{open} It was a beautiful morning.

[youngesthokage]

He was in a wonderful mood. He'd gotten in later than intended due to the rather long talk with his mother, which had been oddly easier with this one than the one from home ever was anymore, and by the time he'd made it home is good mood had returned and he'd settled right to bed.

Morning, on the other hand, had brought the flowers and he found himself looking out the window in curious fascination at them, mussed from sleep and somewhat bewildered.

Since when did snow bring flowers?

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[bunsofsteel]

Unlike both of her Uchiha boys, Tenten didn't like sleeping in as much as they seemed to, sometimes. Better to get all of the hard training done early so she could take the rest of the day to relax, after all! Itachi being awake was a surprise, enough so that she prepared a second cup of tea, using the (correct!) blend Ino had given her, then padded in behind him to lean over his shoulder and press a kiss to his cheek, offering the teacup. "Morning~" she greeted, resting her nose against his shoulder to muffle a yawn.

[youngesthokage]

He smiled up at her, the expression light and happy as he took the cup. "Good morning Tenten."

[bunsofsteel]

She blinked at him, setting her own cup on the sill and wrapping her arms around his waist, keeping her nose comfortably pressed against his back. "You're strangely cheerful this morning. Feeling okay?"

[youngesthokage]

"Hmmm yes very." He tilted his head back and set his cups down. "Ah yes, I'm to relay a message for you."

[bunsofsteel]

"A message?" she repeated, straightening and glancing over his shoulder at him. "What is it?"

[youngesthokage]

"Tenten says hi to you." He sipped his tea, humming softly. "I dropped the girl off with mother after I found her yesterday."

[bunsofsteel]

"Huh?" She blinked, not quite understanding at first, before her eyes widen. "There's another me here?! How did you know she wasn't me?"

[youngesthokage]

"She's much younger than you and greeted me as Hokage-sama." He looked back to her with another of those smiles before he turned to his tea. "I set her to a pair of tasks that should keep her busy and I'll be keeping an eye on her, checking by regularly to make sure she has money and is doing fine where I put her and such." He waved his hand.

[bunsofsteel]

"Really?" She'd kind of gotten used to the idea of there being Itachis everywhere, but another her? Wait... "So she's your Tenten, huh? No wonder you're so happy." She brushed her fingers over his cheek, near that smile.

[youngesthokage]

He realized he was being rather... overly perky, and flushed slightly. "I didn't know what to do with myself without being needed in that capacity."

[bunsofsteel]

"I'm glad you found someone." She squeezed him against her. She's not jealous of her younger self, just... happy that he finally had someone from his home. "Is it strange for you, seeing her when you've been used to me being around all the time?"

[youngesthokage]

"You share a great many mannerisms." His tone turned dry. "I think I disturbed her when I fed her seeing as we were at the tea shop we go to and I ordered like I was with you."

[bunsofsteel]

"Well, yeah, that would have freaked me out too, Itachi-sama~" She nuzzled her nose against his shoulder and glanced up. "I'll have to meet me, sometime. See how much of a difference you being Hokage made for me."

Completely AU. Pay us no mind.

[itachi_san]

[sorry, I can't get this random thought out of my head. I really can't.]


And the Hokage was woken up by the sound of loud little voices coming from the hallway.

"Papa!! We made you breakfast in bed! I made the toast! I burned it with my own fire jutsu!!!"

followed by an older, slightly exasperated voice.

"Yeah... He sure did."

Bwahaha

[youngesthokage]

Well, if that hadn't woken him, the small child jumping on his chest certainly would have, and his breath left him in a rush as he froze before relaxing. "Haven't I told you not to do that Isamu?"

"Good morning daddy!"

[itachi_san]

"You've been so busy with the delegates from Mist... And with the Chunin Selection Exams. The boys wanted to do something extra nice for you." Itachi clarified, as Minoru carried the tray to the side of the bed. The toast was indeed burned to a crisp, but the fruit looked very much unharmed. "Don't worry. He didn't injure the kitchen ANBU too badly..."

"I said I was sorry!!!"

[youngesthokage]

"Sorry is Minoru's favorite word~." Isamu slid out of the way so that his dad could actually get to the tray.

"That's very sweet of all of you, and the ANBU needed a little more training anyway."

[itachi_san]

Minoru made sure the tray was safely in his father's hands before retaliating.

"Yeah, well, yours is dumb! Which I'm not!"

[youngesthokage]

Isamu tumbled back, then kicked his brother. "Is not! We both know it's 'smarter-than-you!'"

Staring at the kids for a moment, he just edged away so he could balance the tray and get at the fruit.

[itachi_san]

"You are not!" Minoru grabbed the kick so Isamu would fall down. Then he jumped on him. "And that's not even one word! It's three!!"

Itachi shook his head. His eyes still bandaged, he couldn't exactly see to grab them.

"Boys! Careful!! You'll knock over that breakfast you spent so much time making..."

[youngesthokage]

His eyes lingered on the bandages for a moment, then he reached over and shoved the boys off the bed with his free hand so he could start on the food, ignoring the yelps that caused.

[itachi_san]

They certainly weren't expecting that. Though it did serve them right. And it gave Itachi a chance to change the subject before the arguing could start again on the floor.

"I spoke with Sasuke this morning while the boys were in the kitchen... And I have good news." he sat carefully on the edge of the bed. "The medics are finally ready to take the bandages off my eyes. We get to see if the operation worked."

[youngesthokage]

He paused, then smiled at him. "I'm glad, I was starting to worry how much longer it was taking yours to heal."

[itachi_san]

Itachi sighed. "Almost twice as long... I was starting to wonder if they were going to actually heal at all."

The boys, meanwhile, had started sparring on the floor. Itachi took that opportunity to slide closer to his partner.

"You can see, right?" he whispered. There was nervousness in his voice, and rightfully so. "... It... did work... still. Right? Eternal mangekyo?"

[youngesthokage]

He reached up to stroke his cheek. "Yes, all is well with me."