"Mum, what did Hinata's dad mean by the Uchiha being behind the Kyuubi attack?" Sasuke asked.
Mikoto sighed, "Listen, Sasuke, and you too, Naruto. In the shinobi world, there are many secrets. Too many in fact. As you grow older, I promise to tell you the ones that directly affect you but for now, why don't you enjoy your childhood, okay?"
Sasuke nodded while Naruto looked intently at Mikoto, his blue eyes piercing through Mikoto.
"Mrs Sasuke's mum, do you know why the villagers hate me?"
The blunt question almost caught Mikoto off guard. Instead, she gave Naruto a sad look and continued on her way.
Naruto had his answer.
Once Mikoto entered the house, she was surprised to see Itachi there.
"Itachi! What are you doing here?" Mikoto asked in surprise, "I thought you had a mission,"
"I did, until I heard Naruto was coming over," Itachi said nochalantly.
"Nii-san!" Sasuke shouted, jumping onto Itachi's lap.
Naruto grinned up at Itachi, but looked cautious about entering someone's home.
"Come in, Naruto," Mikoto said gently.
Naruto stepped in and Itachi came up and ruffled his hair, "Welcome, to our humble home,"
Mikoto smiled, amazed by how much Itachi could change around Kushina's son.
"C'mon, Naruto! I wanna show you to my room!" Sasuke yelled, dragging Naruto along.
"You miss her," Mikoto stated, a sad look over taking her.
"You do too," Itachi replied.
Mikoto sighed, a sigh that seemed like it carried all the pain in her life. She turned to the kitchen and started preparing food, aware that Itachi was studying her. Mikoto failed awful. Awful for failing Kushina. Awful for failing Itachi.
"I-Itachi?" Mikoto stuttered out, "Am I too late to make amends?"
"No, of course not,"
Mikoto shook her head slightly, unable to believe herself, "I'm a terrible mother,"
Mikoto turned to Itachi a hard look in her eyes, "Are you happy in the ANBU,"
Itachi was caught off guard by the question. He stayed silent, pondering on his response. Slowly, he said, "I suppose, at first, I wasn't sure when father put me in the ANBU, but I guess...well, I feel like I belong there. It's a hard job, but I'm willing to do it,"
Mikoto nodded, feeling even worse than before.
"What's wrong, mum?" Itachi asked.
Mikoto couldn't believe he was only nine. "It's no-"
"I may look like a kid, but you know I'm not," Itachi said.
"I hate what the clan is planning," Mikoto said bluntly, "and I know you don't like it either,"
Itachi tried not to be too startled. She was his mother, after all. Of course she knew where his real loyalties lie, "I am already working with the council, trying to figure out what to do,"
Suddenly, Itach found himself scooped into a hug, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
"Mum," Itachi said, trying not to grin, "you're acting weird again,"
"Oh, shut up, you," Mikoto said, grinning.
"Honestly, a detention? And skipping it too? Couldn't you raise your son properly?"
Mikoto tried not to break something, "Well, if you'd been around more -"
"Oh no," Fugaku said, "Don't you dare blame this on me,"
Mikoto took a deep breath, "Let us talk about this after dinner and after out guest leaves,"
Something changed in Fugaku's eyes.
"Itachi, could you call the boys?" Mikoto asked.
Itachi got up instantly and left.
"Fugaku," Mikoto glared, "Please don't try anything,"
"And what are you going to do if I do try, huh?" Fugaku said.
"Your arrogance is astounding," Mikoto commented.
Fugaku hissed, "Don't forget that I am your husband,"
"And I am you wife. I deserve the same respect I give you,"
"You aren't quite giving me respect now, are you?"
Mikoto could not believe her ears. She shook her head in disappointment, "You're not the same man I married,"
Before Fugaku could reply, Sasuke came bursting in, while Naruto followed, hiding behind Itachi.
"Hello," Naruto greeted shyly at Itachi's promoting.
"Welcome to our home. You are Naruto Uzumaki, am I correct?" Fugaku replied.
"Uh, yeah," Naruto said, coming out from behind Itachi, "Nice to meet you, Sasuke's dad,"
Fuagaku winced, "Call me Mr Uchiha,"
Naruto nodded, "Okay,"
"Come on kid, dinner time! For dessert, I made Red Bean soup,"
Naruto gaped, "You did! That's my favourite after Ramen,"
Fugaku pursed his lips but did not comment on the explosion of noise. Mikoto, meanwhile, smiled with Itachi, both knowing that Kushina loved to make that for Minato, and she had been amazing at making it too.
Mikoto was slightly saddened that Naruto would never be able to try it.
"That's great, but you're still going to have to eat you vegetables," Mikoto said.
To Fugaku's surprise, all three of the boys voiced their protests, only to have Mikoto shake her head and order them to sit down and eat.
Fugaku, feeling distinctly uncomfortable, started making small talk with the boy - Naruto, he reminded himself.
He started simple. How Academy was going. How Sasuke and Naruto became friends. What Naruto's favourite food was. What Naruto's favourite colour was (Orange. Of all the atrocious colours, it had to be orange. He was just as obnoxious as his damned parents).
Then slowly, Fugaku directed the conversation to more useful topics, and finally got around to asking the question he needed to ask, "So, where do you live, Naruto?"
Itachi's fork paused for a moment, but only just for a moment, before he continued eating, glancing at his mother, then at his father.
Naruto, not sensing anything wrong with the question, began to answer, only to be interrupted by Mikoto, "Now, really Fugaku, what type of question is that. So tell me, Naruto, have you been giving your Academy teachers trouble?"
Naruto looked sheepish as he and Sasuke together began telling tales of some of their more harmless pranks. Mikoto smiled politely and pretended to listen, all the while subtly getting into a glaring contest with Fugaku.
How dare you interrupt me, woman! Fugaku's eyes seemed to demand.
I told you to behave, Mikoto's glare screamed.
Itachi watched the glaring match in increasing interest. While he had known his mother was strong, he had not thought her to be strong enough to stand up to his father. And while Itachi held great respect for the woman who gave birth to him, he had often seen her as the weakest of the three (the three being Fugaku, Itachi and Mikoto). Itachi regrets underestimating her.