With this, we have finally reached the canon timeline! Here are once again the current ages:

Itachi & Izumi: 17

Naruto & Sasuke: 12

Shisui: 19

Let's start this from the beginning

Graduation

I

Itachi ducked beneath the incoming fist while simultaneously throwing his own towards his opponent's guts only to hit nothing but empty air when Shisui jumped over him to evade the attack before landing behind his back.

"You will need more than that to hit me, Itachi!"

Shisui was laughing, obviously enjoying himself, but that stopped immediately when he was forced to raise his arms in defence against Itachi's mule kick. Even then, the power behind it still threw him backwards, nullifying every advantage his position might have brought him.

"I will be fine as long as it's enough to evade your hits as well, won't I?"

His opponent merely snorted before rushing at him again, now holding a kunai in each of his hands.

Itachi drew a kunai of his own to defend himself, but a second before they could clash, both their eyes widened at the presence of the third participant in this spar that had suddenly appeared above them, and they barely managed to jump back before the ground between them exploded when a heel crashed into it.

"Meh, Izumi, stop playing dirty like that!" Shisui said. "This would have seriously hurt if it had hit, you know?"

The girl in question shot him an amused look. "Then all you need to do is continue to avoid getting hit, right?"

Technically, Izumi was the weakest of the three of them. She was a talented Jōnin, of course, but compared to himself and Shisui, there was still a not too insignificant difference in strength. However, she was well-aware of that herself and made up for that with strategy; rather than fighting either of them head-on all the time, she kept to the background and let them fight each other while waiting for the optimal moment to strike.

It probably also helped that she had been training with the two of them for years now. Not only had she a pretty good idea of their fighting styles, but she also improved by leaps and bounds at a frightening pace.

It was fortunate that they had agreed not to use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu in this spar. Fighting Shisui while also avoiding doubtlessly perfectly timed techniques from Izumi would have been a pain.

Itachi had no time to think about this any further, though, as it was then that the two other occupants on the training ground decided to gang up on him.

He blocked Shisui's kunai with his own while slapping Izumi's hand away before it could hit his skull, resulting in her using the momentum of that to spin around and send a follow-up kick at him. Rather than trying to block that one by backing away, Itachi then pushed himself closer to Shisui to evade.

The position the two of them were in, with both blocking each other's arms and standing too close to effectively throw out a kick, should have been enough to give him a short respite and allow him to plan. Unfortunately, that notion turned out to be false when Shisui didn't hesitate to swing his head at him.

Although Itachi managed to tilt his own head to have his forehead protector save him from actual damage, the blow still made him stagger back and momentarily blur his vision. Izumi, not one to miss an opening, immediately came flying at him again with an axe kick.

Even the brief moment of disorientation wasn't enough to allow her to escape his notice, however, so rather than letting her score a hit, Itachi threw his kunai at the likewise approaching Shisui to slow him down before catching Izumi's leg, swing her around, and throwing her at her partner.

Much to his surprise, that didn't actually give the break he had expected.

Izumi managed to twist in mid-air to fly at Shisui feet first, and the moment they hit, she pushed herself off him to throw herself back at Itachi. Furthermore, Shisui seemed to have expected that as he had not only allowed that action but actually supported it by pushing her away with all his might as well.

Consequently, Izumi was now flying at him with an extraordinary speed.

Knowing that attempting to dodge would be futile, he crossed his arms in front of him to take her flying kick head-on.

The impact made his arms throb and the power behind it threw him almost twenty metres back, but as the second part also allowed him to get some distance between them, he thought that was a fair trade.

"So is it two against one now?" he called across the grounds, a small smile playing on his lips. "Isn't that a bit unfair?"

"It means that we're taking you seriously enough to feel it's necessary to team up against you," Izumi called back, her expression mirroring his own. "If anything, you should feel honoured!"

"Maybe you want to be the next that is honoured, then?"

Izumi pouted while Shisui let out a laugh before throwing his arm around her shoulders to pull her into his side. "Don't speak such nonsense, Itachi. Nothing is ever getting between the two of us, ya hear me."

As if wanting to contradict him, it was then that Izumi tried to ram her elbow into his ribs.

"Hey!" Shisui exclaimed comedically as he barely dodged the strike. "What are you doing? That would have hurt!"

Izumi put her arms on her hips as she playfully glared back at him. "I should be the one asking that! What do you think you were doing, restricting my movements like this in the middle of a spar?"

"I just wanted to demonstrate to him the power of our love!"

"I will demonstrate the power of my fists on you if you keep that up!"

Itachi briefly considered using this opportunity to attack them before discarding the idea. After all, it was always amusing to watch them quarrel like this, so it would be a shame to interrupt it. Even more importantly, the likelihood of them just acting like this to lure him into a trap was quite high and he saw no reason to risk it.

That theory was proven right a few seconds later when both of them turned around to look at him.

"It didn't work, huh?"

"Well, it was worth a shot."

What to do now, I wonder, Itachi thought as he observed the two of them. An extended two against one would be disadvantageous, so I should aim to either split them up again or end this fight altogether. The question is how, though…

It would probably be best if he initiated the first attack rather than letting them do it. Getting the initiative was essential in a situation like this and it would at least allow him to somewhat control the flow of the fight, but while this sounded great in theory, implementing it in practice was much easier said than done.

If he wanted to be successful, he would somehow need to catch them off-guard. I wanted to tell them this after the spar, but considering the circumstance, now might just be more beneficial.

"An interesting strategy," he said. "I'm sure most enemies who don't know you two as well as I do would actually have fallen for it."

Shisui snorted. "Maybe, but that hardly helps us now, does it?"

"No, but that doesn't make it any less intriguing. Maybe you can help me come up with some strategies of my own after this?"

Both looked a bit confused at that, and it was Izumi who voiced what both must be thinking first. "Since when do you need help coming up with strategies?"

He chuckled. "Well, I'm afraid I don't have that much experience in dealing with Genin, so having a second opinion would certainly be helpful."

"Genin?"

"Why, yes. Haven't I told you? The Sandaime wants me to take a team from the students who graduate from the Academy next week."

He had been oddly intense about it, too, now that he thought about it.

Izumi's and Shisui's eyes widened simultaneously, and just like he had hoped they would, both involuntarily let their guards down in face of his unexpected revelation.

Naturally, Itachi capitalised on that immediately.

He crossed the distance between them in an instant with a speed that even the Sharingan would struggle to follow, appearing right in front of them. Shisui reacted a bit faster than Izumi, but that didn't matter as it was the latter he attacked first with a kick to her chest that she barely managed to block. However, with how hastily put together her defence was, she couldn't avoid stumbling backwards from the power behind the attack and consequently left herself open for a follow-up attack.

Itachi had no intention of exploiting that opening, though. Instead, he fell into a crouch and swung his right leg parallel to the ground to sweep away the footing of the incoming Shisui who had instinctively tried to come to his girlfriend's aid.

He immediately tried to follow up with an axe kick but missed by a hair when Shisui pushed himself off the ground with hands and jumped away.

Unfortunately for him, that didn't help him avoid the second kick that came afterwards, resulting in him flying backwards through the training ground.

Izumi had recovered by then and tried to use the opportunity to attack him from behind, but Itachi was ready for her.

They exchanged blows and kicks for several seconds, blocking or dodging punches and redirecting each other limbs to miss them when that wasn't an option before he managed to catch her wrists. Not one to give up easily, however, Izumi did what Shisui did earlier and swung her head.

Seeing the attack coming this time, Itachi merely tilted his head out of the way while he prepared to twist her arms in a way that would make her unable to move.

He was in for a surprise, though.

As it turned out, actually hitting him hadn't been her primary goal all along. While he had easily managed to avoid her head, the same couldn't be said about her hair; getting hit by it obviously didn't hurt, but for a short moment, it not only blocked his sight but also made him instinctively flinch back just a little bit. After all, he was an Uchiha, and like all members of not only his clan but the Hyūga as well, he was sensitive when it came to his eyes.

The time frame was short. Almost non-existent, in fact. However, Izumi successful managed to use the minuscule opportunity his reaction brought her to twist out of his grip and jump back, saving herself.

Less than ten seconds after his attack, the three of them faced each other again from three different positions on the training ground, all of them waiting for the others to make the first move.

So this strategy failed...

It was Shisui who broke the silence first.

"Well, if nothing else, this proves that you're good enough to come up with strategies on your own." He then chuckled. "Although it was kinda dirty of you to throw something like that at us."

"You were the ones who decided to team up," he replied amused. "I'm just repaying the favour."

Shisui conceded that with a shrug. After all, even if paying dirty were something bad for a shinobi, he really couldn't complain when he had done so first.

"But is it true?" Izumi spoke up. "Are you really taking a Genin team?"

He tilted his head with a thoughtful frown. "I'm not certain yet," he said. "Although Hokage-sama would like me to take one, he leaves the final decision to me and I haven't decided yet."

In that aspect, he was more fortunate than Kakashi. The man always complained about the teams he had to test on order of the Hokage even though he had repeatedly made it very clear that he didn't want to become a Jōnin instructor.

"I think you should do it."

He shot Shisui a surprised look while also making sure to keep an eye on Izumi in case she used this opportunity to attack him. "What makes you think so?"

"Aside from the fact that passing your knowledge and skills to the next generation can't be anything but a good thing, you mean?" Shisui shrugged. "Well, it would certainly be something new for you. I mean, when was the last time you needed to exert yourself? Really exert yourself, that is. No mission is ever the same as the one before, sure, and there is always something that can go wrong, but I think there's not much left for you to learn within the bounds of your duties as Jōnin. Broadening your horizon and trying something new would surely be good for you."

That was… well, much more of an answer than he had expected.

However, he couldn't say Shisui was wrong, exactly. As he had said, Itachi had reached the limit of what being a Jōnin had to offer. In all honestly, he couldn't even say that this position had helped him a lot to begin with in terms of personal growth. It had allowed him to connect with more comrades than he had during the former timeline, allowed him to proudly carry out his duties and protect his home while also spilling much less blood of innocents than he had during his time in the ANBU, but other than that…

Itachi probably could join the ANBU once more, of course, but he didn't like the thought of that. He would do it if ordered to by the Hokage, but with everything he associated with that rank, he had no desire to join that unit out of his own volition.

Teaching a team of Genin, on the other hand, would be an entirely new experience. It was also regularly said that teaching others did a lot in helping one to understand themselves better as well, so there was that. Besides, I do enjoy teaching…

"I think Shisui is right."

"Oh, wow" the boy in question said in response to Izumi's words, a teasing grin on his face. "That's a new one."

Rather than replying to that, she continued as if he hadn't spoken at all.

"I have seen you train others before, you know, and you did a great job with them. Haku is already miles ahead of the rest of her team thanks to you and probably could have become Chūnin years ago if they didn't hold her back, and I don't envy the poor sod who's going to be saddled with your brother or Naruto. You clearly not only enjoy teaching but are also really good at it, so I don't see why you shouldn't take this opportunity to try something new."

Itachi looked at both of them for several seconds before letting out a soft sigh that was both amused and resigned in equal measure. "I see the two of you think quite strongly about it.

Shisui chuckled. "Well, someone has to tell you these kinds of things if you are so indecisive about something that should be clear from the beginning, right?"

"Seems like it, yes."

They both had good points, and in truth, Itachi had thought along the same lines before. It wasn't as if he couldn't see the advantages, after all. However, for some reason, he had still been hesitant. Had still been unsure whether it was truly the right thing to do.

Having someone bluntly tell him that 'yes, it actually is a good idea' was exactly what he had needed.

"Alright then," he finally said. "I will accept the Sandaime's offer."

"A Jōnin instructor, huh? That's unexpected, but it would certainly be a valuable new experience."

Itachi nodded at his father's words before swallowing the food in his mouth. "That's what I was thinking as well. Shisui and Izumi were rather persistent, too."

"I always regretted not having the chance of becoming an instructor myself," his mother added from the other side of the table with a thoughtful frown on her face. "I never requested a team from the Hokage because there always seemed to be more than enough time left to do it later, and then suddenly you came along and the opportunity was gone." She then threw a sly look at his father. "A certain someone is the exact opposite, though. What was it that you always said, dear? 'Being settled with a group of brats would be worse than dealing with a group of Hyūga during a day off', right?"

His father didn't dignify that with a reply, choosing instead to put another piece of meat into his mouth.

They were currently sitting at the dining table in the kitchen. Sasuke would usually be there as well, but as he was eating out at the Naras today after having somehow convinced his friend Shikamaru to hold a study session for their entire group of friends in preparation for their graduation exams next week at his place, it was only the three of them today.

That was also the reason he chose to tell his parents about his choice now. After all, if Sasuke knew that there was even the slightest chance that he could become his sensei, he would surely hope for it to happen. As a result, the disappointment he would feel if it didn't become true would be all the worse.

Sasuke's graduation was all but guaranteed, of course. As Izumi had pointed out earlier, his brother was more than capable to pass all his exams with flying colours, and Itachi had no doubt that he would also be able to pass whatever test his future sensei would come up with. The only one that might pose some difficulty was Kakashi, but considering Sasuke and his team had passed that one as well in the other timeline, even that shouldn't be too much of a problem.

However, there was no way to know for sure if he would be put into Itachi's team. Thus, it was better to wait with this news and just surprise him on the day of his graduation. Regardless of whether Sasuke would ultimately be on his team or not, this way was doubtlessly the best one.

"Well," his mother said, pulling him back into the present. "I also have an announcement to make and this time is just as good as any other, I think." She focused mostly on Itachi when she continued. "Now that Sasuke is graduating, he will also go on missions soon enough. With you being away much of the time due to your own duties and your father being usually gone for most of the day as well, I have decided that there's really no reason for me anymore to be at home all the time. Thus, I have petitioned the Hokage to reinstate me into active duty."

Itachi blinked. That wasn't something he had expected at all.

"The reintegration process will naturally take a while," she continued. "While I tried to keep in shape over the years, I will still need to train for a while until I'm back in top form. That obviously means I won't take any all too dangerous missions for quite some time yet. Furthermore, I will also avoid taking any missions that take me away from the village for too long any time soon. Sasuke won't go on any long-term missions for a while yet either, after all, and I think someone should be here whenever he comes home until he's a bit older."

That was actually quite a lot to take in. Much to his embarrassment, he hadn't really thought about how Sasuke's graduation would affect his mother. He had never known a life in which she wasn't a constant presence at home, a source of strength that was always available and easy to find by simply walking through the front door.

He always knew that she was a kunoichi at heart, but the idea that she could go back into active duty had just never occurred to him.

I really should have known better.

"I'm happy for you," he said with a sincere smile. "If you need someone to train with, I would be happy to help you."

That sentiment was completely honest. It would be a lie to say that he was happy that his mother would inevitably put herself in danger, but now that he actually bothered to think about it, he could clearly see how much this meant to her. Being a kunoichi was who she was, what she had been bred and born to be, and she found fulfilment in that profession.

If anything, the fact that she had become a housewife for all these years without ever showing any discomfort or regret about that decision when it was the exact opposite of what she wanted to do showed just how much she loved both him and Sasuke.

"I might take you up on that," she chuckled, and Itachi easily recognized the gratitude in her eyes at his easy acceptance of her decision. "However, your better focus on your team first. I can find someone else to spare with easily enough while they will primarily depend on you."

"They will first need to pass my test, though."

"As long as you give them a fair chance, I'm sure they will do just fine."

He conceded that with a simple nod before glancing at his father who had silently continued to eat during their conversation.

From his lack of reaction, Itachi could conclude that he had already known about his mother's decision. Not surprising, of course. However, the odd thing was that he almost seemed… displeased by it.

Now, his father could be many things, but Itachi was quite certain that he wasn't one of these men that disliked their wives being anything more than a housewife. He had heard him complain about such notions in the past, in fact. So what about this could it be that he was unhappy about…?

His mother appeared to have caught his glance and guessed what he was thinking, for she explained just that.

"Ah, you see, your father wanted me to join the police force rather than the regular shinobi roster. He wasn't too happy about me rejecting that offer."

Ah, he thought. That would explain it.

From what he had heard from others, a recurring problem in romantic relationships between shinobi was that both parties knew exactly how dangerous their profession was. Most shinobi didn't grow old because they died violent and bloody deaths long before their time, usually far away from home. It also wasn't unusual for their bodies to be never recovered. For all that civilians technically knew how dangerous the life of a shinobi was, it was only fellow shinobi who truly understood the scope of the terrors they faced on a regular basis.

While Itachi had never experienced it himself in regards to a romantic partner, he certainly felt that way about his friends -and soon enough Sasuke as well- going on missions.

His father was one of the most distinguished shinobi in the village, a veteran of countless battles who survived the terror that was the last war. Of course he didn't like the notion of his wife going on missions any more than Itachi did, but other than he, his father was actually in a position from where he could offer a safer alternative.

Being displeased that she turned that alternative down was only to be expected.

"She is right," his father said. "I would have preferred her to join the police force. She would certainly have been an asset and rise through the ranks quickly. However-"

"Yes," his mother interrupted him, and while she kept the warm smile on her face, her voice was noticeably less accommodating. "And I would need to listen to all the comments about it happening just because you're my husband while I do that. Also, it's no secret that working for your spouse is one of the worst things you can do in a relationship."

"However," his father continued as if she hadn't said anything. "I still support her decision." It was only then that he turned directly towards her. "I know just how capable you are, but you can't fault me for worrying. Surely you wouldn't have been happy if I suddenly decided to quit my current position to rejoin the regular roster?"

His mother kept her expression guarded for a few more seconds before visibly relaxing. "Yes, you're right." She shot him a warm smile. "I'm glad you aren't fighting me on that."

"Of course not. I dislike our fights just as much as you do."

While Itachi was grateful for the reminder that his parent's marriage was one of love rather than an arranged one, the affectionate look his father gave his mother was honestly rather off-putting. While he was certainly much more open with his emotions in this timeline, his father would never be a particularly outgoing person, so the sight was a truly strange one.

Consequently, before this could continue any further, he deliberately bumped his chopsticks against the porcelain bowl in front of him when he picked another piece of flesh, making a chattering sound to remind them that he was still here.

The faint but impossible to miss brush of red on their cheeks when they turned back towards him was in equal measures cute as it was disturbing.

To her credit, when his mother spoke up again, her voice didn't sound any different than before. "Anyway, please don't tell Sasuke about this yet. Let him focus on his exams for now. I will tell it to him myself once he has passed all of them."

"Of course, Kaa-san."

It made sense, of course. Now was just about the worst time to distract him.

Still, he thought with a hint of amusement. Having not only one but two surprises thrown at him like this will surely result in an interesting reaction.

He would need to make sure to be there when his mother told him about her decision. That wasn't something he wanted to miss, after all.