Capítulo 13: Chapter 13: Plots
-Itachi-
After the sun dipped low over the horizon and the early moon was steadily rising in the night sky, Itachi and Shisui walked Yahizui home. They were all tired, yet happy, knowing how precious these moments were. For the first time in a while, Itachi found that there was a lightness in his chest that didn't seem to happen too often anymore
"So, this is me," said Yahizui.
Before she could say another word, Itachi saw Shisui give her a quick wiggle of his fingers in goodbye, his eyes quickly flickering to Itachi before he suddenly flashed away.
Itachi could see Yahizui's confusion as she blinked at the spot where Shisui had been standing only seconds before, unsure about his cousin's quick exit, before shaking her head and looking towards him, a happy smile on her face. "We should do this more often!"
Itachi watched the way her evergreen eyes twinkled in hope. She looked happy, smiling openly at him in a way that made his heart clench. He liked it. He liked spending time with her and Shisui, talking, training, eating dango under the canopy of trees, and talking about small nothings. Yet Itachi knew it wasn't meant to be like that. Time was limited, and maybe this was what made him cherish these moments.
"I'm going to have a lot of missions coming up." Itachi couldn't tell her the truth. The ANBU tattoo was still pulsing on his upper arm, marking him forever as a hunter, as part of the special assassination and tactical squad. That was something he couldn't share with her.
Yahizui didn't ask. She simply nodded, her hair hiding the look in her eyes. "Ah, yeah, me too," she said, a smile playing on her lips that didn't seem to reach her eyes. "Same here! I mean, nothing as big as you, but who knows, right?"
He pushed away the pang in his chest, knowing that there was no other choice in the matter. He had his duties and now, so did she.
"Aa." There was nothing more he could say without giving away his actual reason. So he merely looked at her, wondering what other changes he would notice when he finally got to see her again. Would her hair get longer? Would her wide eyes still sparkle in the light? Or, would the life of a ninja change her, turn her into something he wouldn't recognize?
No, Itachi thought. She's stronger than that.
"So, good night," said Yahizui after a few moments of silence. She shuffled from side to side as her hands rubbed against her arms.
"Good night," he replied, then turned to leave, before darting away, making his way to where he knew Shisui was waiting. Itachi landed in front of him.
"You two are so cute together," said Shisui, a teasing grin spreading on his face.
Itachi gave him a curious look. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Shisui laughed and threw an arm over Itachi's shoulder. Itachi gazed skeptically at him.
"Ah, youth. So inexperienced, so innocent." Shisui sighed lightheartedly.
"What are you talking about?" Itachi asked as they reached the Uchiha compound.
"Itachi, my dear, didn't you know? There is no such thing as friendship between a boy and a girl. Not without something… else."
He looked at Shisui's face with doubt. He was just about to say something when the shadow of a man walking toward a lonely house got his attention.
"Shisui," he whispered. "Look."
Shisui's sharp eyes were already resting on the suspicious form. "I wonder what an important person such as councilor Shuko is doing at Shiori-san's home. And that at such a late hour." His tone was low, keeping the conversation between them, even in the quiet night air.
Itachi's eyes narrowed. Indeed, what was Councilor Shuko doing with Izumi's mom? Why pay her a visit so late in the night? By his side, Shisui seemed to have the same idea.
They had to find out what Shuko was saying. Itachi futher suppressed his chakra to ensure that they wouldn't be discovered, feeling Shisui's chakra disappear as he did the same beside him. With a shared nod, they moved like shadows, reaching Shiori's house in a single breath. Both paused, their eyes trained upon the window above, ears focused on the voices inside the house.
"Shiori-san," said Shuko in his usual, velvet tone. "I came to see how you are faring."
"It is… very generous of you to stop by, Shuko-sama," uttered Shiori in a quiet voice, though the tremble was apparent.
"Indeed. We must look after one another, we of the Uchiha Clan. And even if you don't have our blood, Shiori-san, you share our values."
"Yes!" she said, desperation coloring her words. "Yes Shuko-sama, I do, I truly do! I… I'm so sorry I went to them first, please, believe me!"
"No need to beg, Shiori-san," said Shuko, his tone drenched in sympathy. "The past is the past, and now… now we will focus on the future."
"Yes, Shuko-sama," said Shiori in a hushed tone.
"Good. Now, tell me."
There was a pause. "Aku-san agrees, and so do the two tailors down the block, Ima-san and Kugi-san. Ima and Kugi-san have a son in the police force who is also of the same opinion as his parents."
"Very good, Shiori-san, very good," said Shuko with glee. He stood, the sound of his chair traveling through the thin wall. "This, Shiori-san is the beginning of something big. And you are the one that makes it happen."
A pause, followed by Shiori's gasp. "Shuko-sama, this is —"
"I will come back in a month. Have a good evening, Shiori-san."
Itachi and Shisui shunshined away as soon as they heard Shuko's words. As soon as the main road came into view, they stopped.
"What was Shuko talking about?" asked Shisui as he counted the names on his fingers. "All names are of clan members."
Itachi thought of the names. Aku-san was the clan blacksmith. He was a civilian, but his older brother had been a shinobi. He was the clan's internal supply of custom weapons, but there was nothing unusual or particular about him. The same could be said about the two tailors, Ima-san and Kugi-san. The elderly couple had probably served and tailored something for every Uchiha member for at least twenty years. Still, there was no connection between these people, and there was nothing particular about them, besides the fact that they, like Shiori, were civilians.
"Whatever it is, he's having Shiori-san do it."
Shisui nodded. "Yes, but why?" He kicked a rock on the road. "I expected him to make a big fuss after Izumi's… well yeah, I thought he would push Fugaku-san again. But he didn't."
Itachi glanced sideways at his cousin. "That's not how Shuko operates. I've had plenty of time to study him whenever he came to visit my mother. He plays on people's expectations. With father, he'll jab at his pride, his decisions, his power. With mother, he manipulates, directs and leads her to whatever it is he wants."
Itachi's voice was spiteful, fists clenching in his pockets. Shuko's games with his parents were mirrored by his games with everyone else. Itachi was sure that the man was a chameleon, adjusting himself to each person so that he could play them better. So how did he adjust to Shiori-san? She was practically an outsider to the clan, so why choose her? And for what?
"Enjoying the evening?"
Itachi and Shisui froze. Shuko was standing behind them.
PENSAMENTOS DOS CRIADORES 
Itygirl2412
Itygirl2412 OH NOOOO!!!! Another cliffhanger!
Did Shuko hear anything? Does he know that they were listening to him?
See all that in the next chapter of Pain and Hope!
And don’t forget to comment!!
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