It wasn't until they truly felt the sudden shift in atmosphere—five people shedding their hostility as if flipping a switch—that Itachi and Izumi, poor young couple that they were, finally realized what was really going on. The intense, drama-like interrogation that had unfolded before them wasn't born out of genuine suspicion, but was in fact a premeditated test.
And the growing laughter and light conversation in the air only confirmed that this had all been a staged assessment.
Izumi, who had faced the crisis without backing down and stood by Itachi through it all, had won the affection and approval of her future in-laws with her sincerity and strength.
This unexpected turn of events didn't take long for Itachi to figure out, especially since he already had some idea of Naruto's habit of hiding mischief behind his innocent face. It didn't take much effort to guess who the mastermind was. Now that his parents had accepted Izumi's identity without objection, and everything had come to a cheerful, picture-perfect conclusion, he could only sigh and accept it—half laughing, half helpless.
But for Izumi, who was meeting Naruto—and more importantly, Itachi's family—for the first time, the emotional roller coaster she had just endured wasn't something she could digest so easily.
Even though the loving and gentle gazes of Fugaku and Mikoto confirmed that they had quietly accepted her as Itachi's girlfriend, the drastic swing from despair to joy still left the innocent girl dazed and dizzy, as if the whole thing wasn't real. Because of that, she could only respond blankly and instinctively to everything happening around her.
"Oh dear, how could I forget myself? We've kept our little guest standing outside this whole time. How terribly rude of us..."
Of course, Mikoto—who had clearly taken a liking to Izumi—wasn't about to let her get away. Feigning embarrassment, she gently took the stunned girl by the hand and guided her into the house toward the dining room before she could even think of objecting. All the while, Mikoto smiled warmly and chattered away.
"Come, come, sweetheart. I just made some breakfast. Before you head to school, why don't you sit with us for a bit and have a bite? I actually have a few questions I'd like to ask you. Let's chat while we eat."
"U-Um… I… okay…"
"Oh right, you said earlier that you confessed to Itachi first. Is that true?"
"Mhm…"
"So that means… you really like our Itachi, huh? Was it because you thought he was so handsome and charming you couldn't resist?"
"…Mm…"
"Aww! That's just wonderful to hear! I was worried no girls liked him, and that he'd be all alone forever!"
As she spoke, Mikoto tilted her head slightly and glanced at Itachi, who had just stepped into the house, his face still full of concern. As if to punish him for not trusting his own mother, she forced herself not to laugh and teased him with mock seriousness.
"Sigh… You don't know what a headache this boy is. His grades are top of the class, sure, but he has no clue how to talk to girls! He's already nine, nearly ten, and hasn't even been seen near one! Thank goodness you were brave enough to make the first move, dear. Otherwise, this dumb, emotionally stunted child would probably be single forever~"
Of course, at that moment, Mikoto—or really, anyone in the room besides Naruto and Itachi—had no idea that her casual joke based on her understanding of her son's personality was, in a twisted way, eerily close to a possible fate he was once destined for. But now, thanks to Naruto's intervention, the tragedy of the Uchiha Clan Massacre had been completely avoided. Izumi's fate had also been rewritten and saved in the process, effectively breaking the "curse" that the little fan symbol would never get a sister-in-law.
Well, although for the little bro-con fanboy, that "curse" might've actually felt more like a blessing.
"Mooom, seriously?! Single for life? I'm still a kid! Aren't you being a bit dramatic?! And besides, didn't I just bring Izumi home to meet you?"
"Oh? Are you sure you brought her home? Not that we just happened to 'accidentally' bump into you two?"
"W-What?! That's not—! Even if we hadn't run into you today, Izumi and I already planned to come here soon and introduce her properly!"
Even though he knew full well that his mother was teasing him on purpose, the moment Izumi gave him a curious look, Itachi's face turned bright red. Whether out of frustration or the need to explain himself, he shot back with a flustered tone.
"'Still a kid,' huh? Do you know that when we were at Sasuke's age, your dad and I were already the envy of every other kid as childhood sweethearts?"
Watching her eldest son flail, Mikoto glanced toward Fugaku, who stood a short distance behind her with an unreadable yet faintly doting gaze. Her cheeks flushed at the memory, and she gently released Izumi's hand as they arrived at the table. Then, with an exaggeratedly serious expression and hands on her hips, she scolded:
"So compared to us… Itachi, I have to say your performance is truly disappointing. It took you this long to settle on someone to share your future with? You've wasted so many precious years you could've spent deepening your relationship!"
"...Wait, WHAT?! Since when?! Why have I never heard this before?!"
His mother's righteous and unexpectedly explosive declaration left Itachi completely stunned. His mouth hung open as he slowly turned to his father—the man who, in his memory, had always been rigid and stern. When Fugaku noticed the questioning gaze, his cheeks flushed slightly in embarrassment… but he still gave a small, solemn nod.
Itachi froze on the spot. Several seconds passed before his lips twitched and he let out a strangled shout of disbelief.
"So you're telling me… having a girlfriend at my age was never a problem? You both actually approved? But you guys were so strict before—!"
"If that's true, then what the hell were Izumi and I suffering through this whole time for?!"