It was summer once again.
Itachi already looked much the same as he did now. He had just returned from an ANBU mission—his body riddled with wounds, consciousness fading in and out, on the verge of collapse.
At that moment, a slender hand caught him.
A sudden sense of peace washed over him, and he lost consciousness.
When he woke up, he found himself in a modest bungalow.
He was lying on the bed, naked, when a voice filled with joy rang out:
"You're awake, Itachi!"
Someone hurried to his side.
Itachi looked at the woman's face, searching through his memories—until a familiar figure overlapped perfectly.
"You… are you Izumi?"
Uchiha Izumi had grown into a stunning beauty. Many young men in the clan admired her, yet she remained unmoved. Whenever someone tried to pressure her into marriage, she firmly refused.
Because of this, many thought Izumi was an untouchable flower.
But only Itachi knew her gentleness.
Only he knew her true beauty.
She was wearing simple pajamas, smiling sweetly at him.
"You liar," Izumi said softly. "You promised you'd come see me often. And yet four whole years passed—you never came once."
Itachi spoke quietly, his eyes dull.
"My reputation was already ruined. If I came to see you, it would only bring you trouble. This was the clan's decision. I couldn't refuse."
Izumi's expression tightened with distress.
"Clan Head Fugaku is too heartless. How can he still care about missions when his own son is in this state?"
Itachi didn't respond. He only sighed inwardly.
Being born into the clan head's family meant bearing responsibility. As a shinobi of Konoha, he had no right to choose comfort over duty.
Seeing him remain silent, Izumi sighed. She picked up a towel, dipped it into warm water from a wooden bucket, and gently wiped his arms and face.
She wanted to continue, but Itachi, embarrassed, refused.
In the end, Izumi left the towel and bucket in the room and stepped outside.
Itachi took the towel. When he lifted the blanket, he froze.
The blood had already been cleaned away. His wounds had been treated with ointment and were now scabbed over.
He stared toward the doorway.
Izumi stood there, sunlight falling across her figure, her shadow outlined against the doorframe—graceful and gentle.
Itachi's pupils tightened.
To say he felt nothing would be a lie.
He was at an age of passion, and shinobi matured early.
From childhood… from moments like this…
A seed had already been planted deep in his heart.
—End of flashback—
Itachi remained silent for a long while.
Fugaku tried to speak, but Ran stopped him with a glance.
When Itachi finally came back to himself, Ran smiled and spoke.
"Well? Big brother. If you're willing, Father will go propose tomorrow morning."
"If you're not," Ran added mischievously, "I'll introduce Izumi to some other outstanding young men from different clans."
Itachi panicked instantly.
"Second Brother—no! I'm willing! I'm willing to marry Izumi! Father, please give your blessing!"
As he spoke, Itachi knelt down on one knee.
At that moment, Mikoto hurried in.
The instant she saw Itachi kneeling, her expression changed.
"Fugaku! What are you doing? Why are you forcing our eldest son to kneel?!"
Fugaku froze, then waved his hands frantically.
"No, Mikoto, listen to me—please listen!"
A moment later—
"Ah—!"
Fugaku's scream echoed through the entire house.
Even the surrounding homes lit their lamps again, startled by the noise.
...
"That's what happened," Ran said after Mikoto finished "educating" Fugaku, explaining everything clearly.
Only then did Mikoto realize she had misunderstood him. She quickly stepped forward.
"Husband… I was wrong. I misunderstood you."
"Hmph." Fugaku turned his head away, clearly aggrieved.
Ran cleared his throat.
"Mom. Dad. Now's not the time to argue. This is Big Brother's lifelong matter."
Sasuke nodded vigorously from the side.
"Mhm!"
Fugaku and Mikoto finally came back to their senses, both blushing slightly.
"Ahem. Ran is right," Fugaku said. "Since Itachi likes her, we'll arrange a meeting with Izumi's grandmother."
Itachi looked embarrassed.
"Mom, Dad… I'm going to sleep now. And Ran, Sasuke—thank you."
With that, he walked back to his room without looking back.
Ran and Sasuke exchanged a glance.
Ran bent down and picked Sasuke up.
"Mom, Dad, we're heading back too."
They left together.
Fugaku watched them with a complicated expression.
Then Mikoto leaned over, smiling faintly.
"Husband… it's late."
Fugaku stiffened, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
He was already forty.
Why was his wife still so energetic?
...
Early the next morning.
Today was Ran's first official day in office—and the day rewards and responsibilities would be assigned to the clans involved in the coup.
He woke early.
So did Itachi and Shisui.
Though both were still ANBU, as members of the Uchiha Clan, they were now assigned as the Hokage's personal guards—this had already been confirmed with Kakashi.
From this day on, Itachi and Shisui would report directly to Ran.
Ran finished dressing and pushed open his door—only to see two masked figures standing on either side.
"Damn—!" Ran jumped. "Why are you two here?!"
It was Shisui who explained.
Ran nodded in understanding.
"So that's how it is. I'll be counting on you to protect me from now on."
The thought of his two guards activating Susanoo at the slightest provocation—one green, one orange—put him in an excellent mood.
"Let's go," Ran said with a grin. "Today's agenda is simple."
"A big meeting."
"To distribute responsibilities—"
He paused, then corrected himself.
"—and benefits."
------
Guys there are already upto 40 advance chapters on my patreon (Upto Chapter 146) for now and there will be more soon. So you can go check it out.
👉 patreon.com/TheLazy_sage