When gossip meets maternal instincts… even prodigies have nowhere to hide.
"What's wrong, Itachi?"
Izumi could tell immediately — Itachi was acting strange today. Far more alert than usual, as if something invisible were pressing against his nerves.
"It's nothing. I'm going to check the shop next door. Wait here," Itachi said abruptly, already standing.
Without giving further explanation, he headed straight for the Odd Jobs Shop.
"Itachi?" Izumi blinked in confusion, then hurried after him.
Inside the shop—
"Ah! What do I do?! They're coming over!" Mikoto whispered frantically, clutching Sasuke closer. "I need to hide—right now!"
Why did it suddenly feel like she was the one being caught doing something shameful?
"Madam," Ayato said calmly from the side, lifting his teacup, "you wouldn't want your son to find out what's going on here, would you?"
Before Mikoto could even process the implication—
The door swung open.
Itachi stepped inside, fully prepared to uncover some hidden secret.
Instead, he froze.
Standing there was Uchiha Mikoto.
His mother.
And in her arms—
His silly little brother, Sasuke.
"M-Mother…?" Itachi's voice cracked. "Why are you here?"
His mind raced.
He had just been eating dango with Izumi.
And that murderous pressure earlier…
…So it really was Mom?!
"Well?" Mikoto crossed her arms and stared at her flustered eldest son. "Don't you have something you'd like to explain, Itachi?"
Her earlier panic vanished completely. She now stood firmly on the moral high ground.
"Uh… Mother, I still need to go train…" Itachi said stiffly, already looking for an escape route.
That was when he noticed Ayato seated calmly at the tea table, leisurely sipping tea as if none of this concerned him in the slightest.
…Despicable.
A horrifying realization struck Itachi.
Ayato must have told his mother everything.
"Train?" Mikoto narrowed her eyes. "You're lying right in front of your little brother now?"
"Itachi?"
Izumi's voice came from outside.
Then abruptly stopped.
Because she saw who was inside the shop.
Uchiha Mikoto.
The clan leader's wife.
Itachi's mother.
Izumi froze in place.
"…M-Madam Mikoto?" her voice nearly squeaked.
Mikoto stepped past Itachi and looked Izumi up and down with open curiosity.
"You must be Uchiha Izumi, right?"
Izumi instinctively shrank back half a step.
Meeting the parents this suddenly?!
"Mother, this is my responsibility. It has nothing to do with Izumi," Itachi blurted out, instantly stepping in front of her protectively.
Even though he was only five years old, Itachi had read plenty of books.
Some of them described terrifying mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships — ancient conflicts more dangerous than any forbidden jutsu.
In his imagination, Mikoto had already transformed into one of those legendary tyrannical mothers-in-law.
"Huh? What are you even talking about?" Mikoto blinked in confusion.
What on earth was her son imagining now?
"M-Madam Mikoto, hello. I'm Uchiha Izumi," Izumi said politely, forcing herself to remain composed despite her racing heart.
"I know. Hello, Izumi." Mikoto's expression softened instantly. "I'm Itachi's mother, Uchiha Mikoto."
She offered a warm smile — the kind reserved for future family.
"…Um, is this Itachi's little brother? Sasuke?" Izumi asked timidly, noticing the baby in Mikoto's arms.
"Yes, yes! This is Sasuke. Isn't he adorable?" Mikoto beamed proudly.
Hearing Sasuke's name, Itachi finally snapped out of his panic and carefully took the baby into his arms.
Sasuke stirred, blinked his sleepy eyes open — and immediately broke into a wide grin when he saw Itachi.
"Ah, Sasuke likes you more than me, hmph." Mikoto puffed out her cheeks in mock jealousy.
Ever since Sasuke was born, he had always clung to Itachi more than to her. Sometimes she seriously felt like a background character in her own family.
"But, Itachi," Mikoto added cheerfully, "invite Izumi over for dinner tonight, okay? I'll go prepare everything."
She gently took Sasuke back, gave Izumi an encouraging smile, and turned to leave.
"H-Huh?! I'm… going to your house for dinner?" Izumi's face flushed bright red.
Meeting the whole family already?!
"Yes, yes. I'll go buy more groceries right now."
Mikoto patted Itachi's shoulder affectionately, eyes shining with triumph.
Her son had a girlfriend.
What wonderful news.
She absolutely had to tell Fugaku.
Just as she reached the door—
"Wait," Ayato suddenly said calmly.
Mikoto turned back. "Hm? Did I forget something?"
"You haven't paid yet." Ayato pointed at the donation box.
This was task progress. Business was business.
"Oh! Right, I almost forgot. Sorry about that, Boss Ayato."
Mikoto hurried back and took out a silk-wrapped item from her clothing, placing it carefully into the box.
"Much appreciated. You're welcome anytime," Ayato replied politely.
Satisfied, Mikoto left the shop with light steps.
The door closed.
Silence fell.
Just as Ayato was about to check today's payment—
He felt a sharp, resentful gaze burning into him.
Turning his head, he met Itachi's deeply aggrieved stare.
Those eyes clearly screamed one question:
Why did you sell me out?!
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