Ryōsuke rummaged through this body's memories and found a bottle of herbal liniment in the living room.
He loosened his shirt and began rubbing it over the bruises splattered across his torso.
Strength growth was amazing, yes…
But a system that required him to get beaten half to death to level up?
He might as well rename it:
"Get-Beaten-to-Grow System."
Or:
"Masochist Ascension System."
The moment the liniment hit a swollen patch on his cheek, he hissed sharply.
"Hsss—damn, that hurts!"
Guy really had been merciless.
That righteous muscle-brain had zero concept of "holding back."
Well… Ryōsuke did ask for it.
No point complaining now.
Just then, the door slid open.
A figure stepped inside.
The old man froze—
Then rage exploded across his face.
"Ryōsuke! What happened to you?!
Who did this? Tell Grandpa—Grandpa will beat him to death!"
This kind of injury?
There was no way he "accidentally fell."
This was his only grandson.
If someone had dared lay hands on him…
Ryōsuke's heart warmed—but he quickly panicked.
He absolutely could NOT let his grandfather go after Guy like those hot-headed Uchiha patrol idiots.
"Grandpa, it wasn't a beating—it was a sparring match with Might Guy."
Uchiha Jin exhaled slowly.
His temper cooled, but irritation lingered.
"Even so, that boy hit you far too hard."
Ryōsuke awkwardly scratched his cheek.
"Actually… I asked him to go all out. At first he refused—I insisted.
If he holds back, how am I supposed to improve?"
Uchiha Jin sighed.
If his grandson had asked for it, he couldn't exactly blame Guy.
He handed the liniment back.
"You've grown up, hm? Making your own decisions."
"But be careful. Strength is pointless if you die before gaining it."
He sat beside Ryōsuke.
"Give me the bottle. You're missing half the bruises."
Ryōsuke obediently straightened.
Jin's hands were gentle but firm, rubbing the medicine in with practiced motions.
Warmth sank into his muscles, easing the ache.
"Massage after applying medicine is important," his grandfather lectured.
"Helps blood circulate. Bruises fade faster. Pain too."
"Got it," Ryōsuke murmured gratefully.
This old man—
Even if he wasn't the same grandfather from his previous world, this version was still grandpa.
Ryōsuke would NOT let him die like in the original timeline.
Meanwhile — Uchiha Police Headquarters
Inside the building marked by the massive fan crest, several Uchiha patrolmen crowded into Captain Uchiha Fugaku's office.
One of them stepped forward.
"Captain, Might Guy injured Ryōsuke in public.
He embarrassed our clan.
How should we punish Ryōsuke?"
…
Fugaku almost choked on air.
Punish Ryōsuke?
Punish his ass!
Ryōsuke was the Grand Elder's only grandson.
If Fugaku so much as scolded him, old man Jin would storm in and flip the entire headquarters.
And right now?
The political tension between the Uchiha and the village leadership was like dry tinder—
One spark and everything would explode.
Fugaku pinched his temples.
"It was a sparring match. Nothing more."
"Do not cause useless trouble. The village is unstable enough."
The patrolmen exchanged looks but didn't argue.
Their captain was strong—
But far too soft.
The Uchiha were once Konoha's greatest clan.
(Well… once equal to the Senju, but the Senju had practically vanished.)
Being suppressed by the leadership infuriated them.
They wanted any excuse to assert the clan's power.
Yet Fugaku refused to use this opportunity?
They grumbled internally but left.
The Rumor Reaches the Hokage
It didn't take long for word of Ryōsuke scolding Uchiha officers—and earlier, humiliating Asuma—to spread across half the village.
Of course it reached the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi set aside his pipe with a scowl.
So this was the brat who publicly embarrassed Asuma?
The one who made his son look like a fool?
And now the boy had gotten beaten black-and-blue by Might Guy…
And the Uchiha wanted to arrest Guy?
Hiruzen sneered inwardly.
"What a useless Uchiha brat."
As for Might Guy—
Hiruzen had only supported him publicly because he needed to appear "fair" as Hokage.
Guy's eventual success had been unexpected… and mildly inconvenient.
But there was no way Yūhi Kurenai would choose some bruised Uchiha boy over his son.
Problem solved.
At the Yūhi Household
Evening.
Kurenai dragged her tired body home.
Her mother had prepared a warm dinner.
As they ate, her mother spoke casually:
"Something interesting happened today. An odd Uchiha appeared."
Kurenai blinked.
"Who?"
"That boy who ruined Asuma's confession—Uchiha Ryōsuke.
He sparred with Guy, got beaten silly, yet still scolded the Uchiha Police Force when they tried to arrest Guy."
Kurenai nearly choked.
Her mother really wanted to shove her into Asuma's arms, huh?
But… something felt off.
"…Mother, wasn't Ryōsuke right?" Kurenai asked softly.
"It was just a spar. Why arrest someone for that?"
Her mother sighed at her daughter's innocence.
"From a civilian's perspective, perhaps."
"But from a clan's perspective? No."
"When our Yūhi clan was still strong, if someone beat our people publicly, we would retaliate too."
"Uchiha is even more prideful."
Kurenai fell silent.
Her mother had a point…
But Ryōsuke didn't seem like the usual arrogant Uchiha.
He was handsome, her age, responsible, and surprisingly mature compared to Asuma's blundering.
"Mother… don't tell me you think he's promising?" she muttered.
Her mother shook her head.
"Not promising, but… he seems willing to do the right thing."
She paused.
"Remember, our clan had close ties with the Uchiha once.
Uchiha Kagami died protecting the Second Hokage alongside your father's unit."
"Not every Uchiha is an enemy. Some died for this village—just like your father."
Kurenai's eyes softened.
So her mother didn't particularly dislike Ryōsuke.
That was… good.
At least future interactions wouldn't be blocked.
But the way her mother pushed Asuma?
That was the real headache.
If her mother had been harassed like that in the street, she would've punched the man into a coma.
Why couldn't she understand her daughter felt the same?
Kurenai sighed and focused on eating.
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