Sniff…
"Mean… meanie big brother?"
Sasuke wiped his runny nose with his sleeve, red-rimmed eyes looking up at Yun. "Why don't I have a dad? Where's my dad?"
'Meanie?!'
'Well… fair enough.'
Yun scratched his head. 'Wait, wasn't Itachi such a doting big brother? Why hadn't he brought Sasuke to the memorial stone?'
'No way… He was too busy dating?'
Yun glanced in the direction of the Memorial Stone and thought for a moment.
"Let me take you somewhere," he said.
He led little Sasuke to Fugaku's stone and asked, "Your brother and mom didn't bring you here?"
Sasuke sniffled. "I've been here… but…"
Yun gently ruffled his hair. "But you wonder why Naruto's dad is the Hokage, and your dad is… here?"
Sasuke nodded silently.
Yun crouched down, brushed away the leaves on the stone, and pointed toward the Hokage Rock.
"Do you know where people as great as the Hokage are remembered in Konoha?"
Sasuke shook his head.
Yun looked around and said, "Those whose names are etched into the Memorial Stone… are just as great as any Hokage. Because everyone here gave their lives for the village."
Sasuke looked a little confused, but Yun's roundabout explanation sounded grand and impressive, too grand for a child to fully understand.
Looking at Fugaku's name carved in stone, Yun added: "Your father was the head of the Konoha Military Police Force, and the clan leader of the Uchiha. His strength and jutsu were even greater than mine or your brother's."
"Really?" Sasuke asked, wide-eyed.
"There would be no Konoha without the sacrifices of those remembered here, so how could there be a Hokage?"
Yun smiled and continued, "If Naruto says his dad is the Hokage, just say this back, trust me, it'll work!"
Sasuke blinked, still not quite understanding, but somehow it all sounded incredibly powerful.
Wiping his nose, the teary-eyed boy tucked away his sadness.
As Yun led Sasuke back home, he glanced once more at Obito's stone.
....
Uchiha Clan Compound
Just as Yun arrived at Sasuke's house, he froze.
Standing at the door was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, looking nervously at his wife, Kushina.
Kushina was furiously twisting Naruto's ear and scolding him. "You actually said something that mean to little Sasuke?! You are not leaving until he comes back, and you're going to apologize to him personally!"
Then she snapped at Minato, "Busy, busy, busy! That's all you ever are! Do you even try to discipline your son?"
"No manners, no respect! Who's going to want to be friends with him if he acts like that? Just because his father's the Hokage?!"
Little Naruto was terrified, whimpering as he cried out, "Mom, I was wrong! I'm sorry! Really sorry!"
Just then, Mikoto Uchiha opened the door, startled by the scene. "What's… going on?"
Seeing Naruto in pain, she gently pried Kushina's hand off his ear and scooped the boy into her arms.
"Can't we talk things through calmly? What did he say that was so bad? They're just kids."
Kushina was still fuming, but she didn't lash out again.
Minato awkwardly scratched his head, unsure what to say.
Yun led Sasuke into the courtyard and looked around. "Aunt Mikoto, maybe we should talk inside. It's not great to have this happen at the front door."
Mikoto nodded, realizing the attention they were drawing, and everyone stepped inside.
After sitting down, little Naruto cautiously glanced at his friend. Smiling nervously, he reached out a hand, but Sasuke avoided it.
"…Sasuke, I'm sorry."
Still cold, Sasuke glanced at him from the corner of his eye. Naruto smiled again and tried grabbing his hand.
This time, Sasuke didn't dodge.
"We're friends again!"
"Hmph!"
Sasuke huffed, then, standing tall with arms akimbo, confidently declared: "There'd be no… memorial stone… sacrifice, no Konoha! And no Hokage either!"
He stumbled through Yun's speech with bits missing, but the message was loud and proud.
"My dad is on the Memorial Stone. He's a hero!"
"If it weren't for my dad, there'd be no Konoha. And without Konoha, your dad wouldn't even be Hokage! Hmph!"
Silence fell over the room.
Mikoto looked stunned, then worriedly glanced at the Fourth Hokage.
Sasuke, who had just been brimming with pride, suddenly wilted a little under the awkward tension.
Clap, clap, clap.
Minato smiled and applauded. "Sasuke is absolutely right. Without the heroes on the Memorial Stone, there would be no Konoha, and certainly no Hokage."
He turned to Naruto, his face serious. "Naruto, I always thought you were too young to understand things like this. But hearing what you said earlier… It's clear I need to start teaching you properly."
"Being Hokage isn't about power, it's about responsibility."
"To be Hokage, you must earn everyone's recognition. And being Hokage means protecting the entire village, protecting all of Konoha."
Minato stood up and bowed deeply to Sasuke and Mikoto. "Once again, I apologize. Fugaku's death was caused by our family. I'm truly sorry."
Kushina stood beside him, pulling Naruto along. She bowed as well. "My poor parenting led to what Naruto said. I sincerely apologize."
Mikoto was briefly stunned, then pulled Kushina and Naruto back up "Fugaku died protecting Konoha. I've always been proud of him. Children argue, there's no need for such a formal apology."
She sat Kushina down and smiled. "It's been a long time since we sat together like this. Remember how it used to be?"
Kushina cheerfully threw an arm around her shoulders. "We were best friends back then, and we still are, and always will be."
She looked at the boys and grinned. "If these two weren't both boys, we could've ended up as in-laws."
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other, and instantly scooted apart, putting distance between them.
Seeing the families all getting along, Yun felt like an unwanted extra. So, he stood up and said his goodbyes.
Minato did the same, citing work responsibilities.
Kushina waved him off with a frown. "Go, go, you're always busy, Lord Hokage."
Minato gave the two boys a thumbs-up for encouragement and left with Yun.
...
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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