Chapter 44: Gathering of Fate (Part 1)
After the Third Hokage restored the sealing formations around the Book of Seals, he and Sakura finally left the vault.
On the way out, Sakura pulled out two photos and handed them to him.
"Grandpa Third, this is for you.
If the Hidden Cloud Village ever tries to stir up trouble again, just show this to the Fourth Raikage."
"What is this?"
The Third took the photos, puzzled.
The moment he glanced at them, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"That's… the Fourth Raikage? And who's the other one?!"
"The Fourth Raikage and Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails jinchūriki.
I took these using the Transformation Jutsu."
Sakura smirked.
"Unless the Fourth Raikage wants the whole shinobi world to see just how glamorous he can look,
I doubt he'll try anything against Konoha again."
"Hah! Not bad at all."
The Third chuckled and carefully tucked the photos away.
If the Raikage ever got cocky again, showing those pictures would definitely be entertaining.
---
Early the next morning, Sakura dragged the still-recovering Kakashi and Gai out of bed.
Then she went to fetch Shisui as well, and the four of them made their way toward the gathering spot.
By the time they arrived, Ino and the others were already there, busy organizing the food and supplies they'd brought.
"Sakura, who are those guys with you?"
Ino asked, eyeing the three men curiously.
"This is Hatake Kakashi,"
Sakura began with a grin.
"A Jonin of the Hidden Leaf, once a prodigy—graduated from the academy at five, became a Chunin at six, and was promoted to Jonin by twelve.
Total legend.
But now he's grown up… and kind of fallen from grace—he's basically a delinquent who's never seen without his dirty little orange book!"
Kakashi's expression started off pleased by the praise… but then soured completely.
What the hell? Dirty book-obsessed delinquent?!
Sakura ignored Kakashi's mournful gaze and pointed to Gai next.
"Might Guy—Leaf Village's Taijutsu specialist.
Insanely strong, especially in close combat.
When he goes all out, he can even take on a Kage!"
At this stage, Gai could open the Seventh Gate, though not for long.
If he pushed himself to the limit, he could just about match the Third Hokage in his prime.
If he ever gained full control over it for extended periods, even the Third wouldn't stand a chance.
Finally, Sakura pulled Shisui forward, who smiled warmly as she introduced him.
"This is Uchiha Shisui, a Jonin and elite prodigy of the Uchiha Clan—known across the shinobi world as Shisui of the Body Flicker.
His mastery of genjutsu and high-speed movement is absolutely next level!"
"Huh? Uchiha? He's from Sasuke's clan?"
Naruto stepped forward, staring at Shisui with a tilted head.
"He doesn't look anything like that stuck-up Sasuke though…"
"Duh. Shisui and Sasuke are both Uchiha, but they're not directly related.
Of course they don't look alike."
Sakura replied casually.
Then she glanced around.
"Wait, Sasuke's not here yet?"
"I'm here."
Just as she spoke, Sasuke's annoyed voice rang out from behind.
Sakura turned and saw him walking over, dragging Itachi by the hand—his face dark and his gaze locked on the girl standing next to Itachi.
She had long, flowing hair and a calm, gentle smile.
"Sorry to interrupt. I'm Uchiha Izumi—Itachi's friend,"
the girl said politely.
She smiled sweetly, but Sasuke's dark mood only worsened.
Clearly, he wasn't happy seeing her that close to his brother.
Calling him "Itachi" so intimately only made it worse.
Sakura and Ino exchanged a glance.
Then, without saying a word, the whole group lined up, bowed slightly, and greeted them in unison:
"Hello, Brother Itachi! Hello, Sister-in-law Izumi!"
"W-Wha?!"
Izumi's face instantly turned scarlet.
Sure, she did like Itachi—but it was a one-sided crush!
"Sister-in-law"? Isn't that way too much?!
"N-No, really… I'm not his girlfriend! We're just friends!"
Izumi stammered, flustered beyond belief.
"Pfft, relationships always start from friendship!"
Sakura said knowingly.
"If you like someone, go for it!
Don't keep your feelings bottled up—missing your chance just because you're shy would be a tragedy!"
"W-Wait, no, I—"
Izumi looked like a tomato now.
The idea of boldly confessing her feelings was mortifying.
"If you don't mind, Izumi-nee,"
Sakura whispered conspiratorially,
"I can help. I've got some special herbs.
Slip it into his drink—he'll be burning with passion.
Then you can just push him down and take control!
Don't worry—Brother Itachi's not the type to ditch someone afterward."
Sakura rubbed her chin, eyes gleaming with mischief.
In the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi remained single all the way until his death.
And the one girl who had the greatest chance of becoming his girlfriend—Uchiha Izumi—
died tragically in different ways depending on the version:
in the novel, she perished under Itachi's Tsukuyomi, living a full, happy life with him inside the illusion.
In the anime, she was killed by Obito.
Determined not to let Itachi live out his life as a lonely bachelor,
Sakura made up her mind—she had to play matchmaker for these two.
"N-No thanks!"
Izumi waved her hands in protest.
Although… the idea was a little tempting.
"You know," Kakashi chimed in,
"compared to me, you're starting to sound more like a delinquent yourself.
Coming up with such shady methods?"
Clearly, he hadn't forgotten how Sakura had described him earlier.
Now was the perfect time to get some payback.
"What do you know? I'm helping Big Bro Itachi break out of bachelorhood here!"
Sakura scoffed at Kakashi with disdain.
"These days, finding someone who genuinely likes you is rare, you know?
Sure, my methods might be a little underhanded,
but who's to say Itachi wouldn't actually enjoy being treated that way?
Guys are complicated—half the time they're dying inside but still acting like stoic monks on the outside.
And anyway, Uncle Kakashi, don't think everyone's like you—single and keeping a pet dog to fill the void.
You're literally cursing yourself to be a forever-alone mutt!"
"Kids shouldn't joke about that kind of thing so casually."
Itachi's usually calm face was now cracking under the pressure.
What kind of friend did Sasuke bring home?!
She even dared suggest drugging him…
Then again, considering this was the girl who once tricked Sasuke into wearing a dress,
he figured drugging someone might actually be within the realm of possibility for her.
"If you really like someone, then just confess already!"
Shisui walked over with a grin and patted Itachi on the shoulder,
giving him a meaningful look.
"Et tu, Shisui?"
Itachi sighed in resignation.
Even Shisui had joined the chaos.
Meanwhile, Sasuke's mental state was on the verge of imploding.
Everyone was talking about pairing up his brother with Uchiha Izumi—and he was fuming.
Big Brother belongs to me!
How could they let someone else take him away?!