"Mom, I'm home!" Izumi called cheerfully as she pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Immediately, her mother, Uchiha Hazuki, hurried over, her eyes brightening with joy. Gently, she reached out and touched Izumi's cheek, her smile warm and tender. "You're back! You've grown taller, but… you look thinner. What do you want to eat tonight, dear?"
Izumi grinned. "Seafood."
Hazuki nodded enthusiastically. "Alright, I'll prepare it right away. But don't forget—you need to rest properly. You're a ninja, yes, but even ninjas can't work without enough rest. If you get too tired, it won't be good for your health."
Izumi smirked playfully. "Mom, I'm a ninja, not an ordinary person."
Her mother chuckled softly. "Still, rest is important."
"Okay, okay," Izumi laughed and headed toward the kitchen to wash up.
After a delicious dinner, Izumi decided to take a walk in the nearby park to clear her mind and enjoy the evening breeze.
As she strolled beneath the canopy of trees, Izumi suddenly spotted a familiar figure approaching from the distance.
"He's here too," she murmured to herself with a small smile.
Then, spotting Uchiha Itachi, she licked her lips mischievously and called out, "Itachi!"
Itachi glanced over and saw Izumi waving to him eagerly. He responded with a slow, measured approach, the usual calmness in his eyes.
"Izumi, long time no see," she greeted, extending her hand teasingly. "Did you come empty-handed again? No gift for me?"
Itachi's lips twitched, and he shook his head apologetically. "Yes… I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Izumi said with a gentle laugh, but before she could continue, Itachi interrupted.
"I want to apologize for last time."
"Huh?" Izumi blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"It's about what I said before. I didn't express myself clearly, and I spoke out of turn. I'm sorry."
"Oh, you mean last time," Izumi smiled warmly. "You don't need to apologize. I also had my moments—I was a bit childish and threw a tantrum. Let's forget about it and continue to be friends."
Itachi nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, I'd like that."
The two walked side by side through the park, chatting quietly under the fading light.
Curious, Itachi asked, "Izumi, how was your mission?"
Izumi exhaled, her expression thoughtful. "It was similar to before—guarding the Daimyo's wife, taking care of her beauty treatments, looking after her pets, and also assisting the Daimyo himself. The Daimyo even asked me to deliver a message to our Clan Head, requesting that the Uchiha send people to protect him. He promised to speak well of the Uchiha Clan."
She paused, then continued with a sigh, "But the Clan Head severely scolded me. He said I shouldn't have bypassed the Village and contacted the Daimyo privately. He thinks this will make the Village even more suspicious of the Uchiha. I guess… as children, we're not meant to resolve these conflicts. We only make things worse. The adults have to handle these matters."
Itachi stopped walking and turned to look at her intently. "What you did was indeed risky. You should have communicated with the Village first. The Hokage would be very displeased if he knew. If I were your father, I would have scolded you too. But your effort to support the family is admirable."
Izumi muttered under her breath, "Tch, like he's some great authority…"
Then she cleared her throat awkwardly. "I heard you're doing very well in Anbu. Everyone in the clan knows about it and is proud."
Itachi's expression softened, but a shadow of melancholy passed over his face. "Sigh… it's just a mission the adults gave me to do."
Izumi immediately covered his mouth with a finger and leaned closer, whispering, "Don't say that to me. If others hear, you'll be punished, won't you?"
Itachi glanced at her nervously. Seeing her earnest and worried expression, he gently withdrew his hand and said quietly, "Don't worry. No one else knows what I just said."
He watched as Izumi's gaze shifted downward, noticing that he had been holding her hand without realizing it. Flushing slightly, Itachi immediately pulled away.
"I-I'm sorry," he stammered.
But even after letting go, Itachi's hand twitched involuntarily, recalling the soft warmth of her skin. So smooth… he thought, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Hahaha…" Izumi's laughter rang like delicate silver bells. She stepped closer, brushing his shoulder gently, and reached up to caress the necklace resting at his neck.
Her voice softened. "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You need to judge right from wrong carefully, think deeply, and never do anything you'll regret."
"Mhm," Itachi replied softly.
Izumi nodded in satisfaction, about to step back.
But suddenly, she felt herself being pulled into a tight embrace.
Itachi held her firmly, surprised by his own impulse. He sensed the tension in her body and began to stroke her hair slowly, soothing her. A gentle smile formed on his lips.
"Mhm, Izumi… I will. You must work hard too."
Their eyes met for a brief, silent moment, full of unspoken feelings.
Finally, they released each other.
Izumi's cheeks were flushed pink, and she looked at him with mock dissatisfaction.
Itachi blinked, slightly concerned. "Uh, Izumi, is something wrong?"
"Hmph!" she pouted, crossing her arms and leaning back with exaggerated annoyance. "I can't believe you're that kind of person! If that's how you are, you should have been more proactive and not let me hug you first! So embarrassing!"
Itachi frowned in confusion. "What do you mean? What kind of person?"
Izumi gave him a playful, teasing glare. "A woman's words are for a man to guess. Hmph."
Itachi scratched his head awkwardly, then admitted, "I'm sorry. I don't know why, but I just didn't want to let go."
"Pervert."
"Huh?"
Izumi narrowed her eyes and repeated sternly, "Pervert."
Itachi's confusion deepened. "But you hugged me first!"
"That still doesn't count!"
"My mother told me that when a girl your age hugs you, you should hug her back. It increases affection..." he said sheepishly.
"Ah! He really is a pervert! I'm going home! See you next time!" Izumi laughed and ran off before he could respond.
Itachi watched her hurry away, then muttered to himself, "So, was what Mom said true or false?"
But he couldn't deny the warmth of that hug lingered within him, a feeling he savored secretly.
---
Izumi stomped home, cheeks burning with embarrassment and frustration.
"Damn it," she muttered aloud. "I planned to follow the original story and give him a reward… but instead, he ended up flirting with me! And why am I blushing like this?"
She touched her face self-consciously. "And why am I so nervous? I guess it's true—no matter the gender, the first time being hugged by the opposite sex is nerve-wracking."
Izumi thought about her previous life, where she had never had a girlfriend or been hugged like that. Here in this life, she wanted to leave a strong impression on a boy by hugging him first, but instead, she was the one held tightly.
"Ah, how embarrassing!" she exclaimed to herself.
When Izumi reached home, her mother noticed her flushed face and smiled knowingly.
"What's wrong?" Hazuki asked playfully.
Izumi waved her hand dismissively. "Nothing."
Hazuki chuckled softly. "Nothing, huh? You must have done something. Otherwise, why would your face be so red? Heh heh heh…"
Leaning closer, she whispered, "Come on, tell me what happened."
Izumi blushed fiercely and shook her head. "I'm not telling."
Her mother sighed, "Since you grew up, you don't tell me anything anymore. You have your own little secrets now."
Izumi rolled her eyes and muttered, "There's really nothing! Nothing at all!" before retreating to her room.
Hazuki smiled warmly and went back to her chores, her heart filled with quiet happiness at seeing her daughter growing up.
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