Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 3

POV – Narrator

Hangetsu collapsed onto the ground, completely wrecked. His body ached in ways he couldn't describe. Though only a few seconds had passed in the real world, he had endured 72 hours of agonizing torture within Itachi's Tsukuyomi.

"You showed admirable resistance," Itachi remarked coolly. "Not once did you break under the pain. I'm impressed."

Without warning, he grabbed Han by the collar and tossed him violently off the bridge into the river below.

"Kisame," he called.

Kisame, still lounging under the tree, stretched and yawned as though waking from a nap. "Did you get the intel?"

Itachi gave him a dull look.

Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Guess not. Well, makes things more fun this way." He grinned, flashing his shark-like teeth.

"Now we'll have to search the village ourselves for the Six-Tails," Itachi said, sounding less than enthusiastic.

The two stepped onto the bridge and began crossing it.

Unbeknownst to them, Hangetsu had survived. As a member of the Hozuki clan, he'd used his Hydrification Technique to dissolve into water the moment he hit the river. Itachi had assumed he would drown like any normal man—but Hangetsu was anything but ordinary.

I have to warn the Mizukage. He moved through the current, swimming urgently toward the village.

POV – Y/n

"Mei, we're here!" I called, flinging open the doors to her office. "I brought Chojuro!"

She was, unsurprisingly, still seated at her desk behind a mountain of paperwork.

"Um... where is Lady Mizukage?" Chojuro asked, looking around nervously.

"I'm right here," Mei said, standing from behind the paper stacks.

"Good afternoon, Lady Mei!" Chojuro bowed deeply.

"Good afternoon, Chojuro. Please, no need to bow—I'm like your older sister." She chuckled lightly, a little embarrassed.

"Sorry, Lady Mei. But now that you're Mizukage, you deserve proper respect," he said earnestly.

Mei smiled at that, clearly touched. She opened the doors to her office and gestured for us to follow. We made our way into the central hall—a ceremonial room rarely used unless booked for special events. The space was circular, with marble pillars lining its walls. The ceramic tile floor formed the symbol of the Hidden Mist Village, and above us was a stunning stained-glass dome of gray, aqua, and gold.

At the far end, a river flowed into the room through an open stone archway. There was no glass barrier; the design had been intentional—to make the hall feel alive, flowing like the mist itself.

In the center of the room stood Ao, holding a sword wrapped in bandages. Despite the wrapping, I recognized it instantly—Hiramekarei, the flounder-shaped blade of legend.

Mei approached him. Ao handed her the sword in silence.

"Chojuro," she said, turning toward him. "Step forward."

Chojuro glanced at me, clearly nervous.

"You've got this!" I mouthed, raising two thumbs up.

He offered a faint but genuine smile, then stepped forward.

"Chojuro Hirahara," Mei began, her tone formal, "I appoint you the wielder of Hiramekarei, the final remaining sword from the original Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

She held it out to him.

Chojuro took the sword—then immediately collapsed under its weight. "Wow! This is... really heavy," he groaned, trying to lift it again.

"Pick up the sword, weakling!" Ao barked.

POV – Narrator

Mei paused, catching on the word pick. Pick... pick a man suitable for marriage? Her eye twitched.

Ao continued to scold Chojuro. The Mizukage silently walked up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Ao turned—and froze in terror.

Mei's face was cold, ominous.

"I'll kill you," she whispered, calm but chilling.

Y/n burst out laughing. Seeing Ao scared was a rare sight—only Mei had that power.

POV – Y/n

Our laughter was cut short when water surged into the hall, splashing across the tile and drenching Mei's dress.

At first, we didn't think much of it—until Hangetsu emerged from the stream. Despite walking through water, he was completely dry.

"Hangetsu? Why aren't you at your post?" Mei asked, her voice sharp.

"Lady Mizukage," he said seriously, "I have urgent news. This was the fastest way here."

Her smile faded. "Go ahead."

"Two Akatsuki members have entered the village. One of them is Kisame Hoshigaki—the clan traitor. The other is Itachi Uchiha."

I could feel Mei tense up. She didn't show it, but I knew she was rattled.

"They're after the Six-Tails' jinchūriki," Han added grimly.

"Do they know where he is?" Mei asked, struggling to maintain composure.

"Not as far as I could tell."

She looked at me. "Y/n, I need you to go to the safehouse we prepared."

"What? Why? They're not after me—I'm not the jinchūriki. I can help you fight them!"

Mei narrowed her eyes. "Do I really need to explain? Even if you're not their target, you're high-profile. That bounty on your head makes you vulnerable."

"But—"

"I don't have time for this. Two ANBU will escort you." She turned sharply. "Chojuro, Hangetsu, Ao—let's go."

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I sat alone in the cave, the two ANBU guarding the entrance. This was one of the safest places in the entire village—and yet I felt trapped.

Treated like some kind of precious heirloom.

Will I ever become a great kunoichi if I'm always kept hidden away? I'm already a jonin, but I've never been allowed on an out-of-village mission. Mei's overprotectiveness is a major reason.

I leaned against the cold stone wall.

And then... the memories came flooding in.

༄༄༄༄༄༄༄

"Y/n, don't worry," a 15-year-old Mei whispered, pulling me close. "I'll be the man of the house. I'll protect you and Mom."

Her voice cracked, though she tried to hide it. I realized I was crying too.

She wiped my cheeks gently with her soft hands and held me tighter. We both mourned our father's death.

And just then, I noticed something strange—my hands. They were so small.

I was five years old again.

༄༄༄༄༄༄༄

I snapped back to reality.

Why am I remembering this now? It's been 13 years. I slammed a fist lightly into the ground. "No time to think about the past!"

I forced myself to focus.

I need to get out of here.

I know it might be stupid... reckless even. But I can't sit around waiting to be rescued or protected.

Not this time.

If the Akatsuki are here—then I'm going to fight.

With my sister.

With everyone.