In the past, during those years when the pressure was so overwhelming that it almost bent his back... He shouldered the entire Uchiha Clan future, interests, honors, and political bargaining chips in Konoha High Command.
Every decision is extremely important, and every compromise is accompanied by different voices within the clan. Fugaku Uchiha doesn't have the extra time, let alone the "qualification" and state of mind, to put down all the burdens like an ordinary father, purely to accompany his wife, to witness every moment of his daughter's growth, to respond to her when she acts coquettishly, and to provide guidance when she is confused.
He devoted all his energy to maintaining the survival and status of the family, so much so that he neglected the warm light at home waiting for his return.
He thought that the prosperity of the family was the best protection for his family, but inadvertently, he missed too much irreparable time.
And now... when the burden that weighed him down was completely lifted off in an almost cruel way - Uchiha no longer even belonged to the Konoha system. He had lost all the rights and responsibilities of Clan Head, and also lost that heavy mission.
He was finally "free" and finally had a lot of time. He wanted to go back and make up for his family, he wanted to be with his grown-up daughter, and he wanted to make up for the missed time between father and daughter...
However, he discovered with some despair that his daughter's eyes had already looked over his shoulder, and her eyes were full of eyes, shining brightly, and they were all filled with the figure of another male.
When my daughter was in the most pain and needed support and strength the most, it was the blond boy who rushed forward regardless, and in his seemingly reckless but extremely fiery way, he became the pillar and light of Satsuki.
He was sincerely grateful to Naruto for doing what he had failed to do as a father. Behind this gratitude was inevitably mixed with the deep loss of being a father and the strong blame for his past shortcomings.
At the same time, as a father, he realizes more clearly than anyone else that his daughter will eventually grow up, leave the wings of her parents, and build her own life and family.
This is the law of nature. Subconsciously, he has been avoiding this fact, as if not thinking that that day will never come.
And Naruto's solemn act of "booking the future" suddenly and mercilessly put the fact that he had been avoiding it clearly in front of him.
This caught him off guard, and even gave him a kind of jealousy that even he felt was a little childish - jealous that that boy could "own" his precious daughter's future so naturally and legitimately.
All kinds of complicated and unspeakable emotions - gratitude, self-blame, loss, reluctance, jealousy - were intertwined together, and eventually fermented into the childish "Jenga" revenge at the lunch table, and the insincere and deep-seated sentence at this moment - "... it's not because of him."
Of course, Mikoto can guess pretty much what Fugaku is thinking. She looked at her husband's tense face and gently stretched out her hand to cover his clenched fist.
"Husband... why do you always feel...Satsuki In your future life, you will be the redundant one?"
This sentence instantly hit the corner of Fugaku's heart. He raised his head suddenly and looked at his wife with wide eyes in surprise. Even he couldn't figure out his awkward thoughts. How could he be exposed so completely?
Seeing her husband's surprised expression, Mikoto couldn't help but feel helpless and laugh at the same time. They have been sharing the same bed for so many years, and even the two children are so old. If she can't figure out her husband's thoughts, then she is too slow.
She squeezed Fugaku's hand and continued to speak softly. "That child Satsuki never asked for 'compensation'. She needed you, and she always wanted you - as a father, I am truly happy for her and support her choice of you."
"Watching her gain happiness, when she needs to rely on, it becomes her most solid retreat, and when she chooses to spread her wings and fly... silently and peacefully guard her back. Isn't this what we as parents should and do best for her now?"
Mikoto looked out the window, her tone full of relief and trust. "...Satsuki In the future, the child Naruto will become a real family with us in the future. I believe that Naruto will take Satsuki to a broader and brighter future that we may not be able to give her personally. We should be happy for her."
Fugaku listened to his wife's words in silence, gradually loosened his clenched fists, and in turn tightly held Mikoto's warm hands. After a long time, he whispered something. "... Well. Thank you, Mikoto."
Facing her husband who finally relaxed, Mikoto didn't say anything more, she just stayed with him tenderly, enjoying the moment of tranquility and tacit understanding.
After a while, Mikoto seemed to have remembered something, and his tone became lighter, "Also, actually, I prefer my current life compared to when I was Mrs. Clan Head."
"Really?" Fugaku looked at his wife in surprise.
"Yes, of course." Mikoto smiled and nodded, his eyes falling on Fugaku's forehead - where he often frowned, now he finally relaxed completely.
It seems that after he was relieved of Clan Head's heavy burden, the pressure brought by responsibilities that far outweighed his power really dissipated a lot from him.
Seeing her husband's soothing eyebrows, Mikoto's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning and expectation. She came closer and spoke softly in a coquettish and probing tone.
"So... since Satsuki already has someone who can accompany her for the rest of her life..."
"I recently... suddenly had an idea."
"Thoughts?" Fugaku looked at his wife in confusion.
Mikoto's eyes are bright and full of tenderness and hope. "Hmm... should we... add a younger brother or sister to Satsuki?"
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