8: Grief

Hokage Office:

Fugaku frowned. He wasn't having the best of days that day, I mean He is happy that he Reunited with his nephew and was sad when he found out that Shikaharu let himself killed at the hand of his son.

Now that Lord Third summoned him at his office, Fugaku is definitely sure that he will ask about Obanai.

When he arrived at the Hokage's office, it was to find himself standing there in an increasingly uncomfortable silence that had stretched out for about five minutes as the Hokage looked at him as if he'd never seen him before.

"Fugaku, I've heard that your Uchiha kid that Shikaku found outside of the village is residing at your house." Fugaku didn't say nor react anything as he knew what Lord Third is about to say.

"You could give the child a home. But why let him live at your house?"

"Lord Third, I have taken an interest at the child you speak of." Fugaku replied, he had already thought of this excuse over and over earlier if the Hokage were to ask about it.

"Ohh. And what is that interest?"

Fugaku stared at the Hokage in the eye as he replied, "Lord Third, even though I respect you, I can't answer your curiosity."

The Hokage was shock at what Fugaku had said, but Hiruzen understood what Fugaku's words mean.

'Hogake-sama there are too many ears listening at our conversations.' That was the sentence what Fugaku mean.

Hiruzen nod as he did some hand seals Activating the privacy seal that surround the Hokage's Office.

"Fugaku, now it is only the two of us. Why don't you explain."

Fugaku however thought that Lord Third mistake his words.

"Hokage-sama I already told you that the child has taken my interest."

Hiruzen chuckled as he smile while staring at him. Fugaku however, knew that something was bad.

"Fugaku, I know that even if you have taken any shinobi an interest you would never let them live at the Clan Head house."

Fugaku's face that didn't show a single emotion earlier was solemn.

"Hokage-sama, I made a promise to somebody. And I have no intention on breaking the promise." Fugaku said in a firm tone.

"Then, I'll respect your decision. But can you assure me that it won't be a threat to Konoha and it's people."

"I assure you Hokage-sama it won't."

"Then you are dismissed."

Fugaku nodded.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Shikaku sat on top of the Second Hokage face rock, it was his older brother favorite place.

Shikaku could still remember the time where his brother had push him from this view.

Even though most memories he had from him was his brother making fun of him nonetheless, he was a caring brother and would to anything to protect Shikaku.

After hearing that Obanai killed his brother.

Shikaku didn't know anymore.

Shikaku's eyes were red from crying all night. He know that Obanai didn't mean it judging from how he had been crying yesterday.

But why?! why did he do that?!

Shikaku couldn't hold his tears anymore as he silently cry. He had ask permission from Lord Third that he would like to take a break for a week.

Thankfully, lord Third permitted it.

Huff.

Huff.

Why couldn't brother just stay in Konoha?

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Hey, don't you think that Shikaku is being weird ever since we've found the child." Inoichi said to his friend Chōza.

Chōza nodded agreeing to his statement.

Inochi and Chōza has been deeply worried about their friend ever since yesterday.

First, he started being weird after finding a child.

Second, he lied to the Hokage saying he is an Uchiha who was lost.

Third, after sending the kid at the Uchiha Clan Head house, he ignored us saying he wanted to sleep at his home.

Fourth, Shikaku still hasn't explain anything.

"Inoichi, Chōza!"

Both friends raised their head at the person who was calling their names.

It was a teenager that have blue eyes and spiky, blond hair and also had jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. The teenager was Namikaze Minato.

"Minato?"

"Have you seen Shikaku?"

Inoichi and Chōza shook their heads saying they haven't seen Shikaku.

"Why?"

"I saw him yesterday, I called out his name but he didn't respond and he's not his usual self."

Minato said in a worried tone.

"You've also notice his sudden change."

Inoichi said, Minato was confuse so he's ask.

"Huh, what change?"

"Shikaku has been acting weird ever since we came back from our last mission..." Chōza explained what had happened yesterday including what Shikaku said to Lord Third.

"Have you guys check the Nara Compound?" Minato ask making the both of them nod.

Minato, Inoichi and Chōza's face were solemn.

They were worried for their friend who was acting weird. So they split up and look all over him in the village, If he had gone out then they would ask the gate guards if they'd ever seen Shikaku.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Wheeeww.

Minato suddenly remembered what date is today. Today was Shikaku's older brother's birthday, so he has two location on where he might be.

First, is at the Second Hokage's Rock head.

Second, at the training ground 44 also known as the forest of death.

But Minato is 100 percent sure that Shikaku would be at the first location.

So here he I standing on top of the Second Hokage's head as Minato saw Shikaku's back.

"Shikaku."

Minato called out softly as Shikaku turned his head seeing that it was just his friend.

"Ahh, Minato what are you doing here?"

"We're worried about you."

Shikaku sighed as he stared at the view in front of him.

"It's his birthday today." Shikaku muttered silently but Minato is a Shinobi so he was able to clearly hear what he had said.

"I know."

Minato could not longer say anything, as he knew that Shikaku was grieving.

"You should say something to your teammates they are worried about you."

Shikaku didn't say anything as he just nod.

Minato sighed as went to find Chōza and Inoichi telling them the news.

Sensing that Minato was no longer there, Shikaku stood up heading towards the Uchiha Clan Head house.

-*-*-*-*-*-*

Knock.

Knock.

Shikaku know two times in a row at the door in front of him.

The door opened revealing Fugaku.

Before Fugaku could say anything, Shikaku beat him first.

"Let's talk inside."

Fugaku step aside letting Shikaku in.

"Sigh, did you ask why Obanai killed his father?"

Fugaku narrowed his eyes as he said,

"Did you really think that Obanai purposely killed Shikaharu?!"

"No! I mean didn't Obanai said that he killed him!"

Fugaku sighed.

"Shikaharu purposely let himself killed at the hand of Obanai."

"How would you know?"

"Shikaku, what do you know about the Sharingan?"

Shikaku was confuse to what Fugaku had ask. Nonetheless, he still answered.

"The Sharingan is a dōjutsu from the Uchiha Clan, the Sharingan is has an ability that allows a user to copy Ninjutsu and also cast a Genjutsu by making eye contact. The Sharingan has 3 stages."

"That's where you are wrong."

"Huh?!"

"The Shinobi's only know that the Sharingan has 3 stages but they're wrong."

Shikaku wasn't a Nara for nothing, he'd immediately was able to get what Fugaku mean.

"You mean there are other stages."

Fugaku nodded.

"But how come the Uchiha Clan only has 1, 2 or 3 tomoes?"

"The last stage of the Sharingan is a secret that not even the Uchiha Clan members know, excluded the some of the Elders."

Shikaku couldn't contain his expression anymore,

What is the last stage of the Sharingan that not even the their members see aware of it?!

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me already!" Shikaku said impatiently.

"It is better for you to see it rather than listening."

Fugaku closed his eyes as he activate His Mangekyo Sharingan casting Shikaku a Genjutsu.

In the Genjutsu that Fugaku cast on Shikaku it look like days, weeks, months or even years has past, but in reality only one second has past.

For a moment Shikaku was lost and suddenly he was kneeling on the ground holding his head calming himself down as sweats covered him.

"Do you understand now."

Shikaku nodded as he walk out focusing his thoughts on the sudden information.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Doing the Leaf Exercise is such a drag.

I did what the instructions instructed but the problem is, I have too much Chakra but not as much as Genin Naruto.

Naruto, I finally understand what it feels like having a hard time controlling chakra.

Sigh.

Ehh! What am I doing here again?

I stop walking as I observe my surroundings, I've been walking none stop ever since doing the Leaf Exercise.

I should rest.

I look around for a while and found a perfect bench to rest, with an old man sitting on the bench hanging his head down.

I deadpanned.

Do old men's these days do not know that hanging your head too much will cause a sore on your neck.

I sighed as I thought how troublesome it is.

I approached the beach as I was about to sit down when I fucking realize that my legs are too short to support me.

And the old man noticed my presence and stared at me.

Both of our eyes met as I am quite suprise to see this person here.