Something for Fugaku because the guy gets a bad rap in fanfic, he really does.

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I don't own Naruto.

Fugaku watches his son practising from the porch, noting his calmness, his steadiness: he has a talent far beyond what's expected of his age- or so say his teachers. Itachi's talent does not surprise Fugaku. He has known from the day Itachi was born that he would achieve great things.

He was a long-awaited child. For a while the medics had been convinced that some injury from Mikoto's active duty days was preventing her from conceiving; she and Fugaku had tried and failed for so long. It had been the cause of so much stress and heartache... some days they'd held strong and comforted each other; other days, it seemed like it was tearing them apart. And then one miraculous day, Mikoto fell pregnant.

To say it was plain sailing from that point on- well, that would be a lie, but Itachi brought them together again. They still argued- for there is no such thing as a perfect marriage, especially not amongst ninja- but the knowledge that they were bringing a child into the world gave them a common goal. On the day that Fugaku held his son in his arms for the first time, he knew it had all been worth it.

He'd cradled him in his arms, this tiny screaming creature- and all of a sudden he stopped crying and looked up. Fugaku remembered staring down into those ageless, newborn eyes and knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that the child in his arms would grow up to far exceed anything Fugaku has accomplished.

Today, he knows that he was right, and Fugaku is prouder than he would've believed possible. He knows it isn't easy growing up as the heir to a clan like the Uchiha, but Itachi is a true genius... just as he'd always known he would be.

Itachi hits a target dead on, and Fugaku claps. "As expected of my son," he says, smiling warmly, thinking of that moment all those years ago when he'd looked into dark proto-sharingan eyes and seen potential brimming behind them.

Itachi bows in acknowledgement of the compliment. "Thank you father."

"Very good, Itachi. But it's nearly lunchtime- why don't you take a break?"

He deserves a rest, he reflects, aware that sometimes he pushes Itachi too hard. He only wants to help him succeed, but it's important to give him his space as well, he reminds himself. He's always such a severe child- it would do him some good to relax for a while. Besides, he thinks with amusement, Sasuke would almost be looking for his brother by now.

Ah, Sasuke. Fugaku knows that he, too, will make him proud: he's a sweet boy, devoted to Itachi. Fugaku hopes that their relationship will always be as good as it is now; it's nice to think of his sons growing up with each other for support. They make a good team.

He knows he's not a perfect father, but he loves his sons with all his heart. He only wants what's best for them. The clan's relationship with the village is not particularly friendly right now, but he vows that that won't affect his sons.

He will do whatever it takes to ensure his children grow up loved and respected by the village; just as they deserve to be.