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After the night he gave her the letter, Sasuke noticed that in the following weeks, his mother was moving more actively.
She was investigating something, but he didn't understand; and even if he asked, she wouldn't respond.
If he had known about the things his mother was seeking for, he would be surprised.
It was about the clan and his father, Fugaku.
She was contacting people from the clan about internal matters and how things were going. But their responses left her frozen. Most of the clan's ninjas couldn't leave the village for missions; instead, they were forced to stay.
Even if they tried to get out, masked ninjas appeared and stopped them. If they persisted, after two warnings, the masked men would attack them, and after that, they would never be seen in the village again.
"Ikki, what are you talking about? Clan's ninjas disappear if they try to get out of the village? Since when?" Her expression couldn't have been more serious.
"Yes, Mikoto-sama. It has been like that since the Nine-Tails attack. At first, there were only a few cases, and the clan thought that they had died on missions." Shaking his head, he continued. "But reality couldn't have been more different. In the following years, at least two or three ninjas disappeared every month."
"The clan's leaders didn't do anything about this situation?"
Ikki gave her a bitter smile. "Mikoto-sama, the clan has had internal troubles since I remember. Nothing could unite the two factions. Every time we had a reunion with all the members, they were fighting about who was right. They don't care about those below them."
Mikoto gritted her teeth. "Why? Do Fugaku and the others only know how to have stupid fights while our clan is dying every day?""
Ikki fell silent. "...Mikoto-sama. There are two factions, one wants to fight against the village for their rights, but they don't think about the consequences.
We can't go against the village. If we tried something, our clan would be destroyed in the blink of an eye."
And the other is your husband, the patriarch. He always gives in to whatever the village wants, even if it harms us. And the result of all that? Now the entire village hates us. They see us as a plague as– gritted his teeth as he continued --demons, we are monsters to all of them. How could we reintegrate with the village in that situation?
The incident that day wasn't our fault, we were surrounded by Danzo's and Hiruzen's men. How could we try to destroy the village that's our home?"
She spoke with doubt. "But they agreed that if we moved to the corner of the village, they wouldn't blame us!"
"That's the best part: they won't do it. The territory of our clan grows smaller every year. Why? The Councillors and the Hokage argued that the village needed more land to build citizen's houses.
The reality? Their clans took it; the name of the land isn't Uchiha anymore. Now it has the great last names: Mitokado, Utatane, Shimura, and the greatest of all—"
Pointing to the Hokage Rock, at the Third's face, he continued. "---Sarutobi, the clan of 'The Professor'"
I'm from the same generation as you, Mikoto-sama. I was watching the whole time. Every time they cut a piece from us, I watched the entire process: how they took the knife and convinced your husband to accede to it. The other faction is bad, but your husband is not far behind. One wants to fight and the other just gives in all the time."
Seeing how Mikoto had veins popping out of her forehead and arms, Ikki stopped for a moment.
She didn't say anything.
Staring into her eyes, he continued, as if he were talking about an acquaintance.
"I know that soon we will meet Death. He has been watching us all the time. He's sharpening his scythe in the roots of the village, just waiting for the perfect excuse to claim our lives. He doesn't have his own will anymore; the only thing he knows is the Will of Fire. That excellent ideal of the village."
I hope this answers your doubts, Mikoto-sama. I'm leaving, I need to take the sun." Speaking as an old man, Ikki slowly walked to his house.
Mikoto continued to watch his retreating back. When he was about to open the door, she spoke.
"Ikki...What did you mean at the end? You were talking as if I knew that death too.
Ikki stood in his place.
Turning to her, he replied.
"Of course you know him, Mikoto-sama. They've always been in your hands, you just didn't want to look down. If you'll excuse me. Bye, Mikoto-sama."
Hearing those words was like being struck by a thunderclap; she stood there, astonished.
Him? How could I know him? And my hands?..."Hands" Ego said the same in his letter. Realizing it, her body started to tremble. Hugging herself, she felt her own body turn cold.
No... this has to be a joke...
She continued looking at the spot where Ikki disappeared, trying to speak. But the words wouldn't come out of her mouth; they were stuck in her throat..
Leaving the clan with a confused gaze, she began to walk around the village.
As she walked, she noticed people looking at her with an awkward expression, as if trying to avoid a plague.
How had I not noticed this before? Oh, I see. I only go out to the grocery store.
They were not isolated cases. And it wasn't just the adults; it seemed that parents told their kids to avoid the Uchiha.
This realization squeezed her heart.
Why did Fugaku never tell me about this? How many things had he hidden from me?...
Unable to endure the situation, she disappeared from the scene and returned to her house.
A few seconds later, she appeared in her house, and sat in the corner of her room. She didn't want to believe the things Ikki told her, but she knew that it was all true."
She stood in that position until she heard the sound of her son's steps, Sasuke.
Getting up, she combed her hair and waited for her son.
Seeing his mother, Sasuke ran and hugged her. "Mom! I'm the first again!"
"Well done, Sasuke. You're the best, do you want your favourite meal today?"
Petting her son's head, she made a decision.
She knew she needs to continue. Even if she wanted to deny it, she couldn't. She needs to know what's in her hands and she needs to be fast.
The night passed, and Fugaku didn't return once again, but she wasn't waiting for him, she sent a message to her son.
He will come home tomorrow.
The next day, she was ready.
Having seen enough from her clan and the village, she continued with the other subject: her son.
While she was preparing breakfast and Sasuke was waiting at the table, someone knocked on the door.
Sasuke stood up and ran to the door.
Opening the door, he saw him.
A young man with long hair, a tactical vest and black clothes was smiling at him.
"It's been a while, Sasuke."
"Nii-san! You've come back!" With pure joy in his voice, Sasuke ran and hugged him. "Come, Mom is making the breakfast!"
"Sure, let's eat together"
"Mom, look! Nii-san has come back!" Sasuke entered the dining room with a smile. He looked so happy.
Hearing those words, Mikoto froze for a second. Turning to her son, she saw him.
His eldest son: Itachi has arrived.
"You arrived quickly, Itachi." Mikoto said with a smile.
He nodded to her. "I think it's something important, usually you didn't call me, mother."
"Mm, we could do it later. Come, it's been a while since you've eaten with us."
They started eating and Mikoto fell into silence, but her sons continued talking to each other.
"Sasuke, do you miss me?" Gently petting Sasuke's head, Itachi gave him a kind smile.
"Yup! You've been outside for a long time. You brought me something?" Sasuke replied with hope on his face.
"Sorry, Sasuke, I couldn't this time" Showing an apologetic face, the man replied.
"Mmm fine, next time, please?" With expectation in his eyes the kid looked at his brother.
"Yeah, next time I will bring you something. How was school? You're still the first?"
He shook his head. "No, there's a guy who is still faster than me. And in the kunai lessons I continued being the second... Only in theoretical lessons did I get the first..." Seeing the discouraged look on his brother's face, Itachi felt pity.
"It's okay, Sasuke. It's only temporary, soon you will reach and surpass them." Upon hearing Itachi's words, Sasuke regained his enthusiasm.
"Mm! It wouldn't take me long to do it; I must be the first. Like you, nii-san!"
As they continued their kind conversation Mikoto felt a bit weird. I'm thinking too much?...No, I need to know the truth.
The meal ended, and it's time for Sasuke to go to school.
"Bye, Mom, Nii-san!"
Seeing her son and his brother. Both of them say goodbye.
As the door closed, the room fell silent.
...
Mikoto's expression was full of uncertainty.
Itachi's smile disappeared the moment his brother left.
"Why did you call me here, mother?"
"... I need to ask you about some things, Itachi."
"Talk? about what?
"About us. Can I ask you as a mother?
"...Of course, you're my mother.
"Itachi, have I ever told you how I awakened my Sharingan? I guess not, judging by your expression.
Shaking his head, Itachi waited for her to continue.
"Since I have memories, the first thing I knew was the love of my mother. She was a strong woman, and she loves me more than anyone. The second thing was my father, a strict man but someone who would give all of himself for us.
My first years were beautiful, I had my family, and I loved it. Then, things changed. You know about what I'm talking about, right?"
Itachi nodded.
"Yes, it was war. The war began and everyone needed to go to the battlefield. My parents were not the exception. At first, I didn't know why they needed to go outside, but I cheered them up. The moment they left the house, they had a smile on their faces.
They returned home every two weeks. I got used to that routine, I just thought that they were on missions.
Good times didn't last long.
One year and a half later, I was 11 years old.
My dad died on a mission."
The room cooled down at that instant, and Mikoto continued with a calm voice as if she didn't notice it.
"I thought that we have each other to support us. I really thought that, but the things couldn't be more different.
Since that incident, my mother has changed. She became paranoid and beat me when I spoke, so I learned to stay in silence. Four months passed like that.
Every night she kept her Sharingan open. When I asked her why she did that, she answered me with a terrified expression.
"Your father told me things... I don't want to kill you while we sleep... "
At that moment I didn't recognize her. Why did my beloved mother beat me and tell me things like that? Then, I noticed it. My mother's eyes weren't two magatamas anymore. She had three when she told me that. I thought that was something great, something that deserved a celebration.
But, no.
Two moths later, in the middle of the night.
She killed herself in front of me."
Itachi realized that he didn't know anything about his mother...
"I saw the whole process.
She took a rope and started to do a very skillfully tied knot; it wasn't her first time I thought. At that moment I didn't know what she wanted to do, then I saw it.
She stood up on the table, putting the rope on high. I guessed what she wanted to do, but the next action she took froze me.
I saw how she took the rope and put the tie on her neck. I wanted to stop her. Even if I was only 11 years old, I knew it. A rope isn't for that.
I tried to move, throw her something, say something, scream, anything. But I couldn't.
My mother was staring at me with her Sharingan.
She tied me up and made me watch the whole process.
The next morning, I took down my mother's body and knelt before her.
At 11 years old, I opened two magatama Sharingan in my own house."
Seeing his mother tell such traumatic things with the same expression and a calm voice made him feel as if his throat was dry. He wanted to say something, but nothing came to his mind.
Seeing her son in that situation, she continued.
"The things that followed was me going to the battlefield, it didn't take me much to reach the three magatama. But I don't remember what happened later; I recovered my senses when the war ended." She paused for a moment and continued in a pleading voice.
Now, Itachi. Could you please tell your mother how you achieved your three magatama?"
Itachi had never seen his mother in such a state, pleading for him to tell her something.
"I... opened it in my first mission. We were five on a team.
We needed to recognize the ground for traps and leave signals for the next team. It was my first mission; I thought that it went well. When we were near to finishing it, we were ambushed. I fought with the things the academy taught me, but it wasn't enough. My teammates were getting hurt with every contact.
We tried to escape but they didn't let us do that. We ran all the way and when we were near the border I looked back. In a few meters my captain was fighting to let me escape. At that moment, I wanted to come back and help him.
But he yelled at me.
I didn't expect that, but the last words he said have remained with me.
Live! Go back to the village! As long as you're alive our Will of Fire will continue.
Hearing that, I ran.
When I noticed it, I had a one-magatama Sharingan. The next ones were similar, until I met the Hokage. He showed me the Will of Fire, and I've been with him ever since."
He looked at his mom, and she replied. "I'm sorry, Itachi. I never knew that you passed through so much... Is there something more you wanted to tell your mother? How was last year?"
Hearing that Itachi's pupils shrank. Why she ask that? Does she know something?
"No, mother. That's all, I'm leaving. I have work to do."
Mikoto didn't expect that development. He just left?
Seeing her son disappearing in front of her, she remained in silence.
Until she couldn't handle it. Veins popped out from her arms and hands.
Even now you are hiding things from me? From your mother?! Ungrateful bastard!!
The magatamas began to spin rapidly, trying to form a pattern, but she didn't notice it.
Consumed by rage, she broke all the furniture in the room.
An hour later she awoke from that state and started to clean, as if nothing had happened.
She continued being the same and just continued with her original plan, investigating her husband for the next few days.
She started to watch him when he was on duty, but she didn't notice anything. So, instead of watching him without any results, she went to the clan archives. And she found it, something that could give her information about her husband.
Taking a seat and bringing the papers with her, she started to read them.
[Record of the Patriarchs]
Opening it she saw the index.
Every patriarch of the clan had their own history registered. All his exploits were marked one by one.
She noticed that something was wrong: why were her husband's exploits so tragic? Since he was a child, tragedy had been chasing him.
All of the other registered patriarchs had their own exploits, but only a few had similar experiences. And they had something in common: a tragic experience and a strength greater than anyone else's in the clan.
But her husband isn't like that, at least as far as she knows. He is stronger, but is still a three magatama, like her. The difference isn't that big. And the most suspicious thing is that she never saw him opening his Sharingan since the war ended.
Then, one of the things the letter had said came to her mind.
[Are you sure that he is only a three magatama? Ask him, you're also a three magatama and can feel it if it's true or not.]
'Are there more than three magatama? No one in the clan had mentioned it before... If there were more, that would explain why the gap between the patriarchs and others was so big.
Fugaku will return tomorrow; I need to talk to him.'
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The last day of Sasuke's School.
Fugaku returned home after a busy week. The guard of the village had only one free day per week.
Opening the door, he felt a strange feeling.
Where's Mikoto and Sasuke?'
He continued through the house, and then he saw her. His wife was in the courtyard, like she was waiting for him.
As he approached, he noticed it. She had no smile on her face.
She gestured for him to take a seat
He obeyed.
As he sat down, she offered him a cup of tea.
They remained in silence; no one touched the tea or even looked at each other.
Like strangers sitting at the same table by mistake.
Time passed, and no one said a word, the evening was almost gone.
The sun slowly set, giving way to the night.
Fugaku was the first to talk.
"Since when have you been doing it?" He said as he started to look everywhere, the place was littered with furniture fragments.
"From the moment you entered the room." A tear of sweat dropped from her neck.
"You have improved." He said with appreciation.
"Yes, but it seems that isn't enough for you." Replying with annoyance, she dispelled the illusion.
He remained silent with a smile.
"Tell me, Fugaku. Why aren't you affected by my Illusion? I was always better than you. Although I'm no longer in fights, my skills have improved."
"Everyone needs to improve, Mikoto. Not only you."
"Yeah, but that isn't your case. I've never seen you training, even before the war ended you didn't train once."
She didn't wait for him to respond.
"Every time I see you with that lost gaze, no matter what you do. Your eyes lose focus all day. What happened to you? You never told me about the things you went through during the war.
Fugaku tried to explain himself. "Mikoto, that's not true-" But Mikoto didn't let him continue.
"Shut up, I'm talking.
Everyone had their own scars, I showed them to you. But you never did the same. Am I just a show animal to you? All people of our clan had to pass through the grief of the war. Everyone is inside their own world, searching for guilt.
We assumed the blame for something that we never did. And why? Only you become shyer every year. And what was the response from the Councillors and the Hokage? To isolate us.
"I was investigating the clan and the village in those days, and I noticed something." She stopped, and the scene fell into silence.
...
She spoke again. "Aren't you going to ask? Take the initiative at least once."
"Sigh... what did you find?"
"That everyone saw our clan as a den of madmen. People in the clan wanted to fight back or continued retreating like you. We are at the point of no return.
The rumours in the village had the approval of the Managers and the Hokage."
Fugaku was watching all the time. And feel terrified.
Mikoto's eyes are spinning increasingly faster, as if they were going to merge in the next moment.
No... this can't be!
"Mikoto-"
"No, now let's get to the main point.
Why didn't you tell me about this? I'm an Uchiha too! We could have worked together to improve things!" As she spoke, her voice grew louder.
"All of this wouldn't have happened if you had taken the initiative! Because of that stupid tradition, I didn't ask you about things even when I knew something was wrong! Tell me, Fugaku!
Why did you hide things from me?! Why was our son with Danzo?! You let Hiruzen brainwash him! I don't think you didn't know about Hiruzen's most powerful technique, the Will of Fire!" Her voice broke as she spoke.
"Why did I allow you to send our son to war at eight years old! And what happened to him? He came back from his first mission with his Sharingan, and for what? Did you let me ask him what happened? No, you praised his talent and sent him back to the battlefield, you heartless bastard! Every time you denied me the opportunity to ask him!"
Looking at him with a crazy gaze, she pointed to her heart. "HE WAS MY SON, FUGAKU!
Now I don't even know what's happening to him!
You let him go with Danzo although you knew that he hates us.
He hates us, Fugaku! More than anyone! And you let it go as if it were nothing!
Why? Why did I fall in love with such a useless bastard like you?!"
Now her voice could be heard outside and Fugaku placed a barrier to prevent it.
He was listening to her with terror in his eyes. The magatamas on her eyes continued spinning all the time, faster and faster until they merged and formed a pattern.
A Myosotis pattern.
'Was?' Why of all people did it have to be Mikoto?!
As she continued repeating "why?" her eyes lose focus, and she falls on the ground.
The pattern that had almost formed in her eyes broke before she could complete it, and small tears of blood sprang from her eyes.
The moment Fugaku saw that, he fell to the ground too. Sweat didn't stop flowing throughout his whole body, but now he could let out a sigh of relief.
Not everyone had the talent, but she made it just because of that? Sigh..
Approaching her, he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
Looking at her with blood on her face, he took a cloth and cleaned it.
His wife is really talented, that's the reason they married. But see how his wife turned against him? He didn't expect that. And the most painful part is that all the things she said were true and he can't deny any of them.
Useless bastard...making a sour expression he thought...I guess she is right.
Thinking that, he returned to the courtyard with a beer bottle.
Taking the first sip, he didn't stop there.
Fugaku didn't sleep, he continued drinking all night.
Drowning his sorrows in alcohol.
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This chapter had a lot of content. Sasuke was still an ignorant kid about his clan situation.
The encounter between Mikoto and Ikki, someone who respected her despite her husband being Fugaku.
Itachi listening his mother's past, but continued to hide important things. As if he were the only who suffered.
Mikoto accepted this her clan is a den of madmen and Fugaku being a useless bastard as always.
Next ch will be about Mikoto, showing a part of her past.
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Thanks for reading!
Have a nice day.