank or higher? Even if I graduate, I will only be a Genin."

Ryosuke climbed up from the bed.

Make him join the Police Force? Wouldn't that be the same as sending him to his death?

Moreover, the Uchiha Police Force was practically at odds with Konoha; he was not that stupid.

"You are just like Itachi, very talented. However, he has already joined the Anbu, but you must remain in the clan and strive for the future of the Uchiha clan."

Uchiha Fugaku turned his head and looked out the window as he spoke.

Damn it, there isn't a single normal person in this family; everyone's personality is extremely extreme.

Ryosuke quickly analyzed the current situation in his mind.

Refusing Uchiha Fugaku would likely lead to very serious consequences.

But if he agreed, he would not only lose his freedom, but he would also likely be viewed with hostility by the Konoha higher-ups and eventually die at Itachi's hands.

Even if he were lucky enough to survive, he would only end up as a rogue ninja.

This was seriously inconsistent with his plans.

"Clan Leader, I am afraid I do not possess the talent you speak of. Please give me some time to hone my skills. Just wait two more years; once I become a Chunin, I will join the clan's Police Force."

Ryosuke thought of a compromise.

Uchiha Fugaku did not seem to expect that Ryosuke would disobey him.

He turned around, his eyes staring fixedly at Ryosuke.

Ryosuke gripped a kunai in his hand, preparing for a desperate fight.

"Very well. If this is your answer, I will consider it. By the way, I mentioned before that I would take you as my foster son. You should come live at my house from now on; it will be easier for me to look after you."

After Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, he left through the window.

Ryosuke let out a sigh of relief.

He walked to the bedside to close the window, then used Pesquisa to carefully search the room again, ensuring no one was hiding inside before returning to the bed.

This old guy actually wants to take me as his foster son? Something is wrong. He must have also read the contents of the Stone Tablet. He just wants me to become a sacrifice for Sasuke to awaken his eyes, right?

Ryosuke quickly realized that this was a conspiracy.

The tampered Stone Tablet in the Shrine Basement had already become the root of the Uchiha family's tragedy.

If they wanted to obtain power, they had to sacrifice their siblings and closest kin.

And now, Uchiha Fugaku was clearly planning to use him for that purpose.