RIG VEDA 4
It has come to my attention that, well, most of you like this story mostly because of how unhinged Sasuke is. And I'm laughing because this story is supposed to be filled with warmth and cuddles and the fuzzies! Because look at the genres: friendship and family. But yeah, Sasuke is a bit... strange. Heh. But mostly I think it's in character... at some extent?
Since, in my opinion the entirety of Shippuden is mostly filled with: random mentions of 'Itachi', 'Itachi', 'Itachi' and 'Itachi'. Then, "what the actual fuck, Sasuke" and Kakashi's unimpressed 'I am So Done' face. OH, and Naruto's and Sakura's shouts of 'SaSUKEHHH!' before it escalates into 'what the fuck, Obito' and Kakashi's Horrified Look, then 'what the actual fuck, Madara' and Kakashi's I'm Very Tired Look, and then back to the original shouting match of: 'SASUKEEEEEEEEEEEE' and 'NAAARUTOOOOOOOOO', with the extra of 'Proud but Very Tired of This Shit' Look by Kakashi.
Yes.
That's it.
I think I did a good, good job in summarizing Shippuden.
Anyway, thank you for the kind reviews! This chapter is short. I mainly intend to have it until Sasuke's genin days but I'm a lazy asshole, and it ends up longer than I initially intend to but I hope you'll like it anyway. I recently got a new laptop and what is up with new laptops these days? it's so hard to figure out how to use this and that. If you see strange formatting, do blame my inability to use my new laptop.
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Warnings: bad parenting (kinda), brother complex, diabetes? I think, at least there's the sprinkles of sugar here, to accompany the salt
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Soundtracks used while writing this chapter in chronological order:
Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Inevitabilis (Mikoto & Sasuke)
Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun: This Love is Turning into a Shoujo Manga (Uchiha Boys)
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Perhaps it is not so smart for Sasuke to grin like a batshit insane kid in front of Shisui.
Shisui, poor concerned Shisui, immediately told this matter to Mikoto and Fugaku after Sasuke had gone off to sleep, and while Mikoto becomes anguished, Fugaku is angry.
Angry, perhaps because the genjutsu—that he believes Itachi to be the source—fucks with his son so much he even dares to think about killing his own mother. He understands the pain of betrayal, and on how it'll blind one's perspective to the point of no return. A whole lot of shinobi has fallen down that slippery slope—and as a wise man will say: grudges will bring more grudges, and there is never a happy ending for that one. Such is the case with how the village is holding a grudge against the Uchiha after the Kyuubi Attack, such an unscrupulous deed, considering even the Uchiha lost so much during the attack. Fugaku and Mikoto themselves lost their best friends—their comrades and Hokage in one. For them to dare blame the Uchiha Clan... it is no brainer those who are smart enough start holding a grudge against the village's leaders in return.
Even if he can see the reasoning behind such tense relationship between the village and the clan, he sincerely hopes it won't be the case for Sasuke. Sasuke is his son, no matter how tiring and unsettling the child has become since that day Itachi awakened his sharingan. He's young, and Fugaku at this point still sees his spare as the innocent, sweet, laughing little boy.
Whereas Itachi is the one who shall rise as the Clan Head, who will be ruthless, who will show how great an Uchiha can be—Sasuke is the spare, who will faithfully stay by his brother's side forever. It is a silly ideal, however Fugaku truly believes that with his children's current dynamics with each other: it will be the case if everything goes smoothly.
Perhaps Mikoto doesn't truly agree with grooming her first born as a ruthless, emotionless killer, but even she understands the point of being a strong leader that everyone can look up to. She may loves Itachi very, very much, but that doesn't mean she truly disagrees with everything the Uchiha elders propose.
For no matter how she is a mother, she's an Uchiha first and foremost. And if her first born shall be groomed to be what the Uchiha sees as an ideal heir—then so be it. She'll silently hold in all the pain, and she will simply make sure to smile and support her beloved genius from the sidelines. If Fugaku shall inflict pain on the boy, then she shall be his pillar and holds him up as best as she can.
It is what she can do as both a mother and a matriarch.
But, but—Sasuke.
Sasuke is her second son—the spare. Fugaku doesn't need to groom him as harsh as he will to Itachi, the Elders won't be breathing down his neck because they have Itachi to do that to, and—and Mikoto can be the mother she desperately wants to be to Sasuke.
For Mikoto, she has failed her duty as a true mother to her first son, defeated by duty and responsibility.
And Sasuke opens that gate for her, which has been screwed shut the moment the Elders saw how fast Itachi grows as a person, that allows her to dote to him and be a mother.
Mikoto wants to be a mother.
God, God, Amaterasu-sama, please.
She failed one, already.
Don't make me fail this one too.
She wants to—
I've lost my son once to duty—don't make me lose another thanks to my first son's mistake.
She wants—
How cruel you are, to make my own son despise me.
She wants to—
Please let me be a mother to him.
She—
I want my happiness back.
She wants to be happy.
Give my son back.
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Uchiha Mikoto approaches Sasuke a few days after Shisui's report, with an unreadable expression printed on her face, and with shackles on her emotions. The woman is preparing for the worst, but even she doesn't know exactly what is the worst.
Sasuke has stated he'd like to kill her for the sake of Umi, whoever that is.
She doesn't know what can be even worse than that very sentence.
"Sasuke," she calls out to her son, who has now taken to reading books rather than playing, who has started to study hiragana and katakana like crazy, as if desperate to know how to read and write as quickly as he can.
But that is enough wondering; Sasuke has proven to be an unsettling child—but still my child, she thinks, he will forever be my beloved child—it is not much of a shock that Sasuke favors studying over playing after the genjutsu.
Other things matter more than his interest toward Academics.
Like, his desire to kill his mother, for example.
Sasuke—oh her beloved Sasuke—looks up from his book, a pout on his face.
Mikoto can't help it; her mouth twitches upward in a smile.
Even when he's strange, Sasuke is very cute indeed.
She sits next to the boy, and very, very carefully doesn't let her expression drop when Sasuke cannot reign in his flinch.
"Hi, Kaa-chan," he greets, and Mikoto takes note on how he never actually calls her 'Kaa-chan' until after the genjutsu.
Before, it has always been 'Okaa-san'.
And isn't that strange?
If he truly hates Mikoto—If he truly wishes to kill Mikoto, she thinks he isn't supposed to heighten the endearment toward Mikoto.
'Kaa-chan' Is less formal after all.
Still, both are mother.
Both means mother.
And Sasuke...
He wants to kill mother.
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And suddenly, Mikoto can't take it anymore.
She's so tired, so stressed and she wants her son back, she wants him to smile back at her as usual and she feels bad, but, but—
She can't help but to blame Itachi for this.
For taking away her main source of happiness as a mother.
I've wronged you, she thinks as she remembers the harsh training an equally frustrated Fugaku gave to Itachi, for he truly must also blames Itachi for this mess, no matter how small, no matter how Fugaku values Itachi more as an heir rather than Sasuke as a spare—but he, too, must be angry at Itachi to some extent.
I've wronged you but don't do this to me.
"Sasuke," she very nearly lets her composure drop as she gazes down at her child, and she reaches forward to touch her son's cheek.
It does drop, when Sasuke freezes.
"Sasuke, please."
Please understand.
Sasuke doesn't respond, his eyes focusing on the hand that rests on his left cheek. Gently, unmoving to not further scare the boy.
"Sasuke, you're my son."
I love you.
His eyes slowly dart over to look at her, and Sasuke looks confused.
He always does, after the short moment when Sasuke doesn't recognize her for who she really is. After he sees her as some crazy mother who dares to let her own son drown.
Who do you see, when you see me, before you truly see me?
"A true mother," she says, somehow maintaining her voice steady and firm, and sends a jolt of chakra to keep Sasuke's focus on her when his eyes start to glaze at the mention of 'mother'—I won't let you go down that road, she thinks rather heatedly, you're going to see me as who I am when I speak, I won't let you see me as that kind of person!
"Won't ever, ever hurt her child, much less leaving him to die."
I love you, can't you see that?
"A true mother..."
I love you, I love you, I love you.
"Supports her child... always."
I love you, I love Itachi. I love both of you, my sons.
I've failed one of you, but I will always, always, always, try to be there for you both.
I'm an Uchiha first and foremost.
But I am a mother, as well.
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I love you.
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Sasuke stares at her for a long, long moment.
Surprisingly, he starts laughing.
The laughter is not one of an innocent child, and if Shisui is there, he may have dubbed it as a 'crazy hyena laugh' or something. The child may be a genius like her first born, but sometimes Mikoto wants to set him on fire for his untimely jokes.
Sasuke is laughing, laughing, laughing—
Right until he laughs so much, it's hard for him to even breathe.
The boy gasps for air, still chuckling.
He gazes up at Mikoto, then, grinning and looking absolutely pleased.
Mikoto frowns, confused as much as she is partly horrified.
"Thank you, Kaa-chan," he says, his hand reaching up to grab on Mikoto's bigger hand. The hold is gentle, surprisingly so, and Mikoto lets him.
"Mother is not a true mother, I get it now."
…What?
"...What do you mean, Sasuke?"
"Mother," he says, and Mikoto distantly notices he says 'Okaa-san' instead of 'Kaa-chan' this time around. "Is not a true mother. You told me that. Thanks, Kaa-chan."
...And yet, he calls her as Kaa-chan. And when he calls her that, his eyes are shining with mirth and perhaps it is hopeful thinking, but Mikoto likes to believe that she sees genuine fondness and love within Sasuke's obsidian orbs.
Still. 'Kaa-chan' and 'Okaa-san' used in one sentence, as if both hold different meanings.
What in the world...?
"Sasuke," she calls out, caressing her son's cheek, feeling the happiness bubbling inside of her when he lets her do it, "when you mention 'Okaa-san', are you talking about me...?"
Sasuke's smile falls.
He looks offended.
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"Kaa-chan is Kaa-chan," he says with absolute finality like any child his age does whenever they argue and can't see how they're possibly wrong with their arguments, "Okaa-san is Okaa-san. There's always a difference."
But there isn't supposed to be a difference, Sasuke, Mikoto stops herself from saying such aloud, for Sasuke looks up at her with a brilliant smile, and reaches up to envelop her in a hug. Or, well, as much as his short limbs allow him to.
"I love you, Kaa-chan," he says, and the Umi part of him agrees because even Umi likes Mikoto... to an extent, at the very least. Umi has always liked the red haired lady more, Umi also likes the bubblegum woman more, for all her harsh and violent parts aside, she's a loyal and loving person.
If there's a thing that resonances in both Umi and Sasuke, it's that they both favor loyalty above all else.
And by now, he's almost able to differentiate between That Woman and his mother; because truly the reason he keeps on flinching and freezing is because he keeps on associating Mikoto's face with the word Mother and it makes him feel a little bit crazy inside.
If he can start to think of Mikoto as Kaa-chan rather than the formal Okaa-san, and associate that word to Mikoto—he'll be able to love Mikoto thoroughly as before.
Umi may be indifferent toward Mikoto—with slight affection toward her, but even that affection is because of Sasuke.
Sasuke, well.
He loves Mikoto. His Kaa-chan. Not even sudden onslaught of memories concerning Umi can make him hate his mom.
She's bound to die soon, but that's no reason to suddenly hate her.
Though Umi doesn't care if she dies.
Sasuke cares, because it's Kaa-chan. But well...
Why bother with the pain? If he thinks too much over her future demise, he'll go crazy for sure. Kaa-chan is just Kaa-chan. He loves Kaa-chan, yes, but with the knowledge that Kaa-chan is going to die, and how Umi's memories make him partly indifferent toward that particular detail...
He thinks he won't mind as much when Kaa-chan does die.
They die with their consent anyway, he reasons to himself, whenever he thinks of his parents' demise. They allow Aniki to kill them.
...That's right.
Even if he fails to save her...
Even if she dies...
He'll love her always and always.
Just like how he'll keep on loving his Aniki when he finally kills his whole clan.
Forever and ever.
Sasuke smiles to himself.
Yes.
The Umi part of him chortles in laughter.
That is good enough.
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"Mother is not me," Mikoto whispers to Fugaku at night.
"What do you mean?"
"Mother," she stresses out, "is not me. He doesn't mean me. He never means me. Fugaku, he sees me as Kaa-chan, not Mother. The Mother Sasuke talks about... it's someone else entirely."
The one who drowned him wasn't me, went unsaid but understood anyway. Fugaku's eyes widen, for her truly understands now as the implication sets in.
The one he wants to kill is not me.
The one Itachi made him see wasn't me.
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Mikoto thinks she can truly forgive Itachi.
She doesn't care if Sasuke hates on another woman and finds thrill in killing this random woman. Shinobi kills for a living, and if he fantasizes in killing this... Mother, then who is she to hold him back? It may be a nice desensitizing method.
As long as her son doesn't hate her, she's content.
She's happy.
Mikoto hums as she makes a bento filled with Itachi's favorite food.
The boy deserves it, with how much stress has been piling on that boy's shoulders.
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Itachi is a bit confused when Fugaku lowers the standards of his training, even for mere few hours. But who is he to complain? Perhaps with this, he can spend more time with his little brother... he does remember the boy expressing his absolute need to eat takoyaki, for some reason. Maybe he can bring Sasuke to town and eat takoyaki together.
Itachi smiles to himself.
Yes, that seems like a good plan indeed.
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"I like you more when you use Katon," Sasuke says, kicking Shisui's calf half heartedly. "Stop using Suiton, you big bully." The elder genius laughs, scooping Sasuke in a hug and sloppy smooches—which prompts Sasuke to call out to an amused Itachi in panic and mild disgust—before he responds.
"Aw, but I love to drench you with Suiton!"
Seeing how absolutely against this idea Sasuke is, he expresses it by slobbering on Shisui's cheek and biting it.
"EEK!"
The boy drops Sasuke to his feet, and Sasuke runs toward his brother, who, in his mind, is wondering whether he should have Sasuke brush his teeth and wash his mouth. Who knows what kind of germs are on Shisui...? He can't let Sasuke get sick, after all.
"What the heckie, Sasuke-chan?!" Shisui hollers, rubbing his wet cheek.
"That is exactly how I feel when you use Suiton on me, Stagnant Water!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Stagnant water, aho-sui, drowning boy!"
"I can swim! Itachi, tell him I can swim!"
"It seems that Shisui can swim, Sasuke."
"It seems? So you haven't seen him swimming either, Aniki?"
"I don't think so, no."
"Suspicious," Sasuke theatrically whispers, clutching on Itachi's shirt. "Maybe he's lying."
Itachi nods sagely, lips twitching into a smile as he ignores Shisui's mock scandalized gasp. "It does seem like it, Sasuke."
"OI!"
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"Does he drench you when you go on missions with him, Aniki?"
Itachi smiles, amused. "No, Sasuke."
"I knew it. He's a big bully."
"Uh, hello? Do you guys realize that I'm here?"
"Now, now, I'm sure Shisui is just concerned over your... avoidance toward water."
Sasuke huffs. "If he's concerned, he won't give me any water, period."
"Uhhh, guys?"
Itachi nods, "I understand your reasoning, Sasuke. But to avoid water every single time is not a good path for a ninja."
Sasuke pouts. "Can't I just leave the water part to my teammates or something?"
"Uhhh... Guys... I'm right here... Helloooo?"
"I don't think so, Sasuke. You have to overcome it."
"...I don't like it."
"HELLOOOOOO?"
"You don't have to like it. Think of it like this. If you water walk, or use proper chakra control, you can avoid yourself from getting wet, drowning or even being unable to breathe under water."
"...Okay. ….I'll try."
"SHISUI CALLING? GUYS? HELLO? I'm happy to know Sasuke-chan will try! But uh, I'm here? Right here? Guys? Guys?"
Itachi pokes Sasuke's forehead, smiling. The boy easily smiles back.
His hand reaches up to Itachi's own, and while holding each other's hands, they walk away from Shisui, whose jaw is dropping each second in disbelief.
The nerve...!
Dammit, Itachi always ignores him when Sasuke is nearby.
He's pretty sure Sasuke ignores Shisui on purpose, if his amused look is anything to go by. And of course Itachi will play along for the sake of his brother.
Grumbling in exasperation and amusement, Shisui decides he'll launch Teppodama toward Sasuke tomorrow.
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"Suiton: Teppodama!"
Sasuke's shrill shrieks are like bells to Shisui's ears.
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"Aniki! Can I train with you?!"
Pokes. "Forgive me. Maybe later, Sasuke."
"Aww, okay..."
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"No worries, Sasuke-chan! The Great Shisui is here to accompany you and your training!"
"...Ew."
"Oi, stop that exaggerated disgusted face."
"Ewwww."
"...Do you want to get wet, Sasuke-chan~?"
"Eek! Hentai!"
"Wh—Where did you learn that word from?!"
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"No repeating that word, okay, Sasuke-chan?"
"...What? Which one? Hentai?"
"...Please, if your father finds out you're saying that he'll think it's because of me and he will kill me! Your mother will burn me alive! And Itachi will—why are you smirking like that, Sasuke-chan? Why are—wait, where are you going? No, no, come back! Promise me you won't say it aloud near your parents! Wait, wait, Sasuke-chan! Waiiiiit!"
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"Shisui."
"Itachi? Huh? What's wro—"
"You taught Sasuke a bad word."
"What?! Wait! It wasn't me!"
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"
"Waaaaaiiit!"
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"Father, why are the police officers harassing the people?"
"We do not harass people, Sasuke. They broke the law."
"But is it necessary to use so much... um, force? They're not shinobi."
"They broke the law and they refused to follow the officers."
"But... the civilians... they seem angry."
"We are doing our duty."
"...But... They could've be nicer... And then the civilians won't be angry."
"Such thing will never work."
"You'll never know if you don't try, fath—"
"Enough, Sasuke. You will understand soon enough, when you're older."
"...Okay."
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You're digging your own grave... father.
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Whoop. And thus the whole Kill Mother is resolved (kind of). And you see that Mikoto is not as perfect of a mother as some will think; and Fugaku, oh Fugaku...
In the next chapter, wait patiently for the arrivals of: TEAM SEVEN!
Thank you for reading! I hope you like this chapter. Chocolate chip cookies for your thoughts? Sushi for longer comments, maybe? Hehe.