Naruto: In the future world

**#Private_Scene**

**#Uchiha_Clan**

"Nii-san! Nii-san!"

In the library, Itachi sat before a desk studying quietly while wearing glasses. He couldn't complete his reading due to his younger brother's persistent calls.

He lifted his gaze toward the slowly opening door as Sasuke entered cheerfully.

"Nii-san, let's go for a walk!" Sasuke smiled brightly while grasping his brother's hand.

Itachi smiled softly, closed his eyes, placed his book on the adjacent table, and said: "Very well, let us go."

"I do hope you haven't forgotten about me..." A gentle, melodious voice sounded from behind the door, startling both brothers slightly.

"Izumi-chan!"

"Izumi..."

Sasuke spoke joyfully, contrasting with Itachi's slightly trembling and flustered tone.

"Helloo~ How are you both?" Izumi uttered with a beautiful smile, waving her hand toward them.

"How did you get here?" Itachi inquired with mild confusion and faint discomfort.

"Nii-san, I invited her! I asked Father for permission to let her enter the palace, and he agreed," Sasuke spoke with a small smile.

"So it was you..." Itachi stood and approached Izumi, grasping her wrist with subtle firmness that made her close one eye. He led her out of the library, with Sasuke trailing behind in bewilderment at Itachi's unusual mood shift from his customary calm.

After traversing several corridors and descending the stairs, they reached the main gate and exited the palace grounds.

"What's the matter, Itachi-kun?" Izumi spoke with evident concern.

Itachi drew closer, then whispered a few gentle words near her ear.

Upon hearing those words, Izumi's worried expression transformed into calm.

"Don't leave me behind like that, Nii-san!!" Sasuke puffed his cheeks in anger, pounding Itachi's back in great annoyance.

"Forgive me, Sasuke. I won't leave you behind next time," Itachi turned to his irritated brother with a smile, then lightly tapped Sasuke's forehead with his fingertips in an affectionate apology.

"Ouch!"

Sasuke placed his hands on his forehead, wincing adorably with eyes tightly shut.

"My, my, what have we here? Itachi, Sasuke, and Izumi as well. Isn't only one person missing now?"

The trio turned toward the voice's source and met a boy roughly Itachi's age or slightly older—none other than Itachi's closest friend.

"Shisui..."

Sasuke uttered cautiously, hiding behind Itachi while clinging tightly to him.

"Hehe, as usual, afraid I'll steal your brother away?" Shisui laughed softly, approaching Sasuke, who merely averted his gaze without a word.

"Now, Sasuke, don't be so rude," Itachi admonished, but Sasuke simply stuck his tongue out at Shisui.

"Alright, alright, don't pressure him. He's just a child," Shisui smiled kindly.

"I am *not* a child!!" Sasuke yelled back at Shisui.

"Alright, alright, you're a big man now. Hahaha!" Shisui laughed heartily, ruffling Sasuke's hair.

"Izumi, it's rare to see you," Shisui's laughter shifted in tone as he gazed calmly at Izumi.

"Indeed. It's pleasant to see you," Izumi nodded courteously.

"I don't see Obito around," Itachi noted, despite their swift exit from the palace.

"Ah, Obito? I believe he went out with his friends some time ago."

"Likely with those two: Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin."

"Oh? You know them?" Shisui expressed mild surprise.

"I studied at the same school where Hatake Kakashi taught. I observed his relationship with Obito back then and later learned they were childhood friends or something similar."

"You... is there anything you *don't* know?"

"I don't know everything. That merely fell within my existing knowledge," Itachi smiled serenely.

"You know, you'd fit perfectly into some dangerous organization threatening national security," Shisui spoke with sudden seriousness, startling Itachi greatly.

"Hahaha! Did you actually believe me?" Shisui laughed boisterously, clapping Itachi's back as the latter flustered over the jest.

"Shisui-sama, Lord Kizuna requests your presence," a servant approached, bowing swiftly.

"My father?" Shisui looked surprised, then hurried off, calling back: "See you later, Itachi, Sasuke! Lovely to see you well again, Izumi!" With those farewells, he vanished from sight.

Itachi sighed softly, then looked at Izumi: "We must return you home now, Izumi."

Izumi understood, nodded to him, and the two departed, leaving Sasuke behind.

"He just said he wouldn't leave me behind again!!" Sasuke crossed his arms, puffing his cheeks in childish indignation.

He turned back and headed toward the house once more.

As he walked inside, he spotted a man with thick, spiky hair. He was exceptionally tall, yet impeccably suited to his elegant black attire. One eye remained hidden beneath his voluminous hair, while the other appeared languid.

He resembled a top fashion model—though he most certainly was not!

"Uncle Madara!"

Sasuke smiled and approached him happily.

"Oh, Sasuke! Delighted to see you. How are you?" Madara smiled kindly, bending slightly to Sasuke's level as the boy seemed eager to talk.

"I'm fine, but I'm upset because Itachi left me behind because of Izumi-chan!!"

Madara looked slightly surprised before replying: "Izumi was here? When did this happen?"

"Just now, but they've already left to take her home," Sasuke answered candidly.

"I see. Thank you for telling me, little one. Later, we'll take a drive in my Ferrari, alright?"

"Yes!!"

Sasuke cheered excitedly before dashing down the corridor joyfully.

Madara remained smiling gently, then headed elsewhere, muttering to himself: *(I must hasten to police headquarters before I'm late.)* He sighed after the thought, continuing wearily: "Presiding over national security is exhausting."

***

Returning to Itachi and Izumi, the pair walked through a forest separating the palace from the Uchiha residential districts.

They stopped in a slightly secluded spot. Itachi then took two steps back from Izumi, saying with concern: "You must not come to the palace again. You cannot fathom what might befall you there!"

"Do not worry for me. I am strong enough to protect myself," Izumi smiled confidently. Her expression then softened into sadness as she continued quietly: "I simply cannot disappear from your life."

"Izumi..." Itachi looked away sorrowfully, then clenched his fist and moved toward her, catching her off guard.

He kissed her forehead with profound tenderness, making her cheeks flush like fresh tomatoes.

Itachi smiled, cradling her face as he whispered gently: "Is this sufficient to make you cease coming?"

(It is insufficient.)

She couldn't voice it aloud, retaining the thought inwardly with shyness. Before such handsomeness and charm, she could only yield, utterly captivated!

She nodded her head down then up, declaring his victory. This deepened his smile as he pressed his forehead to hers, saying: "However far our paths may diverge, we shall inevitably reunite. So fret not—these are merely seasons separating us until we meet again."

Izumi placed her hands around his neck, tears slowly welling in her eyes.

"Yes."

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**#Private_Scene**

**#Uchiha_Clan (End)**

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**#To_Be_Continued**