The sun sat lazily in the middle of the sky and shone gentle rays of sunshine in the bustling village of Konoha. A light breeze passed by causing wind chimes by in the doorway to tinkle softly. Two shinobis guarding the door to their esteemed Hokage stood straight watching for any signs of danger.
Three figures walked casually yet at the same time they each held an aura of pride and elegance. The youngest, a sixteen year old boy with long ebony hair stared at the backs of both his parents. Itachi remembered the talk with his parents a few months ago.
Flashback
Fugaku stared at his eldest son impassively. As head clan, he was known to be a serious and stern person. It also mean that he had to priorities certain things before personal things. For instance, he was clan head before father. Shinobi before human. Even if it meant that he would have to gamble his family's and his happiness.
Itachi nodded his head knowingly. He, like his father, was no stranger to priorities. He knew he would have to sacrifice a lot of things to achieve the success of his clan and to the beneficial of his beloved village.
Beside his father, his ever so beautiful mother looked at him reassuringly as would a mother do. Her lips was stretched in a slightly forced smile. But he couldn't dwell on it further. After all, nothing mattered as long as his beloved otouto is safe.
End flashback
The three Uchihas stood in front of the Hokage's door waiting for their village leader to welcome them in. A small 'come in' was all it take for all three Uchiha to enter the office. There, they saw the familiar aged man with a pointy hat on his head who presented with a fatherly smile.
But he wasn't the only one in the office. Itachi and his parents glanced at the other occupant of the room. It was a slim young girl who was around the age of fifteen or sixteen. Itachi took in her appearance.
The girl had short shoulder length hair which was let down. There was a long necklace around her scrawny neck. She wore a simple white long sleeved shirt and a pale purple sweater. She also wore a pleated skirt and a pair of ridiculous white high heels. Itachi easily mistaken her for a common civilian.
But Itachi immediately saw his error when he looked at her face. The girl had violet eyes that gazed at him sharply and held the sharpness of a shinobi instead of a civilian. He also noticed the beauty spot near the right corner of her lips.
In mere milliseconds, Itachi averted his eyes and looked at the Hokage in anticipation. Out of the corner of his eyes, he also noticed that his parents looking at the hokage while sending curious glances at the girl.
Not at all fazed by the pointed glare he received from Fugaku, the sandaime smiled at the four occupants in his office.
"Aah, we've been waiting for you Uchiha-san. Please take a seat"
Not missing a beat, Fugaku questioned shortly.
"We?"
"Yes. We. Izumi-chan here had been waiting for a little while as well"
Mikoto sent a worried glance at her husband. She knew fairly well how short tempered her husband could be. Silently, she grasped his hand in an attempt to calm him.
"I was told that I would be meeting with the head of the Nase clan"
His answer was civil but anyone could notice the sternness and slight annoyance in Fugaku's voice. Sarutobi was about to answer when a feminine voice cut him off.
"And that you are. Allow me to introduce myself Uchiha-sama. I am Nase Izumi, head of the Nase clan."
She stared evenly at the Uchiha couple with a smile tugged on her flawless face. However, her smile was no where near cheerful. Her smile was curt and a bit challenging, daring anyone to question her title.
Mikoto looked at the beautiful girl in shock and amazement. The girl was so young! She wondered silently on what had happened to the girl's parents. Taking her husband's silence to her account, she decided to smooth things out. She smiled at the girl politely.
"Aah. It's nice to meet you Izumi-chan . My name is Uchiha Mikoto. This is my husband, Fugaku and my oldest son, Itachi."
Izumi nodded curtly at the two Uchiha men before once again turned her attention towards the sandaime. All four shinobi were now looking expectantly at the hokage in question.
"Well,as we all know recently Konohagakure have been in good terms with Kirigakure. And it has come to my attention that the Uchiha clan have decided to offer a lovely marriage for their heir," he looked at Itachi knowingly, "and the heiress of th Nase clan." The aged man now looked at the beautiful girl who stared impassively at him. Although if you looked close enough, the Nase heiress was clenching her hands on her skirt.
"The Nase clan is an honourable and well known clan in Kirigakure. The Uchiha clan is also an honourable clan here, in Konohagakure. It would do well for our two villages that this marriage between," Itachi pursed his lips, "Uchiha Itachi and," Izumi played a little bit with her hair,"Nase Izumi to proceed."
There were various response that Sarutobi received. A nonchalant look from Fugaku. A satisfied and content look from Mikoto. However what surprised him was the soon to be couple. Both Itachi and Izumi continued to look impassive as if they weren't the one who was to be suddenly and diplomatically engaged. Sarutobi quickly dismissed the response, or rather lack of response from Izumi and Itachi.
"Well then, if there's nothing else to discuss, I'll leave it to you hands. And I'll have you know that both the Mizukage and I are quite pleased with the turn of events."
With that, the four left the hokage's tower. Once outside, Izumi turned towards her soon to be parents in law. Before she could opened her mouth, Mikoto had engulfed her in a bear hug, smiling happily.
"Welcome to our family, Izumi-chan!"
Itachi smiled at his mother rather warm welcoming. Unknowingly, he smirked in amusement. This act didn't get unnoticed by his soon to be wife. She sent him one of her dirtiest glare. Itachi merely raised an eyebrow unfazed by the ravenette.
Fugaku nodded at Izumi simply.
"I take it you will stay here in Konoha?"
"Yes,Uchiha-sama. I'll be staying for a month to prepare for the wedding. Then, I will return to Kiri to settle some clan business before I return here to be wed as arrange."
Izumi answered smoothly without hesitating. After all, she had to be able to handle herself in order to be a clan head.
Mikoto who had stop hugging the Nase, beamed at the statement before locking hands with Izumi.
"Well then, please make yourself at home, Izumi-chan."
3
