fire-hearted-father:

A part of him wondered if this was how the branch Hyūga felt.
If they stepped out of line in front of the main family, that curse seal on
their forehead would overstimulate their cranial nerves. If left activated for
too long, it could cause paralysis, permanent brain damage, or even death.

In
Fugaku’s case, trying to tell someone even the tiniest bit of information about
what Danzō did to him would result in unconsciousness. There was no telling
what else was limited now.

So like Hizashi and all those who suffered like he had,
Fugaku needed to tread carefully. As much as he wanted to follow Danzō to his
house, slip past his operatives, and slit the man’s throat, he knew that wasn’t
an option anymore. Neither was the amount of conversation he shared with
Yashiro and the others.

This cemented the beginning of the end for his career as
clan head. Now was the time for Itachi to prove himself as someone Fugaku could
trust the future to.

But he noticed the averted gaze. His heart sank a little. “Son…something
else is on your mind. I want to ask what’s going on, but first, I have to ask…is
it something I should hear?” He was about ready to reach for a journal, afraid
that whatever it was…it probably wasn’t something he’d want Danzō to overhear.

“Over dinner. Nothing too important.” He gives his Father a brief smile. Itachi knew how to play Danzo’s game, and his eye flash briefly for a moment. Danzo is tracking the words his Father says, but he cannot track anything within the mind– A brief flash of genjutsu will give his Father the actual answer.

My room. There will be something for you to read. After dinner. Keep to the right of the hallway, use the first sliding door.

Alright, Danzo. Okay. The line had been crossed. He still hated the idea of clan pride, he still hated the act of rebellion, but Itachi had a wealth of information and he wasn’t actually alright with the clan being used as Danzo’s pawns.

He’d made excuses long enough… Now he just wanted to cut him out. 

Having almost lost Shisui and having his Father disappear to act as his recording device was something that never should’ve happened…he should’ve put his foot down years ago. 

fire-hearted-father:

His son was smart enough to understand what this meant. The rest of the clan
would interpret this as Fugaku being too ashamed to confront his key retainers
after being captured and tortured. They would see a man who felt shame in being
held hostage for so long, all because it meant there was nothing he could do in
the meantime for his clan.

They would assume this was a shame thing: a loss of face. In those
instances, his key people would understand and give him space…but only for a
while. After that period of understanding wore off for the more impatient ones—Inabi
in particular came to mind—then Fugaku would come across as a coward.

Then his loyalties would be put into question, as would his bravery. They
would wonder if his time in that unmarked prison rattled him so badly that he
was afraid to make another move. By that point, they’d confront him outright,
yell in his face about their mistreatment, and try to rile him back to the same
Fugaku-taichou they missed.

But there was always the hope they would interpret this another way: that
Fugaku’s ordeal had left him badly weakened and in dire need of a strong,
uninterrupted recovery. It was the half-lie he planned to feed them, and hoped
they would be obedient enough to talk with him in written correspondence only.
Papers could always be burned.

Outwardly, the village would see it as Fugaku placing more faith in his son.
In his poor health, he’d be relying on Itachi more, and therefore prepping him
to someday lead.

By the time he was taken away, Fugaku
had started to suspect his son had changed sides: prioritizing the village over
his own people. Trusting him with those letters could be the last nail in
Fugaku’s coffin. He realized this, but what other choice was there?

“I’ll need to limit what we say
aloud, too,” he added. “But will you help me with this? Can I trust you?” He
was starting to fear he couldn’t trust anyone.

Itachi had some morals, at least. He preferred a quick, painless death as opposed to torture. He did not like to see people suffer, even if they were opposing him. Perhaps, in some other turn of events, an exception could be made for his Father’s retainers, vile, aggressive people as they were. Other than that, he avoided causing unnecessary pain. 

Danzo had crossed the line. His Father didn’t deserve to be used as Danzo’s plaything, much less an example, no matter how much Itachi had disagreed with him.

Nix the meeting– he’s not going, Danzo will just demand his Father’s letters or try to find some other method of grabbing them. 

He remembers something else, gaze cast aside, and makes a note. But his Father needs an answer, and so Itachi draws a slow breath.

“Yes.” He’ll do his best.

fire-hearted-father:

@uchihasavior

Mikoto tried stroking her husband’s back, only to become more distraught when she realized she could feel the notches in his spine even from beneath his black shirt. The man she married was strong and athletically built: sturdy with firm muscles. To her, he almost looked like a corpse: too thin, too pale, too old. It was the first time she’d ever found more than a lone stray gray hair on his head.

But she said nothing to him. Talking mean she ran the risk of bursting into tears. And if she did that, she’d wrap her arms around him and never let go. He didn’t need that, nor did he need to be interrogated tonight.

Fugaku looked at his child with tired, burnt-out eyes. “I–”

“Itachi,” Mikoto is firm. “You and your father can talk tomorrow. I’m sure he’s very tired and wants nothing more than to sleep.” She turns her head, wondering if Fugaku agrees.

He doesn’t. If Itachi still believed the village was fine, then he needed to see for himself just how corrupt the current Hokage’s regime could be.

“I was with Danzo,” he tells Itachi. “He and his men did this to me.” But he was slowly making his way to bed. Mikoto was right. He was tired.

…Danzo.

Danzo.

For a few seconds, Itachi doesn’t believe it. He’s maintained his ANBU position since he was 10 and during Fugaku’s extended absence. He’s nearing fifteen now.

Danzo did not tell him every single thing that went through his mind, but Itachi had always thought it was enough. He’d even turned down a few plans from Danzo that he found too obstructive. 

Why release him, though, had he been planted with something, and sent back to the clan to instigate fighting, so Danzo had his reason to call for annihilation? It’s the wrong conclusion to come to, but Itachi doesn’t know who to trust, even Danzo is kept at arms’ length. This fatigue could be a ploy, and his expression shows his mind at work, brows furrowed thickly. 

“It isn’t like him to release.” He seeks a challenge, ignoring his Father’s fatigue, and his Mother’s worry and panic.