"Ah! Finally finished!"
Izumi held up the necklace in her hand and examined it carefully. A satisfied smile spread across her face.
"Perfect. This will do nicely… hehehe."
The necklace was made of several smooth jade stones, each one threaded together with fine silver wire. The stones gleamed faintly in the light, their cool green surface polished until they were almost mirror-like. The design was simple but elegant—clearly made with care.
Just as she was admiring her work, a familiar voice spoke up from behind her.
"Oh my, Izumi actually made a necklace herself—and put so much effort into it too. Is it for a boy?"
Her mother, Uchiha Hazuki, stood in the doorway, one hand covering her mouth as she laughed softly.
"Ah! Mom!" Izumi jumped in surprise. "You scared me! And don't just barge in like that—it's annoying."
Hazuki only chuckled, her tone mock-sad. "Alright, alright. My little Izumi has reached the age where she keeps secrets from her mother, refusing to tell me anything anymore… sigh, how pitiful."
She even pressed a hand to her cheek as if lamenting her tragic fate.
Rolling her eyes, Izumi physically herded her mother out of the room. "Out. Now. Don't peek!"
Once Hazuki was out, Izumi shut the door firmly and returned to her desk. Carefully, she placed the necklace into a small velvet-lined box, snapping it shut.
---
A Few Days Later
It was three days before Izumi got the chance to see the intended recipient of her handiwork. She spotted him walking down the street in the Uchiha district, and without hesitation, she called out:
"Itachi!"
Uchiha Itachi stopped mid-step. When he turned, Izumi noticed something unusual—his usually composed face carried a faint shadow of sorrow.
"Izumi," he greeted her, his voice quieter than usual.
"It's been a while. Did your mission end already?" Izumi studied him more closely. He had grown in the time since they last met—not just in height, but in presence. Still, his subdued expression stood out, and she guessed immediately that something unpleasant had happened.
Itachi nodded, his eyes dark. "Yes. The mission is over… but my comrade died. And… I awakened my Sharingan."
---
Comfort, Uchiha-Style
Izumi raised an eyebrow. "I see. Congratulations on awakening your Sharingan. But also—don't drown in sadness, Itachi. If you do, you'll only push yourself further toward extremes."
She spoke calmly but firmly, her gaze unwavering. "You know as well as I do—sadness and anger fuel the evolution of the Uchiha's eyes. Every Uchiha grows stronger under such circumstances, but if you're not careful, that path will twist you."
Itachi seemed taken aback for a moment, then gave a faint, almost bitter smile. "Only you would tell me not to be sad. Everyone else—including Father—just congratulated me. Thank you."
Internally, Izumi sighed.
> Really? What, do you expect the whole world to stop spinning for you? You're not the only person with problems, kid.
But outwardly, she softened her tone. "Don't blame them. Every Uchiha who's awakened their Sharingan has gone through something like this. People get used to it. They become numb. Only those of us who are still young remember what it's like to feel it deeply. In the end, life keeps moving forward—tomorrow will still come."
Itachi fell silent at that, though his eyes seemed… disappointed?
---
Different Views
Inside, he thought:
> Izumi, I thought you and I were alike… but you're just like the others. You don't understand the meaning of life at all.
Aloud, he said quietly, "I still can't understand what the meaning of life truly is."
Izumi smiled faintly. "You will, someday. People grow. So will you. Oh—speaking of growing up…"
Her smile brightened. "I have something for you. A late gift for your graduation."
---
The Necklace
She pulled the small box from her bag and handed it to him.
"Can I open it now?" Itachi asked.
"Go ahead," Izumi nodded.
Itachi lifted the lid. Inside lay the jade necklace, catching the light as he tilted the box. He picked it up carefully, the smooth stones sliding gently against each other. For a long moment, he just stared at it.
"Ah? You don't like it?" Izumi asked, tilting her head.
Itachi shook his head slowly. "No… it's just… this is the first time I've received a gift from someone other than my parents."
"Eh?" Izumi leaned closer, eyes wide. "I'm the first?"
Her sudden proximity made Itachi instinctively take several steps back. "Ah… y-yes."
Izumi giggled. "Then put it on."
Itachi obeyed, fastening it around his neck. Izumi gave him an approving look. "Hmm. Not bad. Do you like it?"
"…Mm."
"Huh? What was that? Speak up, I can't hear you." She cupped a hand around her ear and leaned toward him again.
"I said… I like it!" Itachi blurted out louder this time, before quickly looking away.
"Hahahaha!" Izumi burst into laughter.
---
An Unexpected Audience
Before Itachi could respond, a familiar, graceful figure approached.
"Itachi," the woman greeted warmly.
"Mom," Itachi acknowledged.
It was Uchiha Mikoto. Her eyes brightened when she noticed Izumi standing beside her son. "Oh? And who's this? Such a cute girl."
"This is Uchiha Izumi," Itachi introduced. "My classmate from the Ninja Academy."
Izumi bowed politely. "Hello, I'm Uchiha Izumi—Hazuki's daughter."
Mikoto's expression softened with fond recognition. "Hazuki's daughter? My goodness, you've grown so much! Your mother and I played together often when we were little. After she married and moved back into the compound, we didn't see each other as much."
Her gaze fell to the necklace around Itachi's neck. "Itachi, did she give that to you?"
"Yes," Itachi confirmed. "It's a graduation gift."
"How thoughtful," Mikoto said, crouching slightly to stroke Izumi's cheek. "And so cute, too."
Turning to her son, she urged, "Itachi, thank her properly."
Itachi bowed formally. "Thank you."
"No need," Izumi waved it off with a smile. "We're friends. Anyway, Auntie, Itachi, I'll get going now."
"Leaving so soon? Why not come over for a bit?" Mikoto offered.
"Itachi just finished his mission, and I should head home. Goodbye." Izumi gave a polite bow and walked away.
---
Mothers' Thoughts
Mikoto watched her leave, then gave her son a mischievous thumbs-up. "Well done, Itachi!"
"…What?" Itachi looked at her in confusion.
"Nothing~" Mikoto sang lightly.
---
Back Home
Izumi practically skipped all the way home, unable to hide her satisfaction.
Hazuki was waiting. "So? Did you give him the necklace?"
"Of course," Izumi said with a huff. "Why would I make something and not give it away?"
Hazuki tilted her head. "And who did you give it to?"
"Itachi," Izumi answered casually. "He saved me before, and he just graduated, so I thought it was a good time."
"Oh, him." Hazuki nodded approvingly. "Then yes, you should give him something. And… Izumi, you're still young, but already planning ahead for your future, hm? The clan leader's son, handsome, a prodigy who graduated early after only one year in the Academy… no matter how you look at it, he's quite the ideal choice for a future husband."
Izumi waved her hand dismissively. "Please. His personality is too extreme—arrogant, brooding, overthinks everything. I'd bet the whole clan's downfall will have something to do with him."
Hazuki raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh? That's quite the sharp evaluation."
Izumi only smiled faintly.
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