Crossroads (A Naruto Fanfiction)

A Father's Thoughts

I was already at the bottom of the pond by the time I realized what just happened and did the worst thing in my situation - I breathed. Water filtered into my lungs and a piercing pain erupted from the back of my head as I thrashed about, trying to go back up to where I could see the light of the sun peeking through the water's surface. But in my panicked state and lack of swimming abilities, everything was fruitless. Then, my body stopped moving. I was suffocating, my vision going dim.

.

.

.

Thirty seconds. That was the maximum amount of time he was leaving his son helpless underwater. Cruel as it was, Fugaku knew what he was doing. Satsuki wasn't aware of the power within him, entirely unknown and never seen before.

People could form water sprouts and breathe fire and have eye power that could change the world for crying out loud. However, what he felt from Satsuki that day was like nothing he had ever felt or seen before. It was overwhelming to the point where he himself became defensive of his own son's chakra, and it just so happens that the Anbu sub-group, Root, was also there to witness it.

And so here he was, after weeks of being pressured by the council to show them the power upfront, and this was the most efficient way to do it. A replay of how he had fallen into the water as before, feeling his life endangered enough to unlock his hidden weapon. Fortunately - more unfortunately - it worked.

Fugaku had his matured Sharingan locked onto the water where there was a faint glow starting to burn brighter and brighter, and he only just became aware of the presence of two others hidden away in the foliages ontop the tree at the next training ground. They all watched closely, committing every small detail to memory when their vision blurred as a large water sprout erupted from the depths of the pond.

His son floated at the epicenter, his lower body covered in circling water like a small typhoon. Satsuki's eyes shined an ethereal white as he stared at Fugaku as if he could see through his very own soul.

With all his senses heightened, he sprung forward to incite a reaction out of this phenomenon and to better understand its capabilities. He threw kunai at high speeds which were easily deflected by the motion of the water sprout. He jumped high enough to reach the height of the sprout and his son tracked him effortlessly. Satsuki raised an arm and flicked his wrist and with the movement came a water whip which lashed out towards where Fugaku was headed.

Fugaku shun-shinned back to the ground in time to avoid the water whip, but almost immediately after the tip of his foot touched the ground, Satsuki's hand twisted again, which turned the solid dirt ground into sand and almost encaptured Fugaku's foot had he not felt it shift in time to jump to the side.

Fugaku wasn't troubled by this amount of hostility. The attacks could be noticed with his Sharingan and experience, but he also understood that this wasn't everything his son's power had to offer. Perhaps Satsuki wasn't pushed enough.

He could control water and earth. What else could there be?

Fugaku quickly rushed through hand signs in the blink of an eye. "Water Style: Great Cannonball Jutsu!" Fugaku's words were matched with a torrent of heavy forceful water spraying straight from his mouth to the water sprout. With an equal amount of force put together it canceled each other out. Flash stepping to his son's falling form, he grabbed his collar again and flung him to land on the ground before the boy could fall back into the pond.

Fugaku stood atop the water and continued to observe Satsuki who was reflexive enough to flip upright midair. The air pushed upwards as he floated down to soften the landing.

Fugaku understood at that point that his son could control the elements. If water, earth, and air were included, then fire was also in the set. This was basic. It was an obvious thought to have when you live in a world filled with power. This was just the outer surface of his son's abilities. This power would develop with use and evolve into something completely...

Fugaku wasn't going to lead his thoughts anywhere further. He wasn't happy about this development at all. He already has one prodigal son set for early graduation. How can he let his younger one be pushed into the pressures of becoming a valuable asset? He was a father. It was in his blood to protect his children.

Just how much can he protect them from?... He didn't know. He was too scared to know.

After confirming what he could at the moment, Fugaku quickly knocked Satsuki out. The blue glow in his eyes faded and the intimidating chakra around him dispersed. Fugaku looked over to where the two presences remained, but refrained from calling them out as they were people he didn't need to worry about.

Rin and Kakashi were no doubt taken aback by the fight that had just taken place, but they weren't surprised. Having seen it once before made them find everything else normal in life. A four-year-old winning against a jounin level Mist-nin cuffed the final nail in the coffin.

"I wonder if Minato - sensei's really willing to take him in," Rin said with her tone almost a whisper.

"With the war ending, he wouldn't have to worry about us being sent to near-suicidal missions anymore. Obito kind of messes that relief up a bit." Kakashi replied.

Rin glanced at her teammate and said hesitantly, "He says Obito's alive."

Kakashi stood from his crouch on the branch. "If he isn't, at least we'll have a chance to find his body." That's what he said, but for some reason, he couldn't help but believe in Satsuki's words. It was as if his mind already knew this to be fact. He couldn't understand why.

With one final glance to Fugaku carrying his son away, they both disappeared.