one_long_mission | It's so pretty...

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It's so pretty...

He was dressed up. Where his mother had managed to locate anything to dress him up with on such short notice with he had no idea, but it meant when he took off roaming he was a streak of dark blue and red amid those at the festival as he went here and there, utterly fascinated by the new sights.

He'd been to festivals in Konoha, yes, but those were different. This was -new-.

It also meant he wasn't exactly being the most attentive person ever, and had escaped the people he'd been with. Unintentionally, of course.

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She's quiet for a long moment as she just listens to him speak, apple hanging forgotten at her side. Were these the Itachis from her own world? The ones she knew would murder the clan and become missing-nin? If her Itachi was sick, would he even tell her?

That wasn't any expression to have in front of a child, though, and she exhales through her nose, trying for a small smile, knowing it still looks worried. "I'm sure everything will work out just fine," she says automatically with a nod. Casting him another glance, her smile turns a bit more reassuring. "I promise I'll do everything I can to make sure he stays happy. And healthy, so don't you worry, okay?"

He gave her a frown that clearly said he could tell she was putting on a face for him. "Well... when I was really little I used to get tired super easy. That stopped after I started learning ninjutsu though." He paused and shrugged.

"Don't get mad at him cause of something I said okay? I don't mean to keep causing that. I'm sorry again about Neji-san. I know he's super nice but he looked really upset and wouldn't listen at -all-."

"I'll talk to him about it, okay?" She gives him another smile and tilts her head in invitation as she starts to walk toward a nearby bench, taking a seat and offering him the candy apple to lick from if he wanted some.

Resting her elbows on her knees, she just sighs and stares straight ahead for a moment. "I know Neji was upset. I know why, too. It'll just... maybe with time, he'll learn better. So don't worry, okay? He had to find out eventually."

Another smile, and she tries to change the subject. "So you're friends with Neji, then?"

"Mm." He took the apple and promptly took a bite, looking at her as he settled to sit beside her as he sucked on the bite before chewing, ordering his words. He didn't speak until his mouth was empty again. "He's been helping with my training. He was really mad at Naruto for teaching me Kage bunshin when he heard I fainted. He's super protective."

He rolled his eyes on a huff. "It's like Iruka all -over- again."

She can't help but laugh -- the kid had him pinned down perfectly. "He is really protective, isn't he? I bet if you tried to tell him though, he'd just huff and ignore you, right?" This kid would be good for Neji, she could tell already. After all, if he could see Itachi as he really was, then maybe...

A beat, then she lightly pokes his shoulder. "You shouldn't be fainting from learning jutsu, though."

He couldn't help it, he flushed. "I'd been training a lot already and then I ran into Naruto and I showed him how bad I was with Fire jutsu without augmenting, I don't think he understood what that meant, and then he showed me Kage Bunshin and I did it -twice- to get it right. And then I fainted. That happens though, when I train too far with chakra. Usually I just fall asleep after speed training and stuff."

He couldn't help the pout. "Neji-san keeps carrying me home without permission from training like Iruka used to before I came here. It's embarrassing."

She can't help but glance to him and cover her mouth with one hand as she laughs. His way of speaking was too adorable not to! Sometimes it felt like dragging more than one sentence out of either Itachi or Sasuke was like pulling teeth, but this boy--!

"I'm glad you've met Neji," she says finally, still trying to stifle her laughter and giving him a bright smile. "And if you're training hard enough that he's stopping you, that's a hint that you're overworking yourself." So Iruka was a sensei even back then? Huuh...

He wrinkled up his nose on a huff. "At least he's older than Iruka. It's worse when it's your teammate doing it! I mean, it's bad enough I'm so much younger right? But he's tall for his age and it's not fair because he picked the most horrible nickname ever and refuses to not call me it even when we get new genin into the team." He shook his head, looking a bit horrified. "Neji-san's not like -that- at least. He's more like Sensei, just prettier."

She laughs again, seized by the inexplicable desire to ruffle his hair, but instead she just lets him have the apple, thoroughly amused. So Iruka wasn't his sensei, but his teammate? "And what does Iruka-sensei call you, hm? I promise not to use it on you, but~" She leans in close with a conspiratorial grin, "Maybe I'll use it on your older self. He'd like that, you think?"

She laughs again and sits back, tilting her head as she waits for his answer.

"I don't think so at all." He gave her a long stare. "But... it might be funny. Iruka calls me Tachi-chan." He took another bite of the apple, shaking his head.

"Tachi-chan?" Her cheeks go red as she tries to stifle more laughter, imagining just what kind of faces her Itachi will make in response to that. Probably make one of those protesty noises and pout. Finally she manages to swallow her giggles enough to offer her pinky for a promise. "Well, I'll keep my word and not call you that, okay, Itachi-kun?"

He gave her a long hard stare, then hooked fingers with her. "Okay."

She can't help but laugh again as she releases his finger, leaning back against the bench. "Don't worry, if he gets annoyed, I'll make it up to him, somehow~"

Though she's not responsible if Sasuke starts taunting him with it.

He stared at her for a beat. "....I don't wanna know."

If she were cruel, she could tease him about it, but instead she just laughs and gives into her desire to ruffle his hair. "So tell me more about you and Neji, hm? Does he still act like he has a massive stick up his behind?"

He blinked at her. "Uh... No? I mean. He's kinda like dad about sweets, but he poked me in the head with chakra a couple times when he decided I was focusing too hard and thought it was funny...?"

"He thought something was funny?" Sure, Neji had lightened up a lot in the three years since their first Chuunin exams, but... "I think you'll be good for Neji. So it's you, Neji, and your... mom, right?"

"No no no. It's me, Neji-san, we'll get him soon! Naruto-nee, Otouto, he's thirteen, and mom. Oh! And an older me, but I don't think Neji-san knows he's around yet. He's been mostly sleeping since he got to us."

"The Itachi who's sick, you said?" Her lips twitch as she stares straight ahead, rather than look to him. "You know... you'll have to let me know some time Neji's out of the house. I'd like to speak with him, if I can. And-- wait. Naruto-nee?"

He nodded at once. "Mm! She's really nice." He leaned in, voice dropping to a pointed whisper. "I think Neji-san -likes- her."

She's about to comment on just how interesting his house must be with all of those people in there, but the whisper stops her, mouth slightly open before twisting into a wide grin. "Really? What's he do?"

Gossiping about teammates wasn't a bad thing to do, right?

"It's just this look he gets when he looks at her. All soft and stuff. I haven't seen them alone really though so I can't say for -sure-."

"Really." She can't hide a smile again, a little thoughtfully as she rests a hand in her chin, elbow on her knee. "That I'd have to see for myself. The genius and the dropout, huh? Three years ago, if you told me that, I'd have smacked you upside the head for being ridiculous, but now...? Yeah, maybe."

He shrugged. "He walked her home after he went and confronted you so..."

"I think I'm going to have to talk to this Naruto-nee." Her smile turns more than a little impish at the thought. Neji's first crush, hm~? And it's Naruto of all people?

Giving him a sideways glance, her smile doesn't change. "And what about you, Itachi-kun?"

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