Too much misunderstandings
Fugaku wasn´t in the mood for anything these days. The lack of sleep and the overwhelming amount of work, began to exhaust him. He had known, that the promotion of the Uchiha clan would be joined with more liabilities but, the extent was a bit to much for one person to handle. Although Itachi and on of his advisors did a large part of work, but he was the chief after all and the most, especially organizational work, remained for him.
He had to sign of everything first, before his subordinates could act. Even Itachi, still owed him account in every aspect. The result was the huge paper mountains with interminable reports he had to overwork on a daily base. No wonder thus his nerves were overwrought.
The clan leader had always been a hard worker, but these last days his labor stint was of a completely new level. Additionally, could nobody from his subordinates satisfy his expections today and it seems he had to do their work as well. He was always a man, who expected one hundred percent, from his children nor less as from his subordinates. He didn´t tolerated oversights and this was the reason, why today, he snapped at almost everyone .
The members of the police troup tried to avoid a encounter with him, when he was in such mood but that didn´t interest Fugaku much. On the contrary, he had made it already clear earlier that he was very displeased.
And now, he sat in his office and overworked a new paper pile. It was an accurate report about last weeks criminal offenses and Fugaku had to validate every single word, before he could hand it over to the Hokage.
He was almost finished with the second page as a knock on his door interrupted him. He looked up, as one of his officers entered. "What is it again?" Fugaku snapped, because there was better a good reason for interrupting him again.
"Kakashi Hatake is here. He said you´re expecting him."
Well, this was at least a good reason. "Let him in!" He commanded, as he placed the papers to the side. A moment later the silverhaired Jonin entered his office and Fugaku gestured to the empty chair in front of him.
"Uchiha-sama." Kakashi greeted before he sat down. "You want to speak with me?"
"That´s correct. There are some matters I would like to discuss." The clan leader informed and leaned back in his chair.
"I suppose this matters concern Sasuke first of all?"
"Of course I want to talk with you about my son. I´m honestly far from satisfactory with his current development." Fugaku said.
"Would you care to explain this a bit more detailed, because I can´t follow you completely." Kakashi´s said calmy and this reminded Fugaku why he didn´t like the Hatake in the first place. He hadn´t been very pleased, that of all Kakashi Hatake was chosen as Sasuke´s Jonin instructor. Not least, because the silverhaired Jonin owned a sharingan although he wasn´t an Uchiha. It was natural that he resented the man a bit for that, but Itachi had convinced him eventually that Kakashi was a matching choice as a sensei and because he knew the Hatake´s skills, he had finally agreed. But that didn´t changed his opinion, that the sharingan belonged purely into the Uchiha clan.
"As far as I´m informed, a Jonin instuctors Job is it to supervise his students education and shape them for their future. Your job is it to prepare them as shinobi, until they are at least ready for the chunin exams. But what actual happens with your team, showed me unequivocally that you´re doing something wrong." Fugaku explained and he had trouble to hide how touchy he currently was.
Kakashi´s expression stayed unreadable. "What exactly brings you to the cognition that I don´t take my job seriously?"
Fugaku shook his head. "What for a unnecessary question. You should know that your team´s missions results are the poorest compared to every other genin team in the entire village. One failed mission followed of the other. How can you explain to me, that your student´s didn´t even take your orders seriously during a dangerous encounter with enemy shinobi?"
"So it´s just about the failed missions or more about the C rang mission, where we were surprisingly attacked?" The Jonin asked but Fugaku´s expression told him that he meant everything. "First of all, it´s true, I ordered them to retreat when we were attacked."
"Which your genin simple ignored."
"Yes, but they didn´t do it to fight this enemies out of fun, but because they wanted to help me. The first thing, I taught my genin was teamwork. Teamwork is far more important than sticking on rules, besides they did a great job on this mission and even I was surprised, how much they´ve already improved, in such short amount of time additonally."
"So you´re teaching your students, that working as a team is more important than following the rules, which are an essential component of the shinobi world?" Fugaku asked with disbelieve. The sharingan wasn´t the only reason why he didn´t like the man. Kakashi´s views weren´t understandable for him and alone the thought, that the Hatake filled his son´s head with such nonsense made him very angry.
The Uchiha clan was, since Konohas establishment, responsible to protect the law and the rules. The rules were so to speak, the live conduct of the shinobi and Fugaku had always believed in them.
"Yes, I do." Kakashi admited openly.
"No wonder this team failed constantly." The older man said and glared at Kakashi. "But what you´ve forget is the fact, that my son is unfortunately one of your students. His position is different. As an Uchiha, he is bounded to the rules, because his future position will be definitely here in the police force." Fugaku said and even if his pitch was still calm, nevertheless his voice was filled with anger.
"It doesn´t matter for me whether Sasuke is an Uchiha or not. He is my student and that means that I won´t treat him different, as the other two."
"I don´t demand from you to prefer Sasuke over the other both, but I demand that you teach your team carefully. There isn´t only physical training which is important, to complete the commanded missions successful is important too. I would agree, that maybe the C rang mission was an exceptional situation but that didn´t explain why they failed yesterday again. To boot a D rang mission inside the village."
The silverhaired Jonin sighed. "I know this came unexpected, but they´re just genin. They still needs to figure out, how to complete missions without any surveillance."
"It´s your job to supervise them, until they´re mature enough to do their missions without help properly. Sasuke had always been a concentrated and dutiful child, but since he is placed in this team, his entire behaviour changed. He acts rebellious and instead of taking his obligations seriously, he wastes his time with fooling around."
"Really?" Kakashi raised his eyebrows. "I haven´t noticed anything like that. On the contrary, Sasuke is still very eager to learn. He caused rarely any problems and his training progress is far more pronouced as by the other two."
"Of course because you don´t set any rules, so your students must really love you for that. A genin needs guidance more than anything else, but you let them running wild all the time and no wonder you never have to make your point clear. It´s your first obligation as a Jonin instructor to ensure discipline and as an former anbu captain, three adolescent genin shouldn´t be a problem after all."
"Now, I think their education is my concern."
"Primarily." Fugaku said. "But you don´t set this priorities right. I wouldn´t really care about your teaching methods but unhappily my son is one of your students. And if you want to keep him as your student, I would appreciate when you could change some of your habits."
The silverhaired jonin let out another sigh. "I didn´t share yours or Hokage-sama´s opinions regarding yesterdays mission but I´m ordered now to observe the coming missions. You see, Hokage-sama had already taken measures. Under this circumstances, team seven won´t fail the coming missions. I think we agree on that."
"This isn´t the point. I think your students don´t respect you the way they should."
"And how do you know that?" Kakashi asked.
The police chief snorted. "Because Sasuke´s enitre attitude had changed all of the sudden. He became disrespectful, irresponsible and disobedient. All the years, I had never such problems with him before."
"And I haven´t this problems either." The younger man remarked dryly. "Your son is one of the most disciplined and ambitious genin I´ve ever seen. He is working very hard and he takes every advise to heart, I give him. Honestly, Sasuke gave me never any trouble and I can´t understand your description in the slightest."
Fugaku kneaded his temples. A headache began to rise and by all the stress, it wasn´t really a wonder. Nevertheless, the outstanding issue needed be clarified before he could go back to work. "Obviously, he shows you a complete different side then. Anyway, I hope I can trust your words and I´ll wait a while longer. But if Sasuke´s behavior won´t change into the near future, I´ll be forced to take him out from your team and look out for an more matching sensei."
"I think this would be a big mistake from your side. Sasuke and his teammates are close friends and the association with them, is very good for your son."
"What is good for his wellbeing is still my concern." The leader said finally. "Now tell me about his training progress."
Kakashi shrugged with his shoulders. "There isn´t much to tell. He is actually working to create his own lightning jutsu. After he mastered the chidori, he was very eager to improve his lightning skills further. Like I said, he is a very inquisitive child."
"How far is his control over his lightning affinity pronounced?" Fugaku asked sincerly interested.
"Sasuke can already mold the needed chakra correctly but he still isn´t able to control the lightning completely. The risk of injury is actually high and so he don´t practice without my observation. Of course he is in a hurry to learn it as fast as possible." The Jonin said and smiled under his mask.
"Lightning jutsu isn´t something he can simple rush through. Made sure he doesn´t practice on his own."
"Sasuke already knows this." Kakashi hesitated a short moment, before he continued. "The only thing I noticed is, that sometimes I´ve the impression that something bothers the boy..."
"And what exactly do you mean?"
"Really nothing, but sometimes he is taciturn and somehow sad. Maybe instead of looking for faults, you should pay rather attention to that." The sensei suggested before he stood up. "If you´ve nothing against it, then I would apologize myself now. My team is waiting on the trainingsfield for me. We´ve a D rang mission to complete."
Fugaku nodded and a moment later the jonin left his office. He leaned back in his chair again and allowed himself a sigh. The conversation had been informative in some ways but he still wasn´t entirely pleased. Somehow, Fugaku had the impression that Kakashi didn´t took his concerns seriously. For him, the Hatake wasn´t fit for the sensei role, but nevertheless it was obvious that the man had a genuine interest in his student´s wellbeing. The clan leader didn´t agreed to Kakashi´s teachings methods, but he decided he would wait a bit longer. Maybe Sasuke went only through a teenage phase of rebellion.
What disconcerted him more, was the fact that obviously everyone noticed signs of sadness in Sasuke. He knew that his son rarely smiled, since Mikoto´s death but he would never imagine that the boy was unhappy. But since Itachi had already adressed him with the same subject and now Sasuke´s jonin sensei too, he began to take their requests a bit seriouser.
Maybe he should try to keep a closer eye on his youngest son. But he had so much work, that it was difficult to find still spare time. Nonetheless, he wasn´t entirely convinced by this either, After all, he was Sasuke´s father and should he notice foremost whether something bothers his boy?
Meanwhile, team seven was waiting for their sensei´s arrival. Like always, the silverhaired man was terrible late and the three genin were already on the limit of their patience. Two hours passed, since their settled time and no wonder they all were pretty annoyed with Kakashi´s tardiness.
Like the past weeks, was today a especially hot day and the sun burned mercilessly everthing and everyone. The three genin laid flat on the grass under the cooling shadow of the treetops. Unfortunately, the shadows procured little relief and the dry heat was hard to bear. It seemed Konoha was ridden by a extreme heatwave this year, but today was the weather on another record.
Sasuke groaned as he doused a water bottle over his head. He hadn´t done much, expect a bit training on his own but he was already bathed in sweat. A glance to his teammates revealed him, that they weren´t in any better shape. Sakura´s hair was tied in a high ponytail, but nevertheless some wisps clung on her sweaty face. Naruto was completely sweat-stained and he doused one bottle after another over his head and his clothes.
"Honestly, I don´t know how we should work today." The girl whined. "I only want to swim. Anything else is a toture."
The Uchiha knew she was right but if they weren´t supposed to complete another mission today, he would train, at least in the evening. But right now he wanted to lie here and rather not move again. Naruto and Sakura led an unwieldy conversation about stupid D rang missions and Sensei Kakashi´s bad habit of being late. But he didn´t listen to them.
First it was too hot, every movement was a torture and second he was too tired. He couldn´t sleep the previous night. Too much had yesterdays events shocked him. He had never seen his father this raging before. Sure he got often yelled at and Fugaku had never been affectionate towards him, but yesterday had been really too much. His father had even hit him... Well, it hadn´t been right beats, the folder had hardly left a light sting, but that hadn´t made the happened one any lesser humiliating. Not to mention, in front of Itachi and Shisui too. He felt really exposed for life.
Also he couldn´t deny any longer, how wrecked his relationship with his father really was and it was more painful as he had asumed before. After all he had always suspected that he was unwanted at home, but the painful certitude was hardly to bear.
It would be probably better, if he would simple accept the fact that Fugaku hated him. He should forget the fact that he still loved his father somehow and really longed for his attention and maybe some art of comfort too. But he would always meet with rejection anyway. There was no use anymore, in trying to earn the man´s recognition, because there wasn´t anthing to earn. Sasuke was only a burden for him and he could do both of them a favor and accept this sad fact.
The only thing he could do from now on, was working for his future. If he would become a own shinobi, so that he could finally be independently from his father. But like in any other shinobi village, was someone only recognized as an adult, when turning eighteen. There were still six years and somehow Sasuke already knew, he couldn´t wait this long.
"I can´t train tonight." Naruto´s voice interrupted his thoughts. Obviously, his teammates were talking about training now. "My mom grounded me."
A mother... His friends had no idea how lucky they were. He would do everything to get his mother back.
"Why?" Sakura asked.
"Because my dad annoyed me yesterday so much and I was so angry, that I trained the whole evening. I lost track of time and my mom was furious." The blonde explained.
"Did you talk with your father again?" She asked again.
"No way! He didn´t came home the whole night and even if, I won´t talk with him ever again!"
"Don´t be silly Naruto." The pink haired member scolded. "He is your father, you shouldn´t be too angry at him. He is the Hokage, it´s his job to act like he did."
"Exactly! And as long as he is the stupid Hokage, I can´t stand him anymore." Naruto said. "And you know, since we gratuated, he treats us worser than any other team. And he is doing this on purpose, because he wants to hold me back! This is it!"
Sakura looked at the blonde with disbelieve. "Are you serious? Really Naruto, this is nonsense. I thought you get along better with your father now."
"That was before yesterday! After his performance, I won´t talk to him ever again. I´m done with him." The Hokage son was furious but who could take this in bad part.
Naruto was done with his father and Sasuke was done with his own. It was a strange and on the same time, a comforting feeling that he wasn´t entire alone with his misery. The difference was, and Sasuke was full aware, that Naruto´s father only acted like an jerk when he was on duty. Of course this was hard for his friend, but it wasn´t a secret that Minato cared and loved his son.
His own father on the other hand hated him. It didn´t matter whether Fugaku was on duty or not, he never cared about Sasuke. The raven haired boy was now finally at the point, where he couldn´t close his eyes any longer.
His teammates continued their conversation and the uchiha listened with one ear but eventually Kakashi showed up into a familar puff of smoke.
"Yo." The Jonin greeted.
"TOO LATE!" Sakura and Naruto were yelling simultaneously.
"Sorry, but I had an important meeting, so I couldn´t come earlier."
"Oh, save your lies!" Naruto growled.
"Actually, it´s the truth." Kakashi said, before he cleaned his throat. "Anyway, stand up. A mission is waiting for us."
The genin groaned and even Sasuke agreed with the suit loud. Really, the heat was killing them and now they should work!
"Can´t we make a exception today? I mean it´s so hot..." Sakura said.
"I´m sorry. Direct orders from the Hokage." Their sensei declared and smiled apologetic.
Naruto´s face darkened immediately and with a sour expression, the genin followed after Kakashi.
This farm was placed a bit outside from Konoha and they needed to pass through a bit through the forest. The way was far more comfortable, because the dense treetops didn´t let much sunbeams through. It was only a twenty minutes walk, but at least enough to cool down a bit.
The work on this farm wasn´t entirely terrible either. They had to milk cows. The task was ridiculous but at least they could stay inside the cowshed. Nevertheless, it was annoying, because there were countless cows to milk and Sasuke completed the task with displeasure. His dark eyes wandered to Kakashi, who was sitting across the wall and was recessed in one of his books. Apparently, their Sensei took the Hokage´s order not too seriously. Since he didn´t even bother to look at them, whether they completed the work roundly. Sasuke envied his sensei. If he could be a Jonin (or at least a chunin), than he could do real shinobi work, instead of this nonsense here. He had enough of playing farmer or something like that, he wanted to be a real shinobi. But as it stands now, there was still a long way before him.
They worked until the late afternoon before there could return to Konoha. The raven haired boy would like to eat something outdoors then, but since they didn´t got paid for the actual missions, he was completely broke. Normally, he could ask his father for money but after everything, was this the last thing he would do. He would eat later then at home, even if he could hardly call this home anymore.
"Can we still train for a bit?" He asked, when they went through the village gate.
"Not today." Kakashi said. "It´s still too hot and you three have already worked for hours. I would rather suggest you to head home. The day after tomorrow, we´ll go back to our training shedule anyway." Of course Sasuke wasn´t happy with this answer, but Kakashi only ruffled his studen´t heads and bid his good bye. Maybe the Jonin was only to lazy himself, because of the heat.
"What is with you two?" He asked his friends.
"I´m sorry, but I´ve promised my mother to help her with grocery shopping today." Sakura said apologetic.
"Yeah, and I would love to kick your ass again but like I said before, my mom grounded me. And the last thing I need is to enrage her again. Believe me, she can be pretty scary when angry." Naruto explained and Sasuke sighed inwardly.
"Okay, then I´ll train alone." The boy said and went into the direction of their usual trainingsfield. He wouldn´t admit it aloud but he was depressed, that he would spent the rest of the day alone again. At least today he had hoped, that he could spent the day with his friends. But it was how it was. Sakura and Naruto had their own families.
Although the weather was still unbearable, he trained as hard he could. At first he fought against a shadow clone but more as a warm up exercise. Finally, he began to work on his lightning jutsu. He molded his chakra in his arm and realeased the blue flash.
Kakashi had warned him, that he shouldn´t try to perform more than two strikes, because else he would exhaust himself too much. He knew his sensei was right, because chakra exhaustion could be very dangerous.
But todays training was a disaster. Was it because he was already worn-out from the mission, or was it because the heat bothered him? Anyhow, he couldn´t manage to mold his chakra through his arm. The Uchiha was so frustrated that he tried it with pure force, something Kakashi had strictly forbidden.
Lightning is very dangerous. You need perfect chakra control, in order to control this affinity. If you´ve the feeling you´ve difficulties to control the chakra flow, than don´t continue. Otherwise, you can hurt yourself badly. His sensei had told him.
But somehow he didn´t cared in that moment. He forced his chakra so long until the familiar blue flashes appeared and tingled through the air. But he hadn´t the power to control his chakra and a moment later, he felt a terrible burn in his arm and a second later the lightning exploded in the air.
Sasuke fall on his knees and his arm burned terrible. He looked at his arm and his eyes widened in shock, as he saw that his whole skin was covered with nasty chakra burns. Even some blood flowed on some places. He was never hurt like that before and this happened only because of his own stupidity!
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