Uchiha Training Grounds.
Several figures bearing the fan crest stopped their practice.
Not because they needed a break, but because there was drama to watch.
Dressed in his "Youthful Green" spandex, Musashi Ryomiya pleaded, "Izumi, come with me. Daiki is already prepped and ready. We're just waiting for you."
Izumi Uchiha replied flatly, "Not going."
"Don't be like that! I'm telling you, this is a special mission Lord Hokage saved just for our team because he has high hopes for us. It's easy, and the pay is huge!"
"I don't need money. Not going."
"It's super interesting too! Listen to this: a flock of ostriches appeared in the border forest, and one of them can talk! Isn't that hilarious? Hahaha..."
"Not interested. Not going."
"Izumi! How can you be like this? The footsteps of Youth cannot stagnate! The village needs us to grow quickly and take on more responsibility. What good is staying home all day?"
"I like it."
"Teacher Ebisu also wants us to mesh better as a team. Even though he can't join us yet, I can feel his desire for us to grow strong quickly. Izumi, you don't want to let Teacher Ebisu down, do you?"
"Get lost!"
Musashi choked on his words.
"Ay ay ay, how can beautiful Youth be so irritable? Let me tell you, Daiki's new jutsu is ready! He can draw a giant bird to fly us around. The mission will be a breeze. Just come see!"
"Just thinking about the three of us fighting side-by-side again makes my blood boil! Izumi!"
"I have a lot of clan duties recently. I'll say it again: I. Am. Not. Going."
Izumi looked at Musashi, who was trying so hard to invite her, with impatience and a hint of suspicion in her beautiful eyes.
What is this guy thinking?
Before, he didn't care about missions at all. Now he's acting like he's desperate for them.
Something is definitely wrong!
And his reasons are all excuses.
He's ridiculously strong but usually acts like a passionate idiot. Does he think I can't see through him?
Okay, fine, I didn't see through him back then, but I know now!
You, Musashi Ryomiya, are a schemer through and through.
"Tell me, why are you so desperate to get me out of the village? What are you planning?" Izumi demanded.
"Ah... uh? N-Nothing! What could I be planning?" Musashi scratched his head.
"It's just... I want to do missions with you! You know, a team needs coordination to be effective! We haven't done many missions together. We've been training for so long; if we don't work hard now, other teams will surpass us!"
"I won't allow the light of Youth to dim! Izumi, it's time to take action!"
Izumi eyed him skeptically.
"If someone else said that, I'd believe it. You? Not a chance."
Although he hides his strength well, his lying skills clearly need work.
Analyzing the recent situation...
Izumi narrowed her eyes, a gleam of "wisdom" flashing through them.
It's obvious!
Musashi Ryomiya knows my relationship with Itachi is in crisis, so he's here to steal me away!
Heh. Men.
Back in the Academy, the way he looked at me was different.
He even jokingly said, "If worst comes to worst... I guess I could settle for being with you." That was clearly his true feelings.
Does he think I can't see his intentions?
I'm afraid ever since I caught him sneaking around outside Ichiraku Ramen, I've left a deep impression on his heart.
Honestly.
It's a pity. Itachi and I are just having a small disagreement.
Once Itachi matures a bit more, he'll realize how good I am.
What's a "foolish little brother" compared to a girlfriend?
As for Musashi... although it's cruel, I have to reject his feelings.
Even if you aren't a Dead Last, feelings have nothing to do with strength.
"Musashi, go back. I don't want to say too much, just leave it at that. Once I'm less busy and Teacher Ebisu recovers, we can talk about missions."
Talk about it later? How can we talk later!
Musashi felt anxious.
Sasuke had been in school for almost half an year. The atmosphere in the village was getting tenser by the day.
If she didn't run now, it would be too late!
"Izumi, I'm serious. No jokes. The team really needs you. Neither Daiki nor I can be the captain."
"Musashi, stop talking about this. I really can't get away."
Damn it!
If I don't talk about this, what should I say? "If you don't leave, your boyfriend is going to kill you"?
"Izumi, I'm begging you. The team really needs your help. Daiki and I have no idea what to do when trouble hits. Especially Daiki—his brain is full of dirty thoughts; he's useless at missions."
"Don't worry, this mission is simple. It won't take much time. It'll be over quickly!"
Once you're out of the village, it's not up to you anymore! Even if I have to tie you up, I'll keep you out there. Screaming won't help!
Izumi shook her head, feeling a bit sorry for the persistent man in front of her.
"Musashi, stop. I know what you're thinking. Just go back."
You don't know jack! You don't even know your "boyfriend" is about to snap!
Musashi looked around.
He wondered what his chances of success were if he kidnapped her right then and there.
Hmm, these red-eyed spectators would probably stop me, right?
Even if I beat them, what then? Once I leave the village, I'm a Rogue Ninja.
And after Itachi wipes out the clan, I can't explain my actions!
Think. Think of a way to convince her.
He didn't care much about the lives of strangers, but Izumi Uchiha was his teammate.
They had been together for so long—school, missions.
When facing that enemy Jonin, she even told him to run.
He couldn't just let her die.
Sasuke's single tomoe Sharingan didn't need this one kill to awaken.
Izumi turned to walk back inside. Musashi panicked and grabbed her arm.
"Let go!"
"I... I won't!"
"I said, let go."
"Not unless you promise to go on the mission!"
"..." Izumi took a deep breath, losing patience with his persistence.
She stopped, looked Musashi in the eye, and spoke seriously.
"Musashi, I understand what you're thinking, but I'm telling you: it's impossible."
"Itachi and I are just having a rough patch recently. It's not what you think."
"And... even if something happened between us, it still wouldn't work. The noble Uchiha bloodline does not intermarry with outsiders."
"Musashi, we... are impossible."
Musashi: (°ー°〃)
Seeing Musashi "heartbroken" by her rejection, Izumi steeled her heart and walked away.
A long while later, Musashi snapped out of his daze and left under the watchful gaze of the gossiping Uchiha clan members.
"That was satisfying! I feel like all my training fatigue is gone."
"Hmph! A commoner brat wanting to touch the noble Uchiha bloodline? Delusional."
"Izumi is too gentle. Next time I see that kid outside, I'll make him understand his place."
"Let him know the glory of the Uchiha isn't something a commoner can covet."
On the Road.
Musashi staggered left and right, clutching his head.
"Damn it! Damn it!"
"That arrogant woman! Pfft!"
"Does she even hear herself?!"
The phrase "Musashi, we are impossible!" kept replaying in his ears.
We are impossible!
Impossible!
ble!
!
"FUCK!"
All day long, that sentence echoed in his mind.
How could I possibly like her?
How is that possible?
Impossible!
So what if she's an Uchiha?
So what if she's a little pretty, has long hair, a slim figure, and good talent?
Arrogant, narcissistic brat!
Late at Night.
Total silence.
Musashi suddenly bolted upright in bed.
"No, is she sick in the head?!"
"Who wants to intermarry with you?!"
It was too late. He wanted to sleep.
But the more he thought, the angrier he got.
He tossed and turned into the second half of the night, dreaming fitfully.
One moment he was at school.
The next at the Uchiha training grounds.
Then, amidst the blood-soaked Uchiha compound, a battered Izumi Uchiha staggered to her feet, lifted her head with difficulty, and whispered her final words.
"We... are impossible..."
In his sleep, Musashi kicked the blanket off violently!
---
For the next few days, Musashi didn't go see Izumi again.
He spent all his time training. His Lightning Release Activation was basically in Phase Two.
Progress was good.
But every now and then, he would stop what he was doing and curse.
"Damn Izumi!"
"Doesn't know a good person when she sees one!"
"You brought this on yourself!"
"There are so many Uchiha; one more or less doesn't matter!"
"If you want to die, I won't stop you!"
"Just wait a few years, and Itachi will go down there to join you."
"Great. A real-life lovers' suicide pact."
"I won't be sad for such an arrogant woman!"
"Die if you want!"
"So many people die in the ninja world every day. What's one more?"
"Damn it!"
When Daiki came to visit, he noticed Musashi was acting weird.
Learning it was because he was mad at Izumi, Daiki laughed and comforted him.
"Don't be angry, Musashi."
"This isn't like you."
"No matter what, Izumi is our teammate. After a while, the squad will be back together doing missions."
"Whatever she said, there's no need to stay mad forever."
Daiki left.
Leaving Musashi alone with a complicated expression.
"The squad will be back together doing missions..."
"Teammates... Bullshit! Just NPCs in the ninja world!"
Grumbling angrily, he started training again.