Ibiki's daughter

16: The Uchiha Family

Author's POV

Right after the Academy, Jolin and Sasuke teamed up to go find resources in the library.

"Found something!" Jolin cheered quietly, while bringing over some books to their table. She had about six volumes about physical and mental interrogation.

"Great! This can be used as a foundation," Sasuke agreed. " But there aren't any books about the Sharingan....."

"That's probably because your clan is special and noble. They won't likely just have books out in the open about their eye techniques and such," Jolin said. "Do you have anything from your family?"

"I found a few scrolls and books in my father's office," Sasuke said, placing them on the table. She gaped at the mountain of scrolls Sasuke offered. 

Talk about an impressive pile.....

"Okay then. Let's start off with a thesis and an outline," Jolin said. Sasuke was a quicker and neater writer than Jolin, so he scribbled down the drafts while Jolin said them and edited along the way.

Two hours later, both children were buried deep in their reading. Note cards were written and piled up in several neat stacks. Pages were turned, and scrolls were unrolled. Everyone that passed by their table was amazed to see two young children able to read such complicated writings. Even the librarian gave them even more material to look through for their report.

"We've got pretty much everything," Sasuke said, making sure to gather his father's books.

"Yeah. We went through books, magazine articles, and professional journals," Jolin agreed, marking off their checklist. "We just need to go visit some interrogation sessions then."

"Yeah. My dad's busy, and my big brother isn't home either, so can we go see your dad's place first?"

"Sure. I'll asked my dad about it."

"Cool! Let's go!" Sasuke exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Jolin agreed.

The two kids ran towards the interrogating building and signed in before heading towards Ibiki's Truth Room. Sasuke wasn't afraid of these kind of sessions, and Jolin could handle this ever since she was two. The children watched from outside the room through the one-way glass mirror. Ibiki started the torture session, and the two children took notes.

(Oh sure, let's give the Academy students a detailed process of physical torture. That's smart.)

"Then he's going to use that blade to cut him if he doesn't answer his question again," the Chunin told the children while they were all watching the torture session continue on. "If you aim over there on his left arm, it's extremely painfully and even more painful when you rub in salt, which Ibiki-san might do."

The children watched fascinated as Ibiki did exactly what the Chunin had said.

"Hmmmm," Sasuke hummed.

"Cool," Jolin said with a straight face. Inside, she was literally jumping around in awe.

All too soon, Sasuke checked the time. 5:00 PM was time for him to leave.

"I kind of feel like we're missing something....." Jolin spoke to Sasuke who was leaving the building.

"Same.....I've got to go now, but I'll work on it tonight!" Sasuke called back to Jolin, while dashing off towards his home. Jolin sighed and went towards the library again. She flopped in an empty chair to think.

What were they missing.....?

Meanwhile, Sasuke was in his way home. Hopefully, after his father realizes he is doing an important research project. Then maybe he will say, 'you are my son indeed,' something that his father often said to Itachi, his older brother.

As Sasuke entered his home, while yelling the custom greeting, he saw his older brother's shoes already there. He could hear voices in the living room and crept silently towards there. He listened silently against the door.

"Well done, Itachi," Fugaku praised his older son, breaking Sasuke's heart. Awe, poor Sasuke. "You are my son indeed." Sasuke couldn't handle it anymore and sneaked away. He kissed his mother hello, hiding his pain.

"How was school today?" Mikoto (his mom) asked cheerfully. Sasuke reached for a fresh tomato, his favorite treat.

"It was pretty easy. Like usual. I have a research project of my choice, but it has to do something with ninja missions!" Sasuke bubbled, momentarily forgetting his father's hurtful words.

"Is it? That's good," his mother said, ruffling his hair. Sasuke beamed at his mother's words, but stopped eating the tomato, when his father and older brother came in to the kitchen.

"Um, hello, Father, Itachi-nii-san," Sasuke greeted. Fugaku merely nodded and spoke to his wife quietly, but Itachi took a seat next to his younger brother and poked his forehead.

"Hello, Sasuke," Itachi said, smiling. Sasuke pouted, but suddenly remembered to return the books and scrolls to his father.

"Um, excuse me, Father," Sasuke said shyly holding out the books and scrolls. Fugaku turned to regard him silently, almost coldly. Sasuke squirmed, but hung onto his last drop of confidence and squeaked, "Thank you for letting me borrow the books and scrolls for my school project, and I want to return them....." Sasuke didn't know what else to say.

Fugaku narrowed his eyes. "Continue like this and become like your brother." Was all he said and left the kitchen.