Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 343 Mikoto: Let's have another Sarada!

Inside a house in the Uchiha clan compound.

"I'm back……"

Hearing the familiar voice, Mikoto immediately got up and went to the entrance to greet her; "Oh my, that's so surprising, you're back so early."

Fugaku took off his shoes and stepped onto the wooden floor: "The police station needs to upgrade its equipment, so we're all leaving get off work early tonight."

Thinking about tomorrow, Mikoto lowered her gaze: "It's good to leave work early tonight..."

"Don't worry, everything will be alright after tomorrow..."

Fugaku noticed his wife's worry and gently placed his broad hand on her shoulder: "This is not only for us now, but also for our descendants, and even the descendants of our descendants. It is a necessary measure to be taken."

Mikoto smiled and said, "Let me make you a pot of tea."

Fugaku looked apologetic: "I've been troubling you all this time..."

Mikoto shook her head, a reassuring smile on her face: "After all, I'm your wife..."

Fugaku, who rarely showed his true feelings, said sincerely, "It's so wonderful to be with you..."

The two entered the house. Fugaku took off his police uniform, changed into civilian clothes, and sat cross-legged in the room for a while. Mikoto brought in a cup of tea that had been prepared.

Fugaku accepted the gift with both hands, thanked his gentle wife, took a sip, and then asked about his youngest son: "Sasuke, is he still not back?"

My son should be home from school by now.

"Sasuke should still be practicing with his teacher at school. Lately, he's been coming home very late."

"Is that so..."

Fugaku held the azure tea cup, gazing at its reflection, and fell into silence.

Seeing that he looked preoccupied, Mikoto asked worriedly, "What's wrong?"

"I'm just lamenting that I'm not a good father at all; I don't even know when my son gets out of school."

Mikoto gently comforted her, "This isn't your fault."

Fugaku lamented, "If I had focused more on the children, perhaps Itachi wouldn't have drifted away from me."

"Itachi will gradually understand you..."

Fugaku shook his head, not thinking so. His son was unusually mature, and such people often had their own set of behavioral logic.

"I met a girl a while ago."

"A girl?"

"She seems to be deeply in love with Itachi..."

"Huh?" A hint of surprise flashed across Mikoto's eyes.

"Her name is Uchiha Izumi."

"From the Uchiha clan?"

"Yes, she is Hazuki's daughter. After her husband died, she returned to live in the clan, and Izumi is his daughter. She is a very beautiful girl."

Mikoto remembered: "I think she was in the same class as Itachi."

"Yes."

"I thought that Itachi and I hadn't kept in touch much after he graduated from the Ninja Academy..."

Mikoto knew very well that her eldest son only had the mission on his mind, but she didn't expect that the two of them seemed to still maintain some contact.

"I only found out about this recently..."

Fugaku lowered his head, trying hard to recall when he and Itachi had drifted apart, even becoming like strangers.

"Don't overthink it..."

"Mikoto, am I a failure, not only as a father, but also as the head of the Uchiha clan...?"

During his conversation with his wife, Fugaku slowly shed his usual solemnity: "I'm definitely not suited to be the clan leader, if that person were still alive..."

Normally, Fugaku is always serious and never shows any weakness to anyone. This is partly due to his personality, but more importantly, it is because he is the head of the Uchiha clan and bears a heavy responsibility. He must always maintain a tough image and not show any weakness, even in front of children.

Even now, with both children gone, Fugaku finally reveals his most vulnerable side to his wife, who knows him inside and out.

"You've done enough..."

Mikoto said half-jokingly, "Look at you, always busy with work, you look much older than your peers. My friends tease me about it a lot..."

Fugaku: ...

Mikoto leaned closer to Fugaku: "After this, let's have another child."

Fugaku was taken aback: "Huh?"

"You see, even though Itachi has grown distant from you, he's always been on good terms with Sasuke, hasn't he? If we have another child, the house will be more lively. Maybe that will be the catalyst for Itachi to slowly reconcile with you."

"Well……"

"I've already thought of a name, Sarada, what do you think?"

Fugaku pondered for a moment: "Sarazana, that sounds like a girl's name?"

"Yes. It's a girl."

"That's true, but whether it's a boy or a girl depends a lot on luck."

"I have a feeling it's going to be a girl this time."

"What's the basis for that?"

"Since there are two boys in a row, I think it must be a girl."

"..."

"Just kidding, I meant a woman's intuition."

Fugaku: ...

This is even less reliable than the previous one.

Mikoto laughed and said, "Let's announce this when Itachi and Sasuke get home together. Let's see their reaction; I think it'll be very interesting."

"Whatever makes you happy, just don't drag me into it..."

"That won't do. I can't do this by myself..."

Fugaku: ...

Mikoto laughed, "I'm really looking forward to it. I wonder when those two brothers will go home. Sasuke should still be practicing shuriken at school, and as for Itachi, I wonder what he's doing..."

Fugaku casually remarked, "It's obvious they're on a mission..."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two seemed to realize something and lowered their heads, creating a tense atmosphere that completely lacked the joyful atmosphere that had existed between the long-married couple.

Itachi is a double agent.

Considering the current relationship between his son and himself, Fugaku found it hard not to wonder what Itachi's stance was.

If he informs the higher-ups about the coup...

The couple had the same idea without prior arrangement.

"Itachi, he..."

"Let's have a good talk with Itachi when he gets back..."

"Let's see what he really is..."

"Um……"

After that, the couple remained shrouded in suppressed emotions and stopped speaking to each other.

This state continued for a while, until suddenly a loud bang broke the silence.

"What happened?!"

The sudden loud noise startled the two of them.

"I don't know, but it sounded like something huge falling from the sky."

"A meteorite?"

"You'll find out when you get there..."

Fugaku sighed inwardly.

A coup is about to be launched tomorrow. Such a big commotion will probably even alarm those in the center of the village.

It seems that the coup attempt will have to be put on hold for now.

The couple came out of the house, along with other members of their clan. It seemed that everyone had been startled by the loud noise.

A member of the clan ran to the couple and asked, "Lord Fugaku, what exactly happened?"

"I don't know the specifics either," Fugaku shook his head, indicating, "I'll probably only find out when we get there."

As they were talking, a figure flipped up and down above the house.

Fugaku noticed his presence, and soon the man came to his side.

This is one of his subordinates; judging from the situation, he's here to report on the situation.

Fugaku maintained the composure of the Uchiha clan leader: "What happened?"

"Captain Fugaku, that person is back..." The person's urgent voice was filled with excitement.

"Who?"

"Uchiha... Aokiji..."

"W-what—!"

Fugaku's eyes widened, unable to remain calm.

(End of this chapter)