"Second brother."
Sasuke's voice was hesitant as he reached out and grabbed the edge of Satoru's sleeve. There was a flicker of worry in his dark eyes.
Their father had summoned Satoru. That was never a good sign.
Sasuke had seen that look in Fugaku's eyes before—it was the kind of look that usually meant a long, stern lecture, if not something worse.
"Second brother, you're not... going to get beaten to death, right?" Sasuke asked cautiously.
Satoru blinked at him before grinning. "Beaten to death? Wow, you really think highly of Dad, huh? What do you take me for, some random street thug? Please, I'm way too good-looking to die young."
Sasuke wasn't convinced.
Satoru had a habit of making everything sound lighthearted, even when it clearly wasn't.
"I mean, if you're that worried, you could come with me," Satoru suggested with an easy smile. "Brotherly solidarity and all that."
Sasuke took half a step back, expression immediately shifting to something colder and more distant. "I'll pass."
Smart kid.
Satoru sighed dramatically. "Tch. Where's the fun in that? You're getting less and less gullible these days."
Sasuke huffed. "Hurry up and go already."
"Alright, alright," Satoru said, stretching lazily before stuffing his hands into his pockets and strolling toward the study. "No need to sound so eager for my execution."
Fugaku's study was as ominous as ever.
The room was neat, filled with scrolls, maps, and reports—things befitting the head of the Uchiha clan. The air was heavy, as if authority itself had weight. The moment Satoru stepped in, he was met with his father's sharp, scrutinizing gaze.
"Do you know why I called you here?" Fugaku asked.
Satoru tilted his head. "If I did, would I still need to come?"
Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly.
Most people—especially clan members—wilted under that gaze. It was the kind of look that commanded absolute obedience. It was supposed to make people nervous.
Satoru just yawned.
Fugaku resisted the urge to sigh. This boy...
"Why weren't you at today's clan training?" Fugaku asked, his voice calm but firm.
"Aaaah, I knew this was about that," Satoru said, rubbing the back of his head. "Listen, since ancient times, hands-on experience has always been the best teacher. So, I went out and got some real-world practice."
Fugaku's brow twitched.
Real-world practice?
"You mean sneaking off to raid the South Street dango shop?" he deadpanned.
Satoru placed a hand over his chest in mock offense. "Wow, Dad. Zero faith in your own son. You wound me."
Fugaku's expression remained unreadable. He knew his son well enough to know that Satoru could talk his way out of almost anything. But this time, he wasn't in the mood for games.
"You think we don't have strong enough shinobi in the Uchiha clan to train you?" Fugaku asked, his voice quiet but heavy.
Satoru's grin didn't falter, but there was something sharper in his eyes now.
"Oh? Dad, your words are a little... pointed," he mused. "You're making it sound like I'm disrespecting my own clan."
"Are you not?" Fugaku asked.
Satoru's smile widened.
"You're saying I shouldn't learn from people outside the clan?" he said, tilting his head. "Sounds like you're drawing a pretty thick line between 'inside' and 'outside.' You sure that's a good idea?"
Fugaku stilled.
He studied his son for a long moment.
Satoru knew.
He had seen the growing divide within the village. He had noticed the tension between the Uchiha and the rest of Konoha.
He understood.
"...The Uchiha clan has become estranged from the village," Fugaku admitted. His voice was lower now, quieter. "That is the reality of our situation."
Satoru leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "And whose fault is that?"
Fugaku's gaze sharpened. "What are you implying?"
Satoru smirked. "Nothing. Just pointing out that paranoia is a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Fugaku exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. "Having power means we will always be feared. That is the curse of our clan."
"Sounds like an excuse," Satoru said breezily. "If power automatically makes people hate us, then explain Hashirama. Or Minato. They weren't exactly weak, but people didn't treat them like dangerous ticking time bombs."
Fugaku's fingers twitched.
Satoru chuckled. "Face it, Dad. It's not power that made people fear the Uchiha. It's how the Uchiha acted once they had power.
And let's be real—most of the clan's problems aren't even about pride or 'protecting our dignity.' It's about wanting a bigger piece of the pie."
Fugaku didn't respond immediately.
Because—deep down—he knew his son wasn't wrong.
Satoru shrugged. "But hey, what do I know? I'm just a kid who skipped class to beat up some brats over dango."
Fugaku pinched the bridge of his nose.
This boy was going to give him a headache.
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(A/N: Don't Forget To Add In Your Collection And Support via Powerstone)