"By the way, Izumi keeps pestering me, asking where you've been. It's not like you have anything important going on, so why do you keep avoiding her?"
Yoru asked the question suddenly, as if it were nothing.
Uchiha Izumi was one of the few female ninja in the clan to have awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
She had carried a torch for the unusually mature Itachi since their days at the Ninja Academy. Over time, they had grown so close they were practically a couple.
At the sound of Uchiha Izumi's name, Itachi stiffened almost imperceptibly.
His eyes had been fixed on the sea, calm as still water, but a complicated emotion flashed through their depths.
There was a moment of tenderness, followed by something that drew back as though wounded.
Uchiha Izumi.
The girl with the gentle smile, who always looked at him with admiration and affection.
Back in Konoha, Izumi had been one of the few bright spots in his dark, oppressive life. She had been part of the ordinary happiness he once wanted to protect.
And yet, even she, someone he had wanted to protect...
Izumi herself, along with her parents, her friends, and all those living, breathing faces...
He had once put them all on that cold list of people to eliminate.
For the sake of a greater peace, to protect Konoha, to protect his big brother and little brother...
Itachi had spent a long time stripping away his feelings and turning himself into a tool that carried out its mission.
He had even managed to convince himself that those sacrifices were necessary.
But now?
The crisis was over.
The clan had arrived in the New World intact.
His father, his mother, his big brother, Sasuke, Izumi...
They were all alive, breathing the air of the New World and working toward a new future.
But...
How was he supposed to face the clansmen he had once resolved to sacrifice?
How could he meet their eyes when they looked at him with recognition of his talent, or curiosity about the former clan head's son?
Every glance felt like a silent judgment to Itachi.
Least of all did he know how to face Izumi.
Her pure, unguarded concern and affection had become the cruelest reminder of all.
"I'm not avoiding her."
Itachi's voice remained calm. He offered no further explanation.
He avoided Yoru's gaze and looked back out at the endless sea.
"There are just some things I need to figure out for myself."
His tone held a deep weariness—not of the body, but of the soul.
"I know what you're thinking. Quit acting so brooding."
Yoru patted Itachi on the shoulder and said,
"Father probably guessed what you were planning to do that day, but no one else knows what was going through your head. It's over. You're still the Uchiha clan's prodigy."
Itachi said nothing.
It was true that no one else knew what had happened that day.
But did that matter? What mattered was that he knew what he had been prepared to do.
Yoru looked at his younger brother's tense profile and sighed.
He dropped the teasing tone and grew serious.
"Itachi."
Yoru's voice was low and firm. "I'm sure you don't need me to teach you the obvious. Just remember one thing."
He paused, then spoke with greater force.
"I don't care what you once thought about doing. None of it happened, and what never happened has no meaning!"
Yoru's voice was decisive, leaving no room for argument.
Itachi's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to object. But seeing the rare seriousness on his big brother's face, he swallowed his words.
Just then, a gentle, somewhat timid voice came from behind them.
"Itachi...? Clan Head Yoru?"
They turned together and saw Uchiha Izumi standing at the edge of the woods nearby.
Her hands were clasped nervously in front of her, and a faint blush colored her fair face. Her eyes held both delight at finding Itachi and unease at having interrupted the brothers.
She wore the Uchiha clan's clothing and stood straight-backed. She had clearly only recently finished training herself.
Understanding flashed in Yoru's eyes. He gave Itachi a firm pat on the back, as if to say, You're on your own.
Then he gave Izumi a warm smile.
"Izumi! Looking for Itachi? Perfect timing. He's hit a bit of a wall in his training and came out here for some sea air and inspiration. You two talk. I'll check on everyone else."
Before Itachi could refuse or escape, Yoru vanished from the cliff with a Body Flicker, leaving him alone with Izumi.
The cliffside fell quiet. Only the waves striking the rocks and the moan of the sea wind remained.
Izumi watched Itachi's back, then gathered her courage and slowly approached.
She could feel the distance he kept between them, colder than the sea wind. It hurt, but she spoke softly anyway.
"Itachi, you seem... really busy lately. I hardly ever see you."
Itachi remained rigid. He did not turn around. He did not even dare look into Izumi's clear eyes.
He was afraid he would see her worry for him.
"Yeah. There are some things... I need to think through alone."
His voice came out hoarse, the words barely forced past his throat.
Izumi stepped beside him and looked out at the sea, just as he did.
She did not press him. She simply stood there with him.
After a long while, she said quietly,
"This place really is different, Itachi.
"At first, I was scared and lost. But everyone's still here, and Clan Head Yoru found a way for us to settle down.
"We're learning new powers every day now. It's hard, but everyone's giving it their all."
She paused. Her voice grew even softer, with a faint tremor she could not quite hide.
"I know you must be carrying a lot—more than any of us realize, and heavier than we can imagine.
"But... please don't carry it all alone, okay?
"At least don't hide from me."
Izumi's words were as gentle as a feather, yet they touched the softest place in Itachi's heart—the one he was most afraid to face.
A rush of grief and self-loathing rose in his throat. Itachi squeezed his eyes shut, his nails digging deep into his palms.
He could barely hold back the flood of emotion.
"I'm sorry..."
The apology slipped from his lips, so quiet it was almost lost, yet laden with pain and guilt.
It was not only for Izumi. It was for every member of the clan, and for the person he had once been.
Izumi froze for a moment, then shook her head. Boldly, she reached out and gently took his clenched fist, trying to ease the tension from his fingers.
"You don't need to apologize, Itachi."
Her voice was gentle but firm. "We've left Konoha. We can start over."
Izumi did not know what had happened to Itachi.
But she had seen him struggle for years, caught between Konoha and the clan. She knew how much pain he was in.
The warmth and softness against his palm caught Itachi off guard, like a current of heat melting a corner of his frozen heart.
His rigid body trembled. The feelings he had forced down for so long threatened to break free.
He still did not turn around, but the hand Izumi held relaxed slightly. He did not pull away.
The sea wind stirred their hair and clothes. In the distance, faint shouts from the training ground mingled with the waves nearby.
"Kiss her already, you loser!"
"What's the point of just holding hands, you idiot!"
In a tree not far away, Yoru hid behind the thick leaves.
He grinned fondly while cursing Itachi for wasting his chance.
Wait. Something was wrong!
Yoru suddenly remembered something important.
Itachi was only thirteen this year, wasn't he?
Did this count as encouraging a minor to date?
Before you continue