❁𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐈'𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘- 𝘈 𝘕𝘌𝘞 𝘉𝘓𝘖𝘚𝘚𝘖𝘔 𝘖𝘍 𝘏𝘖𝘗𝘌 ✔︎

Chapter 1, Part 4

Izumi was practicing on a nearby training ground. Years ago, she unlocked her Mangekyō Sharigan.

She is one of the best sensory ninjas in the leaf village, able to see and sense her opponents' chakra like trails.

Aside from these abilities, she can perform powerful genjutsu on her opponents and control them at will.

However, she has never been able to completely master her abilities. Let alone a Susanoo like Itachi or Sasuke.

She was weaker than them, but she was the only Uchiha capable of sensing her opponents' chakra. Her abilities may even exceed those of a regular sensory ninja, who can sense from a greater distance.

Izumi fell to the floor, exhausted from using too much chakra.

It was always her goal to appear strong when she stood next to Itachi. Yet, she can't.

She forced herself to get up and approached a tree that she could sit against. Her breathing was heavy, and she could feel her heart racing.

Then she saw someone tall and muscular. They were not looking at her directly, but she recognized who they were: Itachi Uchiha.

Izumi backed away from the tree, covering her mouth, and stalked him from afar.

He was practicing his shuriken jutsu and making sure his aim was correct.

Izumi's cheeks turned pink as she realized how muscular Itachi had become. "Looks like he has been working out," she thought, with flushed cheeks.

She watched Itachi throw the shuriken and kunai. Izumi was reluctant to admit it, but she admired Itachi's strength.

He did not care what others thought of him, but when he is not around, she always defends him.

She has no idea why, but it feels like a duty she must fulfill. To constantly defend his name from afar.

"Come out, whoever is there." Itachi exclaimed as he gazed at the trees.

Izumi remained silent as she attempted to move backward. She observed Itachi as he approached the trees. A branch snapped beneath her, and she fell backward into a lake.

Without looking up, she submerged herself so Itachi could not see her.

She waited for his chakra to vanish before rising from the water and approaching the other side, coughing loudly.

"Izumi?" A soft voice spoke. She looked up, meeting Hinata's gaze. They were shocked and concerned. Naruto was standing next to her, looking at her incredulously. "Hey, Izumi! How've you been?" He chuckled, "I had no idea you were a swimmer."

As she emerged from the water, she collapsed on the grass, "Sorry, I did not mean to interrupt anything. I was just... swimming! Yes, what Naruto said. I have decided to do more swimming. I discovered that it relaxes me..." Izumi said, squeezing water out of her hair.

Hinata approached her and helped her get up. "Oh, okay. I should leave now, Naruto and Izumi. I have a mission that I must go to. I will see you later, Naruto." Hinata spoke with pink cheeks as she approached the gates.

Izumi noticed Naruto's red cheeks and coughed abruptly, jolting him out of his trance. "Hey, loverboy! I would like some advice on how to talk to someone." Izumi asked.

Naruto flashed her a cheeky smile. "Ahh, I see you are finally working up the courage to confront Itachi!"

Izumi quickly slapped her hand on his mouth, preventing him from speaking any further. She looked around and let go of his mouth as he looked at her, puzzled.

"Yes, it is Itachi... Listen, our relationship became more complicated as a result of everything that happened. I wish we could reconnect like we used to, but our current interactions are awkward. It seems impossible." Izumi states.

As her frustration grew, tears began to fall from her eyes.

She genuinely wants to be friends with Itachi. She wants their relationship to return to normal, but it seems impossible.

The way they were as children. They were once very close.

She wants it back. Their old relationship.

Naruto pats Izumi's shoulder and says, "Don't worry, Izumi. I am sure Itachi would like to be friends with you again. You two have to figure out how to communicate with one another. Once you do, I am confident you will be unbreakable."

Izumi wiped her tears away, smiling at Naruto.

"Thank you, Naruto."