Mikoto was worried about her youngest son, he had been quieter, moodier, stranger still she hadn't seen Naruto hanging around him in weeks and Sakura too had barely made appearances . When she expressed her concern to her husband one morning after sending Itachi and Sasuke on an errand, without looking away from his newspaper Fugaku simply said, "it will pass, those two have been inseparable since they were five." For the untrained ear it may seem like Fugaku was not interested in the subject, but she caught his hidden meaning, he knew what was going on.
Deciding that the laundry could wait she decided to pester him on the subject matter, "what aren't you telling me?"
"If it was important, you would know of it by now. As it is, it will pass." Again he didn't bother looking up from his newspaper. Mikoto however didn't budge, he could feel her eyes on him, finally he put the newspaper down, " it seems that Sasuke confessed to Sakura."
"Is that all? Took him long enough, I was beginning to think I would have to do it for him." She was content at first with his answer, but then she was struck with a sudden realization, "but if he confessed, why has he been so upset? Sakura clearly feels the same way."
Here it was, the reason he had not told Mikoto the information he had acquired, "she turned him down"
"She what!?" Fugaku was surprised that she hadn't jumped out of her seat, but then again she looked surprised enough to faint. "But she adores him! And who could possibly turn down our little boy!?"
"Because," he leaned in conspirationally, she followed suit, "Naruto confessed to her too the day before." Before she could ask, he added," she turned him down too."
"Then who does she like?"
"Well she told Sasuke that she didn't want to get in the way of his and Naruto's friendship." He could read Mikoto well enough to know she was impressed with Sakura's maturity, even he himself had been. It was no secret that the girl had been in love with Sasuke since they were small children, the fact that she didn't jump at the chance was incredible to them. Sensing that Mikoto was content with the answer he was about to go back to his newspaper when Mikoto grabbed his arm. Her eyes were shining with excitement he could see the wheels turning in her head when she opened her mouth to speak he interrupted her, "stay out of it."
Slightly offended, and a little upset, she agreed. "I will, but if I give Sasuke some advice, and he were to listen-"
"Sasuke doesn't know that I know." He interrupted a hint of panic on his voice.
"Then how do you know?"
"I am his father, of course I know." Mikoto knew her husband well enough to know he was slightly ashamed of how he knew. Before she could ask again, "if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to get too, and I am already running late, and if I don't go now they'll start pestering me." Accepting his answer, she continued to her work, he hoped he didn't look too relieved that she let it go. There was no way in hell he would admit to Mikoto his weekly get together with Minato and Kizashi, but the meetings were all Sasuke's fault to begin with. If his son would just talk to them (more importantly him), he wouldn't need this second hand information. Sakura and Naruto were very open with their parents, and if he just happened to use this to his advantage, to know what was going on with his son, so be it. He told himself it wasn't gossip, it was just gathering information, but his wife would not see it that way. Once seated in his car, he called Minato, letting him know he was running late.