Chapter 7: Reflection

Uchiha Compound:

Fugaku woke up to an empty bed. Getting up, he stretched, feeling his bones pop loudly. He did not feel rested, though. He had not felt rested from a night's sleep for a long time. After getting dressed, he left the confines of the room.

Not even a minute later, he is greeted by Yashiro, a man around Fugaku's age and an old friend. He was also the leader of the Uchiha in favor of the planned coup, a group that was growing every day. Fugaku repressed a grimace. It was too early in the day to be dealing with this man. "Fugaku-Sama, I'm glad that I caught you." The man said, walking up to Fugaku's side. "I was hoping to discuss more about the coup with you."

Fugaku was careful to respond. "Is it a bit too early in the day to talk about this, and shouldn't we discuss in a more secure area?" If Fugaku had his way, he preferred that they don't talk about the coup today.

He had never felt comfortable about the plan to overthrow the Hokage and the Konoha Council and replace them with Uchiha. The Uchiha Clan was a founding member of Konoha and had sworn an oath to defend the Village. To consider something like a coup d'état felt like a betrayal of their oath and was spitting on their ancestor's accomplishments. It was why he had rejected the proposal when it was first brought up almost a year ago. There were other factors that contributed to his decision at the time, such as the unlikelihood they would succeed. There was a reason why Konoha had won the three Great Shinobi Wars. While Fugaku was proud to say that the Uchiha was the strongest clan in the Village. He was not so arrogant to believe that they could take on the whole Village. Even if they did, how would Fire Daiymō view the situation? Would he sit by and let the Uchiha take over, or would he see them as a threat to the Land of Fire and move against them? Then there were the other countries and Hidden villages to consider; a civil war in their enemy ranks would be a tempting weakness to take advantage of. At the time, Fugaku had decided that a coup would do more harm to the clan than it would solve.

He never reported the proposal to the Hokage. He could understand why some of his clansmen were reacting the way they did. They felt disgruntled with how the Village was treating them, isolating them, and spreading rumors that they were responsible for the Kyūbi attack, would do that. He felt the same disgruntlement, but he wasn't about to throw away everything they had by proving the villagers' suspicions right.

Yashiro, though did not feel the same way. "Come now; this is the future of our great clan we are talking about. It is never too early for such things. As for security, we are in the Uchiha compound; there is no safer place to talk. There are only Uchiha here, and one of our clansmen would never turn on another. It is one of the things that makes us better than the other clans." Fugaku decided not to bring up Madara. "Just look at our so-called rivals, the Hyūga clan. They brand more than half of their clansmen with that Caged Bird Seal of theirs and relegate them to the Cadet Branch. May as well call them slaves instead. You would never catch us doing such a thing." The man began to rub his chin as a thought occurred to him. "Speaking of those white eyes, we will need to do something about them when we take over the Village. They are the most likely to oppose our rule. Not to mention they have been gaining more power of late while we have been dwindling in influence. Just look at what happened two years ago when they took in the Jinchūriki. Making him a ward for saving their heiress my ass, they just wanted him for the power he holds."

Fugaku stops and looks around the compound's halls, praying that no one was around to hear what Yashiro said. "Are you insane?" He whispered harshly at the man. "You know the law."

Yashiro waved him off. "Oh please, we both know who that brat is and who here would report me for breaking the Sandaime's law? You?" Fugaku did not answer. "I thought not. As I was saying, the Sandaime must have gone senile to let that pass. I'm surprised you didn't oppose them; why is that?"

Fugaku wasn't about to tell him that "brat" was the son of his old friend and Yondaime. "As I told you before, I had personal reasons for my decision to support the Hyūga clan when they took Uzumaki-San in as a ward of their clan. Reasons that I will not explain to you."

Yashiro stared at him for a moment waiting for Fugaku to elaborate. "Very well, I will not pry into the matter. But we will have to do something about the Hyūgas. Perhaps after the coup, we could approach the members of the cadet branch and see if we can get their support. In exchange, we could offer to aid them in gaining their freedom from the main branch."

Fugaku did not want to talk anymore about it. He had only just woken up, and he already regretted getting up from his bed. "Yashiro-San, how about we talk about this later. I have only just woken up and have yet to eat my breakfast. I would rather spend my morning in peace and not talking about our future in the Village." Fugaku stopped by a door to his family's dining room. The smell of his wife's cooking was a welcoming scent.

Yashiro nodded. "I can understand Fugaku-Sama. I apologize if I disturbed you in any way. I was just eager to discuss our future as a clan." He said. "Perhaps after today's assembly of the Konoha Council, we can discuss this more at length. There is some information that I think you might like to hear."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow at the man's response, reluctant as it may be. Yashiro had been the one to convince him to support the coup and had been feeding him information that indicated the leadership of Konoha was afraid of the Uchiha clan. He didn't know where the man got his intel; he refused to reveal his sources, only that they were reliable. Yashiro's evidence did not paint Konoha in a good light. The isolation of the Uchiha in a remote area of the Village. Giving the Uchiha the responsibility of being the Village's police force and the recent rumors spreading about them. They all pointed to the conclusion that Konoha feared the Uchiha clan and what they would do in the future if left unchecked. They wanted to isolate the clan and spread suspicion about them so that no one would question it if anything happened to them. Again, Fugaku couldn't just ask the Hokage if any of this was true for fear that Yashiro was right.

"Information?" Fugaku questioned.

"You will find out soon enough. Have a good day, Fugaku-Sama." Yashiro bowed and left the Uchiha head alone in the hall.

Fugaku let out a tired sigh. His day had hardly started, and already he had to concern himself with whatever Yashiro had to tell him and their discussion about plans for the coup. A coup while having his support, he was uncertain of. Was it the right course of action? Was Konoha planning to take action against the Uchiha out of fear, or had they misinterpreted their actions for something else? Had both of them? There were so many questions to be answered, and Fugaku didn't know where to begin to look.

"If only you were still here, Minato. You would know what to do." It was a thought that had been crossing his mind a lot lately. When his teammate and friend was still around, everything seemed so hopeful. The man had an uncanny talent for making the impossible happen. The gulf between the clan and the Village had been so close to being closed because of him. Then he died, and that gulf had widened again and grew worse. Were the Uchiha and Konoha destined to be at odds? Had Madara's rebellion been a sign of things to come that they all ignored?

Fugaku let out another tired sigh; it was too early in the day to think about such things. Truthfully, he'd be happier to spend the whole day without thinking about the deteriorating relationship between his clan and the Village.

Pushing his thoughts to the back of his mind, he opened the door and stepped in. He was greeted by his wife, placing a plate of food on the table. The sight of his wife was always something that brought a smile to his face. For him, she was more beautiful than anything in the world and would gladly give anything to make her happy. He walked up to her and placed a kiss on her lips. "Morning, Mikoto." He said to her, breaking the kiss.

Mikoto smiled up at him. "Morning, Fugaku." He responded and returned the kiss. "How was your sleep." She said, moving to the kitchen.

"Good," He said, sitting down at the table. "As Itachi returned from his mission yet?"

"I'm afraid not." He hears his wife call out. She came out holding her own plate of food. She sat down in front of Fugaku. "His duties as a captain in ANBU keep him busy. As proud of him as I am, I wish he was around more often."

Fugaku nodded; his eldest son was an endless source of pride for him. Both of his sons were, even though he would never show it. "Itachi has done his clan proud." He said.

"Sasuke has been doing well in his classes." Mikoto said after taking a bit from her food. "From what I gather, he's at the top of his class." Fugaku nodded, happy to hear that his second son was doing so well at the Academy. "Though I do hear he has some fierce competition from a minuter double of a certain blonde we know."

"Really now?" Fugaku responded, knowing who she was referring to.

"Yes, he seems to have formed something of a rivalry with the boy. I would even say that they're friends." She said, smiling. "Almost reminds me of you and Minato. Though I think they're less hostile with each other than you two were when you started out." In translation, they weren't trying to kill each other. "I'm glad to hear that Sasuke has managed to make some friends at the Academy. Itachi didn't have any when he attended, and I was worried that Sasuke would be the same."

That had not been a fear that had crossed his mind, but he was still happy to know her concerns were unfounded. "I'm sure that you're more than happy to know that your fears have been laid to rest."

Mikoto nodded. "Yes, I am." She said, then remained silent for a moment as she pursed her lips, a tell that she was thinking about something. "I hear that you've been talking to Hiashi-San again."

That took Fugaku by surprise; he hadn't told anyone about that. "Yes, I have. How did you know."

"A couple of clansmen noticed you talking to him yesterday." She said. "So, how is he doing?"

"Good, it's been nice talking to him again." Fugaku responded. "It almost feels like old times."

Mikoto nodded. "That's good to hear. I was thinking, since you're talking to Hiashi again, that maybe I could spend some time with Hitomi again. We haven't talked to each other in years, and it would be nice to catch up again. The next time you see him, can you have Hiashi let her know I want to talk?"

Fugaku didn't find anything wrong with that. "Your in luck; I'll be seeing him after the Council meeting today." He said. "I'll try to pass it along. I'm sure that Hitomi would be thrilled to see you again."

Mikoto nodded her thanks. "That would be nice. I imagine that we'll have a lot to talk about." She paused for a moment, and Fugaku suspected that she was debating something in her mind.

Should he say something? "Mikoto-Chan, is something the matter?" He asked.

His wife gave him a nervous look. "Nothing Fugaku-Kun." She bit her lip.

Now he knew something was bothering her. "It doesn't like nothing to me."

She looks at him, a slight hint of surprise showing. "It's just that," Her voice trailed off as she searched for the right words. She sighed. "A few weeks ago, I was passing by the compound's dojo, and on a whim, I decided to throw some senbons at the targets."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow at the subject she brought up. "And?" He carefully pressed.

She had a downcast expression as she continued her story. "Most of them hit dead-center." Fugaku nodded his head, not understanding where she was getting at. He knew his wife had served in the Shinobi Corp, though like him, she was in the reserves now and had been one of Konoha's top Kunoichi. She had been called the "Red Death" for her skill with the Sharingan and use of poisons. He was not surprised that even years after being out of the field, she would still be able to hit the center of a target with most of her senbon. Wait. "Except for one. It hit just outside of the bullseye." Now for anyone else, that would have been spectacular results, hitting the center of a target with most of their thrown weapons. But Mikoto was an Uchiha, and like most Uchiha, she strived for perfection. Having most of her senbon hit the dead-center of a target was not good enough for her; they all had to hit dead-center. "I tried a few more throws and got much the same. After that, I tried some Taijutsu, then after that Ninjutsu, and after that, I used my Sharingan. Before I knew it, I had gone through my entire arsenal as a Shinobi."

Fugaku had a suspicion what day that was. He had returned home from a long day, and he had expected to be greeted by his wife's comforting presence and a warm meal. Instead, he saw Mikoto half passed out at the table eating leftovers and looking more tired and ragged than he did. He had pushed any other thoughts to the side and asked if she was okay. She had said that she did not feel well that day, he didn't believe her, but at the time, he decided it was best not to press the subject. She would talk to him when she felt like she was ready too. "What did you discover?" He asked.

She let out a long-tired sigh. "Two things." She said. "First off, my skills aren't what they used to be. Certainly, I'm still a high Jōnin level Kunoichi, put me against anyone in this Village, and I should be able to beat them with little effort. But as I went through the motions, everything felt off. My skills were not as sharp as they should be, my stamina wasn't as it should be, my Taijutsu strikes weren't hitting as hard or as precise as they should, and everything else felt off. I've been practicing the last few weeks, trying to improve, and I think I've been making some progress." Fugaku remained silent; he knew that something was bothering her, but how could he have missed this? He had noticed that she seemed to be busier of late and was tired all the time. As her husband, he should have known that something was bothering her; and he did and should have been more attentive, but he wasn't. He had been so caught up in what was happening with the clan, he had neglected to pay any attention to his family, real attention. He had to wonder what else he had been missing?

"What was the second thing you learned?" He asked.

"I want to see about becoming an active Kunoichi again." She said.

If anyone else was around, they might have seen Fugaku's eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. "What?" He muttered out.

Mikoto gave a placating look. "Not right away. I was thinking about waiting about a year or two before going back to active duty." Fugaku felt himself relax a little. He hadn't expected her to bring up the possibility of her returning to active duty. "Mainly so I can get back into shape, and even then, I probably take mostly C-ranks to get back into motions of being a Kunoichi again. Not to mention that I do want to see how well Sasuke is doing in the Academy before then. I assure you I've been giving this a lot of thought, and I'm willing to discuss this with you. So, you don't have to worry about me running off the next on a mission to assassinate the Raikage if that's what you are worried about."

Fugaku felt the corners of his lips tug into a smile. "I would be more worried for the Raikage's safety than yours, my dear. I think," He paused as he thought over what he would say next. He was of two minds on the matter.

On the one hand, he fully supported her desire to return to active service. He knew what she was capable of and knew that she could take care of herself, and in some ways felt jealous that she could make that decision. As the head of the Uchiha clan, he couldn't be an active service anymore, his responsibilities kept him inside the Village. There were days when he longed to return to being an active Shinobi and feel the thrill that came with it.

On the other hand, he wanted her to stay. What could he say he loved the woman, and even when they both were active Shinobi, unfounded as it may be, he worried for her safety. More than a few times, he had stayed up late at night wondering if she would return from a mission or not, half the time afraid that she would but in a casket. He imagined that she felt much the same about him.

"I think it's a good idea." He said after a moment of silence. As much he loved her, he knew this was her decision to make, and if he tried to stop her, he would regret it. "I'm glad to know that you will be returning to active service."

Mikoto smiled. She stood up from her seat and walked around the table. Fugaku's head turns to keep track of the woman as she made way behind him. She wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Fugaku-Kun; you don't know how happy I am to hear you say that." A mirthful giggle made its way to the Fugaku's ear.

"What so funny?" He said, tilting his head to the side to get a better look at his wife.

"Nothing much," She said. "It's just I haven't seen you like this for a long time."

Fugaku felt his face scrunch up in confusion. "Like this?" He asked.

Mikoto's expression changed, she was still smiling, but it was more solemn. "I'm not sure if you noticed or not. But you haven't been the same for over seven years, not since Minato died."

Fugaku hid his reaction. He knew he wasn't the same man before Minato had passed away, but had he changed more than he had thought without realizing it? If he met his past self, would the contrast be so stark as to see they were two different individuals? He had a lot to think about.

Mikoto removed her arms, placing a quick kiss on his cheek, and walked back to her seat. "I always knew the man that I fell in love with was in there somewhere." She said, taking a seat. "I'm glad that I got to see him again. Do me a favor and try to bring him out more often."

Fugaku didn't know how to respond. "I'll think about it."

They ate in silence for the rest of the morning.

Later that day, Streets of Konoha

"Of course, the elders were none too please to hear Naruto's antics that day." Hiashi said, chuckling. "For a moment, I thought one of them was going to pop a blood vessel from how angry he looked." Fugaku listened intently as his old friend explained one of the Hyūga Ward's more mischievous moods. "I swear one of these days, he's going to kill one of them. Not that it would be a bad thing."

The Uchiha clan head shook his head, the boy sounded like a handful to keep track of. He may look like a miniature version of his father, but that boy had more of his mother in him. "I'm surprised they haven't tried punishing him more often." The two men had gotten out of a meeting of both the Shinobi and Civilian councils and were now sitting down at a restaurant frequented by Shinobi. Fugaku wouldn't mind it so much if it were just a meeting of the Shinobi council. It would still be a long drooling session with endless amounts of administrative and legal issues to work out, but at the very least, he would be among fellow Shinobi. But with the Civilian council joining them, it became a lot more tedious than it should have. There was one, maybe two, members he could tolerate, but the rest just grated on his nerves. They always had to nitpick at everything and complain just about as much.

"Oh, they have tried, many times in fact." Hiashi said, putting his glass of water down. "But between me, Hitomi, Hizashi, Sara, and the Hokage, we keep them from doing something too drastic. It doesn't hurt that Naruto at least has the good sense to behave for a while after days like that one."

"I imagine your eldest daughter also has a hand in that." Fugaku said.

"I imagine she does," Hiashi responded with a nod. "Nor does it hurt that Naruto is at the top of his class. So, they don't have much to complain about." A waiter came by asking for their orders. "Speaking of," Hiashi said after the waiter left, "from what I hear, your youngest son is attending, as well."

"He is," Fugaku answered, remembering his discussion with his wife earlier in the morning.

"From what I hear, he and Naruto have become rivals." Hiashi had a coy smile on his lips. "Not a single day goes by that I don't hear about how the two have had one competition or another. Naruto always grumbles whenever he losses."

Fugaku rolled his eyes, keeping his amusement hidden. "It sounds like what Kushina would do. That redhead always accused me of being a cheater."

"He does take a lot from his mother," Hiashi said. "But I think you'll be happy to know that Naruto doesn't accuse Sasuke of cheating. He prefers to think that he got lucky. Hinata tells me that Sasuke doesn't hang out much with the other kids. He seems to prefer to be alone or keep around Naruto and her. Not unlike how someone I know used to be." Fugaku had no reply for that. He remembered doing the same thing as his second son. At the time, most would have thought that he saw that everyone else was beneath him and wasn't worthy of being around him. While that was largely partly what it was, the truth was that deep down, he felt nervous about being around the other kids. The Uchiha name was something that held a lot of power and meaning behind it. They were one of the founders of Konoha and produced some of the most powerful Shinobi in the Village, their Kekkei Genkai the Sharingan was feared and coveted throughout the world. Being the heir of the clan, Fugaku felt like he had a lot to live up to. He was afraid that if the others ever learned what he was like, what kind of person he was, it would somehow tarnish his family's name. In some ways, he still felt like that. He had a lot of pride in his family, something that he would admit had gotten him into trouble more than a few times in his life. Because of that, he wouldn't let anyone be close to him for fear. Hiashi continued. "They both think of him as a friend." He let out a small laugh. "It's almost like history is repeating itself, though some of the details are different. I'm almost tempted to say it's fate."

Fugaku had been thinking much the same thing. What were the odds of their children becoming friends like their parents had, long after their families had grown so far apart? "For their sakes, I hope that history doesn't repeat itself fully." He said darkly. Losing Minato and Kushina had hurt badly. The former more than the latter, Minato had been the only one to break through the walls he put up to protect himself. When he had first met the blond, he thought the boy, an orphan like his son, was annoying and tried to ignore him as he did with the rest. It was one of the few failures he was proud of. Looking back at it now, Fugaku could see that the boy's constant challenges were not of bitterness towards him and that his attempts at friendship were genuine. Minato always had a gift for seeing through people's facades and saw them for who they were. He had seen through Fugaku's façade and saw him the lonely person he was. Despite his best efforts, Minato and, later Hiashi had become his closest friends and confidants. In hindsight, perhaps a part of the reason why he had distanced himself from Hiashi and the few other friends he had was that he was afraid that he would be hurt again if they were to pass. He didn't want Sasuke to go through the same thing.

Hiashi seemed to catch onto his thought process. "I hope so too." Then he smiled. "But I don't think we have to worry about that. Something in me tells me that things will turn out very differently for these kids. They already are different from what we were."

Thinking about it, he realized that Hiashi was right. From what little he heard about it, Sasuke had accepted Naruto's and Hinata's invitation of a friendship more openly than his father had with the deceased Yondaime. "Maybe your right." He said.

"Well, what do we have here?" A familiar voice said. Both Fugaku and Hiashi turned to see their generation's Ino-Shika-Chō trio approaching them. "The heads of the Hyūga and Uchiha clans sitting down at the same table, and everything in a ten-kilometer radius hasn't exploded?" Inoichi said with a grin. "Did we step into a parallel reality somewhere?"

"Maybe we're under a genjutsu?" Chōza said, rubbing his chin. "Though it's not a very good one, considering how unrealistic this picture is."

"If they want us to believe that these two are the same table, at the very least, they should be at each other's throats." Shikaku said seriously.

"Indeed, which is why I think we're in an alternate reality where the two can sit at the same table without something bad happening." Inoichi said.

Fugaku rolled his eyes at the three's antics. Judging by the scowl on the Hiashi's face, he guessed that the man wasn't too pleased either. "Are you three about done? Do keep in mind that insulting the Uchiha clan is not a wise decision."

"And insulting the Hyūga clan on top of that more so." Hiashi added to the threat.

"Alright, we didn't mean anything by it." Inoichi said, placing his hands in front of him. "Can't you two take a joke?" The deadpan stares were all the answers he needed. A nervous laugh made its way through the man's teeth. "Tough crowd." Then a more serious expression appeared on his face. "In all seriousness, we're surprised that both of you are sitting together and talking without any unpleasantness happening." He pulled back one of the seats. "Mind if we?" He asked. Chōza was taking the other seat, and Shikaku grabbed a chair from a nearby table.

"Go ahead," Fugaku said, knowing that they wouldn't take a no for an answer.

Inoichi nodded his thanks. "We haven't seen you two like for a long time. Not since…" The Yamanaka trailed off as he racked his brain.

Shikaku picked up for him. "Not since Minato passed."

"That's right," Inochi said, snapping his fingers. "I mean, we did see you two hanging out for a bit after that. But then you kind of stopped seeing each other one day. Since then, you've only been seen together during council meetings."

"Even then, your interactions could be described as being less than cordial." Chōza said. "That is until recently."

"Recently?" Hiashi questioned. Fugaku wondered what he meant by that as well.

A waiter came by, offering the three newcomers menus. "No, think you, we're just here to talk." Shikaku said, waving the waiter off. "Yes, recently, during the council meetings you have been. Well, I wouldn't say you've been more friendly towards one another," He folded his hands together. "But you have stopped being hostile, and that's enough for people to notice."

"Was it really that noticeable?" Fugaku asked.

Chōza nodded. "Yes, it was." The Akimichi head said, rubbing his chin. "Now that I think about it, the closest that you have acted like was about two years ago. When you supported Hiashi's request for taking Uzumaki Naruto in as a clan ward."

"Certainly, came as a shock to us." Inoichi commented. "For a moment, I thought we were all under a genjutsu. That or the world was about to end."

"It was troublesome, to say the least." Shikaku said. "Ever since then, while you two weren't on friendly terms, you did bicker less. Now it seems that you've stopped altogether and trying to rekindle your previous friendship."

Fugaku could see how that would raise some questions. His wife had noticed, or as she explained, someone else had noticed and told her. The Uchiha clan head wondered how many others had seen his demeanor change and how they took it. Had Yashiro noticed, the man did seem to know many things he shouldn't, and could he be worried about it? Fugaku shook his head, he preferred not to think about that man and the coup right now.

"Fugaku." The Uchiha man is jolted out of his thoughts at hearing his name. He looked at Shikaku, who was giving him a critical look. "Did you hear what I said?"

Fugaku shook his head. "No, I was thinking about something. What was it you said?"

Shikaku raised an eyebrow like he wanted to question Fugaku but decided to drop it a moment later. "I was saying that root of it seems to lie with a certain blonde."

"Uzumaki Naruto," Hiashi said. "My clan's current and only ward."

Shikaku nodded. "Exactly. Whether that boy realizes it or not, that boy has had an effect on this Village. I can't say if it is for the better or not."

"He's a good kid," Chōza said. "I've met him a few times, and my son thinks of him as a friend. He's even visited the Akimichi compound a couple of times. A few of my clansmen were uncomfortable around him, but most of them have warmed up to him." The man let out a heartily laugh. "Anyone who can eat as much he can is good in our books."

"Ino also considers him a friend," Inoichi said.

"Shikamaru thinks highly of him." The Nara added. "if you knew my son, you would know that means something."

"And we all know how my daughter sees him." Hiashi interjected.

Shikaku rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows. But what I'm trying to say is that kid has a talent for attracting people to him and winning them over."

Hiashi smirked. "Sounds familiar. I wonder if he got it from his parents." He said knowingly.

"From what I hear from Shikamaru." Shikaku began. "He's even befriended your kid Fugaku.

Fugaku remembered the conversation he had with his wife. "I'm aware, Mikoto was telling me about it earlier this morning."

"I imagine you might have noticed your kid having a friend before then."

Fugaku opened his mouth to respond to Nara's question. Then he shut it, realizing something. He hadn't noticed. He hadn't noticed that Sasuke had made friends at the Academy until his wife had pointed it out to him. When he asked his son how he was doing at the Academy, he had never heard Sasuke mention he had any friends at the Academy. He had never asked, he had only inquired if he was doing well at the Academy and told his son to be the best in the Academy, not to shame the Uchiha name. He had noticed his son coming home late on some days. He had always assumed Sasuke had been out training, improving himself, and proving that he was a testament to the Uchiha clan's greatness. Never once had he considered the possibility that his son was spending time with other kids his age.

Then another thought had struck him. How well did he know his son? Fugaku searched through his memories. He tried to find any meaningful moment with Sasuke, a moment when he acted like a father to the boy, not a clan head. He realized the last time he could remember being that way was when Sasuke was a baby. That couldn't be right, could it? Surely there was at least one moment where at the very least, he praised his boy for some small trivial thing? Like being able to count to ten without using his hands or reading a storybook without making a mistake. Nothing, he couldn't find anything. Not even a moment where he mildly teased the boy for some small thing.

How could a father have done so little with his child? Something that should bring pride and joy to his life. He remembered when Itachi was a child and all the good times that came with it. His first words. When he learned how to walk. His first crush on a girl and teasing him about it. He even remembered the wonder that came over his eyes when he learned he would have a younger sibling. How he spent every moment he could around his mother talking to his baby brother in her womb. Then another thought occurred to him. When was the last time he had spent time with his eldest son, Itachi, as a father? Like with Sasuke, he couldn't remember. The only things that came to mind was praising his firstborn for graduating from the Academy at a young age and recently becoming a captain in the ANBU. All of it Shinobi related and nothing to do with him as a person.

How could he have missed so much? What did his sons think of him as a loving father, or a cold distant clan head? He looked to Hiashi as the two rekindled their lost friendship; the man had told him much about what was happening in his life. In particular, he went into detail about how much he loved his daughters, how proud he was of them, and the joy they brought to him. Fugaku didn't have such stories to share, and it troubled him.

Hiashi noticed his staring. "Fugaku-San, is something wrong?" He asked, giving him a concerned look.

Fugaku shook his head. "No, it's nothing." He lied, pushing his thoughts to the side. He would have to reflect on this later. He was doing a lot of that of late. "I'm fine. It's just that, hmmm." He stopped trying to think of something to change the subject. He leapt at the first thought that came to him. "I just remembered something. Mikoto was telling me earlier this morning that she wants to see Hitomi again. So, she asked me to let you know she wants to spend some time with her."

"That's good to hear." Hiashi said, sounding like he knew this wasn't the subject that was bothering him. "I'm sure that Hitomi would be more than happy to see her again."

Fugaku held back his relief. "Perhaps tomorrow they can meet up." He suggested.

Hiashi nodded. "I'll let her know."

"Well," Inoichi said, getting the two's attention. "It looks like your food is coming in." He pointed to an approaching waiter holding two plates of food. "So, we'll be leaving." He stood with the others. "It was nice talking to you two. Perhaps we can all hang out when we're available. Catch up on everything we've missed and reminisce over the past."

"I would not mind that." Hiashi answered. "What about you, Fugaku-San?"

The Uchiha man nodded his head. "I'll have to see about it."

"Well, that is as a firm of a commitment we'll get from you." Shikaku muttered before the three left, saying their goodbyes.

Once the waiter had placed their food down and left, Hiashi gave him a stern look. "Now tell me, old friend. What was really bothering you a moment ago?" He asked in a tone that left no room for excuses.

"I told you, I remembered that Mikoto wanted to see Hitomi again." Fugaku said, hoping that Hiashi would drop the subject. "I wasn't lying."

Fugaku could have sworn he saw Hiashi's eyes narrow. "I know you weren't," he said, "and I am going to let my wife know that Mikoto wants to see her. But I also know that you were using it as an excuse to cover up whatever thought disturbed you."
"Disturbed me?" Fugaku questioned.

A slight smirk appears on the Hyūga man's face. "It may have been a long time, but I still know your tells. I know while we were talking to Inoichi and them, something occurred to you, and for whatever reason, it disturbed you. So, tell me, what was it?"

Fugaku thought it, telling him. "It's just that," He began. He sighed, "It's hard to explain, and I'm not entirely sure about it. If it is too much, ask I want some time to myself to think about it." He chuckled more to himself. "I have a lot to think about, so much that it is overwhelming."

Hiashi stared at him for a moment. "I know the feeling." He conceded. "Sometimes, there are moments when you need to be alone to sort out all of your thoughts. So, I won't press you more on this anymore than I have to."

Fugaku felt a smile tug at his lips. "thank you, old friend."

"Does it have anything to do with what is happening around the Uchiha?" Hiashi asked.

Thinking about Fugaku could see where there could be a connection. "Partially, I think."

Hiashi nodded. "Alright then, I'll take what I can get. But do remember that while sometimes it is good to think things over alone. There are times that it is best to talk to others."

They ate their meal talking about other subjects.

A few days later, Uchiha Compound

There were days when Itachi had to wonder if there was a god or some other form of a higher power. If so, he/she/it apparently took a disliking towards him. His week had been a trying one, to put it mildly. It had started decent enough, he had spent time with his little brother and even got to spend a moment or two with his girlfriend, Izumi. Activates he found he had less time for nowadays. Then he had been given a mission to eliminate a group of missing-nin who had taken over a town on the border.

The mission did not go well. Unknown to him and his team at the time, the leader of the missing-nin was a dangerous S-Rank Shinobi. While they had eliminated the group and killed the leader, half of the team had been killed. Adding insult to injury, the entire town's population had been killed before they arrived. Itachi and the rest of his team had spent the better part of a day gathering and burying bodies. There were a lot of children among them, ones around Sasuke's age. The last couple of nights on the way back had kept him up with nightmares of seeing his brother's face mixed in the dead he saw. Following a long debriefing with the Hokage, he had returned to the Uchiha Compound hoping to get some decent sleep, nightmare filled or not he needed the rest.

Unfortunately, whatever higher power there was in this world decided he wouldn't get off so easily. "Hello, father." He said to his father, breaking an awkward silence.

He retained his grim expression, something he had grown used to over the years. There was a time when the man before him was different, kinder, warmer, he still had an air of sternness to him, but at least there was an undertone of love to it. He hadn't seen that man for years, not since Sasuke was a baby. "Hello, Itachi." He said, nodding his head to the younger Uchiha. "I see you have returned from your mission."

"I have." Itachi said coolly.

"I assume your mission was a success?" He inquired.

Itachi subtly raised an eyebrow, his father would have normally dropped the subject by now. Looking at him now, Itachi noticed an awkwardness about him that he had never seen before. "It was." He said cautiously. "Though there was a complication."

"Complication?" His father pressed.

"Yes, the reports neglected to mention that the leader of the missing-nin was a former S-Rank shinobi from Kumo." Itachi explained, gauging his father's reaction. There was something off about him today, something that Itachi couldn't place. It was enough to set off all sorts of alarm bells in his mind, and he was going to keep an eye on the man.

"I, see." For a moment, Itachi thought he saw a flash of concern in his father's eyes. Whatever it was, it disappeared just as quickly as it came. "Judging by the fact that your standing here. It's safe to assume that he was dealt with?" Itachi nodded. "Though I wonder what a Shinobi like him was doing in a small town, and one in the Land of Fire no less."

Itachi had wondered that himself when they confirmed who the leader was. "Based on the mad ramblings he spouted, he intended to carve out his own little empire starting in that town. Though I don't think he would have much success in that regard."

"What makes you think that?" His father said, sitting down at a table.

Itachi took a seat from across the man. "He had the entire town's population killed. If he did that to every town and village he took over, he wouldn't have much of an empire to rule."

"No accounting for the thinking of the mad." Itachi could agree to that. "Is there anything else, it seems like something is troubling you? Did something else happen on the mission?"

"There is something troubling me right now, and it has nothing to do with the mission. What are you up to, father?" Itachi pushed his thought aside. Whatever his father was doing, he wouldn't get it out of him by directly asking him. So, he debated something else. Should he tell him about the bodies and what they made him think? A part of him said no, reasoning that his father wouldn't care about such a "trivial detail." He may even lecture him about the "proper behavior and conduct of an Uchiha," something he would rather avoid. Another part told him yeas, just to see how he would react. He knew that something was off with his father, something was causing him to act strangely, and maybe it was an opportunity. A few more seconds of debating, and Itachi had decided to risk it.

"We stayed an extra day to gather up all of the bodies and saw to it that they received a proper burial." He saw his father raise an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "A lot of the bodies were mutilated, so we couldn't tell if we were burying them close to family. It was," Itachi trailed off, trying to search for the right words, he wasn't sure if there were any, "Taxing." he finished. "Especially when we got to the children. Some of them were around Sasuke's age. Every time we laid one to rest, I saw his face." After that, he had sworn to himself that he did whatever it took to protect his brother. He didn't want to have to bury his brother, he did not want to know what would happen if he did. He looks at his father to see his reaction.

No amount of words could describe the surprise Itachi felt when he saw the expression on his father's face. It was an expression he had only seen once before. During the Kyūbi attack, as they watched the beast tear through the Village from the safety of the compound, Itachi remembered turning his head to his father and seeing a look of horror. That same look was etched on his face. "Father?" Itachi said, trying to get the man's attention. No response. "Are you alright?" Again, no response.

Worried, Itachi stood up, walked over to his father, and placed his hand on his shoulder. He jolts, and Itachi jumped back in case his father's defensive instincts kicked in. Thankfully his father seemed to get a hold of himself and realized where he was. "You say something?" He asked.

"I was asking if you're where alright?" Itachi said, keeping the concern out of his voice. He had never seen his father act this way before. He couldn't tell if this was a good thing or a bad thing.

His father looked down at the table as an unreadable expression morphed across his face. "Yea, I'm fine. Just fine." That was a lie, Itachi could see that. The mention of Sasuke being among the dead or even the idea of it had shaken in a way Itachi hadn't thought possible. When he put his support behind the coup, had the possibility of Sasuke dying due to their clan's planned actions never occurred to him? Or perhaps he did but had never sunk in until now? Itachi knew that while the coup did have his father's support, he was uncomfortable about it, and it had caused him to be more thoughtful of late. Itachi knew his father on toeing the line between wanting to remain loyal to Konoha or betray it, believing it was best for the clan. Itachi tried to convince his father to see reason, call off the coup, come to the negotiation table with the Hokage, and work things out. But every time he thought he got through to his father, Yashiro, the strongest supporter of the coup, would convince his father to continue his support. Itachi didn't know how that man seemed to know things about Konoha that no others did, outside of the Hokage, himself, and a select few others. Knowledge he had twisted to suit his needs. They needed to deal with that man sooner or later, but that was a problem for another day.

Right now, Itachi had a more pressing concern. This could be the opportunity he had been looking for. A chance to once and for all convince his father to call off the coup. "Father," Itachi began.

His father raised a hand to stop him. "Itachi, if you don't mind, I need to step out for a bit. There's something I need to think about. Alone."

There was something in his father's tone of voice that told Itachi that he would not take no as an answer, and any attempt at further conversation would be fruitless. "Very well, father. But I would like to talk to you later." Maybe it would be a good thing for his father to think over what he said. Let brew in his mind for a bit before pressing him on the subject.

"I'll think about it." His father stood up and went for the door. He stopped. "Itachi while I'm gone. Could you do something for me?"

Intrigued, Itachi looks at his father. "Yes?" He asked.

"Check up on Sasuke, see if he's alright." Then he left.

Twice now, in a short period, Itachi was shocked. Then a tiny hopeful smile crossed his lips. "That I will do." He said to the door. Then he walked out of the room. Before he exited, he looked to the door his father left out of, mentally sending a message to the man. "Please, father. If there is even the slightest bit of care for your family in you, please make the right choice."

Konoha park

Fugaku did not know how long he had been walking when he arrived at the park. He looked, seeing a full moon hanging over him in the night sky. It was a peaceful night, and there was no one in the park. A good thing too, he wanted to be alone right now. He wanted to be away from the things, all the people pulling him in different directions. Hiashi, Yashiro, Mikoto, the Hokage, and even Itachi. Itachi, he had caught his son by chance when he came in. His doubts as a father from earlier in the day had been fresh on his mind.

He had to almost chuckle at how awkward the atmosphere around them was. Even before they started to talk as Itachi explained how his mission went, Fugaku realized how uncomfortable Itachi was around him. He had asked his son how his mission went, and Itachi had acted like he was being interrogated. If that was Itachi's reaction to that, how would he act if his father had asked him about his life outside of Shinobi matters? Looking it over, Fugaku could not fault his son. Itachi had always told him about his mission without being prompted. Even then, he never went into detail, only saying it was a success or not; they were always a success. Fugaku, for his part, would never ask for more information, he would nod and give a simple "well done" as praise. Fugaku wondered what kept his eldest son from thinking he was under a genjutsu during their conversation if it could be called that.

When he asked if something else had happened on his mission, the young man acted like he was plotting something. Did Itachi distrust him that much? Had he been so cold and detached that a simple gesture of concern was interpreted as having an ulterior motive? Talking to Itachi had made him come to a conclusion that been eating at the back of his mind for the past few days. He had been no father to Itachi and Sasuke.

Speaking of Sasuke, when Itachi had mentioned imagining his face among the bodies he buried, it had shaken him to his core. The thought of having to bury the body of his second son caused his heart to ache. No more than aching, it felt like someone had stabbed it. He had never considered the possibility he could die due to the coup. That somehow, Sasuke would be killed in the crossfire or be executed for the sins of his clan. For the life of him, Fugaku could not figure out if it was because he cared so little for his son or if his mind refused to process the possibility to keep him from breaking down. He had no desire to find out.

But the thought had opened the proverbial flood gates. If Sasuke could die, so could Itachi, so could Mikoto, and Hiashi, and the Hokage, and so many others. Up until now, Fugaku had naively believed that he could make the coup as bloodless as possible. That they only needed to kill the Sandaime and the Konoha council, and once that was done, the rest of the Village would fall in line. But now he couldn't hold on to that anymore, it would be a bloody messy affair. The whole Village would oppose them, the ANBU, the other clans, and the rest of the Shinobi core would turn against them. Even if they won and took control, they would have to kill many people to get it done. In return, many of his clansmen would die, likely to the point that the clan would be crippled.

Either way, he would be forced to bury a lot of bodies or see them buried, assuming he survived long enough. To be honest with himself, he didn't want to survive long enough for that, he had already witnessed the burial of one of the people he held closest to his heart. He had no desire to see it happen again. The coup would destroy him.

But as much he wanted to call it off, a part of him was afraid of what would happen if they didn't go through with the coup. What if Yashiro was? What if Konoha was planning to turn on the Uchiha out of jealousy? Fugaku sighed, there were days when he wished he had an older sibling that took the role of clan head or had been born outside the main family. "Life would be simpler that way, wouldn't it?" He mussed to himself. However, that would not solve his predicament. It would just be someone else in his place, and only Kami knew what kind of decisions they would make.

"Perhaps it is for the best." Fugaku said to himself. "Still, I have to ask what I should do? What is the best decision for everyone?"

Fugaku never expected a response, so it came as a surprise that a small voice answered him. "Do what?" Neither did he expect that voice to answer his question with another question. Fugaku spun around to face the source of the voice and saw no one. He turned his head left and right, searching for any nearby figures.

Just when he thought the stress had finally gotten to him, the voice spoke up again. "Oi, gramps! Down here."

Fugaku felt a vein bulged in his head. How dare this stranger addresses him in a disrespectful tone. He tilted his head down and was ready to lecture the impudent stranger. Only for the words to die in his throat. Take away the orange blindfold and replace them with a set of blue eyes, and Fugaku would be staring at a Chibi Minato. He blinked once then twice; for a moment, Fugaku thought he had gone back in time. Back to his childhood and was now staring at his long-deceased friend. He knew this was not the case. "He really does look like his father." Fugaku thought. The blond-haired boy gave him a fox-like grin. "And he has his mother's smile."

"What, you never saw a blind kid before?" The boy asked, his smile broadening. "Well, I'm not as blind as you think." Fugaku saw something appearing just above his line of sight. He looked up and made eye contact with a pair of floating eyeballs. They were green.

"I see." Fugaku said, almost like he was observing the weather. So, this is the Futogan he had heard so much about from Hiashi. Strangely he felt somewhat underwhelmed seeing it firsthand. He thought that seeing a pair of disembodied eyes floating in the air would at least be disconcerting.

He looked down at the boy. Was he pouting? "Huh? Never seen that reaction before." The boy muttered. "Usual other people would be freaking out right now, or at least look uncomfortable." The eyes floated down to be just above his head.

"Well, I'm not other people." Fugaku said, feeling how awkward this situation was. What were the odds of him being here talking to this boy of all people?

The blindfolded boy tilts his head to the side, and as strange as it sounds, Fugaku saw a contemplative look appear in the eyes. "I guess you are." He said. "You sure you're not feeling anything. Maybe we should get you checked out. I know this old lady who's really good at taking care of people. She can be a bit of a nag, but she's nice."

Fugaku smiled at the boy's courtesy. "I don't think that will be necessary. I am Fugaku Uchiha." He introduced himself. "Might I ask who I am talking to?"

"Uzumaki Naruto, future Hokage." The boy enthusiastically said. "Wait, did you say Uchiha?" Fugaku nodded, knowing where this was going. "Do you happen to know a kid named Sasuke? He's around my age, maybe a little bit taller than I am. Kind of quiet and keeps to himself. Has hair that looks like a duck's tail."

Fugaku repressed a low chuckle, bring up a mental image of his second son, he realized that his son's hairstyle did indeed resemble a duck's tail. "I should. After all, he is my son." Fugaku meant to have some humor in what he said. Instead, it was a reminder that he was not a father to the boy.

He was confident that the boy's eyes would have widened if he still had them. "Wait, your Sasuke's dad?" The eyes flew right into his face, scanning him. Fugaku took a step back, surprised by the action. "Hmm, now that I look at you, you do sort of look like a grown-up Sasuke. What are you doing out here, late at night? From what I can gather from Sasuke, you're the leader of your clan. So why aren't you in the Uchiha compound?"

"You're a smart kid, aren't you?" Fugaku responded.

The boy smiled and put his behind his head. "Hey, I'm more than just a pretty face."

Fugaku resisted the urge to roll his eyes. The boy had his father's looks but had his mother's personality, which meant that Hiashi would have grey hairs sooner than he would like. "I'm sure you are. As for your question." He debated on how much to tell the boy. Certainly, he wasn't going to tell him about the coup. "I needed to think about some things and did not want anyone to interrupt me. Now tell me, what are you doing out here? Aren't you supposed to be in the Hyūga compound right now? Where is your caretaker?" He didn't see any Hyūga around in the park. They could be hidden, but instinct told him that was not the case.

Naruto whistled nervously, confirming a suspicion of Fugaku's. "Well, you know the Hyūga compound can be so stuffy sometimes." He began to explain. "I have a lot of energy for a kid, so sometimes I have to get out. But they don't always have someone to watch me, so."

Fugaku finished for him. "You decided to sneak out of the compound without telling anyone." He wondered how many times the boy had done this before.

Naruto began to scratch his cheek. "I wouldn't put it that way. I prefer I think of as taking my own initiative. Please don't tell anyone." The blond clapped his hands together and lowered his head. "If Sara finds out I'm out here, she'll kill me."

Fugaku smiled at the boy's antics. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone that you're here. So please stop begging."

The boy looks up at him, his hands dropping down. "Really, you won't?" Fugaku nodded his head. He smiled brightly. "Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to me." He said, leaping at Fugaku and hugging him around his waist.

"You're welcome." Fugaku said, pushing the boy off him. "Now, get off of me."

The boy let go of him and stepped back, giving the Uchiha head his space. "Wow, you even have the same scowl as him."

"Scowl?" Fugaku questioned.

"Yea, Sasuke scowls like that all the time around me." Naruto explained. "It's like he doesn't like me or something. But that can't be right; if he didn't like me, then he wouldn't hang around Hinata-Chan and me all the time."

"I suppose your right." Fugaku said it sounded like their relationship was similar to what he and Minato had. "Tell me, how is Sasuke? He doesn't say much about his time in the Academy, and I'm afraid I don't get to see him much. My responsibilities as clan head keep me busy." It was partially true, his responsibilities did keep him busy and away from his family. But he knew that if he wanted to, he could have made the time. He could have delegated some of his duties to someone else who was capable. Hiashi had, he wanted to spend as much time as possible with his family. That was because he cared for them, Hiashi had even told him that he valued them more than his clan. That if it ever came between his family and the clan, he would always choose the former.

A year ago, Fugaku would have scoffed at this. He would have told Hiashi that the clan should always be put first, regardless of the personal sacrifice. Now he was not so sure, he still loved his clan that much was certain. But what about his family? Did he love them, or did he just see them as clansmen?

"Really?" Naruto said, sounding surprised. "I thought he would talk a lot with his family. Especially you."

"Me?" Fugaku asked, what made this child think his son talked to him about anything?

"He talks a lot about you." Naruto said, turning away from him. "He looks up to you. I can't tell how often he's said to me that he wants to make you proud of him. How hard he tries to get your attention. How happy he is whenever you do give him words of praise. To tell you the truth, I may have formed a bad image of you."

"How so?"

Naruto looks up to him, or rather the eyes floating around him do, giving him a calculating expression. "Because it sounds like you don't pay attention to him."

This boy was more perceptive than he looked. Fugaku never knew that such a statement could hurt him so much. He wanted to counter what the boy said that he was mistaken. He wasn't. The more he thought about it and the more he heard from people that knew his second son, the more Fugaku realized that he had been a cold, distant figure to him and to Itachi as well.

"But I suppose you did give a valid point. You are the Clan head of the Uchiha, so I guess that does keep you busy, so I imagine that you don't get to spend as much time as you'd like around your family." Fugaku only nodded. He didn't have much to say to. "Hinata-Chan's dad is like that too. He likes to spend time with his family, but he doesn't get to do it all the time. But when he does, they always look so happy to be together." Naruto turned back around to face Fugaku. "I envy them. I'm an orphan, you know. I never got to meet my parents, they died on the day I was born, during the Kyūbi attack." His tone of voice had taken on a wistful note. "Jiji tells me that they were good people and that they loved me more than anything in the world."

That much he could agree with, Minato and Kushina had been so excited when they learned they would be having Naruto. During that time, he, Hiashi, and them all agreed that their children would grow up as friends. "Jiji?" Fugaku questioned, suspecting who Naruto was referring to.

"The Hokage, he's sort of like a grandparent to me." Naruto chuckles a little. "Sara keeps telling me that I shouldn't call him that, it's disrespectful. But I do respect him, he's so kind to everyone, even to me. When I call him Jiji, it's not to disrespect him, annoy him a little, maybe. But never to disrespect. It's because I really do think of him as a grandpa to me. Anyway, he's told me a lot about my parents, but never who they were. He tells me that I'm ready for it. They had had a lot of enemies who wouldn't hesitate to kill me for revenge. I think Hiashi-San knows too"

"Iwa and Kumo come to mind." Fugaku thought bitterly, those two villages had caused a lot of grief for his deceased friends. He would not put it past them to take out their revenge on an innocent child. "Try not to hold it against them. They're just trying to protect you."

The boy frowned a little. "I know. But sometimes, I wish they would just tell me. It's so hard seeing all the other kids have fathers and mothers, grandparents, and siblings, they have a family. I don't, I know I have people who care about me. Jiji, Sara, Hinata's mom and dad, Iruka-Sensei, the people at Ichiraku, and Hinata-Chan, I hold all of them dear to me. They're the closest thing I have to a family. But sometimes, I wonder what it is like to have a real family, know a mother's love, and a father's praise. I wonder what it is like to have an older sibling to look up to or a younger one to dottle on." Naruto had taken a seat on a nearby bench, his head tilted up to face the night sky. "It's funny, you know. You're a complete stranger, and yet I feel comfortable enough to talk to you about this. Strange, isn't it?"

Fugaku sat down next to the boy. "Maybe because I am a stranger. I don't have any obligations to you. I don't have to sugarcoat things for you. So, when I tell you this, you know it is the truth." Fugaku turned to face the boy. "Family isn't always about blood ties, sometimes they are the people closest to you. The people that care for you and would do anything to make you happy. When you say they are the closest thing you have to family, that's because they are your family." Fugaku didn't know where these words coming from, he didn't have to think about them they just came out. Talking to this boy, he felt like he was coming closer to grasping a truth that had been eluding him until now.

The boy was still gazing up at the sky, but Fugaku could see the smile forming at the corner of his lips. "I know. Sometimes I forget that, and I need to be reminded of that." Naruto turned his head to face Fugaku. "Thank you. Haha, for a moment there, you sounded a lot like Jiji."

"How so?"

"He's always telling me that a Shinobi's strength comes from protecting those precious to them." Naruto looks out in the direction of the Hokage Moment. "The other day, I was hanging out on the Hokage Moment, the Yondaime's head, when Jiji came up to me. You know what he said to me?"

"What?"

"He said."

Flashback

"Tell me, Naruto. What do you see?"

Naruto frowned, not getting what the old man was saying. He saw a lot of things. "See Hinata playing with her baby sister. I see a man selling flowers to an older couple. I see…"

The old man stopped him. "No, I meant from here. Atop the Yondaime's head." He said, gesturing out to the area around them. "What do you see?"

Naruto focused his attention through the eyes close to him. He saw him and the old man. He figured that wasn't what he wanted, so Naruto went with the other thing he saw. "I see the village."

The old man smiled. "A good answer." He said. Naruto's frown deepened, it sounded like the old man wanted something more. "Do you want to know what I see?" Naruto didn't know why Jiji was asking him these questions, it seemed like an ordinary sight to him. He nodded. "I see my family."

"Your family?" Sure, he could probably see the Sarutobi compound from here.

"Yes, this whole village is my family. Every man, woman, and child, every Shinobi and Kunoichi, they are precious to me. I would give anything, do anything to protect them. I would even give my life to protect this village. That is how much I love the people of Konoha. The Will of Fire is the strength of a Shinobi. It is born from their desire to protect what is precious to them. Their friends, their family, their comrades, and this village, they are all worth fighting for. That is why Konoha has stood for so long against all odds, against all those who would seek to tear us down. So as long as the Will of Fire burns in one heart, Konoha will stand. We are all family, and I would give anything for my family." The old placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "Naruto tell me, what would you do for your family?"

Flashback end

"It was amazing." Naruto said. "I never knew that Jij- the Hokage saw everyone like that. He wants to protect everyone, it's why he's so strong. He isn't just a grandfather to me, he's that way to everyone. Hearing about the Will of Fire from him, I realized something. I've always wanted to be Hokage so that everyone would acknowledge me and accept me. But now I know that being Hokage is more than about being recognized or being the strongest in the village. It's about protecting those precious to you, protecting those who can't protect themselves." Naruto raised his hand out and shut it like he was trying to grasp something. "I want that." He muttered softly. "I want to be able to protect this village. All my precious people live here, and I want them to be able to live happy lives, safe from harm. This village is my home, and I want to protect it."

For a moment, Fugaku saw Minato alive and well, sitting next to him. The way the boy spoke and how he acted, it reminded him of his father. "Minato, my old friend, if only you could see him now. Your son has inherited your Will of Fire. Wherever you are, I'm sure that you and Kushina are proud of him."

The boy's head turned back to face him. "When Jiji asked me what I would do for my family, I didn't give an answer right away. But that was okay with him. He said that so as long I could answer that question for myself, he didn't need to know." Fugaku listened to the boy, letting him finish his story. "If he were to ask me that question, now do you know what I would say?" Fugaku shook his head. "I would say that I would give anything to protect my family, because I care about them. Like you do too."

There was no hiding the surprise that Fugaku felt. "You think I care about my family?"

The boy tilted his head. "Don't you? You asked about Sasuke, wanting to know how he was doing and what he was like. You seemed worried about him. If you didn't care, then you wouldn't have asked, and you wouldn't be worried about him."

Fugaku never knew that such simple reasoning would leave him wordless. The boy was right. For several days, he had been worrying himself with the idea that he had been a terrible father to Sasuke and Itachi. He was concerned over the fact that he did not pay enough attention to his wife. He had been afraid that he had in some way alienated his family, and perhaps in a way he had. The fact was he did care for them. If he didn't, he wouldn't be so worried right now. He would have not cared if he had grown distant from his family, he would have ignored the problem, growing more distant from them.

Then that's when it hit him, he could not bear to lose them. If they died, a part of him would die with them. He realized something else, he would do anything to protect his family, even if it meant going against his clan. He didn't know how much time had passed, for Naruto, it may have been a few short seconds, but for Fugaku, it was an eternity. "I guess you're right. I've been worried about so many things lately that I forgot that."

He saw the boy smile. "I guess you needed a reminder?"

Fugaku smiled back. "I did. Thank you. You reminded me of what's important. For that, I owe you a debt of gratitude." The whole clan did, he would see to it that it would be honored. "Wherever and whoever your parents are, I'm sure that they loved you with all their hearts', and they would be so proud of you. Always remember that."

For a few moments, the boy looked surprised, then a few tears streamed down his cheeks. He wiped them away. "Thanks for that. You're a lot nicer than I imagined you were." Naruto pursed his lips together in a thoughtful manner. "Can you do me a favor?"

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

The blindfolded boy looks up at him, a pair of eyes floating down, a seemingly serious look in them. "Can you try to show Sasuke that you do care? I think he would appreciate that."

Fugaku's smile grew. "I think I can manage that." There was a lot he had to do. Once he settled the matter between the clan and Konoha, he would sit down with his whole family and have a long talk with them. "Now then, I think you've been outside of the Hyūga compound long enough."

"I couldn't agree more." It was almost comical the way Naruto paled.

He slowly turned around, facing the source of the very unamused voice. "Hehe, Sara-Ni-San." He said, scratching the back of his head. "What are you doing out here. At a time like this?"

The Hyūga woman had her arms crossed as she gazed down at the fidgeting boy. "Looking for you." She said in an icy tone.

"I don't suppose you would be willing to let this slide?" Naruto asked nervously.

The woman bent down, an almost sadistic smile on her face. "No." She said flatly. "Kō-San if you will."

"Already on it." A man said, walking beside Naruto and picking him up.

"Hey, put me down." Naruto said, struggling in the man's arms. "I can get back to the compound on my own two feet." The man would have none of it and began to walk away. The boy stopped struggling. "Fine, I'll go, but can I say one more thing to Uchiha-Sama?"

The Hyūga man stopped, and he turned to face the woman, Sara, if Fugaku heard it right. She sighed. "Alright, say what you. Kō-San let him down." Even though she sounded annoyed, Fugaku could not help but detect a note of fondness in her voice.

The man did as Sara said and put the blonde-haired boy down. "Thanks, Kō-San." He turned to Fugaku. "To answer your question, Fugaku-San. Sasuke is a really quiet kid, he doesn't like to hang with others. But when he does, he smiles a lot and laughs, and he's very nice. A lot of other kids don't like to be around me, you can probably guess why. But he doesn't mind being around me. Sure, it's probably because he wants to fight me all the time. But we always have fun together, and I consider him to be a friend." He turned back to Kō, walking up beside him. "That's all I wanted to say." He turned his head to Fugaku. "Goodbye Uchiha-Sama, hope to meet you again." Naruto took the man's hand.

The Hyūga looks to Sara. "Are you coming, Sara-San?"

She shook her. "You go on ahead, Kō-San. I'll escort Fugaku-Sama back to the Uchiha Compound."

The man nodded and walked off with Naruto. The Hyūga woman turned to face Fugaku and bowed. "Fugaku-Sama, I apologize if young Uzumaki has disturbed you in any way. I assure you Hiashi-Sama will be informed of this, and he will be chastised accordingly."

"No need. Please rise." He said, gesture for her to break her bow. "I found my conversation with the boy to be pleasant and enlightening. So please don't punish him on my behalf."

The young woman rose, a small smile present on her lips. "I will take that into consideration, and I imagine your conversation was."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been listening in on us." He asked, he hadn't noticed their presence until now.

Sara's smile grew. "Let's just say that Naruto is not as good at sneaking out of the compound as he thinks he is."

"So, from the beginning, then. Why didn't you make yourselves known? Spying on the conversations of others is considered rude." He said.

The woman nodded. "For that, I apologize. It seemed like it would be best to let the two talk for a bit. I hope I wasn't overstepping my bounds."

Fugaku shook his head. "No need for apology, as I said, I found my conversation to be most enlightening. That boy was very helpful in helping me find an answer to a problem that has been bothering me for some time now."

"He has a talent for that," Sara said fondly. "and he has a talent for winning people over. Trust me, I speak from experience." She shook her head, quietly laughing. "That boy is going to take this world by storm when he grows up."

"That I have no doubt of." Fugaku answered, fully believing it.

The young woman nodded. "Then, shall I escort you back to the Uchiha compound. Someone as important as you should not be out here alone."

Fugaku shook his. "I appreciate the offer. But I'm afraid I must decline, there are some things I wish to think about. Alone."

The woman looks at him for a moment as though she was trying to read his mind. "Very well." She said, bowing. "I hope you have a good day, and I wish you a safe return to your home. Farewell Fugaku-Sama." She turned around and began to walk away. "There is one more thing." She said, stopping. She turned her head to face Fugaku. 'Think you."

"Think you?" Fugaku parroted. "What for?"

"For reminding Naruto that there are people who care about him. He's such a cheerful child that it is hard to imagine that even he can have his moments of doubt." She said in a doleful tone.

"He is just a boy." Fugaku said.

The Hyūga woman had a slight smile on her features, a sad one. "I wish more people would see it that way." She left.

Now alone, Fugaku looks up at the night sky. The last few days had been eventful for him, he had much to think about, still did. But at least now, he arrived at an answer. Only time would tell if it would be the right one.

Uchiha Compound, hidden meeting room

"What do you mean you're calling off the coup?" Yashiro shouted, veins bulging around his head.

"It is as I said." Fugaku said. "I am calling off the coup. I will talk to the Hokage and inform him of our concerns. It is time that we settled this matter, peacefully."

"Fugaku, you fool. Konoha does not want peace with us. They want to destroy us." Yashiro tried to reason with his clan head. He had been so close to achieving his dream of Uchiha dominance over the village, now this fool was putting it all at risk. "Can't you see that? They are jealous of our power. They want for themselves. Why else would they isolate us? Accuse us of unleashing the Kyūbi? If we don't take over, the clan will be destroyed or worse."

"Yashiro-San, calm down." Fugaku ordered. "None of that will happen. I believe Konoha wants peace as much as we do. If we went ahead with the coup, we would only doom ourselves."

"We can win this. I know we can." Yashiro said. "If we."

Fugaku cut him off. "That is enough, Yashiro," Fugaku said in a forceful tone. "I have made my decision. We will not proceed with the Coup. We will talk things out with the Hokage and reach a compromise that both sides can be satisfied with. I will not hear any more of this, I am the clan head, and you will do as I say." Fugaku turned around and began to walk away.

Fury overtook Yashiro and lunged at Fugaku. He grabbed him by his arm and twisted him around, bringing the two men face to face. "Fugaku damn it listen to me. Your acting like a fool. If we." Yashiro froze when he felt an intense wave of KI wash over him.

He looked at Fugaku's face and saw that he was furious. "Yashiro, I am done listening to you." His voice was strangely calm for a man that angry. "Do not think that I haven't noticed that you have been manipulating me. I have some time to think about things away from you. I remember you've always spout about the Uchiha clan's superiority and how we should be in charge. This was never about protecting the clan. It was about promoting your idea of Uchiha supremacy, and I will have none of it." Fugaku pulled his arm out of the man's grip. "I will only say this once more. I am clan head, and you will do as I say. Am I understood?"

Yashiro remained silent.

"I. Said. Am. I. Understood?" Fugaku punctuated his last word with another blast of KI.

"Yes, Fugaku-Sama." Yashiro said through gritted teeth.

Fugaku nodded. "Good, in the morning, we will call a meeting of the whole clan to be held in the council room. I will inform them of my decision. I am clear."

"Crystal." Yashiro responded.

Again, Fugaku nodded. "Then I wish you a good night." He turned around. "One more thing. If you ever grab me like that again, I will see to it that you won't live long enough to regret it. Understood?"

Yashiro remained silent for a moment. "Yes. It won't happen again."

Without another word, Fugaku left the room. One of Yashiro's followers walked up beside him. "Yashiro-Sama, what are we going to do now? If Fugaku-Sama goes through with his plan, we'll lose our chance to strike at the village."

Yashiro thought about it for a moment. His informant had assured him that his info would sway Fugaku to his line of thinking. Clearly, he had put too much faith in the man wearing a cloak with red clouds on it. But Yashiro was nothing if not prepared. "Simple, we move along with our alternative plan." He would do anything to ensure Uchiha dominance. Even if it meant cutting off some loose ends.

So we draw closer to the conclusion of this story's first arc, which at the moment I'm calling the Uchiha Betrayal arc. I would say maybe two or three chapters before we move on to the next, for those curious, I plan one more arc before getting to graduation.

Yes Fugaku, decides to make peace with Konoha and he has lot to think about when it comes to his relationship with his family. Hopefully he'll be able fix things. As you can see despite his intentions, others have ... other opinions. How far will they go to achieve their own ends? You'll have to find out. Be seeing you in the next update.