Uchiha Fugaku's Scheme

The two Uchiha guards had only just opened the basement door when Ryosuke appeared behind them.

He used Sonido again and appeared outside the shrine.

"That was close. They almost caught me."

Ryosuke didn't dare linger around the shrine. He immediately ran into the forest.

But soon, a figure blocked his path.

It was Itachi.

"Another clone?"

Ryosuke said helplessly.

Itachi stared at Ryosuke. "Who are you, really? How do you know about the Stone Tablet in the shrine basement?"

Itachi had good reason to be suspicious.

After all, he'd learned about the Stone Tablet in the basement from "Madara."

And this boy named Ryosuke was a year younger than him, yet had still managed to sneak into the shrine.

"I only followed you in, and I didn't see the actual writing on the Stone Tablet. You need the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to see it, don't you?"

Ryosuke tried to bluff his way through.

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

Itachi grew wary and activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

A murderous tension hung between two children of only eight or nine.

Ryosuke felt immense pressure.

Itachi's powers of observation were simply too sharp.

He realized that the more he said, the more likely he was to slip up, so he decided to stop explaining.

Both of them drew their Kunai, ready to settle things between them.

Itachi kept his eyes fixed on Ryosuke but didn't make the first move.

He knew his Sharingan could see and copy his opponent's movements, so waiting for Ryosuke to act was the better strategy.

"Sonido!"

But Ryosuke believed in striking first and launched an attack.

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

He'd just always felt a little unwilling to accept the gap between them.

Itachi was known as the Uchiha Clan's genius, and after their two encounters, Ryosuke had indeed been amazed by both his skills and his intelligence.

But Ryosuke had a system, an advantage beyond the reach of ordinary people.

If he still couldn't surpass Itachi with that kind of advantage, then he was nothing but a waste.

Ryosuke appeared behind Itachi in an instant.

A flash of surprise crossed Itachi's face.

"Body Flicker Technique?"

Sonido and Shisui Uchiha's Body Flicker Technique were both methods of moving at high speed.

Itachi and Shisui were close friends, so he naturally knew Shisui's signature technique.

"You lose."

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

Itachi turned around. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes gave Ryosuke an inexplicable sense of pressure.

"What's your relationship with Shisui?"

"None."

Ryosuke felt uneasy around the expressionless Itachi.

He'd already gained the upper hand, so why wasn't Itachi afraid at all?

"You're a worthy opponent. I hope we never really have to fight."

As soon as Itachi finished speaking, his figure twisted and vanished.

"Genjutsu?"

Ryosuke was genuinely startled.

He'd activated his own Sharingan, yet still hadn't seen through Itachi's Genjutsu.

That showed how much more proficient Itachi was with the Sharingan. What's more, the system hadn't recorded Itachi's technique, which meant it had been a Sharingan ability.

Itachi was already this skilled. Just imagine how strong he'd be four years from now. He was probably the one who'd personally carried out the Uchiha Clan's massacre.

Ryosuke felt weighed down.

His encounter with Itachi had made him realize that he needed to change his plans.

Even if he really could avoid the day the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, would Danzo, Obito, or even Itachi let him live?

And even if his ninjutsu skills really surpassed Itachi's, he still couldn't be certain he could defeat him.

Itachi was a man who'd created countless legends.

And he'd even had little Sasuke's plot armor on his side.

Ryosuke returned to his house in the village, looking exhausted.

He fell onto his bed, wondering how he could survive in this world.

"What are you thinking about, Ryosuke?"

In the darkness, a pair of red eyes suddenly appeared beside his bed.

Ryosuke jumped. They were Sharingan eyes.

He recognized Uchiha Fugaku's voice.

"I've heard all about what happened at school. I don't object to you graduating early. You don't even have to attend classes, if you don't want to."

"But after you graduate, you'll join the Uchiha Clan's Police Force."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.

"But, Clan Head, doesn't the Police Force only accept Chunin and above? Even if I graduate, I'll only be a Genin."

Ryosuke sat up in bed.

Join the Police Force? Wouldn't that be like throwing his life away?

Besides, the Uchiha Police Force was practically at odds with Konoha. He wasn't stupid.

"You're as talented as Itachi. He's already joined the Anbu, but you must stay with the clan and work for the future of the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha Fugaku turned to look out the window.

Seriously, was there anyone in this family who was normal? Every one of them had an extreme personality.

Ryosuke quickly assessed the situation.

Refusing Uchiha Fugaku could have serious consequences.

But if he agreed, he'd lose his freedom, probably become a target of the Konoha High Command, and eventually die at Itachi's hands.

Even if he somehow survived, he'd only end up a missing-nin.

That was completely at odds with his plans.

"Clan Head, I'm afraid I don't have the talent you think I do. Please give me some time to train. If you wait just two more years, I'll join the clan's Police Force once I become a Chunin."

Ryosuke came up with a compromise.

Uchiha Fugaku seemed not to have expected Ryosuke to disobey him.

He turned around and fixed his eyes on Ryosuke.

Ryosuke gripped his Kunai tightly, ready to fight to the death.

"All right. If that's your answer, I'll consider it. By the way, I said before that I would take you in as my adopted son. From now on, you can live at my house. It'll make it easier for me to look after you."

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

Ryosuke let out a sigh of relief.

He went to the window and shut it, then carefully searched the house with Pesquisa. Only after confirming no one was hiding inside did he return to bed.

"That old man really wants to adopt me? Something's not right. He must have read the Stone Tablet too. Is he just planning to make me a sacrifice so Sasuke can awaken his Sharingan?"

Ryosuke quickly realized it was a scheme.

The Stone Tablet in the shrine basement had been altered, and it had become the root of the Uchiha family's tragedy.

They believed they had to sacrifice their siblings and loved ones to gain power.

And now, Uchiha Fugaku had clearly set his sights on him.