Being a Shinobi (An Itachi Uchiha fanfiction)

16. Feelings

It has been a week since the incident with Danzo and Orochimaru. Inora was back to work after Mina was convinced that she was healed. The atmosphere between Itachi and Inora has changed a lot after they spend that evening together. Things were really easy going and Itachi wasnt so stiff all the time. Even Shisui started to notice the slight change in his cousin's behaviour.

Shisui was a happy at the same time a little concerned. He hoped that the pair would maintain their relationship just as they are now. If either of them were to develop feelings, things would get complicated. Itachi is expected to lead the Uchiha clan and is ofcourse expected to wed an Uchiha. If he developed feelings for a non-shinobi, it might get ugly. Shisui also knows that Itachi is aware of that fact more than anyone.

Inora had lunch with Kayo who was telling her about the event in a week. It was a large event where many business people and people of the high society are gathered. Both Shisui and Itachi are invited and Shisui was planning on asking Hana Inuzuka to be his date. As Shisui's secretary, Kayo should also attend and she wasnt sure who she should bring as a date since Shisui might go with Hana.

"It is such a huge event and I cant even decide who to bring along with me." Kayo sighed munching on her food. "You have like tons of fan boys in this office Kayo, just pick one." Inora replied with a shrug. "What about you Inora? Are you going with Mr. Uchiha?" Kayo asked making Inora choke on her food. "I.. I am not sure... why would he want to go with me?" Inora mumbled. "Why not? You both would look cute together." Kayo said making her roll her eyes. "He probably has a date. I will just go alone. I dont mind." She said with a shrug.

~

"Um... what.. what did you just say?" Inora asked in complete shock making Itachi blink in confusion after seeing her reaction. "I said would you mind being my date to the event next week?" Itachi asked casually. "Oh.. um.. are you sure? You want me to.." she started but was interrupted. "Events like this are extremely important to scout for oppurtunities. You are my secretary. So going with you felt reasonable. Do you have a problem with that?" He asked nonchalantly completely unaware of the swirling emotions inside the brunette. "Oh.. no.. definitely not. I will be your date Mr.Uchiha." Inora replied making him nod.

Itachi was never the one to openly express how he feels. His feelings towards the brunette were always a big question mark. He never really experienced loving a member of the opposite sex romantically. He dated Izumi Uchiha in high school but never really developed real feelings for her. Things didnt go well and they broke up understanding that they werent meant for each other.

When Sasuke asked Itachi for advice regarding his feelings for Sakura, he was utterly clueless on how those work. It was Naruto and Shisui who helped Sasuke realise his feelings for Sakura. But either way, Itachi was happy for his brother for finding someone he actually loves. His parents were kind of disappointed for Sasuke since he didnt choose an Uchiha but Itachi convinced them and Sakura's achievement of being an amazing medic nin second to Lady Tsunade gave them a good impression.

It isnt an exageration but a fact that most Uchiha are blessed with great looks. Neither Itachi nor Sasuke and Shisui are strangers to girls throwing themselves at them. Many young men in his clan do take advantage of that but not him. He isnt completely cluess when it comes to realising that the women who approach him have ulterior motive. He never really paid them any attention.

But he never sensed such things from Inora. She was bold, confident and respectful. There are many qualities in her that amused him. At the beginning, he was suspicious of her. To be honest that feeling hasnt completely gone. He is a shinobi and he never lets his guard down. But still this woman manages to penetrate through his walls of defense. If what he is feeling is what he thinks it is, it is so wrong in many ways.

He is the employer and she is the employee. He is a shinobi and she is a civilian. Danger and death are something he faces like every single day. If she is innocent, he cant bring himself to involve her in the dangers he face than he already has. If she isnt innocent, well... burying the emotions and doing what must be done is something he always does as being a part of Anbu Black Ops.

~

In the middle of an isolated island was a research facility that conducts countless experiments on deviants and people. There was a man in his late 40's with honey blonde hair who was working eagerly on his project which he was working on for the past few years.

"These are the files we managed to get a hold on from Orochimaru's facility." Said a man with Orange hair with piercings all over his body in a black cloak with red clouds. "My! My! I cant believe you are actually here Pain." The man exclaimed. "It is such a shame that Orochimaru has to die. Even though I never met him in person, he seemed like an interesting guy and we shared similar interests." The man said sighing heavily as he plugged the USB the rinnegan weilder gave him.

"Does that have what you want?" They both heard another voice as a man with orange mask with the same robe as Pain showed up. "These are wonderful Mr. Madara. Orochimaru really is a genius." The man exclaimed looking through all the contents. "How long will it take for you to complete?" Pain asked. "You should never rush a discovery. I put my heart and soul into it for the past several years. Worry not, it should be done soon." The man said his eyes still on the computer making the masked guy sigh.

"I want this done in a month or I am ripping your limbs off." Madara said in a serious voice making the man sweat a little in nervousness. "Dont worry. I am like creating the ultimate weapon to take out an Otsutsuki. Pain may have the rinnegan but he doesnt have the Otsutsuki blood. With this ultimate weapon, Shinya will be done for and I can finally succeed my dream of experimenting with the king of all deviants, the Jyuubi." The man said with a crazed look on his eyes.

"Oh! And there is one more thing. There is this guy named Hosen Yagami, an old friend of mine. He has something that I need and it is now in the possession of his son Hirata Yagami. It would be a great help if you can get that for me and some info from Suna facility." The man said. "I will send someone. You better succeed in your current experiment. You couldnt even figure out that your wife was an Otsutsuki." Pain said nonchalantly.

"Oh come on! I am no shinobi and I was young. I didnt have many resources back then. The concept of chakra was very vague to me. I thought I lost my entire family. If only I had known that my wife and children had Otsutsuki blood, my research would have gone leaps and bounds. But there is no use crying over spilt milk now. I am glad that my son Shinya survived." He said making Madara chuckle.

"You sure are one sick bastard. You have no guilt at all that you are developing something to kill your own son." Madara said. "I dont care. Shinya would make a perfect specimen even when dead. I never cared for my wife either. She was just a convenient means for money. As long as I am able to keep expanding my knowledge about the incredible things that exist in this world, I would do whatever it takes. After breaking the seal, I could get a sample of that Ten tailed beast known to bring humanity to the verge of extinction, I cant imagine the amount of experiments that cant be conducted." The man said with a wide grin on his face.

"It should be time for our reunion soon My dear son Shinya..."