According to the original timeline, Uchiha Itachi had already graduated from the Ninja Academy and officially become a Genin not long ago, while Uchiha Izumi remained enrolled as a student.
Within the Konoha Village administration, the atmosphere among the higher-ups was tense. On the surface, they smiled and praised the young prodigy's achievement, but inwardly, they were cursing in frustration.
> "Damn it! As if Uchiha Shisui's talent wasn't already outrageous enough, now there's another one—Uchiha Itachi! This is bad! Does Konoha have any powerful young geniuses of our own? Hmm… Kakashi? He's already in ANBU, so no new blood there."
The thought made their expressions sour.
---
Izumi's Dilemma
Izumi, meanwhile, was in the middle of her own internal debate. She had been considering several possible paths for her future:
1. Lay Low — keep her head down until the infamous Night of the Uchiha Clan Annihilation, then fake her and her mother's deaths to live quietly and freely away from Konoha's political mess.
2. Stand Out — reveal her abilities early, attract the attention of both the village leadership and the clan, gradually gain influence through strength, and try to prevent the massacre from ever taking place.
3. Do Whatever She Wanted — simply live day by day without sticking to a specific plan.
"Ah, so conflicted…" Izumi muttered, lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling. She began to analyze the situation out loud, her mind sharp as ever.
> "The reason Konoha wants to eliminate the Uchiha isn't just the suspicion from the Nine-Tails incident. It's also because the clan has been preparing for a coup, and… we're simply too powerful.
Itachi and Shisui's sheer talent puts them beyond the Hokage's control. No leader likes a powerful, independent-minded clan that keeps producing geniuses capable of changing the balance of power."
She rolled over, frowning.
> "Maybe it's because of Itachi and Shisui that the higher-ups became so wary, pushing them to suppress us harder, which in turn made the clan more dissatisfied. The rift kept growing. Add in the Uchiha Police Force's bad reputation with villagers, plus the Hokage's greed for our kekkei genkai, and you get the perfect recipe for tragedy."
Her thoughts turned inward.
> "Am I a genius? If so, wouldn't adding me into the mix make the situation even worse? But what if… I hide my strength and focus on research instead? If I can make some groundbreaking contribution, maybe the higher-ups would reconsider their stance towards the clan."
She immediately shook her head.
> "No… that's unreliable. Hoping for charity from people who already want you gone is foolish. In the end, the only person I can truly rely on… is myself."
---
A Short-Term Plan
Izumi sat up, determination flickering in her eyes.
> "I'll stay in the Ninja Academy for another year or two. Staying longer than that is a waste; there's nothing new for me to learn there. Once I have a way to protect both myself and Mother, then I can act without hesitation. Maybe I can even… have some fun along the way."
A small smile formed on her lips at that thought.
Life at home had improved recently. Her mother had rented a small storefront within the Uchiha district, selling various ninja scrolls. Business was good, and the steady income meant Izumi no longer worried about money. She often treated herself to snacks after helping out in the shop.
---
The Unexpected Meeting
One afternoon, after closing up for the day, Izumi stopped by her favorite dango shop to buy a skewer of three-colored dango—a snack both she and her mother loved. She strolled down the street, enjoying the warm sunlight and the sweet flavor, when a familiar pair of figures appeared ahead.
Her steps faltered.
> "Itachi?"
There he was—Uchiha Itachi, walking beside his father, Uchiha Fugaku.
Internally, Izumi groaned.
> Great. Of all people to run into… And just like the original story, too. Tch.
Despite her mild annoyance, she put on a bright, surprised expression and called out to him.
Fugaku glanced at her, gave an approving nod, and after a brief exchange, excused himself.
> "Itachi's friend? He told us he didn't have any friends… but here's a girl? Interesting," Fugaku thought with a faint, satisfied smile before walking away.
---
By the Riverside
With Fugaku gone, Itachi and Izumi wandered to the riverside and sat down together. Izumi broke the silence first.
"Ah, sorry—did I interrupt your time with your father?" she asked politely.
"It's fine," Itachi replied in his usual calm tone. "Long time no see."
"Yes, it's been a while," she said with a warm smile. "We haven't met since you became a Genin."
"That's right."
Izumi's expression turned apologetic. "I never got to congratulate you back then. I didn't even say a word to celebrate your graduation. I'm truly sorry."
Before Itachi could respond, she leaned in slightly, closing the distance between their faces.
---
Sweetness and Embarrassment
Itachi instinctively leaned back at first, but then straightened, as if deciding not to retreat.
"It's fine. There's no need to apologize," he said, though his voice held a faint awkwardness.
Izumi's lips curled into a smile. She held up the skewer of dango.
"Although it's a bit embarrassing… if you don't mind, would you like one? This shop's dango is my mother's and my favorite."
Itachi looked at the skewer but didn't answer.
Inwardly, Izumi smirked.
> Just like the story—he's too reserved to accept right away. Guess I'll have to take the lead.
She teased, "An elite ninja like you—skilled in ninjutsu and taijutsu, a young prodigy who skipped grades, the clan head's son—probably doesn't like sweets, right?"
The moment Itachi reached for the skewer, she pulled it back.
"Ah, my bad," she said with exaggerated regret. "Since you don't like them, I'll just eat them myself."
Itachi's hand froze midair. His eyes lingered on the dango with a conflicted expression—he wanted them. In fact, they were his favorite, but this was the first time anyone had offered him food so casually.
Izumi, hiding her amusement, suddenly held the skewer close to his face and wiggled it slightly.
"Do you want them? Hmm?" she asked playfully.
Itachi's cheeks flushed red. He turned his head away in embarrassment.
Finally, she handed the dango over. This time, he accepted. They sat there, eating together in companionable silence.
Izumi watched him enjoy the treat, her smile softening.
---
A Gift and a Misunderstanding
"Is it funny?" Itachi asked when he noticed her chuckling.
"No," Izumi shook her head. "It's just… I never knew you liked sweets."
"It doesn't matter whether you're male or female, or what your grades are," he replied evenly. "Everyone likes different things."
"That's true," she said, her smile turning a bit mischievous. "But you looked so intense earlier, I thought you were about to activate your Sharingan."
He turned away again, clearly embarrassed.
Sensing his discomfort, Izumi stretched her arms and said, "Alright, I'll stop teasing you."
Then, after a moment of thought, she offered, "I'll give you a gift. Is there anything you want?"
Itachi paused, meeting her gaze with an unreadable expression.
Izumi froze. "Uh… not that. I can't give you that."
They both fell silent, the air between them briefly awkward.
---
Interrupted
Before either could speak again, a voice called out from behind them.
"Oi! Stop being all lovey-dovey with a girl!"
Izumi's eye twitched.
> This brat… no wonder you didn't survive long in the story.
She ignored the intruder and turned back to Itachi. "I can't give you a Sharingan, but I will pray for you. I hope you awaken yours soon."
"…Thank you."
"I'll give you that gift another time, alright? Promise me you'll accept it."
"…Mm."
With that, Itachi stood and followed his companion.
---
Two Tomoe
Izumi stayed by the lakeside, enjoying the scenery. She picked up the last bite of her dango, her lips curling into a sly smile.
Her eyes shifted—crimson irises with two tomoe spinning in each.
> Heh. Looks like I just found myself a good opportunity…
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