Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 11

Hangetsu and I sat by the river that ran through our village, right near the Mizukage's office. It created a small bay-like area where the water sparkled an emerald green, so clear we could see the rocks and the fish swimming below. Cherry blossom trees bloomed around us, their petals drifting gently in the breeze. The weather was perfect—like something straight out of a romance novel.

"It's so peaceful here," I said, resting my head on Han's shoulder. "We should stay like this forever~"

He smiled softly with his eyes. "I wish we could."

But something about his tone had shifted. His smile was still there, but smaller now. Sadder.

He stretched his back, trying to get comfortable again, then lay his head on my lap, gazing up at me. He reached up and gently moved a piece of hair away from my eye. Then he looked away, back toward the bay, avoiding my eyes.

Is... is he going to break up with me? My heart raced. I kept my face neutral, but inside, I was panicking.

"Han—"

"Y/n, there's something I need to tell you." He sat up nervously.

"Don't break up with me!" I blurted, throwing my arms around him. "Please... I know things have been weird, or maybe we've been annoying each other, but don't end it. Not now!"

He let out a light laugh, brushing a small tear from his eye. "I'm not breaking up with you, Y/n. I know we've both been out of it sometimes, but I still love you."

Relief washed over me. "Then... what is it?"

"There's this S-ranked mission," he said. "It starts tomorrow. It's one of the hardest missions the Hidden Mist has assigned in years. And... I'm scared."

I blinked. "Scared of what?"

He hesitated. "That I may not come back."

I froze. "Han... is this the mission you've been working on with my sister and the other high-level shinobi?"

He nodded.

I tried to stay calm, even though my heart clenched. "I understand," I said quietly. I hugged him, tightening my arms around him. "You're strong. You'll survive."

He smiled faintly. I kissed him gently. "So in a way, you are breaking up with me, huh?" I said with a nervous laugh.

"No. I just want you to be prepared. If I don't make it back... I want you to find happiness again. I need to know that you will."

"Don't say things like that," I whispered. "You'll survive. You have to. Your mission will go well, and everyone will return safely."

"How many people are going?" I asked.

"About thirty. Mostly top-level Anbu and personally selected shinobi."

I knew he wasn't supposed to tell me that—but he trusted me.

"You don't have to go, do you?"

"I can't back out now. If I did, I'd be betraying the village. But if it's successful... I'll be a hero."

"Hey..." I said softly. "Let's not dwell on that right now. We only have so much time before you leave. Let's just... enjoy being together."

He nodded, and we lay down together on the soft grass. We didn't talk. We didn't need to. Just being close was enough.

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To my dread, tomorrow came.

The sky was still tinted gray with the first light of dawn. Han was leaving at sunrise.

My hands trembled as I tried to tie my hair into two low ponytails. I kept messing up. I prayed silently as I placed a cherry blossom behind my ear—one from the tree we sat under yesterday.

I can't be late, I thought, glancing at the clock. I grabbed the envelope off the dinner table, shoved on my shoes, and bolted into the streets of Kirigakure.

I ran all the way to the bridge—the place where the shinobi were gathering before their departure.

The sun was just beginning to rise. Across the bridge, I spotted them: dozens of shinobi preparing for the mission. My eyes found Han immediately. He saw me too and waved for me to come over.

I ran to him and threw my arms around his waist. "Thank goodness you haven't left yet."

"I've got five minutes," he said, kissing my cheek. "But I'm glad you came. It means a lot."

I took his hands in mine and looked into his eyes.

"Before you go... I wanted to give you this." I slipped the envelope into his hand.

"What's inside?" he asked, inspecting it.

"Pictures. Of us. So if you ever miss my face, you'll have it with you."

He smiled. Then cried.

"You idiot," I muttered. "Crying right before a suicide mission..."

He tried to hide his face, but I pulled his hands away, gently wiping his tears with my thumbs.

"There's no reason to hide," I said.

And then I kissed him.

It wasn't a passionate kiss. It wasn't rushed. But it was painful. Because we both knew it could be our last.

"Everyone, get ready to move!" called Tsurugi, the mission leader.

Han turned briefly to look at him, then back at me.

"I love you, Y/n. Take care of yourself."

He didn't say if I die, but the words were there, unspoken.

And still, I cried harder.

"Stop—you're making me cry more—" he said, laughing and crying at the same time.

"I love you too, Han. And don't you dare think you're going to die." I lightly punched his chest, trying to hold back more tears. I couldn't even look him in the eyes again.

But he made me.

He gently held my face, our eyes locking one final time. The brightness in his purple eyes... it had faded. His light was burning out.

He took my hand and rubbed his cheek against it, then let go.

"Stay safe, Y/n," he whispered. Then he turned and walked into the forest.

He didn't look back.

Not once.

No last glance. No wave. Just his back moving farther and farther away.

"Good luck!" I shouted after him.

Still, he didn't turn.

And then he was gone—disappearing into the trees with the others.

They split into teams, vanishing into the dense woods, each headed in a different direction. I stayed on that bridge until the very last of them was out of sight.

I stood there for a long time.

"I hope this isn't our last meeting, Han," I whispered.

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