a/n: Updates have slowed down, sorry about that. This chapter isn't a thrilling one, but I hope you still enjoy it. I'm quite excited about the next chapter, which is where Sasuke meets his extended family. I went to Ikea Tachikawa (it's in cheap suburban technically-Tokyo-but-not-really) to buy me a sofa, and I was mesmerized by a very strange, very wacky living room display of rococo-style furniture, flowery wallpaper and tons of fake flowers shoved in a barely two sqm cubicle. So... un-Nordic and un-Japanese, so I'm not sure which audience is that supposed to appeal to. But it inspired me the character of the Uchiha matriarch (the Grandmother), and then everything else ensued from there.
::
::
Everything was happening so fast, Sasuke felt like he was stuck in a low-budget show with terrible pacing.
After they got the DNA confirmation results from the lab, Fugaku drove him to the Uchiha mansion - his new home, apparently. Actually, it was Fugaku's driver doing the driving, but details didn't matter at this point.
During the journey, Sasuke gazed apathetically through the window at the heavy rain subsiding outside, while Fugaku - his biological father - sitting in the back next to him, kept filling the background noise with sentences barely registered in Sasuke's brain.
"Anything you want to be brought over from your old house, just let me know. I'll send someone round tomorrow. No need to concern yourself with clothes. We will purchase a fresh wardrobe for you befitting a Uchiha heir. Is there a particular designer that you prefer?"
His question was met with silence; Sasuke did not even stir from his fixed gaze out the window. Thankfully, Fugaku was not offended by his utter disengagement.
"I understand this news must be overwhelming to you," he said with a sigh. "But you don't need to worry about anything anymore. We are here to support you. We are your family. Your real family. You're my son. And I am your father."
The way Fugaku uttered those last two sentences, it was like he was still trying to process the fact they were related— and honestly, Sasuke could relate to that. This whole 'surprise, you're my son' thing was still very much overwhelming his brain.
His new life, huh? He never asked for a new life though. He was fine with the current one he had.
"Your mother is waiting for you at home. She can't wait to finally meet you."
"Why did you… and how did know? Did you know all this time and just decided to show up now?" Sasuke blurted out suddenly, turning away from the window to face his birth father. His mind was still a jumble, and he couldn't properly articulate the confusion in his head and anger in his heart, but Fugaku seemed to have grasped what he was attempting to ask. His solemn expression turned pensive, and he hesitated a moment before responding.
"Your mother had to give you up when you were born," he began slowly. "It was a different time back then."
He sighed deeply, and Sasuke could almost see a glimpse of regret flashing through his eyes. Fugaku wasn't a very expressive man, and the darkness of the night made it difficult to analyze his facial expression, but Sasuke wanted to believe that he regretted the decision to give him up.
"I only found out about you very recently, " Fugaku continued. "Had I known before that you were my son, I would've come for you sooner," he paused for a moment, soft eyes focused on Sasuke, as if waiting for a sign of understanding from the other. Sasuke gave him a faint nod in a silent bid to continue. "As for how I found out… it was your brother Itachi who put the pieces back together."
At the mention of Itachi's name, Sasuke's eyes grew wide and he felt his cheeks burning.
Itachi. His brother. His blood brother.
He had sex with Itachi. His own brother. He had fallen in love with…
Almost as a knee-jerk reaction, he shook his head vigorously in a feeble attempt to push all those memories away. All those memories in his apartments were now resurfacing back to the top like unwanted litter in the ocean.
Shit. Don't think about it.
This was so fucked up.
"Itachi started doing his own private investigation of you when he was requested to defend Orochimaru," Fugaku continued, seemingly unaware of Sasuke's inner turmoil. "For some reason, he kept it to himself. Never did he say one single word about his suspicion of you being our missing son to me or his mother."
Sasuke could sense the notes of bitterness in Fugaku's words, like he felt personally betrayed by Itachi's refusal to share information.
"I grew suspicious of his odd recent actions and ultimately, I delved into his restricted documents. That's when I discovered the truth. It wasn't a clear-cut revelation, but rather a series of coincidences that strongly suggested your true identity. Your strange birth certificate, your blood type matching both mine and Itachi's, your likeness to Mikoto, and even your name. Your mother had always wanted to name the second child 'Sasuke'. "
Sasuke clenched his lip and averted his gaze to his knees, attempting to make sense of the revelation amidst the storm in his mind. Itachi… had known about this. For how long?
'I've been withholding something from you that you have the right to know.'
Suddenly, Itachi's words reverberated in his mind. This was what he'd been trying to tell him earlier that day. It was clear now. The whole discussion about incest in his books, the argument about living in illusions versus facing the harsh truth. It was all too clear now.
'We can talk about it tomorrow.'
Sure… they could. But now that Sasuke knows, will there be any tomorrow?
"We're here, sir," the driver said.
Sasuke peered out the window as their car pulled up to the garden-adorned entrance of a grand Japanese-style mansion. His heart pounded in his chest at the realization that he would soon be face-to-face with his mother.
::
Mikoto adjusted her perfect emerald dress, the fabric as smooth and polished as she appeared on the outside. But inside, she felt like a volcano ready to blow.
How could she have known that all those years ago, in a moment of desperation, the choice she regretted would come back knocking?
Back then, a long time ago, she had been young and reckless, too naive to understand motherhood and responsibility. Her parents pressured her to marry before she could even finish her degree, too afraid she would turn twenty-five without a husband, at a time when a woman's social value was tied to her marital status.
She had once dreamed of being a fashion designer. But alas, those were just dreams.
Their firstborn, Itachi, was a constant source of joy and frustration. As a young mother, she felt overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising a child while also trying to chase her own dreams. Looking back, Mikoto now regretted that she had been too scared, too focused on her youth to be the mother he needed.
When five years later she realized she was pregnant again, Mikoto was terrified at first. But then, for the first time, she'd felt that profound motherly instinct take hold - an unconditional love for the child growing inside her. She was certain she would do better this time, that she would connect deeply with this baby in a way she hadn't with Itachi.
But fate had other plans. They were moving to China, her traditional parents vehemently disapproved of a second child, and Fugaku was focused on building his reputation. In a country that, back then, stigmatized couples with more than one child, the pressure was immense, and Mikoto was forced to make an impossible choice. Her friend Oscar had given her the contact of a nurse who could assist with a secret delivery. She made the woman promise to find a good and loving family for the boy, and to at least keep his name as Sasuke - a name she and Itachi chose together even before the ultrasound revealed it was indeed a boy.
(That utterly devastated expression of a young Itachi, when she told him she had lost his newborn brother, remains etched in her memory).
The years passed, and Mikoto buried the memory deep within her heart. She tried to focus on Itachi, she had tried to shower him with the love and attention she had yearned to give Sasuke. He grew into a prodigy, a brilliant and talented young man. But he also grew cold and distant, often rejecting her attempts at affection. Sometimes, he felt like a stranger in her house. And then, before she knew it, he had moved out completely, only visiting his parents sporadically when he needed something from them.
In her lonely hours, after Itachi had flown the nest, Mikoto often found herself reminiscing about the past. Sometimes, her thoughts turned to her other son. She wondered what kind of life Sasuke had lived until now? Had the nurse kept her word? Had she found him a loving family to take care of him?
And now, after all these years, the day had finally come. Sasuke was coming home. Fugaku found him, and he was bringing him home.
A wave of emotions washed over her: joy, anticipation, guilt, fear. She would finally meet the son she had never known, the son she had given up.
But what would he be like? Would he be angry? Would he resent her?
Mikoto took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. She had to be strong. She had to be ready.
She heard the rumble of a car engine approaching the house. Her hands trembled as she fixed her gaze on the entrance door, her heart pounding in her chest while waiting for the moment that door would be opened.
After a few minutes, the entrance door swung open and Fugaku and Sasuke emerged from the outside. Fugaku's eyes met hers in silent confirmation, and she nodded in acknowledgment. Her breath caught in her throat as she beheld Sasuke. He had grown so tall and handsome. He stood probably as tall as Itachi, or close enough - a young man already.
Sasuke gave her a hesitant glance, unsure of what to make of the woman before him.
"Sasuke," Fugaku said gently, placing a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "This is your mother, Mikoto."
Sasuke remained still, his eyes flicking back to her face. For a moment, their gazes locked, and Mikoto saw a kaleidoscope of emotions in his eyes: confusion, curiosity, and something akin to fear.
"Mother…" Sasuke whispered, his voice barely audible.
Mikoto's heart broke at the hesitant way he said the word. She wanted to rush forward and embrace him tightly. This was her son, her flesh and blood. The son she had carried and birthed, but never had the chance to raise.
But she kept her distance, sensing that Sasuke wasn't ready for such intimacy.
"Welcome home, Sasuke," she said instead, her voice thick with emotion. "We've been waiting for you."
Sasuke remained silent, his expression unreadable. Mikoto longed to know what he was thinking, feeling. She ached to bridge the distance between them, but she also understood it was too soon.
They just met after all.
"Why don't you show him his room? It's been a long night and he must be exhausted," Fugaku suggested, his eyes flitting between them. "We will leave the talk and the questions to tomorrow."
Sasuke gave a slight nod, his eyes never leaving Mikoto's face. He didn't know yet what to make of her, except that she was beautiful - ironically, she looked like how he had imagined his mother would look like.
It's a silly thing, really. When he was younger, still living with Orochimaru, he would often fantasize about meeting his real parents, and he had made imaginary constructs about them. His father would look like a strong, respectful man, with a kind heart deep down, and his mother would like a beautiful, loving woman ready to hug him and care for him.
In a way, Fugaku and Mikoto kinda look like that. On the surface at least. They really came off as the idyllic, picture-perfect portrayal of a normal Japanese family. But… for some reason, he just couldn't feel the overjoyed happiness that he had imagined he would feel once he met them.
He just felt confusion and frustration.
The timing was just off.
He had spent years wanting to meet them, yet only now when he was finally content with his life, they decided to announce their existence.
Mikoto could sense his uncertainty. Taking a step forward, she gently guided him towards the house, their fingers brushing for a moment.
"Come, let's get you to a room. If you are hungry, let me know. I will prepare something for you."
"I'm not hungry, thanks."
As they walked, Mikoto stole glances at her son, memorizing every detail of his face, his build, his posture. She wanted to imprint this image of him in her mind, as if it could somehow make up for the years she had missed.
It was an impressive, two-story house and all the bedrooms were on the upper floor. There was one bedroom on the ground floor, but that was typically used by maids, during holiday seasons when Mikoto wanted to take some time off from her household chores.
It was too late for a proper house tour, but she made sure to explain where each bedroom was on the upper floor. Facing south, there was the master bedroom, where Mikoto and Fugaku slept. Next to it, an empty room was reserved for Fugaku's mother whenever she came to visit them - which she never did, according to Mikoto - or for Mikoto's parents when they came to visit - which they also never did.
Facing east, there was a room that had been converted into a study room by Itachi, and next to it was Itachi's bedroom. The study room hadn't been used since Itachi moved out, apparently.
"If you prefer a room that gets the morning sun, we can change this study back into a bedroom for you. Itachi doesn't use it anymore." Mikoto said.
Sasuke politely rejected the offer. He didn't feel like sleeping in the room next to Itachi's, and he didn't really care about the morning sun either.
But he did mentally note the location of Itachi's bedroom.
On the opposite side, facing west, were two guest rooms. This time, Mikoto opened the doors of both rooms. They looked fairly similar; both were wide with hardwood furniture, a Western-style double-sized bed, and access to a shared balcony on the west side. The main exception was the flooring: the first had a wooden floor ( a real wooden floor, not a vinyl imitation like the one he had in his room at Asuma's and Kurenai's house, or many other budget-friendly Japanese homes), and the second room had a tatami floor.
Sasuke chose the tatami-floor bedroom. He liked how it felt under his feet. And he liked that it was facing west, much like his old room. He liked the afternoon glow.
"I will prepare some clothes and towels for you. You remember where the bathroom is, right?"
"Yes," Sasuke said.
He bid her goodnight, closed the room, and let his form slump against the mattress. His head turned to the sliding window door, connecting to the outside balcony. The rain had stopped, but he could only see darkness.
No stars in the sky that night.
:: ::
Sasuke stood stiffly as Tamaki circled him, sizing tape in hand. He felt rather like a mannequin at a tailor's shop.
"Arms out, dear," Tamaki instructed briskly. Sasuke complied, feeling faintly ridiculous.
Mikoto watched the process attentively from her perch on the living room's couch. "He has a cool undertone like me. I'm thinking navy blue, charcoal grey, perhaps also a nice lavender for the summer," she mused to Tamaki. "Elegant, refined colors for my refined son."
"Oh yes, splendid choices," Tamaki agreed. "I'll ring up Armani, Hugo Boss, the usual. We'll have several suits and casuals ready by tomorrow, pending any minor alterations."
Sasuke shifted on his feet, growing uncomfortable with the women discussing him like he wasn't even present.
"He is a bit broader in the shoulders than Itachi," Tamaki remarked, pressing the tape against Sasuke's shoulder. "And an inch shorter in legs. But quite similar in measurements. If he is like Itachi, he might still grow up a few more inches until he hits twenty-five. I suggest ordering with at least three inches of adjustable hemming. But in any case, I think the sample sizes in our store would fit him just fine if you need something for today. We can work on the minor adjustment later."
"Do you still have that Tom Ford outfit that I liked so much?" Mikoto suddenly asked. "From the Spring 2009 collection if I recall."
Tamaki paused for a moment, thinking. "The one you wanted to gift Itachi?"
"Yes. Itachi has his own particular preferences now, but it was such a great design. I think something like that would look lovely on Sasuke."
"We don't have that one anymore and I don't think it's even available for order. But we have a few from this year's Spring and Summer collections that I think you would love. I can have two outfits delivered-"
"Can I pick them?" Sasuke interjected, surprising himself and the women with the unexpected interruption. He quickly added, "I mean, I'd like to choose the outfits. If that's okay."
He didn't mean to sound demanding or imposing. He understood that this kind of clothing was expensive. But just because Fugaku and Mikoto wanted him to wear something more expensive than the Uniqlo clothes that he typically wore, it didn't mean he would happily wear anything with a high price tag that they threw at him. Have you seen some of the ridiculous outfits these haute couture designers made their models wear at runaways? Sasuke would rather wear a trash bag.
He had his own sense of style, after all.
Mikoto exchanged a glance with Tamaki, a silent communication passing between them. She then turned back to Sasuke, a soft smile on her lips. "Of course, Sasuke. It's only right that you have a say in what you wear."
Sasuke released the breath he didn't know he was holding. He didn't intend to be argumentative, but he really felt like he needed to exert some sort of agency over his new… existence. His abrupt relocation to Mikoto's and Fugaku's home was something he mutely accepted, but at the very least, he wanted to retain autonomy in choosing his own damn clothes.
"Tamaki, did you bring a catalog with you?"
"Of course, of course," Tamaki said, already reaching into her bag to retrieve the thick booklet. She flipped through the pages until she reached the men's section, then recommended some outfits that they had ready at the store. "I think these styles would suit you, Sasuke. But please, take a look and see what you think."
She handed the catalog to Sasuke. It was full of pictures of male models wearing different outfit combinations, but none had a price tag. It reminded him of the fancy restaurant Fugaku and Mikoto brought him to yesterday - none of the items on the menu had a price listing. Rich people apparently did not like acknowledging the cost, as he recently learned.
After taking some time thumbing through the pages, he paused at a sleek, dark blue suit with a waistcoat and a subtle pinstripe pattern. It was classic yet modern, and he could imagine himself wearing it with confidence. "This one," he said, pointing to the picture.
"Wonderful choice," Tamaki praised, making a note on her pad. "And for the casual wear?"
Sasuke continued to flip through the pages, his gaze falling on a simple black V-neck T-shirt paired with grey pants. It was a basic outfit, but he liked the simplicity of it. "This," he said.
"Perfect," Tamaki said with a nod. "We can have these items delivered right away, along with some other options for you to try."
"Thank you," Sasuke said, feeling a small weight lift from his shoulders. "If it's okay… I think I'll take a stroll in the garden."
"Absolutely! All these measurements and outfit talks must have exhausted you, dear" Mikoto said with a warm smile.
Eager to have a bit of fresh air and silence, Sasuke swiftly bowed his way out of the living room and took the nearest exit through the external glass sliding door, stepping out into the engawa outside.
It was a hot summer day, like typical July. The air was thick with humidity, but the scenery was breathtaking.
The garden the Uchihas had at their property looked like like gardens of wealthy ancient daimyo's houses from the historical part of Kyoto that tourists paid to visit. There was a dry garden of rocks and carefully raked gravel on the east side, but the remaining perimeter surrounding the house was covered in precisely pruned shrubs, artfully twisted pine trees and a few different species of flowers elegantly flowering either and there in different pastel colors.
He grabbed a pair of outdoor geta sandals from under the engawa and took one of the winding paths south, drawn by the faint sound of trickling water, until he reached a small pond adorned with floating hyacinths and mossy stones.
Yes, they had a freaking pond in their garden. With koi fish inside. Normal people would be content with just having a small indoor aquarium.
He crouched down at the edge of the small pond, watching the colorful fish glide lazily through the clear water. It was so… serene. So peaceful.
Even though he thought it was silly to have a private pond on your property, Sasuke really liked their garden and the house. His room was so spacious, the furniture was made of quality wood, the view was amazing and the garden was gorgeous. The neighborhood was quiet and peaceful and when he shut his double-glazed windows, he couldn't even hear the screaming cicadas outside.
It was so unlike what he was used to, at Asuma and Kurenai's house. A typical low-cost building with thin walls, cramped living space, and the drunken karaoke singing of My Will Heart Go On from the Philippine pub across the street had been his begrudged lullaby for years. Which was still better than hearing the police sirens when their guests had brawls.
"Ah, you must be the new young master!" a strange voice exclaimed, jolting Sasuke from his contemplation. He looked up to see an elderly, overall-clad man beaming at him from beside a neatly trimmed hedge. "Igari Ichiro's the name, gardening's my game," the man said cheerfully, before bowing in a perfect 90-degree posture that could have only been achieved with years of practice.
Sasuke nodded politely. "Sasuke," he replied simply, hoping the gardener wouldn't feel compelled to make small talk.
No such luck.
"Well, it's an honor to meet you, Sasuke-sama," Ichiro said. "My, my, the resemblance to young master Itachi is remarkable! Why, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were twins separated at birth," he chuckled.
Sasuke did not like the comparison, but almost instinctively, his hand reached for the key he was holding inside his pocket. It was a habit he had taken since he had moved in: waking up in the morning, getting dressed, and stuffing the spare apartment key Itachi had given to him inside his pocket. At night, he would put the key on the bedside table, go take a bath, and return to his bed, falling asleep knowing the apartment key was still there.
He didn't even know why he did that.
He should probably be thinking about returning the key to its owner.
"Now, I hope you'll find this garden to your liking, master Sasuke, " Ichiro continued. "I've been tending them for over eight years, you know, so I know every tree, every blossom like the back of my hand! Like that weeping cherry here - have you ever seen such a magnificent specimen?"
Sasuke tuned out the gardener's rambling on pruning techniques, inwardly wondering if it would be too rude to simply walk away. Ichiro reminded him a bit of Orochimaru's assistant Kabuto, who could also talk one's ear off about incredibly boring topics for hours on end.
"Ah, but listen to me prattling on," Ichiro said, chuckling again. "You must be eager to settle in and rest after you just moved in. I'll let you enjoy the peace and quiet - a fine balm for the soul after stressful times." He bowed respectfully before ambling off, mercifully leaving Sasuke to his solitude once more.
Sasuke let out a soft sigh, turning his gaze back to the koi pond. He had a feeling Ichiro's propensity for talking would make avoiding him a challenge during his garden visits.
:: ::
It has been four days since he "moved in" to his birth family home. He had come back to his home - or "former" home, he still wasn't sure how things would turn out - to pick up his laptop and a few other personal belongings. He promised Asuma and Kurenai that he would come visit often.
Shiva missed him, and greeted him with her tail twitching with excitement and a throaty meow, rubbing her body against Sasuke's legs and almost knocking him off balance due to her size. She would follow him closely around the house, unwilling to let him out of her sight, as if afraid he might disappear again.
He had wanted to take her with him, but he figured Fugaku and Mikoto wouldn't like the idea of pets in the house. Shiva would likely mistake their raked sand garden for her litter box, and she would definitely try to snack on their koi fish at the pond.
"We'll take care of her, don't worry. You just make sure you come visit us often! And spend some weekends with us!"
Asuma had looked on the verge of tears, prompting Sasuke to remind him that he wasn't emigrating overseas. He was not even leaving the city, but Asuma had always been an emotional man.
He still hadn't gone to Itachi's to pick up his bike. Or return his key.
Thoughts of Itachi were always present in Sasuke's mind, as much as he tried to push them back to the corners of his brain and ignore the jumble of emotions that they brought. The few framed pictures of different younger versions of Itachi around the house were a constant reminder that this was the home Itachi grew up. There was a picture of him at his graduation ceremony. Another picture of him in his teenage years winning a swimming competition. The mandatory family photo was in the living room, and it featured a happily smiling Mikoto next to two painfully serious Uchiha men, looking as if they were posing for a mugshot at their own funeral. The contrast in their expressions was so hilarious, Sasuke would believe if someone told him that Mikoto was threatening Itachi and Fugaku to pose for the family photo at gunpoint.
The photo that he liked the most was a childhood photo taken at the beach. Itachi, standing in the middle with blue swim shorts and looking like 8 or 10 years old, was laughing at the older boy next to him, who was striking a clownish pose with a wide grin, covered in sand with two seashells childishly placed on his nipples. A girl in a flowery dress was left to Itachi, laughing so hard she was struggling to hold down her hat, which the wind threatened to blow away.
It was a candid snapshot of three goofy kids, captured amid their laughter and beachside antics, and Sasuke help but smile at the sight. It was the only photo in the house where Itachi seemed to be genuinely smiling and having fun.
"Those are your cousins," Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin as Mikoto suddenly materialized behind him. Mikoto had developed this unnerving habit of sneaking up on him whenever he spaced out somewhere in the house, as if she was secretly following his every movement and hiding in the shadows before revealing herself.
"Ah, I still remember that day. Those seashells got blown away by the wind right after this picture was taken. This is Izumi," she said, pointing at the girl in the photo. "She is the same age as Itachi. She is now a very successful woman, runs her own PR agency. And this is Shisui," her finger hovered over the older kid in the picture. "He was… thirteen when this picture was taken, I think? Itachi was nine. Shisui is now a famous model. "
Shisui? Where did he hear that name befor… oh, wait. Shisui, that guy who freaked out about the stain in his suit? This goofy kid in the photo was that guy? Woah. People sure do change.
"You'll meet them this Thursday when we visit Grandmother. She's hosting a family dinner, and they're dying to meet you."
Sasuke nodded along with a polite smile, trying to look appropriately excited about the prospect of meeting extended family, as he secretly hoped his other cousins hadn't curdled like Shisui—at least personality-wise. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "Is Itachi coming too?"
Mikoto pressed her lips together, and a couple of wrinkles formed on her forehead. "Itachi and your father haven't been on the best terms lately."
Yeah, that much he could tell. There hadn't been many conversations about Itachi around the house as Fugaku entirely avoided that topic. He didn't know what caused them to fight, but he did wonder if it had something to do with him. Sasuke didn't know how much Fugaku knew about his and Itachi's… 'relationship', but he also wasn't willing to bring up that subject either.
Itachi probably didn't even know that Sasuke was now living in that house. His house. The house Itachi grew up. It was such a bizarre feeling though. He should be feeling joy and happiness for moving into his real family's home, but he still felt like a stranger in someone else's house - Itachi's house, full of Itachi's memories but eerily lacking Itachi's physical presence.
He didn't even know how he should feel about this. For the first few days, he went to sleep wishing this was just a wacky dream, cracked out by a David Lynch on an absinthe bender. And then he would wake up with a morning wood, and the first thought that graced his semi-numbed brain wires as he touched himself was Itachi's naked body - before he quickly realized that this was his new reality, and he had to accept it, and he better start thinking of something else other than his own fucking brother to jack off.
He should be feeling mortified or repulsed; plunging into the pits of despair while wallowing in misery, tormented by the thoughts of doing the dirty with his own kin. At least that's what happened to characters in dramas or books when stuff like this happened. Perhaps his unusual upbringing with Orochimaru fucked up his moral compass so bad he can't be like a normal person anymore, but his body in the mornings sure reacted like it was still stuck in an erotic novel that doesn't mind that it's incest.
But as the days went by, he started feeling angry, and frustrated, and sad. Not a normal kind of sadness. It was hard to explain. He felt like a heavy fog had rolled in, settled deeply into his chest, and never quite lifted. Like a quiet, lingering ache punching holes in his heart and making it hard for him to find joy in his new reality, which he should be enjoying. There was this persistent sense that he was never going to feel again that happiness he experienced five days ago, before Fugaku showed up at his home on that fateful rainy night. And now he was wading through thick mud, with no clear goal and no energy to connect with people again.
Sometimes, he wished humans weren't bound by blood relations—that they could simply spring into existence independently, like spores from a flower. These human-spores would naturally gravitate toward each other, drawn together by shared interests and traits, or be repelled, like polar molecules reacting to each other's magnetic fields. And these polar-human-spores would choose their own families and their own lovers, free from the constraints of blood-bounds.
Though, if there were no blood bonds in this what-if world, he supposed there would be no sex either. Maybe the species' survival would be done via photosynthesis, and fucking would be replaced by sunbathing sessions. Which doesn't sound like fun.
"With your grades, I'm sure you can do the bar examination right away."
Fugaku was having a conversation with him, a conversation that Sasuke doesn't remember when or where it started. One minute he was talking about meeting his cousins with Mikoto, and the next he was standing in the garden daydreaming about people-pollen, and Fugaku found a way to manifest his presence next to him.
"I don't think I'm allowed to take the bar exam before graduation," Sasuke replied.
"It requires special authorization from the university, but it's possible. Your brother passed the bar examination one year before he officially earned his bachelor's degree."
Fugaku may not be on best terms with Itachi, but that sure didn't stop him from flexing about his prodigal son at every chance he got. It was almost like he was waiting for Sasuke to spontaneously manifest super saiyan levels of brilliance through sheer power of suggestion.
"I will think about it," he mumbled. Sasuke wasn't keen on sacrificing hours of sleep for the next few months to cram for the bar exam, but he didn't want to say no to him.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he reflexively pulled it out to see that Naruto was calling. Unwilling to disrupt this moment with his biological father, he declined the call.
"I hope you will think about it. Also, have you thought about my proposal that you begin your internship right away at my company?"
It was strange to hear Fugaku overtly offering him an intern position at a company that had once rejected Sasuke's tuition funding application due to his criminal history.
"I have to give a one-month notice at the Garage."
He had taken two weeks off, but he was expected to show up at KillerBee's next Saturday. He hadn't figured out yet how to go there without his bike though.
Fugaku laughed heartily, the sound resembling a bark more than a chuckle. "Giving a whole month's notice for a part-time gig? That's absurd. I'll go with you and speak to your manager. If needed I can provide fair compensation to wrap things up swiftly."
He then continued on to talk about how he needed to start building his resume with experience in a job that actually matters, like being an intern at his law firm, doing things like research and precedents, managing case files and bringing coffee to everyone (Fugaku didn't say the last part, Sasuke just assumed that bringing coffee to everyone would be part of his tasks as an intern - probably his main task even).
To be honest, he wasn't very enthusiastic about becoming a lawyer. Strutting around in a stiff suit, spouting legal jargon, and billing by the minute wasn't what he dreamt of doing in the future when he signed up for Law School. No, he wanted to rip apart the jacked-up policies that allowed creeps like Orochimaru to slither around unchecked for so long. Attorneys just navigate the loopholes in a broken system; they don't fix shit.
The subject that actually interested him the most in college was Policy Analysis. He liked the idea of dissecting the mechanisms that shaped society. Who made the rules, when they made these rules, why the system is broken, and how to fix it.
But he could tell that Fugaku didn't share his opinion just by looking at his face contorted into an expression that screamed "wrong answer!", as if Sasuke had just proclaimed his dream of becoming a starving artist instead of a rich doctor.
"Policy analysis might sound interesting, but it doesn't pay well or offer the same prestige and job security as being a lawyer of a big firm like ours. You should aim for a career that gives you stability and respect."
His phone started vibrating again, the pulsing buzz against his thigh an insistent distraction.
"You should perhaps pick that up," Fugaku said with a small smile that didn't reach his eyes. It was less an expression of warmth than a thin veil over irritation.
"Sorry. Give me a second."
Sasuke pulled the phone from his pocket, glaring at the screen. Naruto. Again. He was about to swipe to ignore the call again, but figured it was better to take it since Naruto was not known to give up easily when Sasuke ignored his calls.
"What do you want, Naruto?" Sasuke said sharply into the phone, trying to keep his irritation at bay.
"Whoa, what's with the attitude, bastard?" Naruto's loud voice came through the speaker. "I've been trying to reach you for days! Where the hell have you been?"
Sasuke frowned. "I've been...busy. It's complicated."
"Busy with what? Ignoring me and your friends? It's summer holidays you jackass, there ain't no exams, there're ain't no excuse for the silent mode. By the way, what's up with you and Itachi?"
He was not expecting this question right from the start. "What do you mean?"
"Sakura said Itachi called her asking about you 'cause you still haven't swung by his place to grab your bike or whatever."
Sasuke scowled, hyperaware of his biological father standing just a few feet away.
"What did she tell him?"
"Well duh, nothing of course! No way she gave him your number. Dude's still the enemy, right? But seriously, why'd you even leave your bike at his place? Is there something you're not telling me about what went down between you two?"
A lot had gone down between them indeed, and Sasuke now realized the last thing Naruto was aware of regarding Itachi was that he had defended Orochimaru in court but lost the case. Sasuke had never told him of his discoveries about Itachi covertly aiding the prosecution, and how he and Itachi had reconciled and become… intimate. Very, very intimate.
And… well. Now there is also this latest bombshell revelation about his real family. This whole thing was such a mess, and he couldn't explain it over the phone, especially with Fugaku standing right there.
"Look, I'm sorry. It's just...a lot has changed very suddenly. I'm still processing it."
"What the heck happened, Sasuke?"
Naruto sounded a little angry for being out of the loop, and even though Sasuke didn't think he needed to provide his friend a daily feed of his life, he acknowledged that he had been rather neglectful. With Itachi now contacting his friends to ask about him, Naruto deserved to know what was going on, at a minimum.
It's just… How could he even begin to explain over the phone that he had discovered his birth parents and moved in with them almost overnight? And the whole thing with Itachi? A part of him was scared of Naruto's reaction when he realizes that Sasuke fucked his own biological brother.
"I'm just dealing with some family stuff," he said evasively.
Naruto hummed thoughtfully through the phone. "Well, where are you now? Can I come over?"
Sasuke paused, considering Naruto's proposal. He knew he couldn't conceal this new situation forever, and it would probably be a bad idea to dismiss Naruto again.
He covered the microphone of his phone with his hand and turned to Fugaku. "Uh, Father," he began awkwardly, "is it okay if a friend comes over?"
Fugaku's face lit up. "Of course! Any friend of yours is welcome here."
Sasuke uncovered the phone. "Yeah, come over. I'll text you the address." He quickly ended the call and slipped the phone back into his pocket, feeling strangely relieved. As annoying as Naruto could be, Sasuke also realized he needed a friendly, familiar face right now amidst all these crazy things happening in his life.
Fugaku stood up, smiling. "I'll let your mother know we have a guest joining us tonight." He winked at Sasuke warmly as he walked past.
::
After a fifteen-minute walk from the nearest bus stop, and spending another ten minutes searching around the block double-checking the address Sasuke texted him, Naruto finally arrived, tired and sweaty, at the Uchiha premises. His eyes widened as he took in the traditional Japanese architecture and immaculate garden surrounding it. This was definitely not the modest neighborhood he was used to visiting Sasuke in.
The nameplate read, unmistakably, "Uchiha manor", and the address that Sasuke gave him was, unmistakably, this one. The bastard did not mention this detail. Naruto sure hoped this was not a joke; it was a hot summer day, the bus stop was fifteen minutes away, and he was cranky.
He walked up to the front door and rang the bell, feeling intensely out of place. The door slid open to reveal a smiling, impeccably dressed, and beautiful woman with pale skin and long black hair, whose face Naruto somewhat recognized from an old magazine his mother kept in their bathroom.
"You must be Sasuke's friend. Naruto, right? Please come in, make yourself at home."
Naruto stepped inside, slipping off his shoes and looking around the spacious interior in awe. This was insane. Sasuke lived here now?
Sasuke appeared at the top of the stairs, dressed in a white polo shirt and navy blue pants. "Yo. Come on up."
He had never seen Sasuke dressed in a polo shirt before. This was wild.
Naruto bounded up the steps, following Sasuke to his new bedroom - a massive, tatami-floored room featuring a large-sized bed and some dark wood furniture with fancy urushi work on the top that looked as expensive as the rest of the house. "Dude! What is going on? This place is insane!"
Sasuke scratched the back of his neck, looking uncomfortable. "Yeah, it's kind of a long story."
"I've got time," Naruto said, settling into the sofa in Sasuke's massive new room. "You look like you're about to play golf with your other rich friends."
Sasuke glanced down at his attire. "I'm not sure this style suits me."
"No, you look great!" Naruto exclaimed. "You're dressing all fancy brands now. Betcha your underwear is full of calvins now."
"Actually…" In a swift gesture, Sasuke reached to the inside of his pants and pulled up the elastic band of his briefs.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Ralph Lauren?" He whistled.
"I have also some calvins and tommys in the drawer. Speaking of which," Sasuke sprinted to the drawer and retrieved a still unopened package of bright yellow, orange and green-colored Tommy Hilfiger briefs, handing over to Naruto. "Here, you can have these. Mikoto- my mom, bought me a bunch of modals but I don't like the color ones. I thought you might like it."
"Are you sure? This stuff is expensive," Naruto said, reluctant to accept the package.
"Just take it, Naruto. Your balls will love it. You'll no longer feel the need to scratch your junk in front of the girls."
His friend's face reddened. "I don't do that!"
"You do that sometimes in front of Sakura, moron. You just don't notice it."
Naruto grabbed the gift with a muttered complaint.
Sasuke sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, facing Naruto. "Anyway, how was Disneyland?"
His friend groaned and let himself fall backward on the sofa in front of the bed. "Man, you seriously missed out! It was epic. Space Mountain alone was worth the Shinkansen ticket, like, no joke. The ride's fast as hell, felt like my face was gonna melt off, but in the best way possible. And we managed to snap a pic with both Mickey Mouse and Donald! It was a blast. Well, except for Ino whining about literally everything. Your dumb little fan club was all mopey without you." Naruto paused, seeming to realize the pointlessness of discussing such an adventure given Sasuke's new circumstances. "But never mind that! Explain to me how the hell are you living in this house now?"
Sasuke shrugged, avoiding eye contact. "It's a long story."
"We've got time, rich boy." Naruto leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "Are they, like, your new adopted family or something?"
"No. It's my... biological family."
Naruto froze, eyes widening. "What?"
Sasuke took a deep breath. "Fugaku showed up at our house one day, said I was his son. I did a DNA test, it was confirmed."
"Wow. That's insane." Naruto shook his head, eyes still wide. "So, wait... You're a Uchiha now? Like, for real?"
Sasuke nodded, feeling a familiar twist in his stomach at the thought. "Yeah… for real."
"And why didn't you tell me any of this? I thought we shared everything."
There was a hint of accusation in his voice, and Sasuke flinched, knowing he deserved it.
"It happened so fast," he explained. "I didn't even know how to process it. Before I knew it, I was moving in here."
"That's just.. crazy man" Naruto seemed to have a harder time processing this information than Sasuke did, and was apparently unable to find better words other than 'crazy' and 'insane' to describe the situation.
Which, to be fair, it was an accurate description of the current situation.
"And what about Itachi? He's, like, your brother now. That's insane!"
Sasuke winced, feeling slightly uncomfortable at the mention of Itachi. "Yeah. I know. It's complicated." He knew he couldn't avoid this topic forever, but the thought of confessing his intimate, sexual involvement with Itachi to Naruto filled him with dread. Naruto did know a bit about it, but he had never been informed of the details.
"Does he know? Is that why you went to his place and left your bike there?"
"No, actually… that was due to a different matter."
For the next five minutes, Sasuke attempted his best to summarize how he found out about Itachi working behind the scenes with the prosecution in the case against Orochimaru, even at the expense of his own reputation and career. He told Naruto that Oscar had also been helping Itachi's schemes behind the scenes as well, even though it cost him his job at the bar.
"So I went to his apartment to confront him about this and…" he paused for a moment, thinking about the best way to wrap up the story while omitting as many sexual details as possible. "… well, we made peace. And then because of the storm, I had to take a cab back home. That's why I left my bike there."
Yeah, that summed up pretty well.
Naruto was donning a dumbfounded expression, looking as if he was still trying to compute the first half of the information dump he received from his friend. He scratched his head and frowned his brows, and after a few seconds he finally uttered:
"So, BBD is a good guy? Crap, we got him fired from his job! We have to do something about it."
Sasuke nodded. "I went to his house, but his neighbor told me he was out visiting his country."
"His country? Which country is he from?"
Sasuke shrugged. "I have no idea."
The epiphany struck them suddenly: they knew very little about the bartender who had always watched over them and even sacrificed his livelihood to help Sasuke.
Sasuke couldn't help but feel a little guilty about it.
"Is he from Africa?" Naruto asked innocently.
"I always assumed he was American. I think his niece was American…? I don't remember."
"You had sex with her. You don't remember?"
"I remember the sex part, but I don't remember the nationality part, okay? It's not like I ask for their passport before we fuck," he blurted out annoyed. "Wasn't she Tenten's friend? Why don't you ask her?"
"Huh..anyways. Maybe we can think of something to do for him when he comes back. We can throw him a party, with an American flag cake. If he's American. Maybe he'll like that."
"Maybe."
A moment of silence settled between the two friends as they both thought about Oscar and all the crazy things that happened and led to the current moment.
Naruto, however, wasn't one to keep quiet for long, and he started fidgeting restlessly, scratching his head. Something was still bothering him, but it took him a good five minutes before The Question popped out of his mouth:
"So, you had like, sex with Itachi-" Naruto started but Sasuke was not having it.
"I don't want to talk about it," Sasuke cut in sharply. He knew Naruto meant no harm, but the mere mention of Itachi provoked a spiraling swirl of emotions in the pit of his stomach, and he was not ready to deal with that. Not yet.
Naruto raised his hands defensively. "Okay, okay. I get it. Sorry. Sensitive topic."
Sasuke exhaled and ran a hand through his pitch-black hairlocks. "Let's just change the subject."
"No problem, dude. Just… you can talk to me, okay? No judgments." Naruto smiled reassuringly, then his eyes widened as if he just remembered something. "Oh, and by the way! Your birthday is this Friday, right? Any plans?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. He had completely forgotten about his birthday amidst all the chaos. "Oh, crap. I don't know. I haven't realized that." He shook his head, still processing the realization. "My parents… Fugaku and Mikoto, they have been kind of controlling my schedule, so I dunno."
"Controlling your schedule? Sounds like you went from hippie parents to 'helicopter parents'!" Naruto chuckled at his own silly joke, but then his smile faded as he noticed Sasuke's less-than-amused expression. "I mean... that sucks. But hey, at least your ass is not broke all the time now."
"Yeah, well." Sasuke shrugged, still not sure what to feel about his drastic change in household dynamics. Fugaku and Mikoto were completely different from what he was used to with Asuma and Kurenai. "They mean well, I guess. I have a family dinner with my cousins this Thursday. But I don't think they scheduled anything for Friday."
"Well, in that case, you need to blow off some steam after that family pow-wow." Naruto grinned. "Let's go bowling this Friday!"
"Bowling?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. He couldn't recall the last time Naruto was excited about going bowling with him. "I always beat you at bowling. You sure you're not gonna whine about me kicking your ass again?"
"Don't be so cocky you bastard," Naruto countered. "I've been practicing at Iwa's Bowl lately, and let me tell you, I got some sick moves now. I've beaten Sai every time we've played!"
"That's because Sai lets you win."
"No, he doesn't!" Naruto's face scrunched up in mock outrage.
Sasuke sighed. "Fine, whatever. We can go bowling."
He wasn't really in the mood for it, but he hadn't been in the mood for anything lately. Though he knew that more than anything, he needed a break from all the craziness that had been happening to him, and a Friday night bowling session with his friends didn't sound so bad.
Naruto's grin widened. "Yeah, bowling! Sakura and Tenten could join too! And also Shika—"
"Wait," Sasuke interrupted, holding up his hand. "I don't remember being friends with Tenten. Why would she come?"
His friend frowned, the corners of his mouth turning down in a mix of confusion and annoyance. "What do you mean? She's always joining us lately. Don't tell me you're still sore about that time she thrashed you at bowling."
"I'm not sore about that," Sasuke protested, scowling.
Well, maybe he was still a bit sore about that. But he conceded that the woman was extremely good at bowling. Moreover, he just didn't understand why she had to come. He knew she was Sakura's new BFF and that those two lately seemed to exist as if they were attached by an invisible umbilical cord, but he wasn't feeling like dealing with her abrasive remarks on his birthday.
"Oh, if they join us, Hinata might tag along too," Naruto said, as if suddenly remembering that detail.
Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Hinata? You mean Neji's cousin?"
Hinata always seemed to disappear into the background, and although he remembers her sometimes being around - being a constant presence at Neji's house parties, at least - Sasuke hadn't interacted with her beyond a few awkward 'hello's and 'goodbye's.
"Why would she be joining us?"
Naruto shrugged. "I dunno, the girls have been hanging out a lot more lately I guess." He paused, tilting his head thoughtfully. "I think it started around the time Hinata broke up with Kiba. She's been going out Sakura and Tenten after that."
"Hinata and Kiba were dating?" Sasuke asked incredulously. "The dog guy?" This was news to him.
"Uh, yeah, for like almost six months, dude." Naruto gave him an exasperated look. "You really don't pay attention, do you?"
Sasuke just stared at him blankly. Hinata and Kiba? That pairing came out of the left field for him. Kiba had the knack of sometimes coming off even more annoying than Tenten - equally abrasive, but unlike Tenten, he was just one of those human accidents that thought himself smarter than he was. It was bizarre to imagine Hinata with him. Though he supposed he didn't know Hinata that well.
"Anyway," Naruto went on. "I'm glad Hinata's spending more time with Sakura and Tenten now. They're a good influence on her, ya know? She seems...happier lately."
"Hn." Sasuke made a noncommittal noise, still finding the whole thing a bit odd.
"So whaddya think, wanna invite the girls bowling with us Friday?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Sasuke suppressed a sigh. He would much rather just have a guys' night for his birthday, and although he didn't mind Sakura, he wasn't looking forward to spending his first day of being twenty-one years old with Tenten and… well, Hinata, was easy to ignore. But he knew Naruto would throw a fit if he tried to exclude the girls at this point.
"Fine," he conceded. "But no singing happy birthday or cake or any of that crap."
Naruto's face fell slightly at the rejection of birthday fanfare, but he quickly bounced back with an exaggerated eye roll. "Fiiine, party pooper, no birthday stuff. Just good ol' fashioned bowling!"
He pumped his fist enthusiastically. Sasuke just hoped he wouldn't regret agreeing to this.
"Anyway, get ready to be utterly humiliated by my new sick moves at bowling!"
"Keep dreaming, dumbass," Sasuke scoffed.
Naruto was about to retort when there was a light knock on the door. Mikoto poked her head in, smiling.
"Dinner is just about ready whenever you boys are hungry."
"Awesome, I'm starving!" Naruto jumped up eagerly.
As they headed downstairs, Sasuke wondered if he would ever really get used to this new life. Having dinner with his biological parents, in this massive house he now called home. It was still so hard to believe sometimes.
But as he sat down to eat with his parents and Naruto, listening to his friend chat enthusiastically about everything under the sun, with Fugaku trying his best to fake interest in the myriad of threads that spun out of Naruto's uncontrollable rambling, and Mikoto smiling and enthusiastically feeding Naruto more food, Sasuke felt himself start to relax.
Maybe, just maybe, this could start to feel normal after all. As long as he had his friends around, he could get through this transition.
After dinner, Naruto gave Sasuke a brotherly hug before heading out.
"See you Friday, rich boy!"
Sasuke shook his head, but couldn't help a small smile. "See you, loser."
::
::