The first thing Mikoto did after seeing Sasuke off was glare at Fugaku.
Fugaku glared right back.
"I come back from a slightly prolonged mission and what do I hear? That my wife is breaking both the Clan and the Village rules,"
"Technically," Mikoto replied calmly, "Sasuke was the one to befriend him. I was simply helping Sasuke's friend out,"
"You have any idea what you're done?" Fugaku fumed, "This gives the village even more reasons to hate us,"
"I don't care what the village thinks," Mikoto snapped, "I am helping a child out - a child who has been alone far too long. I should have done this years ago,"
"Actually," Fugaku looked thoughtful, "This could work,"
Mikoto could see the merciless gleam in her husband's eyes. She wondered how far he had been dragged into the Coup D'état. If Mikoto couldn't change his mind about the Coup, then he would be a more formidable foe than even Danzou.
"Fugaku," Mikoto said, her voice eerily silent, "If you hurt Naruto in anyway, whether it be for the Coup or for your own reasons, you will answer to me,"
Fugaku had the bravado to snort, "Oh? And what are you going to do?"
Mikoto stood up, heading out the door, "I may not be as strong as you, but never doubt a mother's love,"
Mikoto waited outside the Academy, aware of one too many stares. She stood tall and proud, not caring the slightest about what the others thought.
"Mum!" Sasuke greeted.
Mikoto smiled and crouched down, noticing that a certain boy wasn't with him.
"Where's your friend?"
Sasuke's smile faded the slightest bit, "He's sitting on the swing over there. He said he didn't want to bother you,"
Mikoto turned to look at the swing attached to a tree in front of the Academy. It shattered Mikoto's heart to see him look so dejected.
"Do you want him to join us again today? I realised that I cleared his fridge of all the expired food so we need to go shopping,"
Sasuke's eyes lit up, "Really? Really?"
"Yes, yes,"
Sasuke grinned and he ran towards Naruto's swing, stumbling comically on the way. Mikoto watched as her son stopped in front of Naruto and started excitedly telling him the news, waving his arms around wildly. Naruto's head snapped towards Mikoto in disbelief making Mikoto smile slightly at him, trying to swallow her gnawing guilt.
Sasuke grabbed Naruto by the arm and dragged him over to Mikoto.
Naruto looked up at the Uchiha Matriarc nervously, "Uh, you really don't have to put up with me, I - "
"Actually," Mikoto said, crouching down, "I take offense that you think I'm not doing this on my own free will. Naruto, you need new clothes and food and I'm going to help you because I want to,"
Naruto's face split into a sceptical grin, "Wow, thanks, Sasuke's mum,"
"Aunt Mikoto," Mikoto corrected lightly, "Now, let's go, we have a lot to do,"
"Get out of my shop, we don't need a dem-"
Mikoto cleared her throat and stared at the shop keeper, "We didn't want to shop here anyways, the filthy hovel. Come on, boys,"
Naruto scampered after Mikoto but Sasuke paused to glare at the shop keeper. Mikoto was endlessly glad that they were nearly done with their shopping and the streets were deserted because of Mikoto's Sharingan threats.
"I'm sorry for the trouble," Naruto mumbled.
Before Mikoto could reply, Sasuke said, "Ah, don't worry about it, mum's got a limitless amount of patience,"
"When dealing with you, Sasuke, I have to have patience," Mikoto smiled, "And don't worry about it Naruto, it's no trouble. Some people are just as-uh-jerks, that's all,"
Sasuke grinned at Naruto and Naruto smiled hesitantly back. After finishing up their last bit of shopping, Mikoto walked Naruto home.
"Thanks for today," Naruto said, uncharacteristically shy for one with Uzumaki blood in their veins. In vague amusement, Mikoto wondered if he had gotten that from Minato instead.
"Don't worry about it," Mikoto said with a smile.
"Bye Naruto, see you tomorrow," Sasuke waved.
Naruto grinned and waved back, watching as his best friend and Sasuke's mother walked off, pondering on how his life had changed over the course of two days.
"Bye Sasuke, bye Sasuke's mum," Naruto yelled back.
This time, Mikoto didn't correct him.
"This is ridiculous," Hiashi snapped in a dignified way.
"The Uchiha have been suspected of the Kyuubi attack. Now, why are they the ones taking care of the kid?" a civilian representative asked.
"What are your motives, Fugaku?" Chouza questioned.
Fugaku glared, "I haven't even met the boy,"
Danzou snorted, "Then what are your wife's motives?"
"My wife wishes to take care of the child, who my son befriended. That is all," Fugaku responded.
"Yes," Inoichi snorted, "I'm sure it is,"
Fugaku glared at him, unable to believe the mistrust among the Clans of Konoha. They had never gotten along, but he had hoped the the last war would have strengthen their relationships. Apparently not. Which made Fugaku all the more happy about the Coup.
"We can't let them have all that much power, especially if they can control it!" Hiashi said.
Fugaku growled, deciding that maybe the Coup was best done sooner.
"You, know, I haven't even met the boy,"
"The boy?"
"Naruto,"
Mikoto glared.
Fugaku continued onward, "What kind of father would I be if I didn't meet Sasuke's friend?"
Mikoto looked away, "What is this about, Fugaku?"
"Oh, nothing! I just want to meet the bo-Naruto,"
Mikoto sighed, wishing that the Coup had never been in effect. If it hadn't been, then maybe Mikoto could have trusted the man she married upon the Clan's wishes. However, now, she knew is wasn't the case.
"Fine," Mikoto said. I will bring Naruto over. He'll like that and so will Sasuke. But I will not let either of them out of my sight. Maybe I'll even get Itachi involved.
"Naruto, guess what?"
"What, Sasuke?"
"My mum says you can come over to my house today, if you want!"
Naruto's head jerked up to see Sasuke jumping around in excitement.
"Really?" Naruto asked incredulously.
"Really,"
Naruto spun around to face Mikoto.
"Thank you," Naruto whispered.
Mikoto smiled at him and she hoped he didn't see the emotions in her eye.
"Mikoto Uchiha,"
Mikoto tried not to sigh. She should have been prepared for this.
"Hiashi Hyuuga," Mikoto turned to face the man, unconsciously standing in front of Sasuke and Naruto protectively, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"We are all wondering the same thing, what are your motives, Lady Uchiha?"
"The same as Fugaku told you, Lord Hyuuga,"
Hiashi snorted, "Sure it is. Why are you taking the Uzumaki brat to your home,"
"Keep him out of this, I made my intentions clear,"
"The thing is, we don't trust you. We all know the Uchiha led the Kyuubi attack,"
There was silence.
"What?" little Sasuke asked.
Mikoto ignored him, "Let's keep our rivalries out of the children's lives. This has nothing to do with the Kyuubi,"
"This has everything - "
"Hiashi,"
The two clan members turned in surprise to Shikaku.
"Don't say another word,"
Hiashi backed down, knowing that the Nara was right. The Kyuubi secret was, after all, a secret.
"Mikoto, I don't trust you," Shikaku said, "But I know the power of friendship better than most. I do not trust you, but I will support you, as long as you motives are as you say they are,"
"As do I," Tsume Inuzuka said with a grin, "As a mother, I understand where you're coming from,"
Mikoto nodded curtly, "Thank you," she turned to the kids behind her, "Sasuke, Naruto, come on, let's go,"
Fugaku smiled to himself. If he could woo the Jinchuuriki to his side, he could control him however he pleased. What did silly little Mikoto do anyway, against Wicked-Eye Fugaku.
Hey guys!
I did notice that I made Itachi very OOC, considering that he would not smile as much as he is. I didn't realise until someone pointed it out. I really like to think that with Mikoto alive and Sasuke having a friend such as Naruto, he would smile more, especially since he had a good relationship with Kushina. I'd also like to point out that this is an AU. Sorry about that, and thank you to the person who pointed it out.
THANK YOU EVERYONE for your positive reviews! I love some of the ideas you guys are giving me!