Naruto: The Shadow of Uchiha

Ryosuke's punch, though forceful, wasn't at full strength. It was a restrained heavy strike—meant more as a lesson than true harm. After all, the opponent was still a fellow clansman.

Even the surrounding Uchiha elites were shocked. Ryosuke had clearly resisted Inaho's genjutsu. There could be only one explanation: his Sharingan's ocular power surpassed Inaho's. But… how could that be possible?

Ryosuke had only just awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, while Inaho had held his for over a year. And yet, the difference in pupil power was undeniable.

Lying on the ground, Inaho climbed to his feet. He wasn't seriously injured—Ryosuke had held back—but he was frustrated and humiliated. Losing to someone who had only just awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan? It felt like a bad dream. He stared at Ryosuke in disbelief.

"How did you resist my genjutsu? That's impossible. Your pupil strength shouldn't surpass mine!"

Ryosuke calmly replied, "Who said it doesn't?"

Inaho froze, staring into Ryosuke's Sharingan more carefully. He noticed something subtle but unmistakable: Ryosuke's Sharingan glowed deeper, more ominously red than his own. The crimson hue pulsed with power, clearly stronger than his.

A look of shock crossed his face—Ryosuke was a true prodigy. To awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and already surpass his peers? That was terrifying. Maybe Ryosuke's real talent had simply taken time to manifest.

Some geniuses blossom late, building a deep foundation before breaking through. Ryosuke might be such a case.

Inaho's frustration gave way to something else—admiration and opportunity. Given the growing tension between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's leadership, someone like Ryosuke could tip the scales. The village's distrust of the Uchiha was increasing, and the clan had already been forced to relocate, isolated and slandered for allegedly causing the Nine-Tails incident.

As a jōnin and clan elite, Inaho knew better—no one in the Uchiha clan had the power to control the Nine-Tails. Even he didn't know how to do it. The accusation was clearly a scapegoat narrative pushed by the village's leadership, fueled by public suspicion.

What was worse, two of the clan's most gifted—Shisui and Itachi—had joined the ANBU and were now serving the village rather than their own blood. Itachi, the clan leader's own son, siding with Konoha? It stung deeply.

Now, seeing Ryosuke—a new Uchiha prodigy—Inaho felt a surge of hope. If they could pull Ryosuke into the radical faction of the clan, even the elders might sway. With Ryosuke's strength and the endorsement of his grandfather—the Uchiha clan's great elder—they could pressure Fugaku into standing firm against the village.

He envisioned Ryosuke rising as a counterweight to Itachi, and maybe even surpassing Shisui in power and loyalty to the clan.

Inaho made a mental note: he needed to report this to Uchiha Yatsushiro, the elder leading the radicals.

But Ryosuke was unaware of any of this. His focus was back on his training.

"Everyone, leave. Don't bother me again," Ryosuke said plainly. "And don't underestimate Might Guy. He's not just some ordinary chūnin."

No one dared protest anymore.

A month ago, Ryosuke had still been considered average—his taijutsu nowhere near the level of a jōnin. But now, he had bested Inaho, a full-fledged elite, in open combat. And his explosive improvement in both body and eye techniques left them stunned.

The Uchiha clan respected strength above all else. Ryosuke, rather than bringing shame to the clan, had elevated it. Even their skepticism toward Might Guy softened. Anyone capable of training Ryosuke to this level surely wasn't ordinary.

Once they left, Ryosuke returned to his solo training. He wasn't smug over his win—his true enemies weren't his clansmen. No, he was preparing for traitors like Itachi and Shisui, and the corrupt leadership of Konoha.

The road to true power was long—and he had only just begun walking it.