Once again a thousand apologies to everyone. Lots have been happening and I am trying the best I can. This chapter may seem a bit short to some, but I'm happy that I was able to start writing again.

Chapter 12

Dinner that night was probably the quietest the Uchiha's main family ever had. The air was thick with tension as millions of thoughts ran through their minds. Although they ate, to an observer, one would easily pick up on the fact that no one truly had an appetite but still ate, to avoid cutting through the thick tension that filled the room. Itachi kept his eyes on his plate, trying his best to avoid eye contact with the others, specifically his father. His mother he knew was badly shaken up by the events. She tried her hardest to raise her sons with as much love as she could. Although she spoke the words to him; he knew she blamed herself for how he turned out. Not in the way that would suggest he turned out rude, but in the way that he was forced to grow up so fast, that he never really had a proper childhood.

He could only imagine what thoughts and feelings were running through her right now, after her younger child's outburst. He knows how hard she has tried to keep him ignorant concerning the dark thoughts, that began developing within their clan. The young man could almost feel the anguish and pain coming from her heart, as he experienced his own.

As he finished his meal; almost as if they timed each other, both Itachi and Shisui went to the sink and cleaned their dishes, before proceeding to leave the room. As the two were about to leave, a hard sound broke the tension, as Fugaku slammed a fist down onto the table.

"How on earth does he know so much so much, to make those kinds of statements?" he grunted bitterly. The air was silent after his outburst. Then quietly the elder son responded with two simple words.

"He's smart." Then continued silently with his cousin upstairs, each going to their room. As much as he wanted his brother to rest, the image of their father trying to interrogate him in the middle of the night, wouldn't leave his mind. That being said, he decided to leave Sasuke with him for the night, hoping his body would allow him to rest peacefully, despite the anger he displayed earlier.

The awkward silent that started that night, continued throughout the following days, within the clan's main household. Still the occupants continued life, as if nothing had occurred. Although, if one was to look closely, they would see the slight changes within the members personality and how they see one another. Itachi and Shisui were busy with missions, Sasuke with school, and Fugaku with work. Still, they found it difficult to speak to each other, they way they did before. Sasuke began spending more time outside the house, with his new friends from the Academy (or in his case, his former classmates). Everyone could see how worried Mikoto has been, fearing the worst about his youngest child. Which is why said child would quietly assist her in the household chores and even bring her flowers, in an effort of cheering up her day.

Nearly three weeks after that terrible night, was a next clan meeting. The young ANBU feared that Fugaku would bring up Sasuke's actions to the other clan members. He still held the fear of a surprise interrogation when he wasn't home to stop him. He worried Sasuke's anger might erupt like I did that night, which would definitely cause too many questions to arise, that would result in the truth of Sasuke's past coming to light. The day of the meeting the air within the house began to shift, slowly becoming lighter through out the day. Sasuke was out spending the day with friends, as Itachi and Shisui relaxed by a lake in one of the training grounds.

"How do you think this meeting's going to go down, Itachi?" Shisui asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

"I'm not sure, father can be predictable when he's ready. I fear that he's already ranted his problems to someone, concerning Sasuke's outrage that night. If so, its sure to be brought up at some point. My overall concern is that he tries to bring Sasuke into this mess."

"You mean, he might try to pull Sasuke into siding with him against the village?"

"Hmm. I believe he just might. Especially since his Sharingan became active, even if it was unstable. He might just try to push him into activating it again, then boast about it."

Shisui shook his head at the notion that Fugaku might continue to push Sasuke, even though he didn't realize that was why he let of the way he did that night. Whether Sasuke was from the future or not, emotional stress on the Sharingan never turns out well for the wielder's body.

As the boys left to return home, Shisui prayed to Kami that the clan head begin to open his eyes and mind, and see how much pain and suffering his actions would trigger, not just on the clan, but on the shinobi world itself.