Itachi and Izumi

Sunlight spilled onto the streets of Konoha, where a bustling crowd flowed back and forth. Naruto and Menma were strolling leisurely through the streets; Naruto wore the forehead protector gifted by Uchiha Mikoto, and he was still muttering, trying to convince Menma to put on the spandex suit Might Guy had given him.

"Menma, are you really not going to wear it? It was a gift from Guy-sensei, think of how youthful it is!" Naruto persisted, unwilling to give up.

Menma rolled his eyes at him. "Brother, if you like it so much, you wear it. I'm not wearing that."

Ever since their birthday, Naruto had worn the forehead protector from Uchiha Mikoto every single day. Beyond that, he would occasionally wear the spandex suit from Might Guy and demand that Menma wear one too.

However, Menma had flatly refused. There was no other reason than it being too tacky; he couldn't even imagine how ridiculous they would look if they both wore it out.

Just as the two were bickering, Menma's gaze was suddenly drawn to two people ahead. It was Uchiha Itachi and a pretty young girl; Menma recognized her as Uchiha Izumi.

Itachi maintained his usual calm and steady demeanor, while Izumi carried a faint shyness, her eyes drifting toward Itachi unconsciously.

"Isn't that Brother Itachi? Who is the girl next to him?" Naruto saw them too and asked curiously.

"Who knows? It looks like she has a very special relationship with Brother Itachi!" Menma whispered.

They watched as Itachi and Izumi walked into a ninja tool shop, so they quietly followed them inside. The shop was filled with various tools, and Itachi was carefully selecting shuriken while Izumi watched him gently from the side, occasionally offering a suggestion.

"Itachi, the weight of this shuriken suits you well," Izumi said softly.

Itachi nodded slightly. "Mm, I feel the same."

Menma pulled Naruto behind a row of ninja tools to secretly observe them. He noticed that the look in Izumi's eyes as she watched Itachi was filled with a special emotion—it wasn't just the camaraderie of friends, but more like a young girl's secret crush.

After leaving the tool shop, Itachi and Izumi walked into a dessert shop. Menma and Naruto followed and sat down in a corner outside the shop.

Through the window, they saw Izumi smiling as she pushed a piece of cake toward Itachi. Itachi hesitated for a moment before accepting it and taking a bite. Izumi's eyes were full of joy; she seemed to relish the moment of watching Itachi eat.

A plan formed in Menma's mind, and he said to Naruto, "Brother, let's go help them out."

"Help with what?" Naruto looked confused.

"Look at the way that big sister is looking at Brother Itachi. She definitely likes him. Let's go play matchmaker," Menma explained.

With that, Menma dragged Naruto into the dessert shop. They walked up to Itachi and Izumi's table, and Menma feigned surprise. "Brother Itachi, what a coincidence! You're here too. And who is this big sister?"

Itachi frowned slightly when he saw them, but he quickly returned to his calm self. "Oh? This is Uchiha Izumi. She is not only my clansman but also my classmate."

Menma smiled and said, "Hello, Sister Izumi. Are you and Brother Itachi good friends?"

Izumi's face flushed slightly. "Yes, we are very good friends."

Menma blinked, then looked at Uchiha Itachi, holding up his pinky finger with a mischievous grin. "You really can't underestimate Brother Itachi. Sister Izumi, isn't Brother Itachi your 'this'?"

(Note: The pinky finger implies a boyfriend.)

Izumi's face turned even redder at these words. She glanced at Itachi and noticed a hint of unnaturalness on his face, which was also slightly flushed.

Naruto seemed to grasp Menma's intention as well. He chimed in, "Yeah, Sister Izumi, you and Brother Itachi look like a perfect match."

Itachi coughed. "You two brats, stop talking nonsense."

Menma wasn't afraid. He continued, "Brother Itachi, Sister Izumi is so good to you, you can't let her down."

At this, Izumi lowered her head in shyness. Itachi looked at her, his expression shifting. He said to Menma and Naruto with some embarrassment, "Izumi and I are just ordinary friends. It's not the relationship you're talking about."

Menma and Naruto both smirked upon hearing this. Naruto laughed and said to Itachi, "Brother Itachi is shy!"

Hearing this, both of their faces turned even redder. Itachi gripped the hem of his shirt tightly, wanting to say something to explain, but he didn't know what to say.

Izumi also kept her head down, occasionally stealing a glance at Itachi. She was panicking inside; after all, Itachi hadn't noticed her feelings, but now two children had pointed it out right in front of him.

Seeing this, Menma knew they couldn't stay any longer, so he made up an excuse and took Naruto away.

After Naruto and Menma left, a subtle silence fell over the shop. Izumi looked up at Itachi, the affection in her eyes even more apparent. Itachi looked at Izumi as if he were truly examining this girl who had always been by his side for the first time.

Itachi's heart felt tangled. He didn't know what to say. After a long while, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke to Izumi: "That... Izumi... shall we... go for a... walk later?"

Itachi asked nervously. Izumi felt a bit nervous herself upon hearing this; she didn't speak, just nodded slowly, looking like a shy little girl.

Seeing this, Itachi breathed a sigh of relief and began eating his cake. Once they finished, they stood up to leave the shop, only to run into Naruto and Menma, who had been waiting outside.

Naruto and Menma looked at Itachi and Izumi with wide grins. The two older ones blushed even deeper, both feeling too nervous to speak.

Just then, someone walked over and, seeing the scene, asked, "Naruto! Menma! What are you doing here?"

Naruto and Menma turned around, and upon seeing who it was, they waved in greeting.

"Oh, it's Kiba? Where are you headed?" Naruto asked, looking at Kiba.

Kiba replied, "Going to the clearing to hang out. Want to come?"

Naruto looked at Kiba excitedly. "Sure! Let's go!" Naruto said, grabbing Menma's hand and running off.

Menma had originally wanted to see what would happen between Itachi and Izumi—like a confession or something—and he was a bit unhappy about being dragged away by Naruto.

After all, compared to playing with a few kids, he preferred to watch the drama. This was a rare opportunity, and he didn't want to miss it.

As Menma was dragged away by Naruto, he couldn't help but keep looking back at Itachi and Izumi. He saw them standing there, still blushing, exchanging a glance.

Kiba looked at Naruto in confusion, then at Menma, who was being dragged along. Kiba scratched his head. "Why are they acting so weird, keep looking back?" Saying this, he followed their gaze and saw Itachi and Izumi.

"Yo! It's Brother Itachi!" Kiba called out in greeting, then suddenly noticed Izumi beside him, and in an instant, it was as if he understood everything.

After Naruto and Menma reached Kiba, the three of them looked toward Itachi and Izumi.

Itachi and Izumi felt even more awkward under the gaze of the three. Izumi lowered her head further, while Itachi gave a light cough, trying to say something to break the tension.

Menma noticed the awkwardness of the situation and had no choice but to beckon Naruto and Kiba toward an open space, leaving the area to the two of them. After all, who wouldn't feel shy being stared at by three kids like that?

After the trio had moved a distance away, Kiba leaned in toward Naruto and Menma, asking with a gossipy expression, "What's the deal with them? Something feels fishy."

Menma said smugly, "Well, obviously. Izumi likes Itachi."

Kiba's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Whoa, that's intense! So, are they a thing yet?"

Naruto scratched his head and said, "I don't know yet, but looking at them, I feel like there's a chance!"

Hearing this, Menma only felt helpless; he hadn't expected Kiba to be even more gossipy than himself.

After the three left, Itachi and Izumi continued strolling through the streets of Konoha. Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere was quiet to the point of awkwardness.

Suddenly, a butterfly landed on Izumi's shoulder. Izumi was slightly startled and raised her hand gently to shoo it away. Seeing this, Itachi reached out and, with a gentle motion, helped Izumi chase the butterfly away. Their hands brushed against each other inadvertently, and both of their faces turned red in an instant.

Izumi lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito's hum: "Thank you." Itachi looked at Izumi, his heart inexplicably racing. He took a deep breath, gathered his courage, and said, "Izumi, actually... I have always cared about you, too." Izumi looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.

But just then, Sasuke ran over. Upon seeing Itachi, Sasuke pestered him to teach him training.

Itachi looked at the Sasuke clinging to him, feeling both helpless and guilty. He had just gathered the courage to confess his feelings to Izumi, but with this interruption, the words that had reached his lips were swallowed back down.

Izumi looked at the suddenly appearing Sasuke, a flash of disappointment crossing her eyes, but she quickly returned to her gentle smile.

"Sasuke, why are you here?" Itachi said softly. Sasuke said with an expectant look, "Brother, I want you to teach me training."

Itachi looked at Izumi, then at Sasuke, his heart deeply conflicted. Izumi seemed to notice Itachi's dilemma and said gently, "Itachi, you go accompany Sasuke first; training is very important for him."

Itachi gave Izumi a grateful look and said to Sasuke, "Alright, then brother will go accompany you for training now." Sasuke jumped up in excitement.

Itachi turned back to Izumi and said, "Izumi, let's continue our conversation after I finish teaching Sasuke." Izumi nodded with a smile, watching the backs of Itachi and Sasuke as they gradually walked away, her heart filled with both disappointment and a faint anticipation for their future conversation.