"Now, now Sasuke-chan! Ita-chan will be disappointed with the way you're behaving now. And don't even get me started on what your Tou-san would say if he saw you behaving like you are now," a young mother chided. Her name was Mikoto Uchiha, wife of Head of Konoha Police Division and the Uchiha clan, Fugaku-sama, and proud mother of Itachi and Sasuke.

She was of short stature, had long, dark hair that partly covered the front of her face as a fringe. Her onyx eyes were tired as she had spent a good part of her morning consoling her youngest son who complained that it simply wasn't fair that, as he had put it, "Nii-san spends all his time with Shisui-san! I hate him, I hate him, I hate him!".

This led to her reprimanding Sasuke on how he shouldn't say things that he very clearly didn't mean, and in retaliation, he decided to throw a tantrum, saying things like she didn't understand.

Mikoto sighed. This was not how she planned on spending her first day in a long time free of her husband. Now Mikoto adored him, loved him dearly and vowed to spend her life supporting his dreams but sometimes, like his son, he was too much too handle.

Itachi was mature and well-behaved so she rarely got any trouble from him, unless of course it involved dango, then her prodigal son would lose composure and demand that he "needs" were met. With another sigh and a desperate moan, she wished that she was once again her more youthful self.

A time when she had no husband to take care of and no ridiculous demands of her extra special children to meet.

"Kaa-san! Don't tell Nii-san, he'll think I'm a baby an-and Tou-san…" Sasuke begged his mother. He'll clean up, rather that than face his Nii-san after he threw a tantrum. Mikoto held back her laugh, despite her weariness, her Sasuke-chan was just too cute!

"And why would I think you are a baby, Sasuke?" The child froze on the spot where he stood in his living room. Mikoto, just as surprised, spun around from facing Sasuke and the sight she saw nearly brought her to tears.

There in front of her stood Itachi and behind him Shisui who had on his back a child with golden hair. The last time she had saw him, he was just an infant, merely a few days old and now he was Sasuke's age though he looked smaller.

Most surprisingly, he looked healthy. She heard stories of how the child got into trouble with the rest of village, often resulting in damage on his part but now he looked happy and well and so much like his deceased father.

"Naruto?"

The child looked confused for a moment and then jumped off Shisui's back to walk towards her.

"Yo!"


"I see, so that's how it is, I wondered how he looked so healthy. But Ita-chan, why doesn't Tou-san know yet?"

"Hokage-sama chose not to reveal it until Tou-san comes back from his mission. Kakashi-taicho just recently gained custody, so Hokage-sama thought it would be unwise to tell any clan heads of his decision, especially ours. The Uchiha would have been up in arms about Naruto being adopted and not being consulted first because of the Kyuubi and Tou-san had a mission coming up soon so there would've have been no one to handle the chaos."

Mikoto nodded. She and Itachi were in the kitchen while Shisui played Naruto and Sasuke.

At first, Sasuke seemed apprehensive of Naruto but the other boy's friendliness soon got the better of him. They did begin to bicker shortly after, so Shisui was left to play mediator, much to his chagrin.

Sasuke could be a pain whenever he felt like it, especially when he seemed have a deep dislike for Shisui, and with Naruto added to the mix, he was surely going to have a whole new work out he really didn't want or need.

Mikoto busied herself in the kitchen with preparing lunch for the children as Itachi made sakura tea to drink.

"The clan definitely won't agree with the Hokage's decision and with how things are right…"

Itachi looked at his mother then hesitated. "Kaa-san, Taicho has a plan. I didn't agree with it at first but it makes sense and seems to be the only way for the Uchiha not to start a civil war, at least not yet."

Mikoto looked questionably at her son, as proud as she was of son's achievements, she hated that he was involved in their clan politics, despite his young age. "Am I allowed to hear of it?"

"Taicho wouldn't mind if you are aware of but Tou-san cannot know until the Hokage discloses the information to the Village clan heads. Taicho decided to only mention it when the meeting takes place."

"You have my word, Ita-chan," Mikoto promised.

"Taicho told me in private, the day after he gained custody of Naruto, that Hokage-sama will hold a meeting after Tou-san's mission with the major Village clan heads on his decision to have Naruto adopted. No doubt each clan will raise questions on why Taicho of all people, given his past, was allowed to adopt him. That was why he came up with this plan, though he still has to discuss it with the other members of Team Rou.

"Taicho wants to train Naruto the way he and I was trained. I disagreed and reminded him that he originally said that Naruto wouldn't be trained anytime soon. Obito-san came in then-"

"So Obito is involved as well," she interrupted.

Although she knew of the severity of the mission, that would explain much about Naruto's behaviour, especially towards Sasuke. She dreaded the thought of another Obito and Kakashi.

"Hai. Obito-san said that it was needed or else Naruto wouldn't be prepared for when he grows older. He took time to convince Taicho that although Naruto's physical skills for his age would be commendable, it still wouldn't be enough to convince the councilmen, especially Danzou-dono."

"But even if he is trained how will that affect the council?" Mikoto questioned.

"Taicho says that clans, such as the Hyuuga, will be more at ease that Naruto will be trained as they will see it as the Kyuubi's container being trained as weapon to be used should Konoha go ever go to war with the other villages. It also gives assurance to the other clans that if Naruto is being trained by someone like Taicho, then he won't be a nuisance to the villagers. Danzou-dono won't influence the hokage to train Naruto in ROOT because Team Rou would already be training him."

"It does seem that this plan might work, Naruto fits in perfectly with your team, Ita-chan. As expected of Kakashi-kun. His sensei would be proud of his planning skills," Mikoto chuckled softly.

"Actually, Kaa-san…Obito-san came up with the plan."

"Huh?"

Itachi smiled at his mother, "He really did Kaa-san, Obito-san is a capable Jonin after all, despite being the adult-sized Naruto. Though jokes aside Kaa-san, will this plan really be the best for the Naruto's sake?"

Mikoto shook her head. Itachi telling her about Kakashi's plan was just a way to seek council on whether he should agree with it or not. She finished preparing the lunch and moved to a cupboard to get plates.

"Ita-chan… I know that I'll never be able to understand the situation you are in. It breaks my heart that you're involved with all this clan and village politics. But I know Kakashi-kun so trust in him. And Ita-chan, no matter what happens you can always count on your parents, ne. Tou-san may not act like it all the, but we'll always support you, so trust in us, okay?"

Itachi finished making the tea and set it down with the lunch. He turned towards Mikoto and uncharacteristically hugged her. "Arigato, Kaa-san."


Sasuke looked at Naruto with a sneer on face. The two sat crossed legged apart from each other, the living room's coffee table being the barrier. Naruto stared back at him with a look of disdain on his face.

"It's true!" Naruto shouted while Shisui, who sat perpendicular to the table looked back and forth between Naruto and Sasuke dreading what was going to happen if Mikoto or Itachi didn't return from the kitchen soon.

"Nu-uh. Nii-san's better!" Sasuke shouted back with equal fervour.

"Ita-nii is great but Kashi-nii is better." Naruto's statement hit a nerve; a red tick mark appeared on Sasuke's forehead and he growled before he jumped across the table and tackled Naruto to the floor.

"What did you call him?! Nii-san's my nii-san not yours. And he's better!"

Naruto thrashed about from under him and punched Sasuke just below his waist.

"Teme!"

By now Shisui jumped up and tried to separate the two without hurting them but got kicked instead by Sasuke where it really hurt.

He keeled over and groaned. Damn it! If this is what having kids is like, I'm never gonna have one.

Itachi and Mikoto came into the room soon after hearing the racket the children were making. Itachi went to separate Sasuke from Naruto and Mikoto when to check on Shisui.

"Demons, the both of them… never gonna have a kid," Shisui managed to mumble. Mikoto sweat dropped.

Itachi managed to get the them apart and held both by the scruffs of their clothes. They both glared at it other.

"Sasuke. Naruto, explain," Itachi said sternly and placed them both on opposites of him.

"It was his fault!" they both said simultaneously.


"Mikoto-san, once again I'm really sorry," Kakashi apologised to Mikoto for the third time after coming to the Uchiha residence to pick Naruto up.

Mikoto laughed slightly, "It's fine, really. Sasuke never had as much fun as he had today, Kakashi-kun."

Kakashi shifted his gaze across the home's entrance and set his eyes on Naruto standing next to him. "Still…don't you have something to Mikoto-san, Naru-chan?"

"I had lots of fun today Oba-chan!" Kakashi facepalmed.

Mikoto smiled at him. "I'm glad, Naru-chan. I'm sure Sasuke feels the same way, ne Sasuke-chan?"

Sasuke stood next to her and said nothing, though a small smile could clearly be seen on his face despite the darkening sky.

"Be sure to bring Naru-chan again soon, Kakashi-kun. And good luck."

Kakashi gave a genuine eye smile. "Arigato. Goodbye Mikoto-san, Sasuke-kun." He bowed slightly and gestured for Naruto to do the same.

Naruto interpreted it wrong, greeting instead, "Bye Oba-chan, Sasuke-teme!"

Mikoto's eyes widened and she had to restrain Sasuske from launching another attack. Kakashi inwardly groaned, picked Naruto up and shunshined home. He's been spending too much time with me and Obito…