Itachi's P.O.V
"Yeah", I scoffed at her remark, "the blonde Namikaze.."
Izumi sighed then gave me a small smile before saying, "well I can't finish these dango all by myself so...I'll be waiting for you on the bridge where we used to practice the Fireball Jutsu".
At the mention of the bridge I immediately recall Hanabi. How she'd stopped me from committing mass murder. The memory of us standing on the bridge was still fresh in my mind.
"Ok", I attempted a faint smile to ease up the atmosphere, "see you later Izumi.."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and began walking away quickly, each step felt heavier and heavier. I wish that Hanabi didn't have any mission today. We could've spend the day together and...and...
Shiro was quick on his limbs as well since he caught up to me with ease. Walking with pace, my mind wandered to my memories. At the Academy, when we were children Hanabi's vibrant colors would catch my attention occasionally. What'd always rendered me staring at her was the lively spirit that stood out.
She of course, never noticed me, or better yet, she'd forgotten about me since I was always the quite kid. And so when I saw her that day at the Hokage's office, all of my distant memories had been unlocked. It was too good to be true. I'd always been too shy to approach her back then.
Looking back, if I had one more ounce of courage, we could've been childhood friends. We could've been in this from the start. But even though we didn't know each other until recently, the outcome was still the same. Since we did end up as a team who saved the village and the clan.
It's funny how this short time feels like we've known each other a long lifetime. Shiro kept twirling over my feet, disrupting my footsteps. I smiled when I spotted a white butterfly. I held out my finger for it to land on.
The creature looked delicate and mesmerizing. I'd seen them countless of times circling Hanabi. I halted a moment to admire the butterfly, the howling wind disrupted its peace. Therefore, making it fly away.
I recollected my memories from last night, searching for the route to Hanabi's apartment. When I was sure I'd remembered it clearly, I chuckle to myself and stroll about my way.
I'd began to run without realizing it, my heart suddenly encroached with life. It was quite exhilarating to witness yourself come to life after being halfway dead for the majority of your life. Satisfying, it was satisfying knowing that there's someone that can make you feel such a way.
I halt at the bottom of the flight of stairs. I look up at the top of the stairs, knowing I'd get a genuine smile on my face. There, stood Hanabi, her hand trailed along the iron banister as she attempted to skip between stairs. She was so focused on her steps, she'd overlooked my presence completely. I simply smiled and decided to see how long before she realizes my presence.
The moment I decided to call out her name and greet her was the same moment when her foot suddenly lost balance as she skipped a step. Her eyes had widened then, her mouth parted in surprise.
My body had moved automatically, my heart had paced a bit. When I came to a halt, I was met with Hanabi's blue eyes. Both of my hands clutched the iron banister on either side. Hanabi had bumped into the crook of my neck, before she'd registered what happened. Even though I was a step below we'd leveled eye contact perfectly.
"Itachi..", she whispered, adjusting her posture, "where'd you pop out from?", she playfully asked.
I simply smiled, the tint of blush in my cheeks evident. Our faces were so close at this point it'd made me nervous. Eyes-wide, I leapt back to give her some space, overlooking the fact that we're standing on a flight of stairs.
"Itachi!"
I completely lost my balance from that jolt of surprise. Midway through my supposed collapse, my body had halted completely. The soles of my feet glued to the edge of one of the stair steps. My body was inclined in an obtuse angle on the step of the staircase. The only thing holding me in place being Hanabi's grip on my wrist while her other hand clutches the banister for support.
The howl of the wind that passed between us in this moment had resulted in a chill strewing across my body.
"You know, for being an elite Anbu member you sure do have your idiotic moments, Itachi", she chuckled, her grip only tightened on my wrist.
"Idiotic moments?...", I echoed back in response.
We'd stared into each other's eyes for a good minute before Shiro's bark snapped her attention. Her head jerked and she stared ahead of me.
"Is that a puppy?!", she blurted at no one in particular, making me flinch at her squeaky tone.
"Wait! Hanabi!", I managed to say when she suddenly let go of my hand and somersaulted in a way where she'd toppled over me in a flash.
"No no no no no..!"
My hand had hastened towards the iron banister, and once I gripped it, it was hard to let go. I managed to regain my composure all the while panting in and out. When I stood up perfectly on the staircase again I whipped my head and stared down at the end of the staircase, where Hanabi had embraced Shiro in a hug.
"Seriously?!", I complain, and take the flight of stairs down, "you honestly sold me out for the puppy?!", I pouted.
Engulfing Shiro in her arms, she batted her eye lashes towards me and said, "In my defense, it's not everyday you see something cute like a puppy".
And that statement alone was a direct slap to my face.
"You sure?", I mindlessly ask.
"What?"
"N-nothing..."
"Oh well, it was nice seeing you Itachi, I'm guessing things were well at the Uchiha district?".
"Y-yeah", I sigh, and stared at Shiro.
"Glad to hear that, now if you'll excuse me, I have a mission. Make sure to bear the good news to Shisui when he returns".
"Fine."
She shifted Shiro's weight in her left arm and inched closer to me.
"Chin up", she smiled, poking me lightly in the forehead, "I've seen the way you smile before, it suits you better".
My heart had instantly warmed at the last remark, but was I really surprised?
If she says it, she means it...
***
Saying goodbye to Hanabi was a bit unsettling. She told me that she had to go to the Hokage's office in order to receive further information about her mission. I parted her with a final goodbye, my heart a bit heavy.
Our latest encounter spiraled back and forth in my head. Never have I wanted to be a puppy so bad...
"In my defense, it's not everyday you see something cute like a puppy".
I sighed as I stared down at Shiro, who'd kept barking softly and dancing around me. From my peripheral vision, I noticed Izumi on the edge of the bridge.
This sight alone brought back childhood memories, the only difference being that now we're older. Our responsibilities have being weighing us down ever since we've come of age.
I made sure to pull up a smile on my face before going up to her and taking a seat beside her on the bridge.
"You're here..", Izumi looked at me with surprise.
I chuckled in return and asked, "you still got the dango?"
She grinned in return and pulled out the bag of dango.
"Did you greet her?", she suddenly asks, rendering me nervous.
"Yeah", I replied as flatly as possible.
She pulled out a stick of dango and handed it over to me. I muttered a quick thanks before taking it from her.
"Do you guys go missions together?", she suddenly asks, trying to get the conversation going.
"Yeah"
I dart my eyes to the rippling water of the lake. I took a bite from the dango and took a moment to appreciate the taste in my mouth.
"Itachi", my head tilts in Izumi's direction. Her face lowered down and her hands rested in her lap.
"What?", I inquired, feeling a bit anxious.
"You seem...alive...", she trailed off.
"What do you mean?", I scoffed nervously.
I'm pretty sure we both knew what that meant, but I just so happen to be the worst at playing dumb.
"Oh you know...", Izumi batted her eyelashes and pushed away her hair to one side, "ever since you and that blonde Namikaze-"
"Her name is Hanabi", I cut her off, "Hanabi Namikaze", I stress on every syllable.
"Right...", she sighs and looks at me in the eyes, "it seems like she has that kind of charisma that leans towards the lively part of you, you never thought you had..."
"What?", I lowered that dango stick, taking a moment to digest this information.
"That might be true", I confirmed, eyeing the rippling blue water of the lake, then gazing up at the blue sky.
Blue...
It seems like I'm bound to get reminded of Hanabi time and again.
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A/N:- Do y'all like Izumi Uchiha? Leave a comment below and a vote if you liked the Hanabi and Itachi moment. Also do we have any ships?
Comment on which one you favor:
Hanabi X Itachi
Itachi X Izumi
Shisui X Hanabi
Serious question:-
Am I the only one who's envious of the chicken?