archiveofourown org /works/45730315/chapters/115761130#workskin


Chapter 3: Sasuke: Honorable Clan Head

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text Age 10, 3 months before the Academy starts.

2 weeks of Therapy, otherwise known as 2 weeks sitting in a room that feels far too sterile with someone who wants to rip you apart at the very seams and put you back together in a way that makes sense for everyone other than you. Having said that, I've found that therapy has been surprisingly effective. I had been nominated as Clan Head, and was today going to choose the adult clan member that would be acting as my Regent until I graduated from the Academy. First however I have to go through my morning routine. I slid my way out of bed, kicking off the covers as I stumbled to my feet, muffling a curse as I stub my toe, I made my way to the kitchen. Inside the cabinet was some of the finest coffee within the Land of Fire and in the last 2 weeks I'd decided to become a connoisseur of the stuff. Placing the pot on the stove with boiling milk, I grabbed a mortar and pestle and began to grind my beans, preferring to hand grind them. I ignored the knocking on my door once, then twice. They knew I wouldn't open the door until I had finished. After the beans were ground and I was waiting for the milk to boil I took a quick shower, my hair air drying as I came back dressed in the traditional Clan outfit of long cargo shorts, and a high collared T-shirt with the Clan crest on the back. I strained the coffee grounds against boiling water, and mixed it with the milk to create the closest thing to The Pure Land I'd ever experience in my life.

"Sasuke, you in there young man?" I gave a sigh, reaching over and grabbing the simple yet tarnished silver necklace with the scratched charms of a Crow and a Dove, the wings haven been broken off the birds. Slipping it over my neck and under my shirt I wrenched the door open, my annoyance slipping underneath a cold face of neutrality.

"You're early, our appointment isn't for-" I didn't get to finish that thought, the three elderly Uchiha already moving away from the house and talking. They only half face me as they walk, forcing me to almost leave the door open as I keep up and miss the very start of their lecture.

"-and of course now you have to select a regent for the Uchiha clan, which is a very important choice. You have the option of any of the 3 still in serving condition Uchiha Shinobi, as well as of course the few permanently injured Uchiha or any of us Older and since retired folks who would be glad to bear the title for you in the meantime." They're smiles were hollow, and their words seemed to ring with greed. I could feel a ghost of a smile pass my face, knowing they wanted someone who could use their new weakness as a leverage to get the Uchiha enough pity to get the Hokage position down the line.

"I have an appointment with the Hokage today," I checked my watch, the face still cracked where it was on my father's wrist that night, "in 2 hours. First however I intend to stop by the Merchant district and do some necessary shopping. In 2 weeks I have seen minimal repairs being done to the district and I cannot let that stand." I could feel their unease, one Elder even stumbling. This meeting was a surprise to them, thankfully the actual Shinobi of the Clan had decided to listen more to me as Clan head rather than these old fops.

"Very well then, young Clan head. We must insist however that for this meeting you take a clan elder with you, to better advise you in this conversation." I had to bite my tongue lest I sigh, I could almost taste blood but hid it with another deep gulp of coffee.

"Fine, elder Sevrin. He will accompany me as a 'Political Advisor' and his son will act as my bodyguard." Their lips pursed in displeasure, Sevrin was the oldest remaining member of the Clan. He needed a walker to move, and had trouble speaking in anything above a whisper. His son on the other hand was a mountain of a man and was originally an up and coming Tai-jutsu user. The night of the Massacre he lost an arm at the shoulder and his career as a Shinobi ground to a halt. He was quiet though and would let me do what I felt I needed too. I picked up my pace, leaving them behind signaling the end of the conversation. Glancing around the main entrance to the Clan compound I can see the start of reconstruction. Elder Danzo had been more than happy to shell out money in a form of reparation, after all it was he who had been Itachi's staunchest and most public supporter. Danzo was buried in a line of thinking that burying one's emotions was the best way to have your shinobi. Seeing his up and coming star pupil, the young man who had made ANBU captain at only 13, suddenly snap and massacre his own clan has caused quite the hit to Danzo's reputation. I gave a nod to the workers, guarded by ANBU with oddly blank masks and ignored their brief bows to me. It's well known that the Hokage's advisors are given their own ANBU squads, and may run them how they see fit. I never liked seeing them, reminding of how they're husks of people. Of how my brother was on his way to that before he snapped. I met up with Suchu, Sevrin's son, right outside the compound.

"The elders informed me you wished for me to serve as your bodyguard for the day," His words were stiff and formal; his Chunin vest shining proudly as he bowed to me, "My father will be meeting with us at the Hokage's Tower if that's alright." I gave a nod, continuing to drink my coffee, and running out faster than I'd have liked, rather than a verbal answer. The streets were packed, and whispers flitted back and forth. I couldn't help but stop at a cafe, waiting in line for more coffee and taking the chance to listen to whatever has people all up in a huff about. Three elderly women who were knitting in the corner over tea proved to be quite helpful in that regard.

"Judy, you missed a stitch-OH and Agnis did you hear the news?" Judy, as the second lady calls her, gives a grunt and prefixes her glasses. Agnis, the third woman, turns to the second woman and gives a rather concerningly slow nod as she speaks.

"Indeed, Haruno's silk business has received attention from the Fire Lord's estate. They claim a show is happening this month to get the Royal Families seal of approval." I give a grunt, now tuning the conversation out. The line moved fast, and I got my cup steaming hot. Moving through the merchant district I went right for a shinobi store, turning to Suchu.

"I require a set of kunai, shurikens, and fishnet armor. Show me what you recommend." he bows once more, weaving in between shelves with a grace I can't hope to imitate. In the very back of the store alongside prices that would be staggering for most others are some of the finest shinobi I'd ever seen. I gathered what I wanted, satisfied that these would make good tools for learning throughout the academy, and moved forward to the front desk. I couldn't tell you what drew my eye, it wasn't anything incredible to look at. A slightly longer than average katana leaning up against the counter from behind, a simple black scabbard and no adornments on the handle. Suchu and the Clerk were debating between themselves on a price but I didn't bother to listen. I reached for the katana but drew back the moment I touched it. Something about it felt wrong to hold and yet I couldn't look away from it.

"Hey, clerk. What's with this Katana?" He and Suchu break from their discussion, both turning to face me. He's probably only a few years older than me, and I have to grit my teeth as he scoffs.

"That old thing, it's been in my family for a few years now, ever since the end of the Second Shinobi War." He reaches over, picking up the Katana by the scabbard and using his thumb to push it up a bit allowing us to get a look at the blade. The Sword itself is a brilliant blue color, seeming to have an almost wave design in how it flows. He lets it fall with a clink, before using a bit of wire to tie it shut. "Thing is crazy expensive, the shop won't part with it for less than a quarter of a million yen." I didn't bother listening to Suchu talking about how that was excessive. I took it by the scabbard, hefting the blade a bit.

"I'll take it." The kid's eyes are wide, but he nods a bit clearly, a bit in shock. I didn't bother trying to haggle or waste either of our time.

"Lord Sasuke, I must insist that such things at the very least wa-" I wave a hand cutting him off as I place the sword in his hand. He twitches as he holds it, his eyes widening as they meet mine.

"Someone is meant to have this, but that person is not me or you. Return to the compound and place it in the vaults. Meet me back at the Hokage's Tower." he bows deeply, tucking the sword securely against him and under his arm already heading for the door as I'm writing the check. Uncaring as my father's emergency stash of money was cut down by a decent margin in a few strokes of pen. Leaving the store I moved stiffly, fishnet armor is nowhere near as restrictive as the stuff worn by samurai but also not as protective. A simple reinforced steel mesh that covers most of the torso and some of the legs is a common shinobi practice, enough to turn a potentially fatally thrown kunai into a massive bruise that'll hurt like hell. I moved down the street slowly, noting with pride the town square and the buffer it provides to Hokage Tower. Not a single structure stands within 50 meters of the tower, not even a trash can. I move through the doors, the bottom floor a rather nice lobby with a series of desks. The people behind the desks are protected behind a sheet of clear Chakra Glass, a pane of glass where the edges have seals carved into them and then are fueled with chakra to become as strong as steel. Very similar to the Seals we have on the walls of the city. Stepping up to an empty line the Shinobi looks up from the files he was working on.

"Welcome, what can I help you with Young man?" his voice is chipper, I don't bother glancing at the little name plate.

"I have a meeting scheduled with the Hokage, 2 people are coming to join me." he blinks, seeming confused at first before he nods a bit.

"Uh, right, yes-of course." he scrambles a bit, fumbling with the folder already in his hands as he stands up and moves off to go confirm this. I keep an eye on the door and am far from surprised when Sevrin hobbles in on his walker, the balding Uchiha giving me a toothless grin as he approaches. Suchu joins us shortly after, bowing to both myself and his father. A few minutes go by of us waiting, my foot tapping in irritation as lines move around us. Civilians coming in to either make their complaints or make simple requests that they expect shinobi to do rather than getting off their asses. By the time I felt a twitch in my eye the clerk had finally returned looking none too pleased.

"The Hokage will see you now Uchiha-San" he bows as he speaks, clearly irritated at having to bow to a child. I move for the steel door set smooth in one of the walls, it opens perfectly as I arrive two ANBU on the other side guarding the base of the stairs. A Genin as well to assist Sevrin up the stairs. The trip up is slow, the second and third floor are mad houses. People running around and shouting at one another, sometimes comparing paperwork and other times pouring over maps together. The stairs enter up showing a desk with a secretary seated at it, a few chairs which have a Jonin and a very injured Genin team waiting in them, and two firm wooden doors with 2 Chunin standing guard. They open the door upon seeing me, and give a brief bow to them and the secretary before moving past. The office itself is mostly glass windows overlooking the village, seals along the edges of the glass showing chakra reinforced glass once more. The Hokage himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sits behind a mahogany desk littered with paperwork. He's leaned back in his chair, the Kage's hat shielding his eyes from my sight as he expels a large puff of smoke before setting the pipe into a little stand for it. I bow deeply, my arms at my side and my face neutral.

"Thank you for this meeting, I apologize for being so last minute about sche-" he cuts me off with a chuckle, pointing at the chairs that have been placed for us.

"Enough of all that, you are the head of a Clan now, young Uchiha. It is well within your legal right as part of the Shinobi Council to call a meeting with me. Am I to assume that you're here to place a regent seeing as you're too young?" I take the seat, Sevrin sinking into his with a grunt, and Suchu bowing an extra time in thanks before taking his own just a bit behind me.

"Yes, that was the hope of this meeting. I intend to join the academy here soon, and wanted to decide such matters before I became too busy with training." he nodded a bit, a hand straying to his pipe as he took another puff. Holding it for a moment as he looks over me, and then gazing over my companions as though trying to read their very souls. Finally releasing the cloud of noxious fumes and tobacco he reaches over picking up a clipboard I hadn't seen under the papers and holds it out to me. I took it after a moment of hesitation, looking over several files and reports of my Uchiha clan movements and expenses for an exceptionally large amount of weapons and explosive tags.

"What happened to your clan is a tragedy. I will not deny that," He sits up, taking the hat off, "However," as he runs a hand down his face it's like an illusion is dropped, seeming to age 30 years before my eyes. "My intelligence department was strongly suspecting the Uchiha Clan of attempting a coup to take the title of Hokage." I felt like things were turning sideways, all my thoughts had abandoned me as I just stared at him and then back at the paper. The odd purchases and changes of the Military Police's patrol routes now seem to take a far more nefarious purpose. I look up to see him taking another deep breath of smoke, as he nods.

"You knew none of it, good. You have gone through all the proper channels for this meeting, and your most recent psych report bodes well. You have handled the news well." he puts his hand out expectantly and it takes me a moment before I put the clipboard in it. "You will make a good Clan head in the future, and I will accept your choice of Regent." I nod a bit, still reeling but oddly comforted by realizing this was a test. My voice was shaky as I spoke, but I did my best to hide it.

"Suchu, you have proven yourself reliable and honest to me. Would you do me the honor of becoming the Regent for the Uchiha clan and voting on the Shinobi Council in my stead until I can properly claim the title of Clan head." The Hokage raises an eyebrow, I don't think he was expecting that. Sevrin chuckles from beside me and I can hear a sniffle from Suchu as he stands. He steps forward, kneeling between both the Hokage and I.

"It would be my honor, Clan head, and I will strive to do justice to the trust you have placed in me." The Hokage nods, passing me a different clipboard now and walking me through the paperwork required for something as simple as naming a regent for a Clan head. By the time everything is all and done the sun is setting on my walk home. The compound's repairs have finished for the day, tools and scaffolding left where they are for the next morning's work. The damage done in 2 hours won't be fully repaired until the Academy starts. My door opens without a sound, and closes with a simple click. I slump back against the door, a hand sliding down my face.

"That meeting was a curveball" my words were whispered, the empty house didn't answer back except for the sound of the wind. I shifted up, moving slowly as I kicked my feet off. My feet found the same exact spots they'd found every day for the past 2 weeks leaving a trail of footprints in the dust that had been gathering. Picture frames and pretty vases that once adorned the house now streaked and shadowed. I didn't really pay attention to the world while I made dinner, instead I found myself a fair bit later with a plate of steak and potatoes. I ate slowly, the only sound in the room was my fork on the plate and the occasional sound of water hitting wood. The steak was overdone, and the potatoes undercooked leaving them hard. Using my napkin to clean my face I added to the stack of dishes in the sink not bothering to change clothes as I wandered through the dark house. Stopping first at the door to my room, popping it open to view the still destroyed window and the stain of blood where I had watched it all. The door closed with naught more than a click, and I went to my parents room. Hanging up Mom's necklace I crawled into bed after locking the door and drew the covers over my head. Sleep came slowly, but that's ok.

Notes:

Y'know, having a Beta-Reader makes a helluva difference in how you approach things. We beat 100 hits and it's only been a week and change since I posted the first chapter. I'm glad to see people are enjoying this story. Personally I vaguely hope to beat 1,000 before Litha but I realize that might be unrealistic.