A/N – Because I struggle to see how Mikoto was as sweet as she was portrayed if she was backing the coup d'etat. Naruto = not mine.

Mikoto does not scream when her husband's throat is slit. The scene before her seems more surreal than terrifying, his eyes blank and limp body bowing in regret towards the door. Uchihas do not scream, the cold voice of her wrinkled mother reminds her, and she should do so well to remind Sasuke of it to, next time his small sweaty hand clings onto her kimono, whimpering about the bruises on his body. You're going to be a ninja one day Sasuke, not a blacksmith or a doctor, and not even your mother can kiss better every wound you will receive.

Itachi does not scream, he never does. Fugaku's blood is wet and warm, running off his blade down her breast, and in the most inappropriate of ways she bites back a sigh. Maybe Itachi does not scream because he is the one holding the katana to her throat, but she thinks she knows better.

Itachi is itching to scream, with every fibre of his body he is struggling to hold back a long brutal wail from climbing up his throat. Poor young Itachi, her protégé son, he hasn't a violent bone in his body. But here he is, beautiful, standing in his father's blood with a knife to her neck praying not to scream.

The blade swings and Mikoto swallows back her own.