On a nice sunny day, near the main house, two boys were playing hide and seek in the backyard of their forest until their mother called out.

"Sasuke, Itachi! It is time for lunch!" She reminded her boys, "if you two don't wash your hands, you're not getting dinner!"

Sasuke snorted through his nose and pouted as he crossed his arms. "Not fair, you win again, nii-san!" He ran out of the clearing and into the open wide meadow that connected to their home. He spotted his brother coming out from the left side of the clearing which made the young Uchiha pout more. If only I can sense chakra like nii-san then I can find him easier! Just then his brother motioned him to come over, all of Sasuke's frustration went away like melted butter. Once he got closer, Itachi poked him in the forehead. Sasuke exclaimed, rubbing his forehead. He glared at his brother then smiled because he couldn't hate his brother.

"Next time, Otouto. You can do better." Itachi smiled gently, he walked over to the gate and opened it, allowing his little brother to go first and then he entered and closed the gate.

Both boys removed their shoes and entered the bathroom to wash their hands as their mother instructed. They greeted their mother, Sasuke hugged her legs while Itachi gave his mother a kiss on the cheek.

Mikoto sniffled. "Itachi you're growing up too fast!" She looked at Sasuke as he removed himself and sat at his designed spot on the table. "You won't do that to me, will you Sasuke?"

In response, Sasuke shook his head several times. "No way, I have to grow up to be big and strong, like nii-san. I can't stay little forever!" This made Mikoto give her son a sad face and Sasuke grew uncomfortable then he felt guilty. "Okay, Kaa-san. Maybe I'll stay little for some time, but just for you only!" He blushed and looked away.

Mikoto giggled and served his food with a side of cooked tomatoes, then she kisses him on the forehead. "You're so sweet, Sasuke. Thank you!" She then tackles his faces with a flurry of kisses with Sasuke failing badly to deflect them.

"Kaa-san!" Sasuke said in between in laughs until his mother stops and ruffles his head.

Once Mikoto served Itachi his lunch, his sad eyes meet hers and Mikoto flinched. Not those eyes again... She could not help herself whenever Itachi wanted dessert with his lunch. She then complies and takes a plate of dango out of the fridge. "Itachi, you cannot keep eating like this. You know it's not good manners." She set the plate next to his food. Mikoto then thought of the consequences if she continues to succumb to his puppy dog eyes. A tic mark appeared on her head. "If you keep doing this trick to your poor defenseless mother, I will be forced to lower your allowance which means less dango."

Itachi looked at his mother in panic in the midst of still eating. He swallowed the remains of his fish. "Yes, Kaa-san. I promise." Meanwhile, Sasuke snickered as he ate his tomatoes, watching the whole scene play out in amusement. Itachi glared softly at his brother as if he were saying, 'you will experience it too.' Sasuke quickly looked away and ate his tomatoes without care.

Mikoto ate with her children and once they were all done, it was the children's job to clean the dishes. She had a rule, 'If you make the food, the other person cleans it. If they make the food, we clean it.' It was also a good learning habit for Itachi who now washes the dishes each time his mother cooks, except on academy mornings. Sasuke, on the other hand, despises washing the dishes because he cannot stop thinking of how nasty the dishes are. Once the boys completed their work, they both received kisses from their mother.

"Nii-san, take me to the park today!" Sasuke bounced as he pulled Itachi's sleeve in excitement.

Itachi ruffles his hair in an apologetic manner. "Sorry, Sasuke, I have homework and training after that. Maybe some other time?" He poked Sasuke's forehead who sulked as he watched his brother walk into the hallway leading to Itachi's room.

Mikoto changed into her casual clothes once she heard Sasuke wanted to go to the park. Before she exited, she whispered to her son. "Don't work too hard, Itachi." He gave her a slight nod, Mikoto appeared out of the hallway. "How about I take you, Sasuke? It's been some time since we went out." At his mother's words, Sasuke beamed brightly and grabbed two bamboo canteens filled with water, putting them in her bag and then he opened the door for Mikoto. She giggles as she raises a hand to her son's head. "Has Itachi been training you in the etiquette lessons?"

Sasuke nodded, "Yeah, you always work so hard so for us, Kaa-san. I had Nii-san teach me things that will make girls happy, but I only wanted to do for you!" He explained proudly with his teeth showing.

The sight of him made her heart melt with adoration at his actions. "Oh, you're going to be an adorable husband to someone someday in the future!" She walked on the Uchiha streets leading to the outside of the compound.

Sasuke scoffed, "No way!" He kicked a pebble in embarrassment. He wanted to only be sweet to his mother and her only. He didn't know anyone who was a girl and there weren't any girls his age to talk to inside the compound. He's not sure how to react around girls his age.

Mikoto only laughed at the sight of her son being so adorable. They held hands and exited the compound, she kept her face in a gentle smile while walking through the crowds. The Uchiha mother began to hear the gossip of her clan and how horrible it was. Her eyes darted to Sasuke who took everything in curiosity and he smiled at what he saw. Mikoto's smile almost faltered but it remained. She did not want him to hear anything about the horrible rumors the villagers were spreading. Inside, Mikoto wanted to keep Sasuke's smile and to keep him away from the clan meetings. Although she doesn't like the judgment from the villagers, she doesn't want to go against the Konohagaure either. However, clan rules kept her from doing anything. She wishes her husband could see why they shouldn't have a coup de' tat. They're just scared of what they don't know and so they blame the evidence on the Uchiha due to their eyes but haven't stopped to think that maybe it was a seal master that was controlling the Kyubi, or an unknown dojutsu. Mikoto sighed inwardly as they passed by a glaring man, holding his daughter and walked away.

Once they reached the park, Sasuke immediately went to the sandbox. He was only 4 years old, he didn't deserve this kind of life, nor the harsh ignorance from his own father. Mikoto thought back to the argument between her and Fugaku about Itachi.

"You can't expect me to agree to this! This absurdity idea of yours will hinder his feelings. It might even cause him trauma. Fugaku, Itachi's only five!" Mikoto yelled at her husband, she shook with rage.

Fugaku didn't even flinch in the slightest. He just stared at his wife, brows furrowed. "He needs to be a strong shinobi. I will take him to a battlefield before the war is over. Mikoto, I will not let our firstborn grow up without ever seeing the first bloodshed. If he grows up without war, he will have a weak mind, I will not let that happen. He is the firstborn and so it is his duty to act as such." He glared at his wife who began to tremble with tears falling down. "You will have no say in this. It matters not whether you agree about his progress of how he is raised, Mikoto. If I ever see this development in Itachi, I'm taking him away fr-."

Mikoto cut his speech off as she slapped Fugaku quite roughly, leaving an immediate red handprint. "Shut up.. Like hell, you can take him away from me. My parents will have my side in this matter and I'm taking Itachi with me right now!" Just as she turned around, Fugaku grabbed a hold of her wrist, stopping the woman in her tracks. Mikoto poured chakra in her hand and slapped him again, dislocating Fugaku's jaw in the process which also caused him to release his hold on her hand and his back hit the wall of their bedroom letting out a crack. "Just because I'm only a month pregnant doesn't mean you have an advantage over me!"

Meanwhile, Itachi listened from behind the door next to his room as his parents fought violently. His small body trembled as small sobs racked his body. He didn't like the fact his parents were arguing about his future. He wanted it all to go back to when there were happier times. Itachi didn't like this at all. His mother opened the door and rushing to pick up her son who was having a panic attack. She soothed him and packed his things while carrying him then she left his room and walked out of the house. She rubbed his head, wishing he never heard that. He wasn't emotionally prepared for it at all.

In the end, Mikoto kept herself and Itachi away from Fugaku but she failed in her task once her stomach grew bigger. Fugaku had taken their son and showed him the ugly side of the war and he changed. Itachi hid it from his mother, but Mikoto knows her own son better than he knows himself.

"s-san! Kaa-san!" Mikoto looked over to Sasuke away from the tormenting memories. She noticed he made a castle. It didn't look well as the top was falling off, but it was cute from her perspective.

"Sorry, Sasuke. Kaa-san was thinking of dinner. That is a lovely castle you made there!" She made up a lie in order to hide her worries.

Sasuke stood up, he went to the nearby grass, picking up some flowers and twigs and placed them in front of the sandcastle. "Look, it's us! You, and me!" He clapped his hand's childishly in pride.

Mikoto smiled, she loved these moments with Sasuke. Her smile frowned as she spotted a blob of yellow hair sitting on the swing alone. She thought of many scenarios on where she could approach Naruto without arising suspicion of controlling the Kyuubi through the child. Mikoto's shoulders slumped dejectedly. It wasn't fair to him, Naruto needed a mother's love and there was none to give him. Her eyes widen as Sasuke stood up once he spotted Naruto sitting alone. The small panic rose in her heart as she watched them carefully.

Sasuke stood in front of the lonely boy. "Hi." He responded curtly, shuffling his feet."Do you want me to push you?

The boy showed fear of Sasuke, "Why ya wanna push me?" His pronunciation needed some work, but Sasuke understood it.

"Because my Kaa-san always pushes me. It doesn't feel fun when there's no one to push you." Sasuke looked at Naruto, eagerly waiting for his approval.

Naruto took some time before he nodded, giving Sasuke a small smile, unwarily. Sasuke smiled, he went to the back and pushes Naruto with all his strength he could muster and Naruto began swinging. Mikoto smiled and looked to the sky, she got up and helped Sasuke push Naruto further. Naruto exclaimed in surprise and began laughing. Mikoto glanced around the park, it was nearing sunset and she was glad it was empty at this time of day.

After that, Naruto began to have fun with her son. They played hide-n-seek, built sandcastle, raced each other, and they did argue in some parts but still had fun.

"Sasuke, it's time to go. Say goodbye to your new friend!" Mikoto called out. Sasuke yelled 'okay' and said goodbye to Naruto who waved happily until his hand fell to his side. Mikoto glanced back and saw his miserable face that made her want to break down and take him home. She endured it and walked back to the compound.

Unfortunately, she still lived with Fugaku because it was her duty and Mikoto had to accept the fact as the woman of the main household, she should have never let her emotions get the best of her. She does love Fugaku, but he can be so difficult sometimes.

After dinner, Mikoto tucked in Sasuke. "Kaa-san..." Sasuke whispered to her. Mikoto gave a hum, telling him she was listening. "I want someone with me all the time."

Mikoto looked surprised at his answer. "Why, Sasuke? Are you scared?" She combed his hair through her fingers, listening to him.

Sasuke shook his head gently. "No, I want them to help me become stronger so I can protect my family." He feared losing Itachi since school takes up most of his brother's time as well as training and Sasuke doesn't want that to happen. He also tried his hardest to train in order for his dad to notice him, but he scarcely even spares him a glance or tells him 'good job' while rubbing his head like he did with Itachi. He feels more comfortable with his mother, he knows she always takes the schedule out in order to spend more time with him. He likes his grandparents too, but he wants more time with the others. Namely, his brother and father.

Mikoto kisses Sasuke's forehead. "Don't worry your little head about it, Sasuke. I'm sure you can find that person to help you. Who knows? Maybe they'll come tonight or someday!" She then proceeds to tickle her tired son in order to cease his worries.

"Alright, alright! I give!" Sasuke laughed as his mother stopped then she kissed him on the forehead again.

"Goodnight, Sasuke. Sweet dreams." Mikoto turns off the light and closes the door and the sounds of her footsteps receded softly.

Sasuke hoped what his mother said would come true, so his eyes willed him to sleep and he has begun to dream of training with his brother.

-

Hi. FreakingLEM here!

I haven't written a story in quite a while, but I've been writing essays. College sure takes a lot out of you! So bear with my updates and be patient, thanks!

I've got a question for you all!

What TV show do you wish to become a reality? It can be anime, or Supernatural or Doctor Who. Literally any TV show!

Hope to see y'all next time!