Several days after his conversation with Izuna, Ryo slowly began adjusting the way he approached life.
Rather than remaining confined inside his home while adapting to the changes brought on by his injuries, he started venturing around the clan compound with the cane his younger brothers had prepared for him.
As expected, his actions sparked mixed reactions throughout the Uchiha Clan.
What stood out was that most of the dissatisfaction came from seasoned veterans and clan members who had little personal connection with him.
Meanwhile, those from the younger generation—especially the group led by Uchiha Akihiko, who had only recently begun experiencing the battlefield firsthand—were almost entirely on his side.
The clearest evidence of this was the fact that whenever Ryo stepped outside, there always seemed to be someone from his generation nearby, coincidentally free from any mission assignments.
“Sorry for making everyone go through so much trouble because of me.” Akihiko looked uncomfortable at those words.
However, when his gaze landed on the scar running across Ryo’s face, any harsher response died before it could leave his mouth.
“If you’re really sorry, then stop acting like this and get back on your feet already.
We still haven’t settled our rivalry.” “So you’re still refusing to admit defeat, Akihiko?” A faint laugh escaped Ryo.
“If that’s the case, how about we have a match right now?” Before replying, Akihiko shot a cold glare at a nearby child who had been staring at Ryo’s scar and looked ready to say something tactless.
Only after the child backed down did he answer.
“You expect me to beat up a blind guy?
Do I seem that shameless to you?” Ryo merely smiled.
“Just taijutsu.
That hasn’t been affected.
I’ve already resumed training.” Akihiko rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“…Fine.
Let’s head to the Naka River Highlands.
There’ll be fewer people around.” “The training grounds are fine.” Ryo gently shook his head.
A helpless smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“You don’t have to keep protecting me.
Once the war is over in a few days, everything should calm down naturally.” Akihiko stopped and looked him over carefully.
His eyes lingered on the scar for a moment before understanding flashed across his face.
Then he clicked his tongue.
“You really are a sneaky bastard.
No wonder you’ve never bothered covering your eyes.” Ryo lifted a finger with a grin.
“A performance needs a proper ending.
If you’re going to leave clues, you have to leave just enough for people to find.” “Tch.
And here I was actually worried about you.” Akihiko draped an arm over Ryo’s shoulders.
“Come on.
Let’s get to the training grounds.
If I don’t beat you up today, I won’t get rid of this irritation.” “Then I’ll be counting on your mercy.
And slow down a little.
I’m still keeping track of my steps.” Akihiko immediately matched his pace.
Listening to the rhythmic tapping of the cane against the ground, he found himself feeling impressed by Ryo all over again.
As one of the leading candidates for the position of clan heir, Akihiko was no stranger to political maneuvering.
The moment Ryo made those comments, combined with everything happening within the clan and the recent battlefield developments, Akihiko instantly pieced everything together.
Ryo himself had become the centerpiece of an elaborate plan.
First came the story that he had failed a mission and lost his eyes as punishment.
The rumor encouraged the clan to act more cautiously and avoid directly clashing with the furious Senju forces.
Afterward, Ryo vanished from public view under the guise of recuperation.
During that time, much of the clan’s frustration was directed toward him while discussions gradually shifted toward selecting a new heir.
Now that the Senju Clan was beginning to lose ground, Ryo had started appearing in public again without hiding his injuries.
The Uchiha were among the strongest shinobi clans in existence.
How could they fail to recognize what those wounds truly represented?
Once suspicion appeared, people would naturally begin investigating.
And after uncovering the truth, guilt and complicated emotions would inevitably shift public opinion toward both Ryo and Madara.
Not only would Ryo’s reputation recover, but Madara’s position in the upcoming heir selection would also receive a tremendous boost.
It was a strategy that benefited the clan while strengthening internal unity.
In the end, the only thing Ryo had sacrificed was enduring criticism for a period of time.
Nothing else had been lost.
Yet Akihiko understood how frightening words could be.
Even if someone knew the truth from the start, how many people could willingly shoulder that kind of burden?
He silently shook his head.
If their positions were reversed, he knew he could never remain so calm.
He certainly couldn’t use his own suffering as a piece on the board while simultaneously paving the road ahead for both his younger brother and the clan.
Uchiha Ryo was insane in a way few people could understand.
No matter the circumstances, he always remained composed.
Because they had once stood as rivals, Akihiko understood Ryo’s character better than most.
That was exactly why he never believed the rumor that Ryo had lost his eyes because of a failed mission.
Unless someone committed outright treason, mission failure rarely brought severe punishment.
At most, compensation would be deducted from mission rewards.
In more serious cases, offenders were assigned to the archives and forced to spend their days copying records, jutsu scrolls, and historical documents.
The Uchiha’s eyes were their pride.
Their dōjutsu defined their existence.
Unless someone committed an unforgivable offense, no Uchiha would ever have their eyes taken away by the clan.
From the beginning, Akihiko had been convinced there was another story hidden beneath the surface.
After discussing the matter with several former candidates for clan heir, his suspicions only grew stronger.
That was why he had spoken to Madara the way he did earlier.
He had hoped Madara would carry information about the clan’s current state back to Ryo.
Then, after seeing the scar firsthand, all remaining doubt disappeared.
The atmosphere spreading through the clan had clearly been engineered from the start.
Putting themselves in Ryo’s place, Akihiko and several others had gathered members of their generation whenever possible and accompanied him around the compound, hoping to shield him from malicious gossip.
Unfortunately, reality proved they had worried for nothing.
Ryo had already accounted for everything.
They had simply interfered where they weren’t needed.
Hearing Akihiko’s dissatisfied snort, Ryo finally offered an explanation.
“I wasn’t the only one involved.
You’ve seen my condition.
Reaching this result required considerable cooperation from the elders and my father.” “But you’re the one who suggested it in the first place, aren’t you?” Akihiko clicked his tongue again.
“You’re practically falling apart, and you’re still plotting.
You’re definitely crazy.” “Heh.” Ryo laughed softly.
“With a body like this, I probably won’t contribute much to the clan in the future.
Since I still have some influence left, it’s only natural to use it while I can—for my family and for the clan.
“And besides, I was once the clan heir.
Since I survived, the least I can do is avoid becoming dead weight.
Otherwise people may start doubting Father’s judgment—and the elders’ as well.” Akihiko let out a quiet sigh.
Then he blurted out what had been on his mind.
“Seriously…
does Madara even know how black your heart is?” Ryo didn’t answer directly.
Instead, he simply smiled.
“Madara possesses extraordinary talent.
More importantly, he works harder than anyone else.
One day he’ll surpass me.” “Him?” Akihiko scoffed.
“Only because you’re still alive.
If you’d died, then aside from the clan’s official stance, hardly anyone from our generation would support him becoming clan head.
“He’s talented.
He’s responsible.
But what a clan leader needs isn’t someone who clings so stubbornly to idealism.” “A stubborn idealist…” Ryo chuckled.
“But what if, someday, someone manages to truly understand Madara?
“If two people shared the same dream…
“If they worked together toward that future…
“If they led their clans side by side…
“Perhaps that wouldn’t be such a terrible future after all.
“Now that I think about it, I suppose I still have reasons not to become lazy.” “…Can your obsession with your little brother actually be cured?” “Funny hearing that from you.
If memory serves, the last time—” Akihiko’s expression changed instantly.
He lunged forward and clamped a hand over Ryo’s mouth.
“Stop!
You can say whatever you want, but don’t start bringing up old embarrassing stories.
Otherwise don’t blame me if I hit you with ninjutsu later!” The sounds of sparring and shouting from the training grounds ahead grew louder and livelier.
Smiling, Ryo pulled Akihiko’s hand away.
“Then you’d better clear everyone out first.
I can’t see anymore, remember?
Once we start fighting, I won’t be able to tell friend from foe.”