Light our Shadows

Ch 26: Whats taking so long?

"What's taking me so long?" Little Sasuke complained his bowl of tomatoes long since finished. Little Naruto was struggling to keep his eyes open beside him. His head bobbing up each time he almost nodded off. 

"I don't know." Little Naruto rubbed at his eye. He leaned slyly over to Sasuke. "Think you got scared?"

"Of what?" Little Sasuke's eye twitched. "I was winning!" Little Sasuke exclaimed arms and legs outstretched in front of him to emphasize his point. He pouted as his limbs swung back down. He leaned on his hands that gripped the front porch.

"No." Fugaku denied, tone firm and scolding,  arms crossed where he sat on a large rock. His clothes still damp from his dip in the koi pond. "You weren't."

"Yes I was!" Little Sasuke snapped in protest before he seemed to realize who he just yelled at. Fugaku's angry stare bore into little Sasuke's very soul. His eyes widened minutely before he shrunk in on himself, averting his eyes. He spoke again, quieter. His polished nails dug into the porch wood. "I was..."

Fugaku eyes slid closed in silent disagreement.

Little Sasuke pressed his lips together. Eyebrows furrowed. His head bent to hide his eyes behind his bangs. His urge to argue further festered. But unlike his older self, he didn't have the courage to let the words fly.

Mikoto smacked Fugaku upside the head with a towel she got him from inside. Fugaku winced. He glared at his wife before the towel descended over his face and hair. Mikoto using the guise of drying him off to shut him up. Something that Fugaku would likely be pissed about later. But she didn't care. She didn't want to hear it. Sasuke was six for goodness sake and Kage Naruto's words about her standing idly, well...they were getting to her.

"Sasuke," Mikoto slowly ran the towel back over her husbands hair as she spoke to her son. "What your father means is that it was too early in the match to decide such a thing. That's all."

"But how can it be too early if grown up Naruto said I was gonna win before the match even started?"Little Sasuke demanded.

"You shouldn't believe everything he tells you." Fugaku denied working his way out from under the cloth.

"Hey!" Little Naruto objected. "Are you calling me a liar?"

"No." Fugaku denied. "I'm calling your older self a fool."

"Oh." Little Naruto blinked. Before he got up all huffy. "Why I oughtta-"

"What the hell are you doing?" Little Sasuke caught his arm jumping to his feet to stop him. "Sit down, Naruto."

"No way!" " Little Naruto denied shaking him off. "If your older self's not giving us a fight we're gonna make our own entertainment! Get off your ass old man! I'll beat you real good before grown Sasuke gets the chance! I'll show you who the real fool is! Here's a hint! There's no way it's any of me!"

"You loser. You're just going to prove how stupid you are by picking a fight with him. Naruto, stop this. You've got no chance of beating him by yourself." Sasuke tugged him back. "You can't even make a clone right!"

"So what? You think that'll stop me? I-I don't need a clone. I've got you!"

"What!?" Sasuke took an uneasy step back from him.

"Oh Cmon, Sasuke! This waiting's so boring it's putting me to sleep. It's bugging you too! Time for some action. You can get in on it! Me and you -we can fight him together! Whadda ya say?"

Little Naruto held out his fist.

"I..." Little Sasuke was uneasy. He couldn't fight his father. But Naruto was so dead set...he couldn't let the blonde fight him alone either. He'd get pulverized by himself.

Little Sasuke's eyes trembled.

What should he do?

"That's enough." Fugaku rose from the rock. "There will be no more of this foolery. I'm not fighting you children. Your older selves have tested my patience as it is. I'm calling it a night."

Just then the grown versions reappeared. Kage Sasuke and Naruto teleporting straight into Fugaku's path.

"Alright," Sasuke glared at Fugaku. "Are we doing this or what?"

"That was a long stroll." Fugaku glowered.

"We stopped for a drink." Sasuke rested a hand on his hip. "Wanted to give you some time to reflect."

"Well wasn't that generous." Fugaku narrowed his eyes.

"Mm, I'd say it was. Mini Naru's still here. That's good. Now I don't have to sever your head from your shoulders and shove it up your corpse's ass."

"Thank you for the mental image." Itachi sighed coming out of the house. He'd gone to collect pillows and blankets for so the kids could have a more comfortable seating arrangement.

"You're welcome." Sasuke was unbothered. The Uchiha had sat in his husbands embrace for over an hour. It took him a while to muster up the strength to come back. It took some serious mental fortitude. But he was here. He was ready to finish this fight and show his father what he was truly capable of.

"Now are we going to stand here?" Sasuke tilted his head. "Or are we going to resume the spar?"

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Alrighty! Next chapter is Fugaku vs Sasuke pt2! Let's go! Let's go! So excited! Stay tuned for more! Hope you liked this chapter! If you have any questions or anything for me feel free to ask and I'll be happy to answer!