Chapitre 13: Relaxing Day...
The blue sky stretched endlessly, reflecting in the crystal-clear waters of a creek, where tranquility reigned—until it didn't.
Splash!
A loud splash broke the silence as young Uchiha Itachi, wearing nothing but a pair of oversized shorts, dove into the cool depths. A few seconds later, he emerged, water dripping from his raven-black hair. Using his hands, he wiped his face and let out a carefree laugh.
"Ahh, this is amazing! Hey, Izumi! You should jump in too!" Itachi called out with a mischievous grin.
On the creek's edge, Uchiha Izumi stood hesitantly, clutching her clothes with flushed cheeks. "I can't!" she exclaimed shyly. "I didn't bring a swimsuit. And getting my underwear wet is super uncomfortable!"
Itachi smirked, his mischievous streak lighting up his face. "Then don't wear any," he teased. "You're six years old, Izumi. Your body's no different from a boy's anyway. Come on, just take it off already, hahaha!"
Izumi's face turned a deeper shade of crimson as she spun around, stomping her feet indignantly. "You're so annoying, Itachi!" she huffed, determined not to face him.
"Ugh, you're no fun," Itachi muttered under his breath. Leaping out of the creek, he executed a flawless mid-air spin before landing on the shore. With a flick of his hand, a fiery aura enveloped him, evaporating the water from his body in seconds. Dressed only in shorts, he sauntered over to Izumi and tapped her shoulder.
Startled, she turned around instinctively—only to find herself face-to-face with a very shirtless Itachi. Her eyes widened, and before she could process what was happening, her legs wobbled. With a squeak, she fainted straight into Itachi's arms.
Itachi caught her with ease, his smirk softening into a look of mild amusement. "Really? Fainting just from this?" he muttered. "Guess I went a little too far."
He carried her to the shade of a nearby tree and leaned her gently against the trunk. After quickly slipping on his clothes, he crouched beside her, waiting for her to come around.
---
When Izumi finally stirred, she rubbed her eyes groggily. "What… happened?" she mumbled.
"You fainted," Itachi replied with a shameless grin. "Guess I'm too handsome for you to handle."
Izumi blinked, then narrowed her eyes. "Oh, please. You might be prettier than most boys, but I'd never—"
"Let's not dwell on it, okay?" Itachi interrupted hastily. "Come on, I want to show you something cool in the forest."
Izumi hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright… lead the way."
As they ventured deeper into the woods, Itachi couldn't help but marvel at the towering trees that stretched endlessly toward the sky. The forests of the Naruto world were truly magical, brimming with life and ancient energy. It was a far cry from the tame, ordinary groves of other lands.
"It's just up ahead," Itachi said, leaping effortlessly onto a higher branch before landing gracefully on the forest floor.
Before them lay a secluded clearing, dominated by a majestic waterfall cascading into a sparkling blue pool. Izumi gasped in awe, taking in the serene beauty of the spot.
"Itachi, this place is incredible," she whispered.
"Yeah, Shisui and I found it a while back," Itachi replied proudly. "Not bad, huh?"
Their moment of admiration was interrupted by a quiet, steady presence. Near the edge of the pool, a silver-haired boy sat cross-legged with a fishing rod in hand. His drooping eyelids and disinterested expression gave him the appearance of someone who had seen it all.
Hearing their footsteps, the boy lazily turned his head, revealing a pair of half-lidded, indifferent eyes. He stared at the newcomers for a moment before turning back to his fishing without so much as a word.
"Hey, who's this guy?" Izumi whispered, tugging on Itachi's sleeve.
Itachi smirked, recognizing the boy immediately. Striding forward with his usual confidence, he approached the fisherman. "Yo, Kakashi!" he called out. "What are you doing here all by yourself?"
The boy, Hatake Kakashi, didn't look up. Instead, he gave a half-hearted shrug, keeping his eyes on the water.
Unfazed, Itachi picked up a small rock and hurled it toward Kakashi's bait. The stone made a metallic clang as it collided with a kunai Kakashi had thrown mid-air to intercept it. The kunai embedded itself into a nearby tree.
Without so much as a glance, Kakashi muttered, "Don't disturb the fish."
Itachi's grin widened. "You're no fun, you know that?"
"Fun isn't in my job description," Kakashi retorted flatly.
Izumi giggled behind her hand. Despite his deadpan demeanor, Kakashi had a certain charm that she couldn't quite place.
---
As the day went on, the trio found themselves surprisingly at ease in each other's company. Kakashi even allowed Itachi to borrow his fishing rod, watching silently as the young Uchiha enthusiastically taught Izumi the finer points of casting.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Itachi had caught an impressive haul of fish. Meanwhile, Izumi struggled to produce even a single spark of flame while practicing the Fireball Jutsu under Itachi's guidance.
Kakashi observed the scene with a faint smirk. "Looks like you'll have your hands full with her, Itachi," he said dryly.
Itachi shrugged, the barest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Someone's gotta look out for her. Might as well be me."
Kakashi leaned back against the rock, gazing up at the now-starry sky. "Kids these days," he muttered. But as he watched the two young Uchihas bicker and laugh, a rare warmth flickered in his chest. For a moment, the weight of the world seemed just a little lighter.
###
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