My Sons, My Clan, My Village

By Bashfulglowfly

Uchiha Fugaku jogged slowly through the rain and the mud of the family compound. He stuck to the shadows because he didn't want to be seen by any clan members and have them stop and ask him about trivial matters.

He was pleased with how his mission had gone. Several of the Fire Daimyo's advisors had pledged their support. It wasn't time yet to approach the Daimyo himself. But soon. Perhaps in three or four months the time would be right.

He decided that he wouldn't go through the main doors of his house. He didn't want a fuss being made over his return. Sasuke would likely wake and make a fuss. He was going to have to tear that boy from Mikoto's apron strings and make him grow up. After all, when Itachi was four he was already quite successful as a shinobi. Sasuke's current progress was entirely unacceptable.

Fugaku reach the window that lead to his bedroom and quietly opened it and crawled inside. As his feet touched the floorboards, he gave a sigh of relief that quickly turned into a strangled gasp of pain.

He had been stabbed! In his own home!

He turned disbelieving eyes to his attacker.

"Mikoto?"

His wife stood there expressionless. Her eyes red with the Sharingan.

"Why?" Fugaku gasped out as he went to his knees.

Mikoto tilted her head and looked at him as if she was looking at something that didn't matter to her. "Why? Well, I could say it's because you've muddied my nice clean floors. But that wouldn't be the truth."

Fugaku placed one hand on the floorboards, struggling to stay upright but Mikoto had stabbed him too many times and in the most vital areas.

Mikoto didn't approach him. She wasn't that stupid. But she leaned forward a bit as she spoke. "Why did I kill you? I killed you for my sons, my clan, my village."

His strength and blood was draining from him. He had to place both hands on the floor, still trying to get upright. He fought to drag air into his lungs. Mikoto had punctured the left. "Why?" he gasped out.

"Why? Because you and this stupid stupid path you are taking is going to get us all killed. You don't think I know? You don't think I listen? You don't think I hear? You are not going to kill my sons and my clan with your stupidity and pride. The Uchiha is a strong clan. We don't need to prove that fact to anyone. If someone believes we're weak and lacking, well we'll prove it over their dead bodies."

She gave Fugaku a smile that said that his was going to be one of the dead bodies.

"The…Elders…won't…stand…for…this…" Fugaku fell to the floorboards with a soft, moist squelch.

Mikoto made a sad face. "Oh…that's right, you were gone…starting treason in the Capitol. I'm so sorry to tell you but a terrible bout of the flu rampaged through the compound right after you left. Most of the Clan Elders died from it."

"Just…not…your…supporters…"

Mikoto sneered at him with a soft laugh. "You must think I'm stupid. I may have chosen to become a wife and mother but I am a kunoichi of the Uchiha Clan of Konoha." Now, she knelt next to him. "No, a few of the idiots who supported your stupid plan are still alive. Weak but alive. But they will no longer have the power they once had nor will they have the power you convinced them to dream of."

"Bitch…"

Mikoto grinned at him. Her voice took on the exaggerated tones that some of the clan adolescents had started using. "Duh. Kunoichi!"

"The…boys…"

"My sons. My sons, Fugaku, will be just fine without you. They will be raised to know what it is like to members of the Uchiha Clan who are shinobi for Konoha. They will grieve for you but they will not have to go down the dark path that you are already forcing on Itachi. And once you are gone, I will be able to remove him from that path and from under Danzo's thumb."

"You…know…"

"Stupid stupid man."

Fugaku knew that he didn't have much longer. His eyesight was fading as well as his hearing. "What…hap…happe…"

"What happens next…you needn't worry about." Mikoto stood up and moved towards the door. "Goodbye, Fugaku." She stood to the side as the door slid open and another Mikoto came through and slid it closed then quietly poofed away.

As his sight faded completely, the last thing he heard, as if from a long tunnel was Mikoto's screams for help.

8888888

Sasuke clung to his mother's hand as they walked back to the house. Itachi walked on her other side.

"Mama?"

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"Have they found the people who killed Father?"

"No, sweetie. They haven't. Because of the rain, they can't find where he was attacked. We're just lucky he was able to make it home before he died."

"'Cause then we would have never know what happened to him?"

"'Known what happened to him.' But, yes."

"Mother?"

"Yes, Itachi?"

"I have a meeting first thing in the morning with Danzo-sama and the Elders. Do you wish for me to still attend that?"

Mikoto smiled at her eldest son and stroked a finger down the stress marks that were starting to fade from his face. "We'll discuss that later, you and I." She hugged both boys close. "But first, we have to go get your new brother."

"New brother?" asked Itachi

"How do you 'get' a new brother? 'Tachi said babies are borned out of mama's tummies."

Mikoto laughed lightly. "Itachi is correct but your new brother is already born and is your age, Sasuke. His name is Naruto."