Author's Note: Time skip! So we can get to the goods. I'm sorry for the delayed update, my imagination decided to change some things. =)
Citations: Itachi's Story: [Daylight] pg. 74-76
Chapter's Song: "I Want Everything" by Hope 7
Chapter 14
Busy
One Year Later
It was coming up on a year since Akina had graduated from The Academy. Now eight-years-old, she stood between her teammates, Uzuki Yugao and Hyuga Hisoka. Hamaki-sensei stood before them, he looked mad, and he approached them, handing out a piece of paper.
"What's this?" Yugao asked, taking it.
Akina's green eyes glimmered as she read over the paper.
"I've suggested you three for the Chunin Exams." Hamaki-sensei informed.
"Nice!" Hisoka smirked confidently, his arms crossing.
"Thank you, Hamaki-sensei." Akina breathed.
"Are we dismissed? I want to get to training with my father."
"Yes, you're dismissed. The Exams begin July first." Hamaki-sensei smiled.
Akina molded onigiri rice balls in her hand in the kitchen of her traditional home, placing them in a bento with three other bento boxes already filled. She placed the covers on and wrapped them up to carry. "Since we're all going to train individually today, I can go meet-up with Benjiro and Shisui to train…"
"Benjiro! Shisui!" She came up the hill to come in view to the three boys. "I'm going to the Land of Water for the Chunin Exams! Oh… Itachi-kun!"
"Akina… chan…" He stared, and then slightly smiled, "Congratulations."
"Thanks." She smiled back. "I didn't expect Itachi, well, looks like I should have brought another lunch."
"Akina… Awesome, you brought lunch." Shisui pointed.
"Oh yes," She knelt, handing Shisui a bento box. "Salmon onigiri."
"Thanks, Akina." He replied.
"Salmon onigiri… Itachi." Akina smiled.
"Oh, thank you." He took it.
"Benjiro, sorry, kelp onigiri… I ran out of salmon."
"That's okay," Benjiro pouted.
"Truth is, I don't eat meat. Sorry, Benjiro." She thought as she covered up by giving her lunch to Benjiro, and Benjiro's lunch to Itachi.
"I'll swap with you, Benjiro-san." Itachi proposed to Akina's surprise.
"Really?" Benjiro glanced.
"Yeah, I much prefer kelp."
"Oh, good. Sorry, Itachi-kun." Akina awkwardly smiled.
He took a bite. "Don't be. You're an amazing cook. My favorite."
"Really?" Akina blushed, glancing down. "I'm glad you like it."
Benjiro and Shisui smirked at each other, noticing chemistry between Akina and Itachi.
"What about you and your team, Itachi?" Shisui asked to change topic.
Itachi took a bite of his rice ball, and contemplated how to explain it to everyone as he chewed. "My team is completing missions well together. Been pretty easy lately."
"No, was your team recommended for the Chunin Exams?" Benjiro raised an eyebrow.
Silence. He thought of his teammates, it was the same as always. Tenma still wouldn't accept him, and Shinko flared up, annoyed with Tenma's attitude. Yuki watched over them half in a panic. "Such a warped team…"
"Well?" Benjiro asked.
"…We can just drop it." Akina offered.
Itachi's eyes rose to Akina's empathetic eyes. He sadly smiled at her. "My sensei told me that Tenma and Shinko aren't at the level they could take the exams."
"Sounds like you're carrying dead weight." Benjiro jeered.
"But you said missions are going smoothly, you're making up for their lack… You should present that to your sensei." Akina blankly suggested.
"Yeah, maybe I should." Itachi took another bite. Akina made him feel confident.
"No, Itachi! It's just impossible." Yuki sternly stated in his disinterest. Itachi's heart sunk from his throat to his stomach. Yuki normally, whatever was said to him, didn't bother to react, but just this once, he pushed back against Itachi forcefully. "We're dismissed for today."
Tenma and Shinko walked away together to the right of the bridge they stood on, and Itachi turned to the left to head home. Itachi had no choice but to give up. "This sucks…"
"Itachi!" Akina called out to come running to him, his onyx eyes rose to his beautiful friend making her way towards him. She stopped before him, her eyes saddening. "Why so glum? Did you talk to your sensei?"
"He… Refused." Itachi informed.
"Want to talk over dango?" She pointed to the side at the Dumpling Shop to Itachi's right side. His depressed eyes filled with relief. They went in and sat at a table. Akina sitting across from Itachi.
"So why did Yuki-sensei refuse?"
"He just said it was impossible this year."
"Why?" She asked, sadly.
"I don't know…" Itachi's brows furrowed. "I mean… Sure, refuse, but he had no reason to yell."
Akina sadly stared, seeing Itachi frustrated that he just ranted out loud, as the waitress sat down their tea. Akina blew and sipped her tea; she then made eye contact with Itachi. "Is he purposely holding you back?"
"I don't know…" He looked down in his tea.
Itachi heard Akina's bench slide as she stood and his eyes went up to see her fingertips flick him in the forehead, he winced. "Don't worry…" She smiled. "The administration will definitely say something eventually. They won't waste resources."
"Because I'm capable to serve out harder missions?"
"Exactly, it's a waste if D-Missions are too easy for you. They'll notice."
Itachi smiled, and looked down in his tea, nodding as he felt his hopes be refilled in his heart. "The administration will definitely say something…"
"In the meantime…" Akina sat back down, blankly asking, "Do you want to go to the Land of Water with me?"
"Huh? But I'm not going to enter the exams…" He asked perplexed.
"You could still come with my team and I. Take a break from your team. Maybe that will deliver a message to Yuki-sensei."
"We shouldn't even be hanging out right now… I could get in trouble."
"So could I, but… It'll be fun. It'll be worth it."
Itachi smiled, and nodded.
"I can't just up and leave…" Shisui chewed as he leaned in his doorway. Benjiro sitting at Shisui's dining table inside.
"But if I leave and my father runs into my sensei they'll suspect me of lying, but if you ask if I can tag along with you, then it will be fine."
"I don't want to lie to the head of the clan!" Shisui resisted.
"C'mon, Shisui. I hear Mist kunoichi are beautiful." Benjiro stupidly smirked when Shisui looked over his shoulder.
"Please, Shisui. I haven't been with Akina in ever…" Itachi begged.
Shisui sighed, trying to not look down at the younger boy. "…Fine."
Mist Village
Team One, Benjiro, Shisui, and Itachi entered through Kirigakure's gate. Akina looked around as the village had pointed rock formations surrounding the village, moss and mist everywhere, the smell of dew in the air that engulfed her.
"Beautiful," Akina breathed.
"Yup," Benjiro agreed and Akina looked up to her older cousin eyeing two girls, Mist Kunoichi about their age. Akina became annoyed as Benjiro nudged Shisui with his elbow, which signaled Shisui to smirk and follow Benjiro's lead.
"We'll catch you later." Shisui waved slyly.
"Hmph," Mamaki smirked, watching the boys and then looking to Yugao. "Yugao, come with me to registration. Hisoka, stay with Akina and Itachi. There's supposed to be a guide to show us around and to the hotel we'll be staying at."
"Yes, sensei." Hisoka nodded, Akina and Itachi nodding, as well.
"Well, she's pretty…" A thirteen-year-old boy stalked from a rooftop, his one golden eye staring at Akina as she walked with Hisoka and Itachi through the market district. His other eye covered by his brown side-parted hair.
He blew a bubble to step into and float down to the group of Leaf Ninja. Akina instantly sensed this, and the other boys looked to where she was looking, the boy coming to land on the ground, the big bubble popping around him.
"Hello… Leaf Ninja, huh?" The boy was elegant as he smoothly smiled at Akina, "I'm Utakata. I'm to escort you around, beautiful."
"Nice to meet you, Utakata." Akina bowed.
"May I ask your name?" He stepped closer, having Hisoka and Itachi step in front of Akina. She felt a protective aura coming from both Itachi and Hisoka. Utakata stopped in his tracks.
"Uchiha Itachi." Said boy introduced first.
"Hyuga Hisoka." Said boy's face being unusually stern.
"Hmph, you only into guys with Dojutsu?" Utakata pouted.
"They're not my boyfriends. Hisoka is my teammate, and Itachi is my friend."
"Aren't I your friend, Akina-chan?"
"Of course, Hisoka-senpai."
"Akina-chan…" Utakata said slowly.
"Mochizuki Akina." She blankly replied.
"I'll remember that name…" Utakata nodded. "Anywhere you Leaf Ninja want to go?"
"Do you know where we can get a bite to eat?" Hisoka smiled.
"What do you want to eat?" His placed his palm upward.
Akina stared at the half-dead fish in front of her on the platter, she stared with disgust and sympathy.
"Are you one of these girls that barely eats anything?" Utakata asked annoyed.
"I eat as much as I want… I'm sorry, I just hate Ikizukuri."
"It's fresh." Utakata tilted his head to the side as he took a shrimp from the platter.
"I'm sure they have some vegetarian options." Itachi leaned in to comfort her with his voice, showing her the menu. "Here. We can share vegetable tempura."
"Thanks, Itachi-kun." She breathed quietly. Hisoka and Utakata discreetly took notice of their chemistry, but just continued to eat.
