To celebrate Itachi's return, Mikoto Uchiha had prepared a lavish spread of food.
Looking at his favorite dish—stir-fried tomatoes and eggs—Sasuke's appetite surged. As he buried his head in his food, he answered questions from his father and brother about life at the Ninja Academy, a rare smile appearing on his face.
He was truly enjoying this moment—his family eating together peacefully, no arguments, no cold expressions.
In the past, meals were often tense, with his father and brother bringing the stress of work home, leaving Sasuke feeling helpless.
But suddenly, Sasuke began to sense that something was off.
Although everyone was smiling, his mother's smile seemed a little forced, and the expressions on his father and brother's faces felt more like suppressed emotions—on the verge of erupting at any moment.
Realizing this, Sasuke didn't expose them. He simply continued eating in silence.
He just wanted to see his family smile, even if it was fake. As long as he was still in their hearts, there was still a chance to mend things.
After dinner, Sasuke took the initiative and asked if they could practice shuriken throwing together.
Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a look and then nodded in agreement. During practice, Sasuke kept trying to speak well of both his father and his brother, hoping to mend their fragile relationship.
But neither Fugaku nor Itachi took his words to heart.
Even after they finished training, Sasuke could still sense the hostility between them.
Just as Sasuke was about to try again, Mikoto walked over and said, "Sasuke, it's time for bed. Go wash up—remember, you have an exam tomorrow."
Though reluctant, Sasuke had no choice but to obey. He headed to his room to sleep.
The day's training had left his body exhausted, but his mind was unusually alert. Lying in bed, he couldn't sleep at all. He kept thinking about how to mend the rift between his father and brother but couldn't come up with any good ideas.
"If it were Naruto... he could probably make Father and Brother understand each other…"
Tossing and turning, Sasuke suddenly thought of his rival, Naruto. In his heart, he said, "Naruto is so strong, and he understands so much—he could definitely do it."
"Sasuke, go to sleep already—stop overthinking."
Just then, Mikoto's voice came from outside the room. Sasuke frowned slightly, but having already learned the Shadow Clone Technique, he wasn't about to be stopped by something so trivial.
Forming the hand seals, Sasuke created a clone and hid it in the closet while his real body remained in bed.
Not long after, the sound of snoring came from the bed. Just as Sasuke was preparing to sneak off to talk to his father and brother, he heard voices coming from the study next door.
Were Father and Brother talking?
Sasuke perked up his ears and began channeling chakra to enhance his hearing. He was desperate to understand the rift between them. Only by knowing the truth could he ask Naruto for advice—Naruto would surely have an idea.
In the study, Fugaku and Itachi sat across from each other on the tatami mats, staring into each other's eyes.
The silence didn't last long. Fugaku looked at his eldest son and said, "Itachi, are you still refusing to hand over the list of ANBU members? The clan is about to launch its coup against the Hokage Tower. That list could greatly reduce casualties."
"I'm sorry," Itachi replied flatly. "Even if the clan starts a coup, it won't succeed. I won't betray the village or the ANBU for your ambition."
He paused, then added, "So, Father, I urge you to give up on the idea of a coup."
Itachi's words made Fugaku frown. "It's too late to abandon the coup. Without it, the clan will fall into internal chaos. Besides, this isn't just about rebellion—it's about reclaiming what rightfully belongs to the Uchiha."
"Father, have you considered what a coup would do to the village? Whether it succeeds or not, Konoha won't be able to withstand threats from the other hidden villages. I can't allow that to happen."
Itachi's face was expressionless, but he was clearly at his limit with Fugaku's ambition.
Fugaku's expression turned grim, and the three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in his eyes. He sneered coldly, "So that's why you killed Shisui and stole his eyes? He should have been the clan's strongest asset."
Itachi's eyes also flared with Sharingan as he stared back, his tone sharp: "Shisui took his own life to stop your coup! You never saw his greatness, only the narrow-minded interests of the clan."
Fugaku, enraged by Itachi's words, could no longer hold back: "Who are you, Itachi? An ANBU loyal to the Hokage, or a son of the Uchiha?!"
"The clan has already developed a detailed plan. As long as we control the Jinchūriki—Naruto—the Uchiha can command the Nine Tails and launch our strike on the Hokage Tower. I will become the Fifth Hokage!"
As he spoke, his eyes grew icy. He issued Itachi a final ultimatum:
"Itachi, next week the clan will hold its final meeting about the coup. If you are still my son—if you still acknowledge yourself as an Uchiha—then be there."
Itachi didn't respond. He turned toward the window and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.
After he left, the sliding door to the study opened. Mikoto walked in, concern written on her face. "Fugaku, you argued with Itachi again. Did he agree to support the Uchiha?"
Fugaku crossed his arms and answered wearily, "I don't know what Itachi will choose. But I do know this—the Uchiha can die for their honor, but we cannot continue living under the Hokage's oppression."
Mikoto sighed in helplessness. She didn't know whether she should support her husband—or her son.
What neither of them knew was that Sasuke, hiding in the closet and eavesdropping, had collapsed onto the floor in shock. He struggled not to make a sound, his eyes filled with disbelief.
He had only intended to learn the nature of their conflict so he could help resolve it.
But he never expected the issue between his father and brother to be a coup.
His father wanted to lead the Uchiha clan in rebellion, while his brother was choosing to protect the village and stop the coup at all costs.
There were moments during their argument when Sasuke had wanted to jump out and stop them—but he couldn't do it.
Because he didn't know who to persuade.
The Ninja Academy had taught him to love the village, to treat everyone in it as comrades. He had always believed in the Will of Fire.
But the discrimination the Uchiha suffered in the village, and everything that had happened to Naruto, made him start to question that Will of Fire. He couldn't outright oppose his father's plan either.
And even if he spoke up, his father and brother would likely ignore him—or worse, use the Sharingan to wipe his memory, denying him even the right to know the truth.
Too weak to change anything, Sasuke could only bury all of this in his heart. He was powerless to do anything.
At that moment… he suddenly felt like he understood Naruto a little.
(End of Chapter)
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