"Hm? Not bad… Even though you're afraid, you're not planning to run. That alone deserves some praise, young lady."
As he deliberately slowed his pace to increase the pressure, Fūgaku was surprised to find that Izumi, rather than fleeing, chose to collapse to the ground — not out of weakness, but to focus the last of her strength on holding his gaze without flinching. This unexpected display earned a flicker of approval in Fūgaku's eyes. Then, as he slowly bent down, he raised his arm — tense with visible muscles, clearly primed to deliver a fatal blow — and swung it toward the defenseless girl on the floor!
"But don't think this will reduce the punishment you deserve for your earlier disrespect… I'll now give you the discipline you've earned, young lady!"
So this is the power of Itachi's father... I don't even have the strength to dodge anymore. Is this it for me...?
Even as the force of that tiger-like fist bore down on her, Izumi stubbornly used the last of her strength to maintain eye contact with Fūgaku. Feeling the overwhelming pressure, she found herself reflecting not with regret or resentment, but on the warmth she felt earlier—when Itachi had desperately pleaded with his father on her behalf.
"Sorry, Itachi… I guess I really came at the wrong time today. But… seeing you so worried for me—it wasn't so bad~"
While Izumi had already resigned herself to the incoming blow, Itachi's eyes went wide with panic. His expression twisted, and with a flare of rage, he shouted:
"Stop it, Father!!"
He had sparred countless times with his father and knew full well how terrifying Fūgaku's strength was. Even without any signs of ninjutsu being used, he could sense that this punch—if it landed—was something Izumi could never withstand.
If she takes that blow head-on… even if Father holds back enough to spare her life, the injuries could still be unbearable!
I already failed to protect her once… I will not live through that feeling again!
Driven by desperation, Itachi abandoned any concern for the consequences of defying his father. He activated his Sharingan, using its power to resist the oppressive pressure radiating from Fūgaku, trying to regain control of his body as quickly as possible.
Hang on, Izumi. I won't let anything happen to you—not in front of me. Not even if it's Father!
Unbeknownst to him, in that desperate surge of emotion, his spinning Sharingan began to evolve—one of his black two-tomoe Sharingan began to split, advancing into a full three-tomoe form! The breakthrough brought a surge in power, and the crushing pressure from Fūgaku instantly lifted, freeing him from its paralyzing grip.
But Itachi didn't even register the breakthrough—his focus was entirely on Izumi.
"Stop! Don't—huh?! What… what's going on?!"
Just as he regained control and charged forward to shield Izumi, preparing to take the blow himself, the next twist hit like a lightning bolt. Itachi froze mid-stride, dumbfounded.
"Hmm. Very good. Not a single thought of running away, even at the end. And you were thinking only of Itachi… Looks like you barely passed the preliminary test."
Fūgaku's fist, previously howling with power, stopped mere inches from Izumi's face. His furious expression vanished in an instant, replaced with a faint smile. Gently, he reached out and helped the confused girl back to her feet, placing a warm hand on her head and giving her hair a gentle ruffle.
"Now then, let me announce your punishment—before you're old enough to hold a wedding, you must train hard to become a proper bride. Make sure you're worthy of marrying my son, Itachi."
"The next time you step forward to protect him, I expect it'll be as his future wife—not some nameless outsider~"
With this shocking declaration, the intense pressure that had gripped the entire house dissipated. Within moments, the stern expressions of everyone present faded like a bad dream, and peals of laughter filled the air.
"Hahahaha! He's right… You'd better work hard from now on, little one."
Mikoto, who had been watching with a tense expression the whole time, smiled kindly once more. Following her husband's lead, she walked over to Izumi, brushing the dust off her clothes from when she fell, then turned her head to pout playfully at Fūgaku.
"But really… dear, you scared me half to death! I thought you were going to actually hit her!"
"Tch, as if I would. Didn't you see the look on Itachi's face? So tense and worried?"
Trying to hide a grin, Fūgaku played the straight man, dropping the act as he deactivated his Sharingan. His eyes returned to their usual dark black as he crossed his arms and teased his wife.
"If I really hit her, our boy would've come at me like a madman… Kids these days are way too mature. Risking everything for their little girlfriends… makes their old man feel kinda left out~"
"Hehe, exactly~ Oh! Look at big brother's face! He's so nervous! He even activated his Sharingan—and it's a three-tomoe like Dad's!"
Seeing both parents drop the act, little Sasuke—who had been puffing up his cheeks in tension—let out a huge sigh of relief. He giggled behind his hands while sneaking glances at his brother's rare look of total panic.
"Hey hey, big brother~ You got super scared just now, didn't you? You were so worried for her. Looks like you really like this sister, huh~?"
"...Ugh… What just happened?"
The sudden emotional whiplash left Itachi completely blanked out. After a long pause, his mind finally began to catch up. Blushing furiously from all the teasing, he instinctively shrank his neck… then turned sharply to glare at the grinning blond not far away.
"Don't tell me… this was your plan from the start."
"Bingo~ Correct! Too bad you figured it out too late—no prize for you, Itachi-san."
Naruto grinned ear to ear, flashing a smug, mischievous smile that made Itachi want to punch something. Still, in light of everything that had just happened, that annoying grin somehow looked… a little more tolerable.
"Figures this was your doing… You nearly gave me a heart attack, brat."
Realizing what Naruto was hinting at, Itachi finally let go of all the tension he'd been holding. Covered in sweat and completely drained, he collapsed into a sitting position, rolling his eyes as he chuckled and scolded Naruto half-heartedly.
"Ay ay ay~ Don't blame me! I warned you already, didn't I, Itachi-san? City folk have deep, deep schemes~ And besides… isn't this exactly the outcome you were hoping for?"
Naruto blinked innocently, trying to look as pitiful as possible while spreading his hands wide. "Totally innocent!" practically radiated from his face.
"Also, Sasuke and I just finished our morning run before breakfast… so yeah, I guess I do smell a bit. 'Brat' fits just fine."
"Ugh, get lost already. You're gonna make me throw up—and I haven't even eaten yet. But… I guess I'll give you this—you really are a little angel after all."
"Eh? Angel? Ew—now that gave me goosebumps… Save that sweet-talk for your girlfriend, Itachi-san. I don't wanna get hunted down by your jealous future wife~"
"Pffft—hahaha, alright, alright…"
"Seriously, though… you really are full of dirty little tricks, brat."
"Hmph hmph hmph~ I prefer to call it 'strategic brilliance'~"