The Black Leaf (Part 2)

Chapter 31: Growing up

Kaori and Ichiro had the cutest relationship ever, Ichiro was so overprotective of her.  It reminded me of his father, the way he would protect Sasuke was beyond adorable. Kakashi was heads over heels for his princess, he loved both her and Ichiro so much. Ichiro was now nine years old and he was done with all the academy requirements. But there was a new rule that students couldn't graduate until they were 12 years old. 

Ichiro was the spit image of Itachi and I could hear the gossiping in town, specially of those who knew him. One particular day, I was at a fruit stand getting some apples. Ichiro and Kaori waited for me seating at the edge of the side walk when I heard two men speaking about the subject. 

"I don't know, Tenji, I like the Hokage but I think that boy is not his," one whispered looking at my kids.

"He is the spit image of that Itachi boy, the Uchiha killer," the Tenji man said.

"Well, I did heard that Hokage's wife, was girlfriend with that boy before he died," the other man said.

"Ichiro, Kaori, let's go," I could feel my blood boil, I wanted to rip those man's heads off. The two men turned to look at me and I could see the fear in their faces, I was fuming. 

"Lady Izumi," they immediately sat up and bowed. 

I leaned closer and activated my sharingan, "you two are lucky my children are here..." I whispered with a sadistic smile. Bloodlust radiated from my whole body, "...next time you two won't be so lucky." 

I deactivated my sharingan before turning to see my kids, I grabbed their hands and we headed home. Of course I knew I had crossed the line, and I was going to hear it from Kakashi. I made dinner and I notice Ichiro was serious watching his sister play. I felt my heart starting to beat faster and the anxiety over took my whole body. Did he hear the conversation? I was so worried about me that I didn't even noticed if he heard. "Ichiro are you okay?" I asked him.

"Yes mom," he looked at me and smiled. 

Soon after Kakashi walked in the house he looked at me and sighed. "Izumi are you all okay?" he asked and I nodded, "okay, good." I knew Kakashi was worried, but also I knew he wasn't going to mentioned anything that had to do with Itachi in front of the kids.

Once we had dinner and the kids were asleep, I made tea and sat on the porch. I remember when Pein destroyed the village and there was nothing left but rubble and a few buildings. Kakashi as Hokage had made the village grow to such extent that I was asked if I wanted to sell some of my property to build more houses and business. Of course I decline, and after that, people started calling this area the Uchiha hill, which I didn't mind and it also kept people away. I was lost in thought that I didn't even see Kakashi leaning at the door frame watching me. 

"I meant everything I told those men," I took another sip of tea and he sighed, "and I'm not apologizing." 

"Izumi, I don't expect you to," he sat next to me and look down at the village, "people can be really cruel, I know that."

"We are going to have to tell him soon," I said with tears forming in my eyes, "I promised Itachi I was going to tell him all the truth about him."

"He is not ready, Izumi, he is still young," I knew Kakashi was worried, he cared for Ichiro and he just wanted to protect him.

"I need to talk to Sasuke,"I whispered, "he needs to be here, when we do." 

"I understand how you feeling Izumi, trust me, I really do," Kakashi was now holding my hands. "Ichiro needs to be more mature to understand. It's not just understanding who Itachi really is, but everything he did and everything you and Sasuke did."