"Okay."
"Very good."
Uchiha Mikoto and Sasuke were both delighted upon hearing that Uchiha Fugaku would be accompanying them.
And so, the three of them left home together, heading toward the nearby park.
The reason Fugaku decided to go along with them wasn't merely for leisure.
He had devised a way to provoke the Third Hokage.
According to his investigations, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto, often played in this park.
And if there was one thing that would instantly anger the Third Hokage, it was anything concerning Naruto.
Simply having brief contact with the orphaned Jinchūriki would be enough to provoke Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As soon as Sasuke arrived at the park, a familiar scene played out.
"Sasuke, Sasuke!"
"Sasuke, you're here!"
Just like the last time, the moment Sasuke set foot in the park, he was surrounded by a group of young girls, eagerly calling his name.
They chattered excitedly, forming a tight circle around him.
Despite Sasuke's serious expression and his reserved demeanor, the girls were undeterred—if anything, they found it even more endearing.
Standing at a distance, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto looked on with gentle smiles.
Sasuke's popularity was something that pleased them.
As parents, they felt relieved—they had no concerns about him finding a suitable partner in the future.
"If only Itachi were this popular," Mikoto said with a slight sigh of regret.
"Doesn't he already have a girl interested in him?" Fugaku smirked.
"That Uchiha Izumi girl—she seems quite fond of him."
Mikoto let out a small chuckle, nodding.
"Yes, Izumi is a sweet girl, and she's certainly interested in Itachi," she admitted. "But Itachi barely acknowledges her… He's always so distant."
"That's just his nature," Fugaku replied, shaking his head. "But the fact that he hasn't pushed her away completely shows that he doesn't dislike her."
"Maybe you're right." Mikoto sighed softly.
Her gaze drifted away from Sasuke and toward another part of the park.
There, in the corner, sat a small boy with bright yellow hair, swinging alone.
His blue eyes held a mixture of longing and sadness as he watched the other children play together.
He didn't approach them.
He hoped—maybe this time—someone would invite him to play.
But the moment never came.
Instead, the other children avoided him, as if he carried some kind of curse.
Mikoto's heart ached.
She knew exactly who he was—Naruto Uzumaki, the orphaned son of her late best friend, Uzumaki Kushina.
She had wanted to help him for so long.
But because the Uchiha clan was under constant surveillance, she had never dared to act on her feelings.
She felt guilt-ridden, helpless, and ashamed.
Then—
Snap.
A gentle hand rested on her shoulder.
She turned her head and saw Fugaku, looking at her with understanding.
"You should do what your heart tells you," he said softly.
"No… I can't," Mikoto whispered, shaking her head.
She wanted to—but she couldn't bring herself to do something that might jeopardize their family.
Fugaku let out a quiet sigh.
"Come with me."
Before she could protest, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gently led her toward Naruto.
"Fugaku, no…!" Mikoto whispered urgently, trying to resist.
"Trust me," he said firmly. "You'll regret it if you don't."
She froze.
The guilt she had carried for years.
The self-blame she had tried to bury.
His words broke through her last line of resistance.
Mikoto stopped struggling.
Instead, she let Fugaku guide her forward.
And deep inside, she felt a warmth—a feeling as sweet as honey.
Naruto noticed them approaching.
His small hands tightened around the swing's rope.
Then, with a hesitant expression, he hopped off the swing and took a step back.
He had learned long ago—when adults approached him, it was never for anything good.
Most of them ignored him.
Some glared at him with hatred.
Others whispered behind his back, calling him names like "demon fox."
So whenever an adult came close, his first instinct was to avoid them.
But this time—
"Wait a moment!"
A woman's voice called out gently.
Naruto stopped, his small body tense.
His blue eyes flickered with uncertainty.
"Are they here to scold me?" he wondered.
"I didn't even try to play with anyone… So why…?"
He turned his head slowly and saw the woman crouching down, looking at him with a kind smile.
"Hello," she said softly. "My name is Uchiha Mikoto. I was a close friend of your mother's."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"My… mother?"
For a moment, he just stared at her, completely stunned.
My mother had… a friend?
Then why… why has she never come to see me before?
"Yes," Mikoto nodded, her voice gentle.
"I was her best friend."
She reached toward him, wanting to comfort him.
But Naruto flinched and instinctively stepped back.
Seeing his reaction, Mikoto felt her heart tighten.
"Are you… really my mother's friend?" Naruto whispered, his voice barely audible.
"Yes," Mikoto said softly.
"I'm sorry it took me so long to come see you."
Her gaze lowered, and for the first time, she truly took in his appearance.
His clothes were worn-out, barely holding together.
His expression—desperate yet resigned—made her throat tighten.
She had known he was neglected.
But seeing it firsthand made it so much worse.
Not far away, three masked ANBU stood watching.
They had been stationed to monitor Naruto, ensuring that no suspicious individuals approached him.
But the moment they saw Uchiha Fugaku, their alert levels spiked.
And when they saw Fugaku and Mikoto interacting with Naruto, their bodies tensed.
One of them—a female ANBU—immediately took a step forward.
"We should stop them."
Before she could act—
Swoosh—
Fugaku vanished.
A split-second later, he reappeared right in front of them.
"Stay where you are," he said calmly.
His voice was even, yet undeniably commanding.
"Patriarch Fugaku," the female ANBU spoke carefully, "the Third Hokage has ordered that no one may approach Naruto Uzumaki without permission."
"I'll explain myself to the Hokage later," Fugaku replied.
"Chief Fugaku," the male ANBU said cautiously, "please don't make this difficult for us."
Fugaku's gaze darkened.
"I already told you—I will personally speak to the Hokage."
"Stand aside, or I won't hold back."
His three-tomoe Sharingan spun, locking onto them.
Swoosh!
In an instant, all three ANBU froze, their bodies completely motionless.
Their expressions twitched beneath their masks.
They had been caught—trapped in Fugaku's Genjutsu before they even realized it.
Not far away, a fourth ANBU—who had been monitoring from the shadows—panicked.
"Dammit! I have to report this to the Hokage—immediately!"
Without hesitation, the ANBU vanished, racing toward the Hokage Building.
(End of this chapter)
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