Veil of Darkness | Yan! Itachi x Reader |

Chapter 1

Y/N L/N had always been a diligent student, the type to sit in the front row, take meticulous notes, and never let anything slip past her. It was why she had been accepted into one of the most prestigious universities in the country. The challenge ahead was daunting, but she had been more than ready for it. At least, that’s what she thought.

As she entered her first class—Advanced Political Theory—there was an unsettling sense of excitement in the air. The class was buzzing with whispers, students exchanging knowing glances, and some girls giggling nervously. It was odd, but Y/N brushed it off. New environments always took a little time to adjust to.

She found a seat in the middle of the room, close enough to hear the lecture but far enough back to observe her surroundings. Her fingers drummed nervously on her notebook as she waited. The clock ticked closer to 8:00 AM. The room had nearly filled when suddenly, it fell into a strange, eccentric silence.

Y/N looked up, and that’s when she saw him.

Professor Itachi Uchiha.

The man was nothing like she had expected. His dark, silky hair fell just past his shoulders, framing a face that was both beautiful and intimidating. His onyx eyes held a sharpness, a cold intelligence that seemed to pierce through everyone in the room. His posture was rigid, his gaze unreadable. Dressed in a black suit, he walked to the front of the class with an eerie kind of grace, as if every movement was calculated.

There was something... magnetic about him. Y/N felt it instantly. But there was also something else—something darker that made her stomach twist in ways she couldn’t explain.

"Good morning," Itachi’s voice was deep, and quiet, and yet it commanded the room without effort. Every word was clipped, and precise. "I’m Professor Uchiha. I don’t tolerate mediocrity, and I expect every student here to perform at their best. If you’re not prepared for that, I suggest you leave now."

A shiver ran down Y/N’s spine. His words were a challenge, and the air in the room seemed to grow heavy. No one moved, but she could feel the tension rise.

Her hand tightened around her pen, eyes locking onto his form as he began to write something on the board. His writing was sharp and elegant, just like him. The class was silent, the only sound was the scrape of chalk against the board.

"As you’re aware," Itachi began, "this class will cover political theories from both historical and contemporary perspectives. Our focus will be on the deconstruction of power dynamics within these structures."

Y/N found herself unconsciously leaning forward, hanging on every word. His voice was hypnotic, and as much as she hated to admit it, there was something compelling about the way he spoke. Each word was deliberate, like he was letting you into some kind of secret knowledge.

But then, halfway through the lecture, it happened.

It was subtle. Almost too subtle to notice. But Y/N caught it—the briefest flicker of his eyes in her direction. It lasted no more than a second, a passing glance, but it felt like a spotlight had been cast directly on her. Her heart skipped a beat, confusion swirling in her chest.

Why had he looked at her like that?

For the rest of the lecture, she tried to shake it off, convincing herself it was nothing. Professors glanced at their students all the time. She was just being paranoid. And yet, every time his gaze swept across the room, she swore it lingered on her for just a little too long.

When the class finally ended, Y/N quickly packed up her things, eager to escape the suffocating feeling that had been building inside her since that first glance. As she slung her bag over her shoulder and headed for the door, she heard his voice again.

"Miss L/N."

She froze mid-step, her blood turning cold. Slowly, she turned to face him. Itachi stood at the front of the room, his piercing eyes locked onto hers. There was no emotion in his gaze, just a terrifying stillness.

"Stay behind for a moment, if you don’t mind," he said, his tone casual, but there was an undercurrent of something else beneath his words—something that sent a shiver down her spine.

The classroom emptied out, the other students oblivious to the tension that now hung in the air. Y/N swallowed hard, her heart racing as she slowly approached the front of the room. When the last student finally left, Itachi closed the door with a soft click, the sound echoing ominously in the silence.

"Yes, Professor?" Y/N asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

Itachi watched her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he took a step closer. Not enough to invade her personal space, but enough to make his presence feel even more imposing.

"I’ve noticed you," he said, his voice soft but laced with something darker. "You’re not like the others."

Y/N blinked, her mind racing to process his words. "I-I don’t understand," she stammered, feeling her throat tighten.

A small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Your intelligence stands out. Your attention to detail. It’s rare."

She swallowed hard, unsure of how to respond. Compliments from professors were normal, right? But why did this feel so... wrong?

"I expect great things from you, Miss L/N," he continued, his eyes never leaving hers. "You won’t disappoint me."

It wasn’t a question. It was a command.

Y/N nodded, unable to find her voice. Something about the way he spoke made her feel like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff, like one wrong move would send her plummeting into something she couldn’t escape from.

"Good," Itachi said, his voice barely above a whisper now. "You may go."

Without another word, Y/N turned and hurried out of the classroom, her pulse racing in her ears. The second she stepped out into the hallway, she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

What the hell was that?

For the rest of the day, Y/N couldn’t shake the feeling that Itachi’s eyes were still on her, watching her even when she wasn’t in the classroom. She felt like prey under the gaze of a predator, and the worst part was, she couldn’t tell if she was imagining it or if it was real.

When she got back to her dorm that night, she collapsed onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her mind was a whirlwind of confusion, anxiety, and something else she didn’t want to admit—intrigue.

What had Itachi meant by, "You’re not like the others"?

She replayed his words over and over in her head, trying to make sense of them. But the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. And yet, deep down, a part of her was drawn to the mystery of it all. There was something intoxicating about Itachi’s presence, something that made her want to understand him, even if it terrified her.

Y/N rolled over, trying to push the thoughts away. She had classes to focus on, and assignments to complete. The last thing she needed was to get distracted by a professor’s cryptic words.

But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.

And Itachi Uchiha wasn’t done with her yet.