"I'm back."
A young man stepped into the house, dressed in a black ninja bodysuit with a mesh undershirt. His long, shoulder-length hair was loosely tied back, swaying slightly with his movements.
His features were striking, and his face bore two distinct nasolabial lines that gave him a mature, solemn air.
"Itachi, you're back. Must've been a tough mission."
A gentle woman stepped out of the room, wearing an apron. Her presence was calm and graceful.
"It's nothing, Mother. I have to head out again after dinner," Itachi replied with a faint smile to Mikoto as he sat down on the wooden hallway floor and removed his sandals.
"Oh? You're heading out again?" Mikoto blinked, surprise in her voice.
"Yes, there's another mission. It's not urgent, but it's better to get it done tonight," he explained.
"Our Itachi really works hard."
Itachi smiled again, then asked, "Where's Sasuke?"
"He's in the training yard out back. I don't know what got into him, but he went straight there after school and hasn't come back since," Mikoto said with a helpless expression, pointing toward the back of the house.
"Is Father home tonight?" Itachi asked as he stepped inside.
"He said he would be, but I'm not sure exactly when."
"I'm going to check on Sasuke," Itachi said, walking toward another door deeper inside the house.
He pushed it open and was met with the sight of a wide training ground, where a small figure was furiously practicing kicks against a wooden post at the center.
Itachi let out a quiet chuckle and chose not to disturb him. He simply sat down on the floor by the door, quietly watching the boy train.
After a while, Itachi began to sense something was off. Sasuke kept striking the post with his legs, not stopping for even a second.
At this rate, he's going to hurt himself, Itachi thought, though he held back from speaking up.
Just then, Sasuke suddenly stopped. Exhausted, he bent over, bracing his hands on his knees.
Itachi remained silent.
Sasuke seemed to sense a presence nearby and turned his head toward the doorway.
"Big Brother?!" His face lit up with joy. He tried to run over, but the moment he took a step, pain shot through his calf. He stumbled, about to fall forward.
A strong arm caught him just in time.
"Brother..." Sasuke looked up at Itachi, a smile breaking across his face.
Itachi helped him over and sat down with him by the door.
"You know, that's not the right way to train," Itachi said, pulling Sasuke's leg onto his knee and gently rolling up his pant leg.
His calf was already swollen, red, and streaked with broken capillaries.
Sasuke bit his lip and said nothing.
Itachi stood and went inside. A short moment later, he returned with a medical kit.
He placed Sasuke's leg back onto his lap and began treating it with utmost care.
"Ah-" Sasuke winced, inhaling sharply through his teeth.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Itachi asked, his touch feather-light.
Sasuke quickly shook his head.
"What happened today?" Itachi asked, not pausing in his treatment. "You're working hard, but that's not the right way to do it."
Sasuke hesitated, clenching his fists tightly.
After a short silence, Itachi waited patiently, saying nothing.
"It was today..." Sasuke finally murmured. "We had taijutsu sparring in class this afternoon..."
"I... lost."
He clenched his lips together, eyes avoiding Itachi's.
"I see," Itachi said with a soft smile.
"So that's why you went this far?"
"..."
Once the medicine was applied, Itachi wrapped the leg carefully in bandages and put the ointment bottle back into the kit.
"So what if you lost? There's nothing wrong with that. You just have to work harder and win next time. But hurting yourself like this that's not okay."
"But... Big Brother never loses," Sasuke said quietly.
"Who told you that?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"Really?" Sasuke looked doubtful. To him, Itachi had never known defeat.
"Of course," Itachi replied with a nod, thinking for a moment. "I've never beaten him in shuriken throwing."
"You mean Shisui?" Sasuke guessed.
"He's a lot older than you," Sasuke added bluntly, poking a hole in Itachi's example.
Itachi looked a bit awkward at that, but he just reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair.
"Sasuke, failure is what helps you grow."
"..."
"You two, your father's back. Time for dinner," Mikoto called from inside.
"Alright. When I have time, I'll help train you in taijutsu. How's that sound?" Itachi smiled, seeing Sasuke still quiet.
Sasuke's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded vigorously.
"Okay!"
"Good. Let's get ready for dinner."
"Alright."
"Can you walk?"
"I'm fine."
With Itachi's support, Sasuke hobbled into the room and saw a stern-looking middle-aged man sitting cross-legged with his arms folded.
"Father, you're home," Itachi said, bowing.
Sasuke quickly followed suit, bowing deeply. He had always felt a sense of awe and fear around his father.
"Hmm."
Fugaku nodded, his gaze briefly sweeping across Sasuke before settling on Itachi.
"I heard you have another mission later."
"I do," Itachi responded with a nod.
"What kind of mission?" Fugaku asked, staring at his son who kept his eyes lowered.
"Apologies. I'm not allowed to say."
"..."
The room immediately grew tense. Sasuke felt the pressure and stood frozen in place.
"I'm your father," Fugaku said, his tone cold and low.
"I'm sorry, Father," Itachi replied calmly.
"Itachi..." Fugaku's eyes bore into him. "You must remember..."
"You are an Uchiha first, and only then a shinobi of the Leaf."
Itachi gave no answer and simply stood in silence.
The heavy silence lingered until Mikoto stepped out from the kitchen with food.
"You two, go wash up first," she said, sensing the tension.
"Yes," Itachi replied, bowing to Fugaku before heading toward the kitchen.
Sasuke watched his brother's back as he walked away. He couldn't help but feel that something was off between their father and Itachi.
"Sasuke?" Mikoto called out when she saw him spacing out.
"Huh?" He snapped back to attention.
"Dinner's ready. Go wash your hands."
"Okay!" Sasuke turned and hurried into the kitchen, his mother's voice following him.
"Why do you always scold them the moment they come home?"
...
At the dinner table, the room was filled with silence. Not a word was spoken. Only Mikoto kept placing food onto Itachi and Sasuke's plates.
Sasuke quietly ate his meal, nerves tight in his chest.
After dinner, Itachi began packing his gear, ready to head out once more.
"Are you leaving now, Itachi?" Mikoto asked, approaching him.
"Yes, Mother."
Sasuke glanced over at their father, who was sitting with his eyes closed in quiet meditation.
Itachi stood, bowed to Mikoto and Fugaku, then gave Sasuke a nod.
"I'm heading out."
With that, his figure melted into the night and disappeared.
"Itachi's been busier than ever lately," Mikoto murmured, staring out into the dark.
"He's with the ANBU now. It's natural to be busy," Fugaku said, opening his eyes.
"That's because of you. You were the one who pushed him into ANBU," Mikoto retorted.
Fugaku said nothing, unwilling to argue. His gaze landed on Sasuke, who tensed up again.
After a pause, Fugaku suddenly spoke.
"Sasuke."
"Yes!" Sasuke straightened up immediately. "Father."
"I heard today's class was taijutsu sparring."
"...Yes." Sasuke clenched his fists at the mention.
"Did you win?"
"..." His fists tightened further, his whole body tense.
"So you lost," Fugaku concluded calmly.
"..."
He didn't say anything more. Instead, he stood and walked to his room in silence.
Sasuke remained kneeling where he was, frozen in place.
Mikoto looked at him with concern and walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright, Sasuke. Your father actually cares about you," she said softly.
"He just doesn't say it out loud."
"It's okay to lose once in a while."
"...Sasuke?"
Sasuke stared at his knees in silence.
"Why..."
"Why won't he even scold me?"
His legs ached from kneeling so long, but he endured the pain without a word.
"Sasuke..."
Mikoto gently helped him up.
"Don't overthink it. Your father's just tired after a long day at work."
"You should rest too. A good night's sleep will help."
She knelt down and gently touched Sasuke's cheek, her voice tender.
"...Okay, Mom. You rest early too."
Sasuke took a deep breath and gave her a faint smile. Then, he turned and walked toward his room.
Father only ever cares about Brother...
If I want his attention, I have to become just as strong as him.
I won't lose again.
_________________________________
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