Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 26

POV – Y/n

We set up camp near a creek, deep in a patch of neutral territory. The terrain was rocky, too dangerous to stay long. But for one night, it was enough.

Kisame volunteered for first watch and disappeared into the trees, humming again like a war-hardened lullaby machine.

That left me and Itachi in the faint glow of the fire.

He didn't speak much—not that I expected him to—but tonight, he felt especially unreadable. He just sat across from me, staring into the flames like they were telling him secrets.

I stretched out on a blanket, chin in my hand. "If you keep staring like that, I'm going to start thinking you like my company."

He blinked slowly. "You talk more when you're tired."

"Maybe I get chatty around people I don't trust."

"I'd think you'd shut up, then."

I grinned. "Ouch."

He let out the ghost of a chuckle. Just a breath. But it was something.

The wind rustled the trees. I stared up at the stars, letting the silence sit between us.

"...Can I ask you something?" I said.

He didn't answer, but he didn't say no.

"Why do you stay in Akatsuki?"

I expected a sharp answer. Or nothing. But he surprised me.

"Because it's easier to be useful than to be lost."

I turned my head to look at him. His expression didn't change. But his voice was quiet—faintly hoarse, like it scraped something raw just to say it.

"You don't seem lost."

"I'm not." He met my eyes. "But I used to be."

I hesitated. Then: "Same."

We didn't need to explain further.

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Later

I shifted in my blanket, unable to sleep. Again.

The fire was nearly out. Itachi hadn't moved, still sitting there like a ghost of himself.

"You're still awake," I said softly.

"Yes."

"Are you always like this?"

He turned his head slightly. "Like what?"

"Distant. Unreachable. Mysterious."

"...Yes."

I pulled my blanket tighter. "You're infuriating."

"I know."

I exhaled sharply. Then sat up.

"Alright, your turn," I said.

"My turn for what?"

"A real answer."

He didn't reply, but something about the quiet made me think he was listening.

I looked at him through the shadows. "What are you afraid of?"

The fire cracked softly. He didn't move.

I was about to say never mind when he murmured:

"Becoming what they think I am."

I swallowed hard. "You're not."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

Another long silence.

"...What about you?" he asked.

I looked down at my hands. "Forgetting who I was before this."

He didn't respond. But the space between us changed. I felt it—an invisible thread pulling tighter.

He looked over his shoulder at me. Just for a moment.

"I won't let you forget," he said.

My breath caught.

And then he looked away.

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POV – Itachi

She laid down again after that, curled up beneath the blanket like she was trying to shield herself from the world.

I stayed where I was, watching the fire fade.

I hadn't meant to say what I said.

But I meant it.

And that scared me more than anything.