Uchiha Fugaku understood why Uchiha Itachi had acted that way.
The person who falsely accused Akira had come from another village.
For Konoha’s sake, Itachi had wanted to settle the dispute quietly and prevent it from escalating.
Once the situation had calmed down, he planned to investigate what had happened and determine who was right.
But had that been fair to Akira?
Not in the slightest.
Not only had Akira been falsely accused, but he had also been scolded.
From Konoha’s perspective, Itachi’s decision had indeed been the better choice.
However, Akira was the one sacrificed in the process.
Even his own older brother hadn’t believed him.
Furthermore, Itachi had neither been a member of the Military Police Force nor part of Konoha’s leadership.
At the time, his only relevant identity had been that of Akira’s older brother.
He had neither needed nor had any reason to approach the situation from the village’s broader perspective.
Was it truly right to wrong one of their own merely to settle a dispute?
Fugaku offered an explanation on Itachi’s behalf.
“Itachi was considering the village as a whole.”
“That’s right.”
Akira glanced in the direction of their home.
“Then tell me, Father.
If I ever did something that harmed the village, would Itachi kill me?”
Fugaku’s pupils abruptly contracted.
“He wouldn’t.”
“Is that so?”
Akira shrugged.
Without waiting for Fugaku, he began walking home.
It took Fugaku a long time to recover before he hurried after him.
“You’re back.”
Mikoto smiled when she saw them enter.
“Dinner is already prepared.
Hurry and wash your hands.
Itachi and Sasuke are already in the dining room.”
“All right.”
The two walked toward the sink.
Fugaku glanced at Akira, still thinking about the question he had asked.
If Akira did something that harmed Konoha, would Itachi kill him?
Fugaku had answered that he wouldn’t.
However, even Fugaku wasn’t certain of that answer.
When they entered the dining room, Akira sat beside Sasuke.
There was an empty seat nearby.
Itachi sat across from them.
After hesitating briefly, Fugaku sat beside Itachi.
Itachi rarely returned home these days.
As his father, Fugaku naturally needed to show him some concern.
“Big Brother.”
“Hold me.”
Upon seeing Akira sit down, three-year-old Sasuke stretched out both arms, asking to be picked up.
Young children were always clingy toward their older siblings.
Akira extended his hands.
Sasuke eagerly lunged toward him.
At that moment, Akira abruptly pulled his hands back.
Thud!
Sasuke fell straight to the floor.
Fugaku fell silent.
“Akira!”
Akira calmly helped Sasuke back to his feet.
“I’m developing Sasuke’s social awareness.
He needs to understand that he shouldn’t trust anyone unconditionally, not even those closest to him.”
Those words immediately made Fugaku understand.
Akira was referring to how Itachi had refused to believe him after he was falsely accused.
Akira had done this to express his dissatisfaction with Itachi.
Fugaku no longer had any grounds to scold him.
If anyone deserved to be reprimanded, it should be Itachi first.
However, that incident had happened far too long ago.
At the same time, Fugaku suddenly realized something else.
Did Itachi consider everything from the village’s perspective too often?
In truth, the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha—or, more precisely, Konoha’s leadership—was far from harmonious.
The Uchiha clan had already begun facing exclusion after Senju Tobirama became Hokage.
After Sarutobi Hiruzen succeeded him and Danzō assumed leadership of Root, the Uchiha clan’s situation grew increasingly severe.
Following the Nine-Tails’ attack and the death of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, the clan’s circumstances became even worse.
Fugaku had never seriously considered this matter before.
He had always believed that family members would naturally stand together.
But today, he suddenly realized that this might not necessarily be true.
Fugaku glanced at Itachi.
Ever since Itachi joined the ANBU, he had spent less and less time at home.
The number of conversations between father and son had also steadily declined.
Even when Itachi returned, he became increasingly silent.
Fugaku felt as though he no longer understood this son of his.
“If the Uchiha clan ever breaks with Konoha, would Itachi truly side with the village?”
Fugaku couldn’t be certain.
“What happened?”
Mikoto emerged from the kitchen and noticed the frozen atmosphere in the dining room.
“It’s nothing, Mother.
I was merely teaching Sasuke an important lesson about life,” Akira replied.
“I see.
You’ll be entering the Ninja Academy soon, Akira, and your father has already taught you a great deal about being a shinobi.
You need to set a good example for Sasuke.”
“Remember everything your father has taught you.”
Akira nodded.
“Don’t worry, Mother.
I will.”