I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Sasuke Feels He Understands Naruto

To celebrate Itachi's return, Uchiha Mikoto prepared a grand meal, filling the table with dishes.

Sasuke's eyes lit up when he saw his favorite—tomato scrambled eggs. His appetite grew, and as he ate, he answered his father and brother's questions about life at the Ninja Academy, a rare smile on his face.

At this moment, he cherished the simple joy of a peaceful family dinner. No arguments, no tense stares—just the four of them sharing a meal together.

In the past, his father and Itachi often carried the weight of their duties home. Conversations at the dinner table would either be about missions or the clan's affairs, making Sasuke feel like an outsider in his own home.

But tonight, something felt… off.

Although everyone wore smiles, Mikoto's seemed a little forced. Fugaku and Itachi exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Sasuke sensed a tension simmering beneath the surface, a quiet storm ready to break.

Realizing this, Sasuke chose not to speak. Instead, he focused on eating, hoping that, even if the moment was fleeting or false, at least they were still together.

After dinner, Sasuke eagerly suggested practicing shuriken techniques together.

Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a look before nodding. During practice, Sasuke attempted to bridge the growing gap between them, subtly praising his father and brother, trying to soften the tension.

But his words went unheard.

Even as the session ended, the unspoken hostility between them lingered, pressing down on Sasuke like a weight he couldn't shake.

Just as he considered pushing further, Mikoto approached and gently said, "Sasuke, it's late. Go wash up and get some rest—you have an exam tomorrow."

Sasuke sighed but nodded, reluctantly heading to his room.

The Burden of Knowing

Fatigue from training weighed on his body, but his mind remained restless. Lying in bed, he replayed the evening's events, searching for a way to mend the rift between his father and Itachi.

But no solution came to him.

If it were Naruto…

The thought struck him suddenly.

Naruto, despite his hardships, never hesitated to fight for what he believed in. He always found a way to make people acknowledge him. Maybe Naruto could have found the right words, the right actions, to bring his father and brother together.

Sasuke clenched his fists. Naruto is strong… he always finds a way… maybe he could do it.

Before he could spiral further into his thoughts, Mikoto's voice came from outside.

"Sasuke, go to sleep. Don't overthink things."

He frowned, but he wasn't about to let this stop him. After all, he had already mastered the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Forming a seal with his hands, he created a clone and had it hide in the closet while his real body pretended to sleep.

Not long after, he heard muffled voices from the study next door.

His father and Itachi were talking.

Sasuke sharpened his senses, channeling chakra to enhance his hearing. He had to know. Only by understanding their conflict could he hope to fix it.

Inside the study, Fugaku and Itachi sat opposite each other, the air between them thick with tension.

"Itachi, are you still refusing to hand over the list of ANBU members?" Fugaku's voice was low, commanding. "The clan will soon make its move. With that list, we can minimize casualties when we take the Hokage Building."

Itachi's response was calm, almost cold. "Even if the clan stages a coup, we will fail. I will not betray the village for this."

Fugaku's expression darkened. "It's too late to back down. If we don't act, our clan will fracture from within. This coup is the only way to reclaim what belongs to us."

Itachi's eyes narrowed. "Have you considered the consequences? If Uchiha wages war against the village, we'll be vulnerable to attacks from other nations. Even if we succeed, we'll only weaken ourselves."

Fugaku's Sharingan activated, his gaze sharp. "So this is why you killed Shisui? Did you steal his eyes to stop us?"

Itachi's expression remained unreadable, but his own Sharingan flickered to life. "Shisui took his own life to prevent this coup. He saw beyond the clan's hatred—something you refuse to do."

Fugaku's fists clenched. "Are you ANBU first, or are you Uchiha?"

Silence hung in the air before Fugaku spoke again. "The plan is set. If we capture the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki, we can use him to control the village. Once the Hokage falls, I will take his place as the Fifth Hokage."

Sasuke's breath caught in his throat. They… they're planning to use Naruto?

Fugaku's voice carried a finality that sent a chill down Sasuke's spine. "Itachi, the clan will hold its final meeting next week. If you are truly my son, if you are truly Uchiha, you will stand with us."

Without a word, Itachi turned toward the window and vanished into the night.

A Helpless Realization

The sliding door creaked open, and Mikoto stepped inside. Her face was lined with worry as she faced her husband.

"You argued with him again," she said softly. "Did Itachi agree?"

Fugaku exhaled tiredly. "I don't know his answer. But I do know this—the Uchiha will not live under the village's heel any longer."

Mikoto sighed, torn between loyalty to her husband and love for her son.

But they didn't know Sasuke had been listening.

Hidden in the darkness of his closet, his legs had given out beneath him. His hands trembled as he clutched the wooden floor, his mind reeling.

He had wanted to understand their fight, to find a way to mend things.

Instead, he had uncovered something far worse than he ever imagined.

His father was leading the clan toward rebellion. His brother was preparing to betray them for the village. And he… he didn't know which side was right.

He had always believed in the village's ideals, in the Will of Fire. But the way the Uchiha were treated—the way his father spoke—made him question everything.

He wanted to believe in his father. He wanted to trust his brother.

But he couldn't do both.

For the first time, Sasuke felt truly powerless. He couldn't stop his father. He couldn't reach his brother. And even if he spoke up, they would ignore him—or worse, erase his memories with the Sharingan.

He clenched his teeth, his fingers digging into his arms.

I can't do anything.

And yet, amid his helplessness, he thought of Naruto again.

Naruto, who had always been alone.

Naruto, who had no family, yet still believed in the village.

Naruto, who never wavered, even when the world turned against him.

For the first time, Sasuke understood him.

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