Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 13

POV – Y/n:

I read the ancient ice scrolls on my desk, trying to absorb as much information from them as I could. "No, no. I've been trying to figure out how to do this jutsu, but I still haven't gotten the hang of it," I grumbled, tossing the scroll aside.

If only Mother could teach me! I thought, banging my head against the table. Ughhhh!

The jutsus I already knew were embarrassingly basic. Ice Prison, Ice Sword—simple stuff. Nothing effective. My strongest technique was Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, and I honestly had no clue how I even learned that one. Turns out, it was weak against the Sharingan. I'd once thought it guaranteed victory—what a joke.

I sighed. "I want to learn a new ice jutsu before Han comes back." I cradled my face in my hands. "I wanna impress him."

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"Hey, Mei. Can I talk to you?" I asked, slowly opening her room door. She nodded and patted the spot beside her on the bed.

I snuggled next to her, wrapping her blanket around myself. It was cold in her room, as usual.

"I need your help. I want Mom to teach me ice jutsus—at least the ones she's mastered. I need to get stronger at ice release."

She sighed. "Y/n, you've asked her so many times. She keeps saying no. Maybe it's time to find someone else."

"And where am I supposed to find another ice user?" I shot back.

"Well," she said with a smirk, flipping her auburn hair, "I am the Mizukage. I can request someone from another land."

"Bruh—" I stared at her. "Why didn't you suggest that sooner? We've wasted so much time! I could've mastered five jutsus by now! Go request someone right now!"

Outside her window, the sky was melting into pastel shades of orange and pink. The sun yawned as it slipped away, and the moon clocked in for duty dressed in a waxing crescent. The view looked like candy—sweet, vibrant, and dreamy.

"So pretty," I murmured, momentarily distracted.

"You were saying something, right?" Mei teased.

"Huh? Oh yeah! Go send that request now! I want to start training ASAP!"

"I'll try," she said, smiling. "No promises. But I'll do what I can. Genetics can be a pain sometimes, huh?"

Despite sharing the same biological parents, Mei wasn't an ice user. She looked like a female version of our dad, with sharp features and zero of our mother's kekkei genkai. I got the soft features and inherited Ice Release from our mother. But both Mei and I had Boil and Lava Release from Dad—an uncommon combo, even in the Terumi clan.

"I'll send a request to the Land of Snow," she promised. "Hopefully, they'll cooperate."

She threw on a coat and dashed out. "Be right back!"

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She returned just in time for dinner.

Mother, like always, was cooking. She never showed joy in it, but still did it—one of the small ways she cared.

"I'm famished," Mei groaned, flopping into her chair. Her stomach growled loudly, making me giggle.

I set the table. Mom walked over with a large pot, struggling with the weight. She slammed it down and winced, trying to stretch her sore back.

"Mother, you should've asked me to carry that," I scolded.

She didn't respond. Just turned and walked back to the kitchen.

Mei gave me a knowing look. "She never listens to that kind of stuff."

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Dinner was, as always, silent and awkward. I shot a glance at Mei until I caught her attention.

"Did you send the request?" I mouthed.

She nodded.

I beamed. Finally, I was going to get better at ice release.

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POV – Narrator:

Roughly a week after the Fifth Mizukage submitted her request, an ice user from Yukigakure, the Village Hidden in the Snow, arrived in Kirigakure.

She stepped into the village, eyes wide in awe. "What a beautiful place. So different from Yukigakure."

She scanned her surroundings. "Now, where's the Mizukage's office? Guess I'll ask around."

POV – Mei:

I was buried under paperwork. Again. Being Mizukage was too demanding sometimes. Why was I wasting my skills on filing documents while others were out there risking their lives?

"Some kunoichi I am..." I muttered.

I was waiting to hear from the team I'd sent out on the mission. No message had come yet. My stomach twisted with worry. A thousand dark scenarios played out in my head. I smacked my forehead.

A knock on the door broke my spiral. I jumped. "Come in!"

The door creaked open and a tall, well-built woman stepped in. "Hello, Fifth Mizukage," she said with a respectful bow.

She had light skin, toned limbs, bronze eyes, and dirty blonde hair.

"I'm Fuyumi Shimo," she introduced. "I've come from the Land of Snow to train your sister, Y/n Terumi."

"Ah! I've been expecting you! Thank you so much for coming. I really appreciate your help."

"Happy to be here," she said. "Also, the Hidden Snow Village has requested payment for this training. I'll collect it when I return."

"Of course, that's no issue. Let me take you to Y/n now."

"Whatever's easiest," she said.

"Follow me."

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POV – Y/n:

I stared out my window, watching the mist-shrouded sun struggle to shine through. I had trouble sleeping last night. A dream had kept haunting me—an oddly romantic one.

It all started with a book. I'd found it at the library—a novel adults kept raving about. Naturally, I had to see what the fuss was about. It was called Icha Icha Paradise. Cheesy title, right? But it was... surprisingly good.

It was part of a four-part series (well, three released and one still being written). It was steamy, passionate, and weirdly immersive.

And it invaded my dreams.

I found myself in a soft, unfamiliar bed. Vanilla-scented sheets. Bare skin. Silk.

I sat up, confused. It was dark—I couldn't see much.

I reached for a light switch, but before I could find it, the door creaked open. Light spilled in, momentarily blinding me.

Footsteps. Heavy. Calm.

I removed my hand from my face and saw him. A beautiful man, familiar yet mesmerizing.