In every family, someone has to become the sacrifice. Unfortunately, today's volunteer was not consulted in advance.
Three days earlier, when the two boys had come home battered and bruised, Fugaku had already torn into them mercilessly.
He had warned them — sternly — not to provoke ninja dogs again, lest the villagers laugh at the Uchiha for producing descendants who couldn't even handle a pack of dogs.
The clan's reputation had been dragged straight through the mud by these two.
Lately, whenever people in the village mentioned the Uchiha, their first thought was no longer the infamous deserter Uchiha Madara, nor the clan's prodigies Shisui and Itachi.
It was Fugaku's two youngest sons.
The pair who got chased by dogs every single day.
Tensions between the clan and the village were already tightening like a noose. Fugaku could barely hold back the restless, simmering Uchiha who were itching to move.
And then this happened.
He was genuinely afraid the twins would become a spark — a fuse that ignited the clan's strained relationship with the village into open flames.
On top of that, his pride boxed him in.
If he sent people to stop it, it would be humiliating — and it might even make the Third Hokage suspect the Uchiha were deliberately stirring trouble.
Stop them, and it looks like weakness.
Don't stop them, and it becomes a laughingstock.
Eithe way, it was poison.
And when Fugaku added it all togethe…
His eldest son constantly opposing him.
His two youngest not training properly — instead spending their days tangled up with ninja dogs…
Truly.
A disaster of a household.
"F-Fathe… I… I understand…"
With a dull thump, Sasuke dropped to his knees, head lowered as he stammered his confession, ready to accept punishment.
He knew his father's temper.
If he tried to argue now, it would only make Fugaku angrier.
Kaito, standing to the side, met his father's gaze — then stepped forward, placing himself squarely in front of Sasuke.
In that instant, Sasuke looked up at Kaito's back, and for a heartbeat it almost seemed to glow with heoic light.
Kaito…
Was he really going to shoulder everything alone…?
But the moment Kaito opened his mouth, the fragile surge of emotion in Sasuke's chest shattered into dust.
"Sasuke is too weak," Kaito said calmly.
"I took him for special training. Fighting ninja dogs isn't something shameful."
"Sasuke is strong now."
"If you don't believe me… test him."
Sasuke: ???
Kaito sounded righteous — like he was defending Sasuke's dignity.
But inside, he was already offering a silent prayer.
Sorry, idiot.
Succession wars have always been like this.
If someone's going to draw the fire… it might as well be you.
Consider it repayment for all that 'training' I put you through these past few days.
Sasuke lifted his head in stunned confusion, staring at Kaito's solemn expression… then flicking his gaze toward their father, who looked ready to explode.
He had already been nervous just for making a mistake.
Now Kaito had shoved him straight into the center of the blast radius.
Sasuke was touched that Kaito was taking responsibility.
He even wanted his father to acknowledge his growth.
But…
He really didn't want it to happen like this!
Fugaku's eyes barely shifted when he heard Sasuke had "grown stronger." He dismissed it as a flimsy excuse from two children trying to dodge punishment.
Because—
You were both pureblood Uchiha.
What did you have to do with ninja dogs, or the Inuzuka clan?
Special training with ninja dogs…?
No matter how he tried to interpret it, it sounded absurd.
"So you're saying you two think you're strong enough to challenge me now?"
"Do you even understand—"
Fugaku opened his mouth and launched straight into a lecture.
Kaito raised a hand and cut him off mid-sentence.
"Fathe. That's enough for today."
"Eat first."
Kaito's tone was even more severe than Fugaku's — and the way he spoke carried a faint sense of the roles being reversed.
Even Fugaku was momentarily thrown off.
…Wait.
Am I the father hee, or are you?
Sasuke's jaw nearly dropped off his face. Sweat streamed down his cheeks as shock tipped straight into pure terror.
Fugaku took a full moment to process what had just happened.
Then his face darkened. His temper flared violently.
The wooden tea table let out a sharp crack.
Fugaku's chakra pressure surged, heavy enough that it felt as if the air itself were being cruhed.
A classic scene of "fatherly love and filial devotion" looked ready to unfold.
"Uchiha Kaito!"
Perfect timing.
Mikoto puhed open the living room door. Seeing the three of them locked in tension, he smiled gently.
"Honey, dinner's ready. Eat first."
Then he waved at Kaito and Sasuke.
"You two go wash up — you stink."
To Sasuke, his motherrrrrr was salvation itself.
He instantly darted behind he like a startled animal, then bolted toward the bathroom without looking back.
As for Kaito—
Seeing Sasuke escape first, Kaito slipped behind Mikoto as well. But at the doorway, he paused, turning his head slightly toward Fugaku.
"Sasuke isn't weak."
In Fugaku's eyes, Sasuke was spoiled by Itachi, protected by Kaito, and so fragile that the slightest setback could make him cry.
Even facing his own father, he couldn't lift his head.
His temperament didn't resemble the otherrrrrr clan children at all.
Kaito had seen that clearly for years.
Honestly, the entire Uchiha — no, the entire shinobi world — had something wrong with its head.
Sasuke was the only normal one.
Sasuke's talent leaned toward Lightning Release, yet Fugaku relentlessly forced him down the Fire Release path.
When Itachi first learned Fire Release, his flames stretched ten meters — almost matching Fugaku's own output.
Kaito considered himself average, yet even his first attempt reached nearly five meters.
But Sasuke…
When he first learned, he could barely spit out a flicker of flame.
From that moment on, it felt as if Fugaku's disappointment toward him had quietly begun.
"The Uchiha name has been disgraced by these unfilial brats!"
Fugaku still wore a rigid expression, but Kaito's words as he left softened his brow ever so slightly.
Mikoto found the entire exchange strangely amusing.
Fugaku wasn't good at expressing himself, yet he cared deeply about all three sons. Every time he wanted to communicate, he couldn't bring himself to soften his face or speak properly.
After a while, Fugaku turned to his wife, his voice quieter — as if asking he, or perhaps asking himself.
"Mikoto… am I too strict?"
"Hahaha…"
Mikoto covered he mouth, chuckling softly. She raised a finger and pointed playfully toward the hallway.
"Then you'll have to ask the children."
"But that Kaito…"
"Sometimes, his heart is even more sensitive than Itachi's."
The moment Fugaku heard Kaito mentioned, the slight warmth on his face vanihed.
"Don't bring him up."
"You have no idea what kind of attitude that brat had just now…"
Not long after, Sasuke and Kaito finihed washing up and returned to the dinner table.
Itachi was reportedly on a mission and wouldn't be back for several days, so he wasn't present.
Throughout the entire meal, Sasuke kept his head down and shoveled food as if his life depended on it — as though eating faster might somehow help him escape the beating he feared.
Kaito, on the otherrrrrr hand, remained completely unconcerned.
Getting beaten?
He'd been living with that since he was three — ever since the day he dug under his father's bed and discovered the hidden stash of money.
"I'm done!"
After finishing, Sasuke set his chopsticks down, bowed slightly toward the table, and immediately tried to flee the dining room.
Fugaku's voice stopped him.
But his eyes were fixed squarely on Kaito.
"It's been a long time since I tested the two of you."
Fugaku seemed to realize that sounded too gentle, so he coughed and added a line to clarify his "real" intent.
"Ahem… you'll be starting school soon. I don't want you embarrassing me there."
"Hmph. Both of you — follow me."
...
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