"We are just friends."
Under the persistent teasing of Shisui and Shinichi, even Itachi showed a rare look of embarrassment. It took him quite a while to squeeze out that single sentence.
Hearing this answer, Hyuga Shinichi let out a disappointed "Ehhh?" before offering a bit of well-meaning advice: "Itachi, if a girl heard you say that, you'd break her heart!"
On the surface, Shinichi and Itachi were peers, but Shinichi's life experience far exceeded Itachi's. Though he hadn't "dated" in this life, it didn't stop him from acting like a relationship "expert." Even without seeing Itachi and Izumi together, Shinichi was certain of one thing: Izumi definitely didn't view Itachi as just a "normal friend."
What remained unclear was how Itachi felt about her. As a close friend, Shinichi couldn't just stand by and watch Itachi miss out on a good thing out of sheer oblivious logic.
"Hey, Itachi, have you ever asked someone out alone?" Shinichi let go of Itachi's shoulder and nudged him in the ribs with his elbow, grinning. Shisui also looked on curiously; he cared for Itachi like a younger brother and was naturally invested.
"I think... no. I told you, we are just ordinary friends..."
As he said this, Itachi couldn't help but recall all the time he had spent with Izumi. Flashbacks flickered through his mind.
He suddenly realized that while he considered her a friend, he had never actually initiated anything. They were classmates who grew up together, and at some point, he had simply become accustomed to Izumi being a part of his life.
Sometimes, when she invited him to things, he accepted out of habit—a habit as comfortable as his interactions with Shisui and Shinichi.
Itachi lowered his head in thought, actually taking the time to seriously analyze the nature of their relationship. That was his character: calm, analytical, and prone to deep thinking. He treated everything with absolute gravity. Such a person is sensitive and meticulous; winning their genuine trust is no easy feat.
When Itachi realized he had become "habituated" to Izumi's existence, he began to question what that meant.
"Itachi? What's wrong? What are you thinking about?" Shinichi asked, giving him a light shove after a long silence.
"I am thinking about whether the relationship between Izumi and me is actually a 'friendship.'"
Shinichi and Shisui exchanged a look. Damn... this guy is actually over-analyzing the definition of friendship.
"You don't know what the relationship is? You have to think about it?" Shinichi muttered, exasperated. He lay back down on the grass, looking at the blue sky and feeling the cool autumn breeze, narrowing his eyes in relaxation.
Shisui, ignoring Shinichi's nap, turned to Itachi with a serious face: "Itachi, I have a question for you."
"If Izumi and I both fell into the water at the same time, who would you save first?"
Shisui asked this with total deadpan sincerity. Shinichi let out a snort of laughter. "Whoa, Shisui, where did you hear that one?"
A brief flash of embarrassment crossed Shisui's face as he recalled the copy of Icha Icha Paradise Kakashi had shared with him recently. "Don't worry about where I got it. This is a classic test. It will definitely help Itachi solve his confusion. Well, Itachi? Who do you save?"
Shisui waited with bated breath.
"This..." Itachi managed a small, wry smile. "Shisui, stop joking. Both you and Izumi are ninjas. Even if you fell in, why would you need me to save you?"
"Hahaha!" Shinichi's laughter rang out. Shisui's eye twitched; he hadn't expected Itachi's brain to take the literal, logical route.
"I mean if!" Shisui pressed. "If neither of you could swim, and you'd die if no one helped. You can only save one. Who is it?"
Itachi thought for a brief second before looking up with a serious expression: "If it were you and Izumi..."
"I would save Izumi first."
Shisui froze. A split second later, a brilliant, knowing smile spread across his face. Shinichi sat bolt upright, looking at Itachi in disbelief. He hadn't expected that answer.
But Itachi quickly explained his reasoning: "If it's you, Shisui, even without help, your chances of survival are far higher than Izumi's. As a Jonin, you can hold out much longer in the water while waiting for rescue. By saving Izumi first, I maximize the chance of eventually saving both of you!"
Itachi analyzed it with cold, hard logic, but Shinichi and Shisui weren't interested in his math. While the scenario was absurd, a person's subconscious answer usually reveals the hierarchy of people in their heart. In a choice between Shisui—his mentor and best friend—and Izumi, his first instinct was Izumi.
In this moment, they both understood: Izumi was different to Itachi.
Note: In the original timeline's "Night of the Uchiha Massacre," Itachi personally killed very few people. Aside from his parents, he personally killed Izumi (per the Itachi Shinden novels; in the anime, it was Obito/Zetsu, but the novel carries more weight for Itachi's character). The "merciful" Itachi killed Izumi using Tsukuyomi. In that world of illusion, he compressed decades into seconds, allowing Izumi to live out a full, long, and happy life with him until old age. She died in his arms in the real world without a shred of hatred, only love. To Itachi, she was perhaps even more "special" than Sasuke in a different way.
"I smell the sour stench of romance," Shinichi joked, crossing his legs as he lay back down.
Itachi looked genuinely confused, even sniffing the air. "I don't smell anything?"
Shisui just shook his head and laughed. Itachi wasn't a fool; seeing his friends' reactions, he lowered his head and returned to his thoughts.
Flashback: He remembered a tea shop they visited once.
[Izumi, why did you become a ninja?]
[You want to know?]
[Yes]
I don't think you have much talent for it, and as a girl, it might not suit you... Sorry, I didn't mean it that way.]
[It's okay. I understand. I became a ninja... just so I could walk the same path as the person I like.]
Recalling her shy expression back then, Itachi finally realized who that "person" was.
"Perhaps... I'm overthinking it," Itachi whispered to himself, shaking his head.
But Shinichi and Shisui were elites among elites; they heard every word.
"Itachi, feelings are built through time spent together," Shinichi said, staring at the clouds. "Don't jump to conclusions. Hypothesize boldly, but verify carefully. Emotions don't lie. Those eyes of yours... they should be able to see through anything. Don't let the girl down. Even if you don't like her, make a decision early."
Shinichi wondered if he was guiding Itachi or himself.
The Political Machinery
Shinichi eventually left. The brief talk with his friends had calmed his heart. He felt ready to face the future.
Meanwhile, his mother, Hanako, had finished "interviewing" a large group of Hyuga girls and had compiled a long guest list. Grand Elder Shin and Hiashi had left everything to her. Hanako was a woman specifically chosen and trained under the Hyuga system to assist the Clan Head. She knew exactly what kind of woman Shinichi needed.
Gentle? Virtuous? Those were optional. What mattered were lineage, intelligence, ability, health, and... ambition.
The list had over a hundred names. Beyond inviting the heads of every major clan in the village, she invited leaders from nearly every major department.
Though they were tied to the Fourth Hokage, the Hyuga still needed to maintain good relations with all factions.
Hanako even invited the Third Hokage, the advisors, and even Danzo Shimura, despite the friction between him and the Hyuga. Whether they came was up to them, but the invitation was a political necessity.
Then there was the "shortlist"—ten families with girls aged 13 to 18. These were the "Purest" Hyuga. Five generations of pure Byakugan users. Shinichi ignored all of this, maintaining his training schedule as if he knew nothing.
Between training, he checked on his sisters. Hinata's life at the Academy was fulfilling; she was actually a "famous figure" there.
As Naruto Namikaze and Sasuke Uchiha grew older, their genius began to shine. Unlike the original timeline, Naruto had both parents alive and no Nine-Tails interference (at least not the crippling kind).
Under the elite tutelage of Minato and Kushina, young Naruto mastered powerful sealing jutsu and Wind Style. While most students only knew the Basic Three, Naruto could use Wind Style: Breakthrough and possessed top-tier Taijutsu.
Sasuke was his only equal. The two were the "Twin Stars" of the Academy, competing for the top spot in every subject. Naruto, inheriting his parents' traits, was cheerful, sincere, and, as the Hokage's son, always had a crowd around him.
In Naruto's little circle, Hyuga Hinata was the undisputed "Big Sister."
Due to her Byakugan and the Hyuga's harsh training, Hinata's Taijutsu was incredibly formidable. While Shinichi was away, Neji was often invited to stay at the Main House. Hiashi treated Neji like his own nephew, often giving him extra lessons to compensate for the guilt he felt toward Neji's father, Hizashi.
During these stays, Hinata would pester Neji to be her sparring partner. Though Neji was only a year older, he was a true genius with combat experience far beyond the Academy level.
Training with him allowed Hinata to progress at a lightning pace. She was a hard worker, and her potential flourished, allowing her to keep up with Naruto without falling behind.
The social circle revolved around Naruto and Hinata. Though they were young, the children in the Shinobi world matured early. Everyone could see Hinata's feelings for Naruto—everyone, that is, except Naruto himself, whose denseness in romance was the only thing he didn't inherit from his talented parents.
But it didn't matter. Hinata was happy, and she cherished her time at the Academy.
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