Chapter 39 - Fragments

Yuna doesn't know why he is apologising. She can't remember what he just said, but she remembers his voice. He has a low voice, a voice so smooth that it feels soft in her ears. The next second, her parted lips are caught in his. They are kissing before she can react. She rests her hands on his chest as they smile to themselves, eyes closed, his head against hers. When her fingers reach his broad torso, she shivers with a mixture of thrill and anxiety.

Apart from the tapping raindrops outside, Yuna can hear their panting echo in the cave. Her heart is racing. The space is dimly lit, so she can't see very clearly. He hovers over her and they share a deep kiss. His low ponytail loosens as her fingers dig into his hair. As they pull away, Yuna gets a good view of this man above her. He smirks and she blushes.

He is kind of sexy.

Yuna does not understand what is happening. She is almost all naked. He just kissed her, and now his hands are roaming on her womanly body, and she lets him.

Worst of all?

She seems to like it very much! She isn't pushing him away.

Yuna wouldn't let anyone touch her in such an intimate way if she doesn't love that person wholly. She knew that very well about herself. Even if that is him, her best friend, Itachi - no way! No way she will ever let him take her just because he is a guy who grows up to decide he has needs.

But it is him. This is Itachi. He lost his treble voice, he grew out his hair, and he became so daring. This young man in front of her is a complete stranger, yet the littlest movement he makes tells her exactly who he is. Unmistakingly, this is Itachi.

Again, with her head spinning and his loving kisses all over her, she isn't thinking straight.

Did she just think Itachi is sexy?

That's right! This isn't real.

"Yuna!"

Mei shook the squirming girl, hoping to wake her up. Yuna was moaning in her sleep, seemingly enjoying herself. Whatever that meant, Mei was determined to get going. They were on a tight schedule. They did not have much time together, but Mei was trying to use this week to help Yuna master fission, a secret art that the Asuka inherited from their ancestors. Mei was partly jealous. Asuka descendants rarely dreamed if it wasn't a foreseeing dream.

Yuna woke up and rubbed her eyes. As her vision cleared, she spotted her cousin all dressed up, makeup done, and ready to go. Suddenly, Yuna put her hands across her chest. She frowned a little then quickly smiled it off. She was relieved.

Of what?

Mei was very confused.

"What are you doing?" Mei asked, staring at Yuna with surprise written all over her face.

That question was Yuna's caffeine shot. Her face sharply tinted pink. Yuna didn't know how to tell Mei why she tried to feel her own breasts. Because from what she vividly remembered, that Yuna had curves, although she was a slender young woman. Her current figure couldn't be farther from that. So little Yuna, with a body still developing, convinced herself: That can't be me! Just a silly dream!

Maybe it was a weird dream that she had, but why did her corrupted imagination have to choose Itachi of all people? Maybe all the teasing finally kicked in.

"I had a nightmare where I was stabbed," said Yuna. She quickly added, "In the heart." Hopefully, that explained why she put her hands around that area while she circled with her finger to gesture she had a hole in the dream.

"Really?" Mei asked skeptically, her gaze dim. "And the moans…?"

"My mouth was…" stuffed and so I couldn't speak and I was trying to scream for help, she thought, but Mei cut in before she could speak.

"You said his name, and so sensually."

Mei was very curious for two reasons. She had woken up Yuna in middle of her dream. If the dream had finished, Yuna wouldn't have remembered any of it. Not only Mei was nosy about her little cousin's apparent erotic dream, she was concerned if the dream came to Yuna as a warning of a bigger picture.

As for Yuna, she decided she had to keep up. It would be so embarrassing if Mei found out she had a wet dream, no less with her best friend who everyone thought she was already dating. Yuna didn't think she had a dirty mind at all - but apparently she was wrong. She mentally chastised Kakashi, Shisui, and Jiraiya for years of bad influence.

"It-It's not wrong to th-think of him when I need help be-because he-he-he is always there for me," Yuna continued.

"Yuna, tell me what really happened, please. You think I'm digging you for some juicy gossip again, but this is more than that. Any Asuka descendant who is capable of recalling dreams in their sleep, well... the dream in itself is foreseeing. In other words, I have never dreamed once in my life," Mei sighed. She just wished Yuna could get past her self-consciousness. "What you tell me, I promise you to keep it between us."

Yuna hesitated, biting her fingernails. "Not all of them are foreseeing, right?"

"No, you are right. Some are recollections of the past, if the events hold significance. Your brain is more powerful than you know," Mei said, starting to sound bitter by this point.

Mei was getting frustrated. They only had each other left. If Yuna didn't trust her, Mei had no one else to hang onto for support. She didn't know Yuna was just embarrassed.

Yuna stared at her feet. She didn't know what to do. She felt ashamed for having that dream. It was just wrong! But Mei was right. If she didn't tell Mei, who else could she tell?

Yugao?

Yuna feared her BGFF might start seeing her differently, in a bad way.

Kakashi?

Out of the question. He would tease the hell out of her.

Shisui?

Yuna didn't want to go there. She could clearly picture the consequence.

Tsunade?

Yuna could not bear the awkwardness she would have to endure for the rest of her training journey, and the same if she had told Shizune instead, especially when Yuna found out a secret of her.

Itachi?

Just no freaking way!

Yuna narrowed her eyes at Mei and held out her pinky. Mei linked pinkies with her to seal the promise. Took her long enough, thought Mei. She giggled a little. "So, do you know why you two have sex? What is unusual about where it happens? Do you remember anything you say?"

Mei had it figured out before Yuna had said even a word.

"Come on! Don't be shy." Mei tried to hold back her smirk, but she failed. "I'm trying to help. It's going to take you a whole day if I don't ask you anything."

"I think… I th-think… W-we a-are in a ca-cave. Somewhere. He's very… very... apologetic, so I th-think, I th-think…"

Mei held out her hand to stop Yuna. This would take forever. She had a suggestion.

"How about instead of stuttering, say everything as quickly as possible," Mei demonstrated by saying all that in one breath and so fast that Yuna almost did not catch what was said. "Don't look at me if it helps. Just say it."

Yuna took a few breaths, forcing her heartbeat to calm. She spoke quickly, "He's very apologetic, probably doesn't want to do it or at least do it there, and probably does it to save me for some unknown reason because we're in a cave in the middle of nowhere. He's sort of trying things out and I'm timid. It's probably our first time. I'm very immobile, almost like I'm drugged. It looks like we are in this situation because we have no choice."

"Konoha trained you well. Well done, Yuna! Let me think!" Mei praised, clapping her hands.

Mei used a minute to review what was said. She was genuinely proud of her little cousin. They were both girls. She understood very well at her age she would too be embarrassed. Yuna managed to tell her what happened in the dream without going into too much detail. She gave an analysis based on what she knew in real life and what she experienced in the dream.

"Who knows you are the current holder of the ethereal weapons?" Mei asked. That was the first thing she thought of. If anything could cause Yuna to be physically immobile and in that desperate situation, it could only be the unstable seal on Yuna made by Jun, their late cousin, the last owner.

The seal could kill Yuna if she was not careful and had not have her emotions in check. Under normal circumstances, Yuna had the right and the ability to transfer her ownership. That was not the only way. If the seal ever become unstable - when Yuna had no control over her emotions and body - then one could theoretically force withdraw her ownership of Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror. That could be done by ripping the physical vessel's soul apart alive, taking one's body by force... rape.

Yuna would die if a force withdraw was made, then the weapons would soon follow and disappear from the realm of living. The weapons were entrusted by the priestess in the ancient court, the mother of the Sage of Six Paths' children, in the Land of Ancestors. The Asuka ancestor, the youngest child, the princess was given the weapons to save her brothers from their endless fight. She failed in her generation, only then to move away from mainland in respect to the last prophecy her mother made on her deathbed. Great power came with great risk. The Asuka ancestor put a self-destruct spell on the weapons to ensure they would not end up in the wrong hands.

"My genin team, Kakashi-nii, Tsunade-sama, Sandaime Hokage and my godfather, Jiraiya-sama, the other Sannin," Yuna counted.

"That is two Sannin out of three who knows this," Mei said, hinting whether the unnamed Sannin might learn this piece of information and target Yuna. From what Mei gathered, Orochimaru was a greedy man of callous nature who wanted all precious things in this world. Not to mention, he was a rouge ninja expelled from his own village for the inhumane experiments he was found conducting. "When you were young. he was your sensei. Does he know?"

Yuna shook her head. She thought back to her early childhood in Konoha. She remembered how she subconsciously kept distance from everyone around her. She did not speak often, and she did not like to reveal anything about herself to anyone. Even Minato and Kushina, her adoptive parents, had taken a long time for her to warm up to.

A self-mocking chuckle escaped her lips. Yuna said, "I was quite the emo kid. I studied with him because I craved the strength to protect myself. I was scared. I didn't tell anyone anything. At that age, I was very confused about what happened to be honest."

Mei didn't press on. She had learned from Minato through their mails about Yuna's life when he was alive. Mei was first worried to find Yuna, a child, give up all hopes when they met again. It turned out Minato and Kushina did a world of good to little Yuna.

"It is possible that someone is after them, and I won't be surprised if people find out these mythical items exist," Mei concluded. She pointed her finger to stress her next point, "if this dream comes back, try to wake up, recall what happens, and find clues from it."

The red hue returned to her cheeks as Yuna remembered the dream.

"But… but…"

"Is he hot?"

"No."

That's a lie.

"Do you think it's romantic that he'd do you to save your life?"

"No!"

Itachi would do exactly what it took to save her life. So yes, Yuna thought he could be so romantic without knowing he was being romantic. She remembered how gentle he was with her in the dream. She could feel her face burning as she denied everything. Another lie.

"Will you tell him? I think you told me that you still write to each other to get updates."

"NO!"

That was not a lie. Yuna couldn't live with herself to let him know about it.

Mei got up from a sitting position to pull the duvet. She kept giggling. Enough was enough. They wasted enough time that morning. Yuna was pouting at her. Mei pulled her up and pushed her to the washroom to freshen up.

"Remember to ask Tsunade-hime to teach you medicine," Mei reminded her. The thought of Yuna being drugged was caught in her mind. "It could save your life."

Yuna blinked. She stopped in the middle of brushing her teeth. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she blushed again. She was trying her best to push her dream to the back of her head.

Itachi was on a solo B-rank mission to protect the new chairwoman of a top international bank. Ueda Kimiko was a middle-aged widow. Kimiko was a successful businesswoman in her own right before she became her late husband's right hand. Her husband died of a terminal illness recently. She stepped up to chair the company until her son became of age, experienced and mature, to take over as the next CEO. With her heavy workload, excessive travelling, and busy schedule, Kimiko was ageing faster than she should. Often, she was preparing for the next meeting on the car journey, or she was reading newspapers to get on top of current issues. Now, she was holding an annual report of the next destination in her hands. Itachi noticed the wrinkles by the sides of her eyes as she pulled the document away for better reading.

Itachi looked through the windows from both sides and checked the rearview mirror, observing their surrounding. He held a piece of newspaper. In this mission, Itachi disguised as the client's son, Hitoshi. They were about the same age, both with black hair and black eyes, and luckily, the outside world did not have that many photos of the Union Bank's heir. While the real Hitoshi was staying under protection in Konoha, Itachi went to the year-long business trip in his place. For a year straight, he lived as Hitoshi. He learned all the things Hitoshi should know as the heir of Union Bank, and he learned to act his part. To complete his disguise, Itachi grew his hair shoulder length to match Hitoshi's.

There were only three people in the car: the client - his mother, the driver - her butler, and Itachi himself - imposter Hitoshi. Through this mission, he got the chance to travel in an automobile vehicle for the first time. It's comfortable but surprisingly slow, he thought. He always wondered how it was like for people to travel long distance if they weren't trained ninja. His curiosity took his mind off an assassin he killed earlier.

One part of the mission was to be the bodyguard of the client throughout the journey; the other part of the mission was to lure out the any opposition during their travel. Union Bank was a huge cooperation with many bodies. Many saw the passing of the late chairman as an opportunity to gain predominance. Itachi saw this as a reflection of Konoha when the time would come that the Third would pass away in his2 old age. He only wished his clan would not be too aggressive and push too hard for domination, because the stronger the push, the stronger the pull. He knew that was a hopeful wish. Itachi, too, had his own struggle as the heir of the Uchiha clan.

Kimiko noticed the worries on Itachi's expressions. She wondered if there were enemies nearby. "Is everything okay?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, Kimiko-san. I'm only lost in my own thoughts," Itachi said, managing a smile. "Please don't worry."

As the culprit toasted a guest in the dinner party, there was actually poison in Kimiko's drink. Itachi saw through the trick where the assassin, disguised as a waiter, slipped some unknown powder through his sleeve and into Kimiko's wine. Itachi took the glass from Kimiko's hand with a smile and offered the wine to a man he suspected to be the culprit, the director of the Land of Honey. He wore a gold-plated watch and a designer suit. Itachi had listened to the man's conversation with Kimiko earlier and decided that his language was far too arrogant for a subordinate speaking to his advisor. He had masked courteous words and honorifics with a malicious undertone.

Itachi pushed Kimiko's glass forward to him. The director hesitated before exchanging their glasses.

"What is the meaning of this, Hitoshi-sama?" the director asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.

"Nothing. Mother and you can swap drinks. They are all the same. It's like…" Itachi put on an innocent voice, child-like and carefree, "...a toast to a good partnership for the future. We show our trust by drinking each other's drink."

There was a rigid smile on the director's face as he nodded. Out of the crowd, that particular waiter came back and "accidently" knocked over the drink on the director's hand. The wine glass hit the ground and broke. On the spot where the alcohol was spilled, there was a fizzing noise, corroding the surface.

Immediately, Kimiko was taken aback. "This is outrageous!" she yelled, agitated.

The director gave a subtle signal through eye contact. The waiter went past Itachi and charged towards Kimiko. Before the dagger could reach Kimiko, Itachi grabbed part of the broken glass from the floor and stabbed the assaulter in the back, stopping his heart. Before the director could make his escape, Itachi locked eyes with him and put him to sleep. It was so quick that ordinary people did not catch that splite second his eyes turned red.

"I'm sorry, mother. But I had to. I'm sure the court will favour us," Itachi said tonelessly. Despite keeping up his role as Hitoshi, Itachi's eyes were downcast.

That very instant, Kimiko understood very well why Konoha sent this boy alone for the mission. Itachi looked the part, he was very smart - on top of knowing how to act out his role as the bank's heir - and he was an incredibly strong shinobi. With just a broken shard of glass, he had killed a chunin from Ishigakure. He didn't break a sweat! No wonder he obtained ANBU rank at his age, Kimiko thought.

Kimiko put her hand on his head. "You did your best, Hitoshi. I'm alive because of you. Thank you, my son."

They called in the security and had the director put under investigation. Soon after he was put in jail for attempted murder. As of then, the director was fired.

"I am not worried about that." Kimiko was sure to catch a glimpse of confusion. She was worried about the boy's mental state of mind right after killing a person. It did not matter if he was an experienced shinobi; he was still a growing child in her eyes, especially when her own son was just the same age. "You are as gifted as the Hokage said."

Itachi smiled to thank her kind words. He folded the newspaper and put it down. "What is it? How could I help?" He looked back at Kimiko, thinking she was worried about something.

"Itachi, remember what we said? I'm your mother throughout this journey. You will be my son, and you will act how you normally act around your parents," Kimiko laughed.

"That's how I speak." Itachi scratch his head, a little surprise to find out what caused her worry. He began to understand it was just a matter of people not understanding him again. "At least that's how I speak to my father. I speak less formal around my mother."

Kimiko recalled the information she read on Itachi's file. "You're from the Uchiha clan, if I remember correctly." She had heard the Uchiha treasured rules and discipline above all else, then she said as she was remembering, "Our bank holds some of your clan's savings."

"I know," Itachi answered plainly.

Then it was Kimiko's turn to be surprised. As she thought more about it, she didn't think that level of confidential information any clansman would know, especially at his age.

"How did you know?" Kimiko asked with an eager smile, her head leaning forward.

"I checked the clan's finance record last season. Father was too busy," Itachi explained. Kimiko then discovered Itachi's identity.

"No wonder your interaction with business partners is spot on. You, yourself, are an heir. You must be used to social functions," she said.

"It's not like I have a choice to be bad at it!" Itachi said cheekily. He knew he was partly lying, not that Kimiko needed to know the Uchiha were, in fact, very antisocial. She laughed at his joke. She was happy to know Itachi was starting to relax around her.

As she put her life in his hands, Kimiko would like the boy to trust her in return. They still had eleven more months ahead. It would be a good idea to know each other better.

Kimiko turned her attention back and asked, "Was it the first time you killed? I'm sorry." She was afraid, but her expression didn't faze in front of the dead man who made an attempt at her life. Kimiko had now seen too much to cry, but she reckoned it might be too much for a child.

"No, it isn't," Itachi said, a voice hindering regret. "Don't be sorry. Please. It's my job." It might be part of his job, though he never felt good about killing someone who was also on a mission. If he had met the wrong match, the person dead could have been him. He felt trapped in this vicious cycle of killing and being killed.

At first, she did have doubts about Itachi's capability. Kimiko now found out this boy was almost the exact opposite of her son, which was hard to believe, considering how similar they looked. Itachi was intelligent and wise for his age. Not only he was extremely observant, he was able to calculate a few steps ahead of their enemies. He cared about others and never forgot to thank the people who helped him. Hitoshi, her real son, on the other hand, was spoiled, self-centred, and did not give a care about the world. The real Hitoshi did not care enough to read a newspaper or to better himself for the bank. Itachi, the imposter, studied plenty for his job and prepared to engage in intellectual conversations concerning the economy and where their bank stood. It made Kimiko wish her own son could be more like Itachi sometimes.

It was the first time they were attacked since the start of the journey. Kimiko's first impression of Itachi stayed the same after a month of travelling with him - the Uchiha heir was very responsible. She knew he was responsible, but she didn't know he was strong both in mind and body to handle assassination attempts, and single-handedly.

"What's the fun part of your job?" Kimiko hoped to change the subject might get him out of that sullen mood.

"I get to travel a lot," Itachi said. He liked travelling. It was his perfect excuse to get away from home, free his mind from the clan's responsibilities as the heir.

"Are you allowed to bring back souvenirs?" Kimiko asked.

"Yes, as long as they are legal substances," he answered.

"Is there anything you want to buy for your family and friends?" she asked.

They were on their way to the Land of Mountains where diamonds were found and sold at cheap rates. The jewellery industry was a driving economic force in the small country.

Itachi paused to think. "Maybe a new necklace for my mother, a bracelet for my colleague - she's helping to babysit my brother for the entire year - and something for a friend who's travelling right now," he told her. He just said "brother" rather than explaining how Yugao was really helping out with babysitting Naruto to save the complication. Itachi knew his mother always wanted a piece of artisan jewelry. Yugao wore a lot of bracelets, but he didn't know what to buy for Yuna. He knew he should buy her something, just didn't know where to start looking. "Some snacks for my brother and cousins. I don't think they want accessories."

"Are you going to have a look at our next stop?" Kimiko asked. Itachi nodded.

"Let me pay for your souvenirs, Itachi," Kimiko offered. She would be happy to buy for him. Although all expenditure during the mission was paid for, Kimiko felt Itachi's performance deserved more.

Itachi let out a boyish chuckle. He felt embarrassed to have his client paying for his souvenirs after paying him a great sum. For his every comfort, Kimiko treated him like her actual son. It might have been part of the disguise being Hitoshi, Itachi still felt unease to be treated on a mission.

"That's unnecessary." Itachi had his hands raised to shoulder level, waved perfectly rigid. Then he faced down and a hue took over his cheeks. Although he didn't want Kimiko to pay for him, he wanted her help in choosing something to buy for Yuna's coming birthday. His logic was that 'a girl knows what another girl wants'. "But could you help me find suitable gifts? I just thought - since I'm buying them for my mother and two friends, who are girls - and I'm a boy..."

Kimiko giggled at his poor cover-up. "Of course, silly boy."

The Land of Hot Water would be the last stop before Itachi's year-long mission come to an end. The journey started from the south of Land of Fire and took a clockwise tour round the continent through every country that had a branch of the bank.

The former hidden village was a tourist favourite. It was peaceful and prosperous. Although Yugakure had transited into a village that served as a popular holiday destination, there were many shinobi from the hidden village that would become mercenary. A gang was formed under the leadership of their ANBU and controlled the underground economy of the country. A twisted religion called Jashinism also emerged. A few extremists strongly disliked how it turned out for the village as most believers were part of the gang. Rumours had it that baptised believers of the religion were granted immortality through the combination of ninjutsu and the demonic power of Blood Pond, a pond that stored mystical power of immortality through the devious ritual of sacrificing human lives since the age of the Sage of Six Paths. The offering stored the remaining life force they stole from the people they killed, thus the dead were the basis of immortality. Some of these believers were indeed the deadliest outlaws.

Itachi was getting too used to living his life as Hitoshi, but he knew he had to stay cautious. The good news was that Yugakure sought help from Kumogakure. The leader of the gang was caught by Nii Yugito and put into Hozuki Castle for eternal imprisonment since he was immortal. Capital punishment would not work on an immortal. The remaining believers went into hiding, but there were still occasional murders. Itachi had heard from sources that the kunoichi only succeeded because she was a perfect jinchuriki who was capable of using the biju's power. Itachi expected he would have to come up with an escape plan if they were to face any Jashin followers.

Luckily, Tsunade the legendary was visiting. Itachi smiled when he overheard the Sannin was in town. Kimiko didn't know why he was in an apparent good mood, but she could see it clearly. He was in a very good mood. Maybe because that meant the village became extra safe, Kimiko first thought. The followers knew better to avoid confrontation with the legendary Sannin. Just that her presence drew in many gamblers. Everyone knew she was that unlucky and would never win, yet she just wouldn't give up her gambling obsession.

Only then, they didn't know Tsunade now had a personal money tree to help her gather fund for more gambling. If Tsunade went to one casino, Yuna was told to go to another one nearby. Itachi knew that from the letters they sent to get updates. What Tsunade lost, Yuna would win back with extra.

Walking past the lobby, Itachi spotted a familiar face by the casino inside the hotel. The blue-haired teenage girl was sitting on a poker table idly, her jaw resting on her hands. Itachi heard a gasp from the spectating crowd.

"Straight flush again?"

"Who is this girl? Some Lady Fortune reincarnate?"

Yuna looked at the money she won on the table. With tired eyes, she clicked her fingers pointing at the notes. The staff understood and had the money put away for her.

"I'm done for today," Yuna said in a lazy voice. She uncrossed her legs and stood up, revealing her white sleeveless dress with pink flower patterns. As she exited the casino, the crowd dramatically parted for her. Itachi heard the faint tapping noise of her flip-flops as she walked, swinging the key ring to her room. The crowd stared at her, still in disbelief at her winning streak.

It was sunset when Kimiko and he arrived in Yugakure. When Yuna walked out, she saw Itachi, not recognising him. Somehow his face stood out from the crowd. She rubbed her elbow. Why was he smiling like he knew her? Curiosity got the best of her. Yuna turned her heel and walked over. She saw an unfamiliar woman beside him who took the initiative.

"That's quite spectacular!" Kimiko praised, referring to Yuna's winning. Then she asked, "Young lady, how come you're allowed to enter the casino underage?"

Yuna stuck her tongue out, then giggled. "You might not believe me, but I am a registered kunoichi." Registered shinobi were adults by law and they had adult entitlements.

"I believe you," Kimiko said. "I've met some extraordinary shinobi at your age."

"Thank you!" Yuna smiled. It felt good when people believed your words. At the side, Itachi couldn't help but kept staring at her. He was debating if he should greet her like he usually did or keep up with his disguise. He kept a straight face, doing his best to not break out into laughter. Yuna couldn't hold her curiosity. She held out her hand for a handshake with Itachi. "My name is Namikaze Yuna. And you are?"

Itachi took her handshake. "Ueda Hitoshi," he answered reflexively. He was getting too used to this disguise. What he said then became his decision. Yes, he would keep up his disguise even in front of Yuna. The best part was that it seemed Yuna still had not figured out. "This is my mother. I must apologise for her nosy habit to pry into other people's business."

"Hitoshi!" Kimiko fake-scolded. Itachi chuckled. They had become very accustomed to this. Humour goes a long way! They learned to appreciate the little things in life like real mother and son.

It had been a year and a half since Itachi and Yuna last saw each other. She had been an inch taller than him when she had left Konoha for the training journey. Now he was taller than her as he was going through his growth spurt. His voice finally broke. He had a feeling even his parents would be surprised to see him when he returned, so he couldn't blame Yuna for not recognising him. This, Itachi thought, was the perfect situation to mess with Yuna, keeping his disguise meanwhile. He was still on his mission, after all. Besides, she ran away after kissing him last time they saw each other, leaving him blushing and confused. Maybe it was best that he kept up with this disguise to avoid getting too sentimental about that.

"Kimiko-sama, Hitoshi-sama, it is all ready for you," a hostess gestured. Bellhops were there to carry their luggage. They were about to head to their rooms.

Yuna figured the mother and son must have come from a prestigious family background, judging by the honorifics. The hostess was the manager of the hotel, too. They must have been influential to receive privileged treatments.

Before Kimiko walked away, she asked, "Would you like to join us for dinner, Yuna? We have a function tonight."

"I'll be delighted to," Yuna said, nodding with a polite smile. That would make better entertainment than memorising the Medical Encyclopedia. Now she had the perfect excuse to skip out. Kimiko must be the banker from the rumour she overheard the hotel staff talking about, the one they mentioned would be coming to Yugakure for a business trip.

"Great! I'll send you a formal invitation to your room." Kimiko pointed at the room number printed on the key Yuna was holding. "See you later!"

Kimiko and Itachi walked off. When they were out of earshot, Kimiko asked, quite bemused, "Is she the Fourth Hokage's daughter?"

Minato had a personal account in the bank. He used a plan to secure his finance for his children's spending if anything were to happen to him. Being one of the most important clients of the bank from the Land of Fire, Kimiko remembered the names that benefited under the account. She figured Itachi must know her since he came from Konoha.

Itachi couldn't hold it in anymore. He bent over laughing. That was the first time Kimiko saw Itachi like this, but his reaction also confirmed it. "That makes her Yuna-hime." Kimiko only meant Yuna was the daughter of an important figure, the Hokage.

"I'm sorry, Kimiko-san. Yes, she is. Yuna is that friend you helped me choose a pair of earrings for her birthday," Itachi tried to speak through his laughter. "She didn't recognise me! At all!"

"Isn't she just a daring little thing?" Kimiko suddenly said. She couldn't help but to do a little teasing. She was starting to see why Itachi was in such a good mood when he entered Yugakure. She gave it a try, "Hitoshi would love to meet her."

Itachi knew what she meant to say without it being spoken. He stopped laughing. He didn't know what to say to that, or what the polite reaction was supposed to be.

It was Kimiko's turn to burst out laughing.

"Look at you, Itachi! If I wasn't sure before, I can't be surer now. You like that girl," Kimiko said, very much bemused.

"She is my best friend. I grew up with her. Of course I like her because we are still very good friends," Itachi defended with a straight face. He kept it to the facts in these times.

"Don't tell me," Kimiko said, pointing at his heart. Through that year, Kimiko got to know Itachi's personality fairly well. She might have not known his background or his history, but she knew the boy growing into a young man through this journey. She gave him a long fixed look. "Anyway, it looks good on Hitoshi's part with a partner at the party tonight and you get to see Yuna-hime all dressed up and pretty."

Itachi coughed. His throat was dry. He didn't know what to reply and how to be professional about it when his client, his mother for the year, was now teasing him. Was he that obvious? Maybe he was looking forward to meeting her the instant he heard about Tsunade staying in the village, and his face showed. Itachi didn't think he was that easy to read, but he was. He actually found it difficult to show his emotions as Hitoshi, while having to hide his own emotions as himself.

Kimiko found an emotionless expression on Itachi. She found it strangely funny how he tried to hide his feelings. "Enjoy it! Are you going to tell her?" she wondered if Itachi would reveal himself.

"I will, but not tonight with everyone watching. I'll drop her a note," Itachi said. He planned to leave her birthday present by the front desk. It was such a coincidence to meet Yuna during the mission. Now he wouldn't need to send her the present with his crow. Although it would be super early, he was giving her the present, in a way, in person.

"But really, Itachi. Enjoy tonight!" Kimiko repeated. She wanted him to enjoy the night. She felt he deserved it for all his hard work, it was safe and there was no harm for him to have a little fun.

"I will. Thanks." Itachi asked to double check. "Are you sure you don't mind?" He meant him using her son's identity to talk to Yuna.

"I don't mind, but why won't you tell her tonight?" Kimiko didn't understand why Itachi would pretend to be Hitoshi. He didn't give her an answer.

Kimiko made out a smirk flashing and disappearing on Itachi's face.

There was no accident in the dinner party. It was a delightful night. When Shizune returned, she found Yuna in a bathrobe, curling her hair neatly. Her makeup was already done. Shizune took a look at the evening dress lying on the bed. Yuna was putting extra effort to look good, and it couldn't be dinner with them.

"Are you going somewhere?" Shizune asked.

"Yes, I'm out for dinner tonight," Yuna said, then she corrected herself. "Not out of the hotel, cos the party is in the hotel, but I'm with someone. Tell Tsunade-sama for me, please."

"With whom?"

"Someone invited me to a dinner party."

It seemed like Yuna did not want to reveal who this someone was, or more possibly, she didn't know this "someone" very well, and she decided to go out just to not spend her evening reciting herbs and their properties. Yuna started to changed into the evening dress.

"Is that your excuse to not get on with your studies?" Shizune sighed, knowing Yuna did not have a passion for medicine. She only learned it to save herself.

"Shizune-nee, a book or a date, which one do you choose?"

"Depends on who's my date."

"A hottie?"

"Date."

Yuna held her wavy hair up, standing in front of the full-length mirror. Shizune shook her head. She decided to let her hair down.

"That's quite adventurous," Shizune remarked. She knew Yuna liked to keep her hair up. Yuna mentioned once before that in her homeland's tradition, women only let her hair down for her other half. Then again, Yuna did not grow up in the Royal Court in Water. Just a one-off. "Getting seductive, Yuna-chan?"

"Well, I look better with my hair down. You told me that."

Yuna understood the signal she got earlier. He fancied her. He was smiling at her. The way he looked at her... Yuna could feel her heart skip a beat when their eyes met. It wasn't unusual for her to feel flattered. So, Yuna decided, she might as well go for it. Just a date. Why not?

"Should I tell Itachi you're cheating on him?"

Yuna laughed. "We're not together to begin with."

Yuna was determined to find out exactly who this Ueda Hitoshi was because he seemed way too familiar. He was surprisingly charming, too. Yuna thought he had this gentleman vibe about him, which she liked.

Yuna arrived in a strapless dress with layers. She walked in with composure, despite wearing high-heel sandals, and looked around for the people who invited her to the party. The staff did not check her invitation and presumed she was invited as they noticed Hitoshi was walking her way.

He walked to Yuna and gesture to take her hand. Yuna went along and put her hand in his. They spent the night talking to each other about their journey while skipping out all the classified details.

So, Yuna concluded, even this Hitoshi's journey sounded vaguely familiar.

"Goodnight, Yuna-hime." Itachi took her hand to kiss it. She blushed a little, almost like the colour of the coral pink dress she was wearing. Itachi was doing it for show, as Hitoshi, but he managed to pay back last time when she kissed him on the cheek and made him an idiot because he was panicking on the inside. He thought it was because he was not acting like himself, and she didn't know it was him all along.

She still had not recognise him!

Itachi was finding this situation too amusing for his own good. He was smirking and he knew he was smirking. He did not tell her why he was smirking, but Yuna only blushed to that. Normally, he might get a hit on the head. Now, he got a cute reaction from her.

Because she still didn't know he was Itachi. Yuna was self-conscious about how he saw her. He was finding how her every reaction was captivating.

"I had a wonderful evening. Thank you. See you, Hitoshi."

"See you soon."

Yuna was moving again by the next morning. Hitoshi bid her goodnight and goodbye. She couldn't help but to turn her head to take a last look at him when she was leaving. His gaze was gentle, but he saw through her as though the deepest part of her was unveiled before his eyes, as though he knew her, the real her. When he found her looking back at him, he sent her with a longing smile, and she felt oddly familiar and heart-warming about it. Yuna smiled back shyly, avoiding his eyes.

We only met today! Yuna thought. It was getting to her!

Because she knew she was having a massive crush for this stranger she just met.

The next morning, Tsunade, Shizune, and Yuna were checking out at the front desk. Someone left a jewelry gift box for Yuna.

When Yuna opened it, she saw a pair of diamond earrings. She loved them, but she wondered who gifted her. Underneath the cushion for the earrings, there was a folded note.

Miss me? This is your birthday present. I know it is too early, but I get to give it to you personally. Well, almost. Take care!

Hitoshi

From the hand-writing, she knew exactly who he was. The name also solved the mystery on her mind, the true identity of the young man she met yesterday. She suddenly felt like tripping in her own thoughts.

"So, who gifted you? Must be rich!" Shizune teased.

"The guy I met yesterday," Yuna answered, blushing a little.

"Oh my God! I need to tell Itachi this," Shizune joked.

"He knows."

"How?"

"That was him yesterday and I didn't recognise him."

"You flirted with him!"

"... kind of."

Tsunade stayed in silence. There was an all-knowing grin appearing on the Sannin.

Now that Yuna thought more about it, of course "Hitoshi" seemed familiar!

He had been invading her dreams.

Itachi was no longer the boy she first met all those years ago. As for her, she was no longer that classmate who openly skived in lessons sitting next to him in the Academy.

"This is so embarrassing! He's like on his mission, so he kept his disguise, pretending to be the banker's son, and the client invited me to dinner, and…"

Yuna kept whining about how embarrassing it was. Having figured it all out, she became confused about her feelings toward her best friend.

"Shut it, girl! He bought you diamonds," Tsunade tossed in. Yuna bit her lower lip and kept thinking as she could feel her ears were heating up.

She had a crush on Itachi. That was because she did not know he was Itachi. Or was it really the case? She did not know that was him, but now that she thought about it carefully, Itachi knew very well who she was. For instance, when they dined, one of the many delicacies was raw oysters. He knew Yuna did not like the taste of oyster and he had ordered it to substitute with scallops on her plate. That was done beforehand, and Yuna was given scallops when everyone was having oysters, and "Hitoshi", who was sitting opposite her, merely told her "I just know". At that moment in time, Yuna only felt as though it was destiny that he just knew, as though they were meant for each other.

How naive am I?

Did she think "Hitoshi" was good-looking?

Did she think "Hitoshi" was sweet?

Did she think "Hitoshi" was worthy of her time?

She did.

Yuna was starting to fear the truth in her dream. After all, she realised she would fall for Itachi no matter if he was a complete stranger to her. One day, maybe all he needed was to ask, and then she would give herself to him completely.

Because this incident just proved it.

She loved him. Him. Uchiha Itachi. The person he was. More than she knew.

But she couldn't get over herself.

He was her best friend. Being Hitoshi, he was doing it for the show. Itachi was doing his job. He was only looking after her, even her taste buds, just because he was a very considerate friend. Itachi did not see her as a girl. No… Yuna was sure about that. His mesmerising gaze on her… No, Yuna told herself. Despite how she tried to look her best, he wasn't looking at her because he liked her that way. He was looking at her because she was so clueless and it must have been hilarious to watch from his point of view, Yuna believed. It must be! She felt so foolish to have misinterpreted everything.

He's making fun of me, Yuna thought, annoyed with herself. He was getting too good at acting! She walked ahead, her arms crossed, almost a defence to her effort to show her cleverage with the dress's low cut and not that he was appreciating her feminine beauty when he laid his eyes on her.

He was so looking at her because he was finding her ignorance ridiculous. That was what Yuna believed.

Just you wait, Itachi. I will get you back.

When Yuna found out Hitoshi was Itachi, how she saw the meeting changed entirely. It was not romantic anymore.

It was humiliating.

Only then, she was the only one who didn't know. He adored her. Truly. His eyes, even if he tried, could not hide his fondness of her. That was not for show, and only Yuna didn't know.