At the teahouse, Itachi and Izumi sat together, sipping tea and chatting. Inari Shinji, Itachi's former teammate and now a server at the teahouse, kept them company.
"Senpai Shinji, the teahouse is so busy. You don't have to go out of your way to look after us," Itachi said to Inari Shinji.
Inari Shinji nodded and was just about to leave when she leaned close to Itachi's ear and teased him with a mischievous smile. "Look at you, kid. You're so young, but you already know how to take a girl on a date—and such a cute girl, too!"
Though Inari Shinji was whispering, she spoke just loudly enough for Izumi, seated across from Itachi, to hear.
In an instant, both Itachi and Izumi blushed, while Inari Shinji walked away looking pleased with herself. Clearly, teasing her juniors now and then was a lot of fun.
Itachi and Izumi sat in awkward silence for a while. Itachi was the first to compose himself, and he quickly changed the subject. "By the way, have you noticed anything strange happening within the clan lately?"
Izumi was taken aback, but soon recovered her usual expression. "Have I?"
Itachi nodded gravely. "Yes."
"Our clan is mainly responsible for the village's police work, but some of our clansmen still take missions outside the village."
"But lately, I've noticed that none of the clansmen who go on missions have taken another one after returning to the clan."
"Besides that, I've noticed quite a few unfamiliar faces around the clan compound."
"These are all very dangerous signs!"
Izumi thought for a moment, then smiled. "You're wrong about that. My brother took a mission and went out just a few days ago."
At Izumi's words, Itachi furrowed his brows even more deeply.
Itachi had already become a Chunin