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"Izumi, what happened?"
Itachi's frown deepened as his dark eyes caught the faint glimmer of Izumi's newly awakened Sharingan.
He knew all too well the conditions under which the Sharingan manifested—emotional extremes born from fear, pain, or anger. The peculiar expression she wore moments ago confirmed as much, but the tears of joy streaming down her face now puzzled him even further.
"Could it be..."
A chill ran through his chest as an unsettling thought took root.
Izumi, meanwhile, hadn't yet realized what had just transpired. The lingering fear in her eyes faded, replaced by an embarrassed flush blooming across her cheeks. She looked away, wringing her hands nervously.
"It's nothing... I just got scared, that's all," she murmured, her voice timid.
"Was it Teacher Shinku's genjutsu?" Itachi asked gently, though he already suspected the answer.
Izumi nodded hesitantly, her gaze flickering back to him as though to reassure herself this moment wasn't another illusion.
Itachi exhaled quietly, piecing the situation together. Yuhi Shinku was known for his mastery of genjutsu—capable of weaving terrifyingly vivid scenarios that preyed on his students' deepest fears. Though Izumi must have realized it was an illusion, the emotional impact had clearly been too strong to ignore.
"What did you see?" he asked softly, though he already had an inkling.
Izumi hesitated, her fingers tightening around the hem of her sleeve. She didn't answer, but her silence spoke volumes. Itachi's chest tightened.
He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his voice steady and calm. "What you see now is real, Izumi. And now, you have eyes that can see through falsehoods."
Izumi blinked at him, startled. It took a moment for his words to sink in. Tentatively, she touched the space just beneath her eyes, sensing the subtle chakra flow pooling there. Her gaze darted around, noticing the sharp clarity of the world even under the dim evening light.
"My... Sharingan?" she whispered, realization dawning. Her eyes widened as she turned to him for confirmation.
Itachi offered her a small smile. "Yes."
For a moment, Izumi was stunned into silence. Then, the corners of her lips lifted in a mix of astonishment and relief. "I... I did it!"
Her voice trembled with emotion, though there was a bittersweet undertone to her joy. The Sharingan was a power borne from pain—a reflection of the Uchiha clan's burdens. Itachi could only imagine what memory from her past had triggered it.
"Izumi," he said quietly, his gaze softening, "the Sharingan is a tool—a powerful one. But it also consumes a lot of chakra. For now, you should turn it off until you've learned to control it."
She nodded quickly, focusing inward. With a faint flicker, the red hue of her eyes faded, returning to their natural shade.
"Can you teach me?" Izumi asked after a beat, her voice shy yet earnest.
Itachi paused, momentarily caught off guard. His mind flashed back to that fateful night when the masked man attacked the village—the night Izumi had likely seen his Sharingan for the first time. For years, she had never asked about it.
"I can," he said at last, his tone firm yet kind. "But only after your team assignments are settled. You have an early day tomorrow."
Her disappointment was fleeting, replaced almost immediately by a bright smile. "Thank you, Itachi. I'll work hard."
He nodded. "Good. Now, you should head home."
Izumi hesitated for a moment before turning to leave. Itachi watched her retreating figure, catching the faint shadow of longing in her eyes as she glanced back at him.
Before she could get far, he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
"I'll walk you back tonight," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Izumi blinked, her surprise quickly melting into warmth. She nodded eagerly, though her voice was quiet. "Thank you."
They walked in silence, the cool night air brushing against them. Itachi remained a step behind, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings as if keeping watch.
As they reached her doorstep, Izumi turned to face him, her cheeks pink once more. "Goodnight, Itachi."
He gave her a rare, soft smile. "Goodnight, Izumi."
---
For newly graduated genin like Itachi, missions were limited to simple D-rank tasks. These assignments often involved chores for civilians—picking up litter, finding lost pets, or assisting with mundane errands.
Itachi's team, led by Nara Shikaku, was no exception.
While other young shinobi grumbled at the monotony of such missions, Itachi approached each task with quiet diligence. To him, these seemingly trivial duties were opportunities to cultivate discipline and a stable mindset—qualities he considered vital for a true ninja.
Maintaining a calm and focused state of mind, even in moments of boredom or frustration, was something his father had often emphasized. Itachi took that lesson to heart.
This left him with ample free time in the days following graduation, and he used it wisely.
"Your Sharingan is a powerful tool," Itachi explained during one of his training sessions with Izumi. "But it's not a solution to every problem. It consumes a lot of chakra, and over-reliance can dull your instincts. Use it sparingly."
Izumi nodded, her brow furrowed in concentration. The small clearing they had chosen was secluded, allowing her to focus entirely on Itachi's guidance.
"Let's practice reading movements," he said, activating his Sharingan. The crimson glow of his eyes seemed to pierce through the dim light of the forest. "Watch carefully. Don't just react—predict."
Izumi's Sharingan flared to life as well. Though her single tomoe wasn't as developed as Itachi's, her determination to improve shone brightly. She mirrored his movements, pushing herself to keep up.
"Again!" she exclaimed after each mistake, refusing to let frustration overwhelm her.
As a month passed, their bond deepened through these shared moments of growth.
---
It had been weeks since Itachi's team had taken on anything beyond D-rank missions. Today, however, the air in the Hokage's office felt heavier than usual.
Standing before the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, were Shikaku and his three students—Itachi, Hattori Shinichi, and Kido Daisuke.
Minato's warm demeanor was tempered by a faint crease in his brow. "You've all done well so far," he began, his tone both encouraging and serious. "But today, I have a more important mission for you."
He picked up a sealed scroll from his desk, handing it to Shikaku. The experienced jonin opened it, his sharp eyes scanning its contents.
"A merchant caravan from the Fire Country's Chamber of Commerce was attacked by bandits," Minato explained, his voice heavy with concern. "Vice President Fujiwara reported that not only were the goods stolen, but all the guards were killed as well."
A tense silence settled over the room.
"The fact that every guard was eliminated suggests the bandits may have included ninja," Itachi remarked, his tone measured.
Minato nodded. "That's our suspicion. This is no ordinary group of thieves. Your mission is to track them down, recover the stolen goods, and neutralize any threats to the region's stability."
Shikaku folded the scroll and tucked it away. His calm yet authoritative presence reassured the young genin. "Understood, Hokage-sama. We'll set out immediately."
Minato's gaze lingered on Itachi, a flicker of concern crossing his usually composed features. "Be careful. This mission may be more dangerous than it appears."
"We won't fail," Itachi replied firmly, his voice steady and resolute.
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Author's Note: Hope you like it.
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Reviews and powerstones would be greatly appreciated.