Dan knew that if he stayed, he'd just be a third wheel.
So after glancing at Itachi, he said to Izumi, "Hey, young lady, my nephew isn't feeling well. Could you take him home?"
Izumi froze for a moment, then nodded vigorously. "O-okay."
"Sorry for the trouble."
Dan left it at that, patted Itachi on the shoulder, then turned and strode off.
Under the streetlights.
Itachi and Izumi met each other's gaze, then both looked away, falling silent.
After a moment, Itachi was the first to speak:
"I'm sorry. If my uncle scared you just now, I hope you won't take it to heart. He's always been like that."
"It's okay. Dan is really funny."
Izumi covered her mouth and giggled softly.
Then she noticed Itachi's clothes, and her eyes lit up. "Wow, what a cute cartoon T-shirt! Itachi, I didn't expect you to wear something like that."
"These were my uncle's clothes when he was a kid." Itachi blushed as he explained.
"Hey, what happened to your teeth? Did you have one pulled, or are you feeling unwell?"
Noticing that Itachi had a lisp, Izumi stepped closer and asked with curiosity and concern.
"I accidentally chipped it myself." Itachi was so embarrassed that he came up with a flimsy excuse to cover it up.
"Ha ha ha." Izumi had never seen him like this before, and she laughed happily, her eyes curving into crescents.
After exchanging a few pleasantries.
The two of them headed toward a small park in the Clan Compound without needing to say a word.
They walked for a while.
"I'm sorry about what happened last time. I shouldn't have said those things to you," Itachi apologized again.
"Not at all! I'm the one who made things awkward for you." Izumi quickly waved her hands and apologized to Itachi too.
Some time ago.
Itachi had asked Izumi why she wanted to become a ninja. He'd also told her that a girl like her shouldn't have to experience the horrors of the ninja world.
Izumi had gotten angry. She said she wanted to become a ninja because of her father, then gathered her courage and told Itachi that she wanted to walk the same path as the person she liked.
It had been a confession.
But Itachi hadn't responded.
In the end, Izumi had left in tears, and the two of them had parted on bad terms.
Now the two young people had finally made up.
"By the way, I've become a Genin."
Izumi smiled and pointed to the Forehead Protector on her forehead, but soon pouted and complained, "It's so boring, though. My missions are either taking care of the Daimyo's wife's pet cat or helping officials from the Land of Fire move."
"All ninjas start out that way," Itachi said.
When he learned that Izumi's missions were all harmless, he didn't know why, but he finally felt relieved and at ease.
They walked along, chatting and laughing happily.
Itachi thought Izumi was gentle, kind, and understanding, much like his mother, Uchiha Mikoto.
But then.
When they talked about Itachi joining the Anbu, Izumi suddenly said she was scared—scared that Itachi would leave her behind and drift farther and farther away.
As they talked.
Izumi finally lost control of her emotions. She leaned against Itachi's chest and sobbed quietly.
For a moment, Itachi didn't know what to say. All he could do was wrap his arms gently around Izumi and wait for her to calm down.
"I'm not going anywhere."
That was what he said.
Probably... he added silently.
Itachi looked up at the sky. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, its pure light falling across his face.
Lately.
His uncle, and Izumi—these people who had entered his life were like moonlight breaking through the clouds, shining into his heart.
And the heart that had once been as still as a quiet well began to ripple.
Dan strolled around for a while, then returned to the alley where the Fitness Gym was.
Hmm?
He suddenly sensed several gazes from the darkness behind him. They lingered on him like needles, then quickly slipped away.
They're already getting ready to make a move? That old bastard Danzo must be furious.
Without looking back, Dan pretended not to notice and pushed open the gym door.
"I'm leaving the village tomorrow to take care of something. I'll be gone for a while. You should take a few days off and get some rest."
He found Samui and gave her a few instructions.
"Sure. Thanks, Gym Director."
Samui looked pleased, putting on an act of excitement about her days off.
Is the Gym Director going out to make money again?
Samui was curious, but she had tried following Dan once and failed, so she didn't dare take that risk again.
She had initially thought Dan only lifted weights and worked out, but after seeing him in action, she'd begun to suspect how he made his money.
He was probably a bounty hunter or something like that.
Their conversation.
Every word was overheard by the Root Ninja hiding outside the gym.
"Perfect chance. We'll follow Uchiha Dan out of the village tomorrow and make our move somewhere deserted," one of them said in a low voice.
The Root Ninja exchanged glances and came to an agreement.
The night passed quietly.
Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten and Konoha's streets were still nearly empty, Dan headed out.
He wore a loose black cloak and a Bamboo Hat, hiding most of his face, and quickly made his way toward the village gates.
Two hours later.
Itachi arrived.
He had the day off, so after taking his younger brother Sasuke to the Ninja Academy, he headed to the Fitness Gym early. He was worried Danzo might send someone to cause trouble for his uncle.
Oddly enough.
As Itachi walked down the alley, he found it unusually quiet. The gazes that usually watched him from the shadows had all vanished for some reason.
He soon noticed.
A sign saying "Temporarily Closed" hung on the gym, while Samui, wearing gloves and holding a towel, cleaned the windows outside.
"Itachi, you're here early today."
Samui looked surprised to see him. "The Gym Director had to go out on business. He won't be back for a while. But he specifically told me you could come and go as you please and use any of the equipment inside."
As she spoke, she took off her gloves and came over, ready to open the door for Itachi.
But Itachi's expression changed, and he hurriedly asked:
"When did my uncle leave?"
"He left early this morning. Why? Is something wrong?" Samui asked, sensing that something was off.
"It's nothing."
Itachi didn't want to worry Samui, so he changed the subject. "Are you free this afternoon? My mother asked me to tell you she wants to go shopping with you."
With that, he turned and left at once, heading for the Root Underground Base as fast as he could.
Ten minutes later.
At the entrance to the Root Underground Base.
"Stop!" Two Root Ninja blocked Uchiha Itachi's way and refused to let him enter.
Itachi said nothing and simply revealed his Sharingan.
Clang, clang, clang!
After a brief clash of Kunai and Ninja Sword, the two Root Ninja fell unconscious in front of Itachi.
Stepping past the injured men, Itachi strode into the base and soon found Danzo.
"Lord Danzo, please don't go after my uncle."
The moment he saw Danzo, he dropped to one knee and bowed his head, pleading with him.
Itachi had complicated feelings about Dan.
But no matter what, Dan was his uncle. With his family in danger of being killed by Root, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Itachi, you're too late."
Leaning on his cane, Danzo shook his head and said coldly, "By now, Uchiha Dan is already dead."
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