Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 19

POV – Kakashi:

She was trembling. Could barely speak—just nodding to answer my questions. She reminded me of Rin... and that mission. The one where she got kidnapped. The one where Obito died—because of my failure.

"Come on," I told her gently. "Let's get out of here."

She nodded.

We stepped out of the dark cabin, not bothering to avoid the unconscious sailors. They didn't deserve the courtesy. Outside, the captain I'd knocked out earlier lay sprawled across the deck. We passed him and jumped straight into the open sea—

—or onto it, rather. Our feet touched the surface of the water instead of plunging in.

Good. She can use the Water Walking Technique.

She didn't say a word, just followed me. Her silence wasn't awkward. It was heavy. Tired. Understandable.

And that slash across her headband... She left the Hidden Mist?

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POV – Y/n:

"Hey... where are we going now?" I asked.

He looked over his shoulder, eye crinkling into a smile. The rest of his face was hidden behind his mask, but I could tell—it was a kind smile.

"Away from here. At least until those sailors wake up," he replied. Then he pointed east. "That way's the coast of the Land of Fire. We can stop there."

"Okay."

He took off across the water in an instant. "Hey! Wait up!" I shouted, scrambling to keep up with him. No way was I letting him out of my sight.

Once I caught up, I fell into rhythm beside him. The wind against our skin, the ocean beneath our feet—it was almost peaceful.

"How... how did you know those men were bad news?" I asked.

"I didn't," he replied. "Just had a hunch."

"Then... why warn me?"

He turned slightly, giving me a sidelong glance. "I know who you are, Lady Y/n. And I know your bounty. If I were a pirate, I'd be after it too."

I groaned. "Ugh... Does everyone just know me as 'the girl with the bounty' now?"

He paused. "...Yeah."

"Did you go rogue?" he asked quietly.

I touched my headband. The deep slash I'd carved through the Mist symbol caught on my fingertip. I'd nearly forgotten it was there.

"Yes," I said, voice small.

"Why?"

I laughed softly, the kind of laugh you use when you're trying not to cry. "There are a lot of reasons. And I don't think you'd understand."

"Try me."

I looked at him, really looked this time. "It's funny... People think that doing something out of love means it's the right thing. That it's what's best for you."

"I think I understand."

And somehow, I believed him.

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POV – Mei:

I was out cold for 24 hours. That's... new.

There's a limit to how much someone can drink—and I had stomped all over that line last night.