Uchiha orphan, so what if I'm ruthless?

Facing Sasuke's relentless questioning, Fugaku's expression remained unchanged, his face as stern and profound as ever.

He looked at Sasuke, his tone no different from before.

"Itachi has indeed left the village, and he did so without notifying anyone."

His voice was low and his tone steady, as if his eldest son's departure was no big deal to him.

Sasuke's pupils shrank sharply. The two tomoe spun rapidly in his eyes, clearly showing his inner turmoil.

"Did he really become a rogue ninja?"

Sasuke's voice was tight, his face filled with disbelief.

Mikoto sat beside Fugaku. Looking at Sasuke, she shook her head. The movement was slight and subtle, but its meaning was clear.

She didn't speak; her silence was her answer.

Fugaku slowly closed his eyes. As his eyelids shut, the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen. His lips moved slightly before he spoke.

"Based on his actions, he has indeed defected from the village."

He opened his eyes and looked at Sasuke.

"But to us Uchiha, this is nothing."

Fugaku's tone was firm, as if stating an unquestionable fact.

"Because no one will pin that crime on him."

Sasuke suddenly spoke up, his voice much louder than before.

"That's impossible!"

His hands clenched into tight fists, his nails digging into his palms. His body trembled slightly.

"My brother would never do something like that!"

His voice carried an uncontrollable agitation.

"Why would he leave the village? There must be some misunderstanding!"

He stared intently at Fugaku, his eyes pleading.

Fugaku looked at him, his expression unchanging.

"There is no misunderstanding. He left the village for the sake of the relationship between the Uchiha clan and Konoha."

Sasuke's body swayed, as if he had been pushed.

"Why? He promised me he would spend time with me after his mission."

His voice was filled with grievance, like a child whose parents had broken a promise.

Fugaku's voice darkened. "Sasuke, don't be childish. Itachi doing this was his own choice."

Sasuke's eyes were red, tears streaming down from the corners as he ground his teeth.

"I hate him!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was heavy and deep, as if squeezed from his chest, carrying an irrepressible pain.

Mikoto stood up from her seat. Her movements were quick, the swiftness of a mother seeing her child in need of comfort.

She walked over to Sasuke, reaching out to gently pull him into her embrace. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, her fingers lightly patting his back—one, two, three times—just like she used to coax him when he was little.

"Sasuke, don't blame Itachi."

Her voice was soft and gentle, like a warm breeze.

"He has his reasons."

Sasuke buried his face in his mother's shoulder, his voice muffled.

"Why did he have to do this?"

His voice was filled with confusion.

Fugaku remained silent for a moment, as if making a very important decision.

He glanced at Mikoto, who was also looking at him. Their eyes met in the air, and then he nodded.

Mikoto gently patted Sasuke's back, then let go. Taking his hand, she led him to the low table and sat down.

She sat beside Sasuke, still holding his hand without letting go.

"There are some things we originally didn't plan on telling you."

Her voice was soft.

"But since you have awakened your Sharingan, you have the right to know."

She glanced at Fugaku.

Fugaku crossed his arms, his back straight. His gaze fell on Sasuke, his expression growing even more solemn.

"Konoha was jointly founded by our Uchiha clan and the Senju clan."

His voice wasn't loud, and he spoke slowly, enunciating every word clearly.

"But from the very beginning, the Uchiha clan was never trusted by the Senju, and subsequently, we were not trusted by the village either."

Fugaku's tone was flat, as if reciting a piece of history rather than recounting his own clan's plight.

Sasuke listened intently, his expression shifting from initial confusion to eventual shock.

"This situation only slightly improved during the era of the Fourth Hokage."

Fugaku paused, as if recalling something.

"The Fourth Hokage was a good man, a rare genius among commoners, and his ascension to Hokage was what everyone hoped for. After taking office, he eased the tension between the Uchiha and the village. Unfortunately, he died too early. After his death, power returned to the hands of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Mikoto simply sat quietly to the side, not interrupting.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen inherited the ideology of his teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. The Hokage faction he led had a deep-seated wariness of the Uchiha clan carved into their very bones. During that period, our clan's situation was extremely difficult, almost reaching the point of a complete fallout with the village."

At this point, Fugaku let out a long sigh. "Fortunately, a special individual emerged within the clan at that time."

"Then Orochimaru took over as the Fifth Hokage. After he assumed the position, things were fine at first."

Fugaku frowned, deliberately omitting a portion of the events before continuing, "But ever since the Five Kage Summit, he stopped managing affairs concerning the Uchiha, handing it all over to the Hokage Advisor."

Fugaku's hands clenched slightly on his knees, then relaxed.

"There is a new Root leader among them, and no one knows his true identity. But it is the existence of this person that has deepened the rift between the village and the Uchiha."

After saying this, he fell silent.

Mikoto sat beside Sasuke, still holding his hand.

Her gaze shifted from Fugaku to Sasuke's face. Looking at his tear-stained eyes, she gently wiped away his tears.

"The current Uchiha cannot afford to tear apart our relationship with the village, otherwise it will benefit neither side."

She sighed softly.

"So we have no other choice but to wait."

Her gaze grew distant, as if looking at a place far, far away.

"Wait for someone who can resolve all of this to appear."

Sasuke looked up at his mother.

There were still tear tracks around his eyes, but his confusion had faded slightly, replaced by serious contemplation.

"Who is that person?"

Sasuke's voice was a bit dry.

Fugaku looked at him, seemingly not intending to hide it any longer, and directly stated the name.

"That person's name is Uchiha Taiga. He is arguably the most exceptionally talented individual in the history of the Uchiha clan."

He paused, his gaze growing distant.

"He was also your brother's teacher."

Sasuke furrowed his brows even tighter. His mind searched rapidly, sifting through every name he remembered one by one, but after going through all the Uchiha clansmen he knew or had heard of, he couldn't find this name.

"Is he also from the Uchiha clan? Why haven't I heard of him?"

Mikoto sighed softly again.

"Because he defected from the village before you were old enough to remember."

Her voice was soft, but every word was spoken clearly.

Sasuke's eyes widened sharply. He looked at his mother, then at his father, his mind digesting this information.

"If he's a rogue ninja, why have I never heard this name before?"

Fugaku scoffed coldly. "Because the village doesn't even dare to mention his name. In Konoha, that name is a taboo."

Truthfully, the impact of this news was quite significant for Sasuke, but thinking of his brother, he subconsciously voiced the question in his heart.

"Then where is this person now? And where did my brother go to find him?"

Mikoto looked at Fugaku, who shook his head and spoke directly, "That is not something you should be considering right now. Alright, stop thinking about Itachi. He will return."

But how could Sasuke be willing to give up just like that? He continued to press for answers.

"Go back and get some rest."

Fugaku frowned at this, having absolutely no intention of sharing any more information about that person.

Unable to get an answer, Sasuke could only grit his teeth, stand up, and leave.

Seeing him leave, Mikoto was somewhat worried. "Sasuke... that child is clearly very heartbroken this time."

Fugaku's expression remained unchanged. "This is his fate as an Uchiha."

"Sigh..."

Mikoto could only sigh.

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