Veil of Darkness | Yan! Itachi x Reader |

Chapter 3

The weekend passed in a blur for Y/N. Every time she tried to focus on her assignments, her mind drifted back to Itachi. His words, his presence, the way he seemed to linger in her thoughts like a shadow that refused to leave. She knew it was ridiculous—he was just a professor. Nothing more. But the pull he had over her was undeniable.

Monday morning came faster than she expected, and with it, the dreaded return to Itachi’s class. She had spent the entire weekend convincing herself that she needed to keep her distance, stay focused, and not let whatever strange connection she thought they had get in the way of her studies. But as she walked into the lecture hall, her resolve crumbled.

Itachi was already there, seated at his desk, flipping through papers with a cool detachment. His presence alone made her stomach twist in knots. Y/N quickly took her seat, trying to avoid his gaze, but it was impossible not to feel the weight of his attention. She swore he could sense her unease, even from across the room.

The lecture began, but Y/N could barely focus. Every word he said seemed to carry an unspoken message, and every glance in her direction felt like a silent invitation—one she wasn’t sure she could refuse. She scribbled notes absentmindedly, her hand shaking slightly. The room felt colder, more oppressive, and she couldn’t tell if it was her imagination or if something had shifted between them.

About halfway through the class, Y/N made the mistake of glancing up at him. Itachi’s dark eyes met hers instantly, locking her in place. For a split second, she saw something flicker in his gaze—something darker, more intense than before. It sent a chill down her spine.

And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it was gone.

Y/N looked away, her heart pounding. What the hell was happening? Why did she feel like she was drowning every time he looked at her? She needed to get a grip. This was ridiculous. He was just a professor—someone she should respect, not fear.

But that wasn’t the truth, was it? She didn’t just fear him. She was drawn to him in a way that scared her more than anything. And the worst part was, she didn’t know if she wanted to escape from it.

The lecture ended, and Y/N was the first to pack up her things. She needed to get out of there—away from the suffocating presence that was Itachi Uchiha. But as she stood to leave, his voice stopped her cold.

“Miss L/N.”

Her breath hitched. Slowly, she turned to face him. He was standing now, his gaze fixed on her with that same unsettling intensity.

“Stay behind again, if you don’t mind.”

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

Y/N swallowed hard, her feet rooted to the spot. The classroom emptied around her, the other students oblivious to the tension that hung thick in the air. When the last one finally left, the door closed with a soft click, leaving them alone.

Itachi crossed the room slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the silence, each step sending her heart racing faster. When he finally stopped in front of her, Y/N felt like she could barely breathe.

“I’ve been thinking about you,” he said softly, his voice a low murmur that sent shivers down her spine.

Y/N’s mind raced. What did he mean by that? Was he talking about her work in class, or... something else?

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. Her throat was dry, and her pulse thundered in her ears.

“I’ve noticed,” Itachi continued, his voice calm, almost unnervingly so, “that your focus has been... elsewhere.”

Y/N stiffened. He was right, of course. She hadn’t been able to concentrate in class at all, too distracted by the strange, dangerous pull he had over her.

“I’m not upset,” he added, his eyes narrowing slightly. “In fact, I find it... intriguing.”

Intriguing? Y/N’s stomach twisted. What the hell was he talking about?

Itachi took a step closer, his gaze never wavering. “I see potential in you, Y/N. You’re different from the others. You think differently, observe differently. But you’re holding yourself back.”

Y/N’s heart pounded in her chest. This felt wrong—so wrong—but she couldn’t look away. Couldn’t move.

“What do you mean?” she managed to whisper, her voice trembling.

Itachi’s smirk returned, faint but dangerous. “You let fear control you. Fear of failure. Fear of the unknown. Fear of... me.”

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. He knew. He knew exactly what kind of hold he had over her, and he wasn’t afraid to use it.

“I can help you,” he continued, his voice as smooth as silk. “But you have to be willing to let go of that fear. To trust me.”

Y/N’s mind screamed at her to run, to get the hell out of there, but her body refused to move. She was trapped, caught in his web, and the worst part was... a part of her didn’t want to leave.

“I don’t... I don’t understand,” she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Itachi’s smirk widened, just a fraction. “You will.”

Before she could process his words, he turned and walked back to his desk, his demeanour calm and composed as if nothing had happened. But Y/N knew better. Something had shifted between them, something that couldn’t be undone.

“Consider this an invitation,” Itachi said, his back to her now. “To explore your potential. To free yourself from your limitations.”

Y/N stood frozen, her mind spinning. What was he talking about? Why did it feel like he was offering her something far more dangerous than academic guidance?

“I’ll see you in class tomorrow, Miss L/N,” Itachi said, his tone dismissive.

It was over. Just like that, the conversation was done, and yet Y/N felt like she had stepped into something she couldn’t escape. Her legs felt weak as she gathered her things and headed for the door, her pulse still racing in her ears.

As she stepped into the hallway, the world outside felt distant, unreal. The cold air did little to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Fear, curiosity, desire—they all blended into a confusing, overwhelming mess.

What had just happened? What had Itachi meant by “free yourself”? And why, despite every instinct telling her to stay away, did she feel so drawn to him?

Y/N spent the rest of the day in a daze, replaying the conversation over and over in her head. She tried to focus on her assignments, but Itachi’s words kept echoing in her mind, filling her with a strange, intoxicating mixture of dread and excitement.

By the time night fell, she was more confused than ever. She couldn’t deny the growing obsession she felt—the pull toward Itachi that seemed to grow stronger with every passing day. But it wasn’t just attraction. It was something darker. Something that scared her.

And yet... she couldn’t stop thinking about it.

When Y/N finally fell into an uneasy sleep, her dreams were filled with shadows. And in the darkness, Itachi’s voice whispered to her, promising things she couldn’t understand but craved all the same.