**Chapter 6**

"Second brother."

Sasuke's voice halted Satoru, worry flickering in his eyes. Would their father really punish him that severely?

"Sasuke, are you coming along too?" Satoru said with a cheerful grin, as if facing an angry father was just another fun adventure.

"I don't want to," Sasuke said, crossing his arms and shaking his head. He wouldn't be tricked by his second brother again. "You go."

"Really?" Satoru raised an eyebrow, chuckling as he sighed. 

*So be it,* he thought. Growing up really does dull the excitement.

Satoru made his way to their father's study with an easy, almost carefree stride. Despite being their father, Uchiha Fugaku was first and foremost the clan's patriarch, burdened with responsibilities that left him little time for his children. Most of his attention was reserved for Itachi, while the other two were left to their own devices.

Had Sora not brought up the issue today, Fugaku might not have even noticed him.

"Do you know why I called you here today?" Fugaku's eyes were cold and serious as they locked onto Satoru.

"If I knew, why would I be here?" Satoru responded lazily, seemingly unaffected by his father's stern gaze.

*Hmph, this kid has nerve,* Fugaku thought, both irritated and a touch proud. True, Uchiha were meant to be fearless and composed. Sora's earlier comments about him not fitting in with the clan seemed less certain now.

"Why didn't you attend clan training today?" Fugaku's tone revealed no emotion.

"Aha, so it's about that," Satoru said with mock surprise. "Training brings real knowledge. I went out to practice with a true master."

Fugaku's eye twitched slightly. *A true master?* Did he not know about the commotion at the South Street snack shop?

"Don't we have enough masters in the Uchiha clan for you?" Fugaku's voice was sharp. "Why look outside the clan?"

Satoru's smile remained, but his gaze took on a depth that seemed to pierce through the room's shadows. "Father, isn't your stance a little too obvious?" he asked lightly.

Fugaku's eyes narrowed. Was Satoru aware of the brewing tension within the clan? Or, like Itachi, did he lean toward loyalty to the village over the family? Fugaku's chest tightened with unease. He knew his son's carefree demeanor masked a sharp mind.

A heavy silence filled the space between them. Fugaku's presence was stifling, pressing in like a storm, but Satoru remained unfazed.

"That's not what I meant," Satoru said, breaking the tension. "Today, I was just hurrying to buy a limited-edition deluxe tricolor dango. On the way, some kids wanted candy. I gave them one to avoid losing my prized snack, but they kept asking for more. So, I handed out a few punches instead. Problem solved."

Fugaku's face twitched as he listened to his son's nonchalant story. Satoru's smile grew, his eyes glimmering with a sly mirth. 

"Children can't be coddled too much, or they become insatiable," Satoru continued, his tone serious. "Power is necessary. Begging for scraps erases dignity. Without strength, one's self-respect vanishes."

Fugaku's brow furrowed, absorbing his son's words. He saw the tension tearing the clan apart—some sought more power and control over Konoha, driven by ambition and pride. But there were many innocents caught in the storm, unable to escape its pull.

Most, like himself, were trapped, forced to march forward despite knowing they were heading toward disaster.

Satoru's unexpected insight left Fugaku taken aback. The harsh lines of his face softened, and he sighed deeply.

"So that's how you see it."

"I'm guessing you've noticed the growing unease within the clan," Fugaku admitted. "The Uchiha are proud, but that pride breeds fear and isolation. Konoha, as it is now, cannot coexist with us. To erase our strength would be to strip us of our soul."

Fugaku's voice lowered, each word steeped in a dark resignation. "The Uchiha of the past forgot that pride. I intend to reclaim it."

A moment of silence passed, heavy with unspoken truths.

Satoru suddenly burst out laughing, breaking the tension. "Beautifully said, Father. But don't you think you're taking this all too seriously?"

Fugaku's sharp eyes narrowed at the playful smile on Satoru's lips, but the room felt a little less stifling.

*This child,* Fugaku thought, *he may be the most unpredictable one of all.*

>>>>>

Up to Chapter 20 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)

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