Does This Count as Me Advising Minors Against Early Romance

"By the way, that Izumi's been pestering me lately, asking where you've been. You don't have anything important going on, so why keep dodging her?"

Yoru suddenly asked, as if casually.

Uchiha Izumi was one of the few female ninjas in the clan who had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Ever since their days at the Ninja Academy, Izumi had harbored a crush on the mature Itachi. As time went on, their relationship grew closer, almost to the point of being lovers.

At the mention of Uchiha Izumi's name, Itachi's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

In the depths of his eyes, which had been fixed on the sea like a still ancient well, a flicker of extremely complex emotion passed through.

A moment of softness, but more than that, a contraction as if from a wound.

Uchiha Izumi.

That girl with the gentle smile, who always looked at him with eyes full of admiration and affection.

In Konoha, she had been one of the few lights in his darkness and oppression, part of the ordinary happiness he once wanted to protect.

Yet, even she—the one he had wanted to protect.

Izumi herself, along with her parents, her friends, all those vivid faces.

Had once been listed on his cold elimination roster.

For the sake of greater peace, to protect Konoha, to protect his big brother and little brother.

Itachi had spent a long time stripping away his emotions, turning himself into a tool for carrying out missions.

He had even convinced himself that these were necessary sacrifices.

But now?

The crisis was resolved.

The clan had arrived intact in this New World.

Father, Mother, Big Brother, Sasuke, Izumi...

Everyone was alive, breathing the air of this new world, striving for a new future.

But.

How was he supposed to face those clansmen he had once resolved to sacrifice?

How could he meet their occasional glances—ones of recognition for a genius or curiosity about the former clan head's son?

Every exchange of looks felt like a silent trial to Itachi.

He had even less idea how to face Izumi.

Her pure, untainted concern and affection had now become the cruelest reminder to him.

"I'm not avoiding her."

Itachi's voice remained calm, with no further explanation.

He avoided Yoru's gaze and looked back out at the endless sea.

"There are just some questions I need to think through on my own."

His tone carried a deep weariness—not physical, but a fatigue of the soul.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't act so profound."

Yoru patted Itachi's shoulder, urging him.

"Aside from Father probably guessing what you planned to do that day, no one else knows your thoughts. It's all in the past. You're still the genius ninja of the Uchiha."

Itachi said nothing.

Others really didn't know about that day.

But did that matter? What mattered was that he knew what he had been about to do.

Yoru looked at his younger brother's tense profile and sighed.

He dropped his teasing tone and became serious.

"Itachi."

Yoru's voice was low and firm. "I believe you don't need me to teach you many principles. Just remember one thing."

He paused, emphasizing his words:

"I don't care what you once thought. None of it happened. What didn't happen has no meaning!"

Yoru's voice was decisive, carrying an unyielding tone.

Itachi's lips moved slightly, as if to argue, but seeing his big brother's rare serious expression, he swallowed his words.

Just then, a soft, slightly timid voice sounded from not far behind them.

"Itachi...? Clan Head Yoru?"

Both of them turned around. Uchiha Izumi was standing at the edge of the woods not far away.

Her hands were nervously clasped in front of her, a faint blush on her fair face. Her eyes held both the joy of finding Itachi and a hint of unease at interrupting the brothers' conversation.

She wore the Uchiha clan attire, her posture straight and tall, clearly having just finished her own training as well.

A flicker of understanding passed through Yoru's eyes. He patted Itachi on the back—not lightly, carrying a meaning of "figure it out yourself."

Then he turned to Izumi with a warm smile:

"Izumi, here to see Itachi? Perfect timing. This guy hit a bottleneck in his training and came to catch some sea breeze for inspiration. You two chat; I'll go check on how the others are doing."

With that, he gave Itachi no chance to refuse or escape. His form flickered, and he Shunshin'd away from the cliff, leaving Itachi and Izumi alone.

The cliffside fell quiet, leaving only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks and the moan of the sea breeze.

Izumi looked at Itachi's back, still turned toward her. Gathering her courage, she slowly walked over.

She could feel the cold detachment radiating from him, colder than the sea breeze. It made her heart ache, but she still spoke softly:

"Itachi... you've been busy lately, haven't you? I barely see you anymore."

Itachi's body remained stiff. He didn't turn around, didn't even dare to look into Izumi's clear eyes.

He was afraid of seeing her worry for him in them.

"Mm... there are some things I need to think about alone."

Itachi's voice was dry, almost squeezed out from his throat.

Izumi walked up beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder, and followed his gaze out to the sea.

She didn't press further, just quietly accompanied him.

After a long while, she spoke gently:

"This place really is different, Itachi.

At first, I was scared and lost, but everyone's still here. 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 full of drive."

She paused, her voice growing even softer, carrying a barely perceptible tremor:

"I know you must be carrying a lot in your heart—maybe more and heavier than any of us can imagine.

But... but please don't bear it all alone, okay?

At least don't hide from me."

Izumi's words were like a gentle feather, yet they struck precisely at the softest, most untouchable part of Itachi's heart.

A surge of bitter pain and self-loathing rose in his throat. Itachi's eyes snapped shut, his nails digging deep into his palms.

He could barely hold back the torrent of emotion.

"I'm sorry..."

A whisper, laden with immense pain and guilt, slipped from his lips.

This apology wasn't just for Izumi—it was for all his clansmen, for the person he used to be.

Izumi was momentarily startled, then shook her head. She boldly reached out and gently grasped his clenched fist, trying to soothe his tense fingers.

"You don't need to apologize, Itachi."

Her voice was warm and firm: "We left Konoha. We can start everything over."

Izumi didn't know what had happened to Itachi.

But over the years, watching him struggle in the gap between Konoha and the clan, she could clearly feel his pain.

The warmth and softness from her palm flowed into him like a warm current, unexpectedly melting a frozen corner of Itachi's heart.

His tense body trembled slightly. The emotions he had forcibly suppressed were nearly bursting their banks.

He still didn't turn around, but the hand Izumi held loosened just a fraction, not pulling away.

The sea breeze tousled their hair and clothes. In the distance, faint shouts from the training ground mingled with the sound of the waves.

"Kiss her already, you useless idiot!"

"Just holding hands? What the hell is that?!"

From a large tree not far away, Yoru hid behind the dense leaves.

A doting grin spread across his face, even as he cursed with frustration.

Wait, no!

Yoru suddenly remembered something important.

This kid Itachi was only thirteen this year.

Was he technically encouraging a minor to date early?