Only then did Fugaku turn around and look at his son, whose face was pale, eyes brimming with tears and guilt.
The stern expression on his face melted like snow, giving way to a barely audible sigh.
He stepped forward and rested his broad, warm hand gently on Sasuke's trembling shoulder.
"It's all right now, Sasuke." Fugaku's voice had returned to its usual gentleness, though it carried a faint, almost imperceptible weariness. "Everything's all right now."
Sasuke lifted his head. Through his tears, he looked at his father's face, so close to his own, filled with concern and forgiveness.
In that moment, all his strength, all his stubbornness, all the cold defenses he had brought from another timeline crumbled.
The fear, guilt, and hurt he had held back for so long, along with the unexpected force of that profound fatherly love, surged through him like floodwaters breaking through a dam.
He could no longer hold back. He threw himself into his father's arms, wrapped his arms tightly around his sturdy waist, and buried his face deep in the familiar scent of his clothes. His shoulders shook violently as he let out muffled, almost whimpering sobs.
"I'm sorry... Father... I'm sorry... I was wrong... I was so wrong!"
He repeated the words incoherently, his scalding tears soaking Fugaku's clothes.
Fugaku Uchiha said nothing. He simply used his large, warm, strong hands to gently pat and stroke his son's slender back, over and over.
Moonlight fell softly over them, stretching the shadows of the father and son locked in an embrace. In the courtyard, the embers left by the torches occasionally spat out a spark, which quickly died.
The next day, the atmosphere at the Ninja Academy seemed inexplicably more oppressive than usual to Sasuke Uchiha.
Sunlight still streamed through the windows