The night fell quickly, drawing a quiet curtain over day one. Naomi trailed behind Itachi into the forest until they found a place to camp. Thanks to his Gōkakyū no Jutsu, a small campfire crackled in the stillness.
The silence was heavy—Itachi hadn't spoken since the mission began.
"...The Hidden Sound… they're plotting something big," Naomi finally said, her voice cutting into the night.
His eyes stayed fixed on the flames.
"The chakra abnormalities I sensed earlier… they were different. Not just hostile—unsettling. I think they're trying to develop a forbidden jutsu. Something dangerous." She hesitated.
"Pain believes the Sound is full of… mysteries. He wants to know exactly what they're working on."
Itachi said nothing at first. Naomi thought the quiet might swallow her words entirely—until his voice broke through, low and steady.
"We leave at first light. Rest. You'll need your strength."
The fire burned down to embers. Shadows consumed his expression, and Naomi sat still, watching him disappear into the darkness.
Their story had started in a forest. She could still remember the snake coiled around her neck years ago—his calm hand removing it without hesitation. The warmth of his fingers guiding her to safety.
Now she feared neither the forest nor the snakes. She feared the emptiness in his eyes. The shadows that clung to him.
You once saved me from a snake… now it's my turn to save you from the darkness, she vowed silently.
Somewhere in that resolve, sleep took her under the tree's shelter.
When she awoke, his voice was already there.
"We should move." He was quietly stowing away his last kunai, every motion deliberate. Naomi rubbed her eyes, stretched, and fell into step behind him.
As they made their way through the dense green, she muttered, half to herself, "These mosquitoes will be the death of me someday."
She glanced at the small marks dotting her arms. "No sane person sets up camp in a forest," she grumbled under her breath, "unless they want their blood drained."
Itachi gave no reaction. His steps never slowed.
By the time they reached the Hidden Sound, the silence between them had become a rhythm. They both donned simple disguises before stepping into the crowded streets.
"The meeting of the elites… it's in the evening, right?" Naomi murmured just loud enough for him to hear.
A single nod. "Stay alert. Draw no attention." His tone was quiet, but it left no room for discussion.
Evening fell over the Hidden Sound. After hours of moving through the streets under disguise, Itachi and Naomi had gathered what information they could.
The mission required them to be there when the leaders gathered. What looked like a formal meeting had been dressed up as a party: shinobi and elites drinking, laughing, and playing poker.
Whispers spoke of something far more dangerous: a secret alliance between the Sound and the Sand. The true meeting, hidden beneath this display, was their target.
Itachi's eyes moved over the room, sharp and deliberate. "Stay close. This is a cover for the real meeting. Keep your eyes and ears open."
Naomi arched a brow. "We're supposed to blend in."
His gaze shifted briefly toward her. "We already are."
"Not like this"
Before he could question her further, she slipped away toward a table of poker players.
Itachi's brow lowered slightly, but he didn't follow immediately.
"Woahhh, look at that—an Ace!" Naomi leaned into the group as if she'd known them for years. "You're going all in, aren't you, senpai?" She nudged the arm of one shinobi mid-bet.
Itachi, from his vantage point, watched her with faint disapproval.
"Jackpot!" Naomi's cheer carried over the table. "Senpai, you're so good at this!"
The shinobi grinned, clearly intoxicated. "Ah… maybe I'm just lucky today." His eyes narrowed slightly. "I haven't seen you around before."
Itachi's senses sharpened instantly, ready to intervene —until Naomi's voice smoothly diverted him. "I know, right? I'm just as surprised. How could I have gone this long without meeting someone as great as you?"
The tension in the air shifted. The shinobi's suspicion faded under the flattery. "Fair enough. Why don't you and your friend over there join us? Drinks are on me."
His glance toward Itachi was met with a neutral expression.
Itachi's gaze met hers as the glasses were poured. He took one cautiously, scanning for signs of tampering. Naomi, however, downed hers in one go.
His jaw tightened. Reckless . He sipped his own drink sparingly, letting his system test for toxins.
It wasn't long before movement caught his eye—figures slipping away from the chaos. The leader of the Sound, accompanied by a select few, heading for the terrace. Among them, men from the Sand.
Itachi gestured subtly. Naomi understood.
"Excuse me, senpai," she said lightly, already stepping away.
They moved after the group, Naomi's steps less precise now—her footing betraying the alcohol in her system.
"What you did back there was unnecessary risk," Itachi said, voice sharp but controlled.
"They won't suspect us now." she muttered,her pace uneven. "Probably think I'm just a regular who likes poker." Her voice was a little too casual, her gait unsteady.
He exhaled slowly but didn't respond.
They reached the terrace, taking cover behind a pillar just wide enough for both of them. Their shoulders brushed. Below, the leaders of Sound and Sand began their quiet discussion.
Itachi's gaze stayed fixed on the scene, reading lips and movements. Naomi, hazy from alcohol, found herself studying him instead.
"Focus," he murmured, not looking at her.
Her cheeks warmed, and for a moment she forgot where they were. When he finally turned his head to check her attention, she leaned forward impulsively—her lips brushing his.
A flicker of surprise passed through him, but he composed himself instantly. His gaze returned to the meeting.
"…It's the alcohol," he said, voice low and firm. "Do not compromise the mission."
Her voice was barely audible. "..I'm sorry."
He didn't answer. His attention stayed on the leaders, memorizing every word and gesture.
As the leaders of the Sound and Sand concluded their meeting and filtered back into the party, Itachi's gaze shifted toward Naomi. No words—just a single, unimpressed look.
"I–I'm really sorry..I was careless." she murmured, still flushed from the alcohol. "..I wasn't thinking straight."
"You weren't." His tone was clipped, devoid of warmth, his focus already on their exit. He moved ahead without another glance.
Naomi swallowed back the urge to defend herself. His reaction told her enough—this wasn't the time.
They were weaving through the streets, the night air heavy with noise, when she suddenly felt it. A presence, sharp and persistent.
"Someone's following us," she whispered, her voice taut. "I can sense their chakra."
He had sensed it too, but said nothing—continuing forward until the first volley came. Several kunai whistled through the air from behind.
They dodged in unison, landing on the high branches of a nearby tree.
"There's no running anymore." His gaze locked on the shadows ahead, voice low and decisive.
From the gloom, five Sound shinobi emerged, stopping just out of striking range.
"Tch. You really are spies," one sneered.
"Too bad you won't be returning in one piece."
The first attack came fast, but Itachi moved faster—meeting them head-on. Steel clashed, bursts of chakra lit the darkness.
"Don't leave my side," he commanded, his breathing faintly uneven.
Naomi stayed close, every nerve taut. She could feel it—something was off. His movements weren't as fluid as usual. His breath… uneven. And still, no Sharingan.
The fight dragged on longer than it should have. Then, without warning, his Mangekyō flared to life—its crimson light cutting through the night. Within moments, the battlefield went still. The Sound shinobi collapsed, unconscious.
Naomi's relief was short-lived.
Itachi dropped to his knees, one hand clutching his chest. A harsh cough wracked through him, blood splattering against his palm. Dark streaks of blood traced from his eyes down his cheeks.His breath was shallow, pulse faint.
Naomi's heart lurched.
"Itachi—!"
|To be continued|