Satsuki frowned at the expression her mother made. "I'm sorry, Satsuki, but I won't be able to train you and Naruko today. Something came up—but don't worry. Kakashi and Yugao-kun both will take over for me today, and you'll be learning from them. Probably for a while," Mikoto explained, frowning mildly.
Uchiha Satsuki was a smart girl. Smarter than most gave her credit for, and people gave her a lot of credit. There was something odd and fishy that she could easily notice going on with her mother, and Satsuki wanted to get to the bottom of it. Despite being a girl of just nine, she was on the fast track for graduation already (admittedly, mostly because she refused to be scored below Naruko, who refused to be any less than the top of the class, otherwise she would've taken a much more leisurely pace with the academy), and it showed when she analyzed her mother's body language.
She was, in as few words as possible, twitchy. Nervous. Maybe a little angry. Her hands were moving, as if itching to go for the blade strapped to her thigh. Her eyes were scanning their surroundings. She was afraid? But of what? "What's going on?" Satsuki asked, plainly, knowing that bluntness would set her off balance and might let her get at more than she usually would.
"Nothing much," Mikoto said, shaking her head. "It's just a hard mission's coming up, and both me and your father are absolutely needed to go on it," she explained. "You don't mind sleeping over at Naruko-chan's, right?"
At this, Satsuki made a face. "With her? I'm shocked she'd even think of sharing one of her beds!" she said.
Mikoto chuckled. "She's a lot nicer than you think once you get to know her, Satsuki," Mikoto said, placing a hand on top of Satsuki's head. "I'll see if I can get your brother to pick you up tomorrow, okay? Just… stay until the mansion until then."
There was danger in the compound for her, Satsuki mused. There was most likely someone gunning after her.
The Hokage's mansion was protected by all sorts of seals and the best building materials. It was the safest place in Konoha short of the bunkers. "Okay."
Arguing would be pointless at this stage.
Satsuki merely hoped her parents made it out of whatever mess was going on okay.
***
Uchiha Satsuki did not return to her clan's compound the next day. Nor did she until the end of that week. It had been monday when she went to the Hokage's home, and saturday when she returned to the Uchiha Compound.
It was almost entirely empty.
As soon as Satsuki had thrown her stuff in her room, she ran off her house to go around asking people what had happened, and perhaps where her parents were. However, the moment she stepped outside her house, a rush of leaves and smoke heralded the appearance of a man clad in ANBU gear, with a dog-like mask covering his face. She recognized the shock of gravity defying silver hair, she would recognize it anywhere, and instantly knew that it was Hatake Kakashi under that mask.
"Your answers—they will come. Come with me," Kakashi said.
***
Satsuki had never visited the Hokage's office.
Not once.
It was a completely new place. She had seen the Hokage, from a distance, and even once up close when he'd come home miraculously early. He was a very handsome man, practically what she imagined Naruko would look like as an adult male. Right now, she saw another side of him. She had only seen the dotting, loving father who had looked at his daughter as if she was the only thing in the room, but now it was completely different.
He was a grave, serious and grim looking man. This was the Hokage's game face, which he showed only in the most stressful of situations. Satsuki's mother had once told her that for Konoha's enemies, the Hokage's scowl was usually the very last thing they saw, as he was notoriously terrible at taking his targets in alive for questioning. It was a frightening thing to behold.
Upon seeing her, however, his face softened… almost as if pity had overpowered him, and he sighed, looking sad. "Satsuki-chan… I can only offer you my condolences," he began.
As he explained, however, her day could only get worse and worse.
"The very same day that Mikoto sent you for a sleepover at my home, your clan, the Uchiha, started a military coup and rebellion with the objective of deposing me and stablishing their own leader as Hokage, for reasons that frankly baffle me, and were conflicting even within their ranks. The most common thread was that they felt insulted for the continued 'Senju Dynasty' that had been established as a result of the four choices for Hokage having been either Senju or Senju influenced. Regardless of the reasons, the matter is that they initiated a rebellion. Your father and mother, along with the handful of shinobi in the clan that remained loyal to myself and thus the village proper, mounted a counter assault, intending to nip the rebellion in the bud before it could become a problem. However, they were betrayed by two of their number."
At this, Satsuki blinked and hardly even noticed when she was seated on a chair by the ANBU shinobi on her left side, as she nearly collapsed, trying to make sense of what she was hearing. "N-No…"
"I'm afraid your father was killed immediately, and your mother suffered extremely severe wounds as a result of that betrayal. Her physical wounds healed, but… her mind was destroyed," the man explained, shaking his head. "The rebellion suffered severe losses, as well, and was wiped out as soon as the ANBU arrived to diagnose the commotion. Your parents died like heroes ought to, Satsuki," the Hokage said. "I am glad to have been able to call Mikoto my friend," he added.
Satsuki shook her head. "I have—," she began, before swallowing. "I have to see…"
"The Sandaime has offered to take care of all the funeral procedures, Satsuki… And I'd like to ask you if you'd want to live with me and Naruko for a little while…"
"No. I… I must go back to my compound. With father and mother gone, I am the head of the Uchiha clan."
Minato shook his head. "All shinobi from the clan are dead, Satsuki. You're the last. The civilian side of the Uchiha clan is lead by a council, is it not?"
At this, Satsuki nodded her head. "They are subject to me regardless," she said. "Shinobi-less or not, I'm still the Uchiha clan head."
With a sigh, Minato nodded. "Very well, then… if you need anything, any sort of help… just ask. If anyone gives you trouble, just come to me. I'll set them straight. Your parents were heroes, Satsuki, and don't let anyone convince you otherwise."