Uchiha Fugaku knew why Uchiha Itachi had acted that way.
The ones slandering Uchiha Itama were outsiders.
For the sake of the Leaf, Itachi had wanted to calm things first and avoid a bigger stir, then investigate the truth afterward.
But was that fair to Uchiha Itama?
It was not fair at all.
Slandered, then scolded on top of it.
Itachi's choice was better for the village.
Yet in the process, the one sacrificed was Itama.
His own older brother did not believe him.
And Itachi was not a member of the Police Force, much less the village leadership. At the time he was only Itama's brother.
He did not need to, and had no reason to, act from the village's grand perspective.
To quiet an incident by wronging one's own, was that really appropriate?
Fugaku offered a single line in Itachi's defense.
"Itachi was thinking of the village as a whole."
"Right."
Itama glanced toward home. "Father, then tell me this. If one day I do something harmful to the village, will Itachi kill me?"
Fugaku's pupils tightened.
"He will not."
"Will he."
Itama shrugged.
He did not wait for Fugaku. He started toward home first.
Only after a long moment did Fugaku come back to himself and catch up.
"Welcome back."
Uchiha Mikoto smiled when the two came in. "Dinner is ready. Go wash up. Itachi and Sasuke are already in the dining room."
"All right."
They headed for the sink.
Fugaku looked at Itama, still turning over that question.
If Itama did something harmful to the Leaf, would Itachi kill him?
Fugaku's answer had been no.
But he could not be sure.
They entered the dining room.
Itama sat beside Sasuke.
An empty seat lay next to them.
Across from him was Itachi.
Fugaku hesitated, then sat beside Itachi.
It had been a long time since Itachi came home. As a father, he wanted to show some care.
"Big brother."
"Hug."
Three year old Sasuke saw Itama sit down and lifted both hands, asking to be held.
A young brother was always clingy.
Itama reached out.
Sasuke leaned forward with a small hop.
At that instant, Itama suddenly pulled his hand back.
THUD!
Sasuke toppled to the floor.
Fugaku froze.
"Itama."
Itama calmly helped Sasuke up. "I am training Sasuke's social awareness. He needs to learn that even those closest to you should not be trusted unconditionally."
The words made Fugaku realize something.
Itama was underscoring what Itachi had done before. When Itama was slandered, Itachi had not believed him. This was Itama's way of showing displeasure with his brother.
Fugaku had no grounds to scold Itama.
If anyone should be scolded, it should be Itachi first.
But that incident was long past.
At the same time, another worry struck Fugaku.
Did Itachi stand on the village's side too easily?
In truth, the relationship between the Uchiha and the Leaf, or rather the village leadership, was not so harmonious.
After Senju Tobirama took office, the Uchiha began to be sidelined.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to power and Danzo became head of Root, the exclusion worsened.
With the Nine Tails' Rampage and the death of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the Uchiha's situation grew even more dire.
Fugaku had not thought much about this before.
He believed that as one family, they would naturally stand together.
Today, he suddenly realized that was not guaranteed.
Fugaku glanced at Itachi.
Since Itachi joined the Anbu, he spent less and less time at home. Father and son spoke fewer and fewer times. Even when he returned, he was ever more silent.
Fugaku felt he no longer truly understood this son.
"If the Uchiha and the Leaf part ways, will Itachi really stand with the Leaf?"
He could not be sure.
"What is wrong?"
Mikoto came out of the kitchen and, seeing the stiff air in the dining room, asked the question.
"Nothing, Mother. I am teaching Sasuke the principles of conduct."
Itama answered.
"I see. Itama, you will soon enter the Ninja Academy. Your father has already taught you a lot. You should be a good example for Sasuke."
"Remember your father's teachings."
Itama nodded.
"Do not worry, Mother. I will."