In His Own Right:
Chapter Six:
*Update 9/10/2020
"What is it that you need, Father.", her voice hinted annoyance, much more than the normal Uchiha standards. This didn't go unnoticed by the clan leader.
"A man can't have a conversation with his only daughter."
"You'd want to have a casual conversation with me?", The man was silent, she answered for him. "Of course not, you wish to speak to me about clan matters... But as I have informed you I have been very busy with my work in the Anbu-"
"I'm aware, your time in Anbu has made it difficult to find a suitable betrothed.", oh, how she truly hated his persistence. Sure it was wrong of her to avoid her clan duties, but she wasn't ready to get engaged, and start a relationship, let alone get married.
"Hm.", She didn't want to hear this. Her bed called her, and she would rather compile her thoughts alone than speak with the Uchiha leader.
"Which is exactly why I have to tell you that if you do not find someone... Favorable. Then I'll have no choice but to prepare for an arranged marriage. You're twenty-one years of age, that is way past the age that the next heir is supposed to be married.", her ears perked up to his words. The horrible truth piercing through her, the reality of what he spoke wrapping around her throat.
"Excuse me.", her voice seeming to come out smooth, but a hint of surprise spewing.
"You heard me, do not play stupid, I don't wish to do this, but you're giving me no choice."
She shook her head. "My work as a shinobi takes priority over the clan, you'll have to wait."
"There is no argument, you have a year. One whole year, that's more than enough time to find someone. The clan elders have become restless, and if you do not have someone by the time the year's up, we will choose for you.", The girl sighed, she couldn't argue with him, it was a fair arrangement. But the fact that she was being forced to find someone to engage in a relationship, was irritating. At least, she could make the choice between who she would spend her life with. Though the thought of becoming the clan head was rather unappealing to her.
"Hm.", she left him, heading to her room. God, the exact conversation she had been trying to avoid had just taken place.
One year. One year to find a significant other. That didn't seem hard. It shouldn't be hard at all. Though she wasn't sure of anyone who would be interested in her.
But it wasn't simply about who would be interested, there were a few standards said person would have to size up to. For one he had to be a shinobi; someone powerful enough to combat her in battle. He had to be intelligent, critical thinking skills, and just simply intellectual. The girl plopped down on her bed, resting as she eased up a bit. She guessed he had to be attractive too. Though she didn't judge people solely based on their appearance, though physical attraction would be...nice.
Yes, that's basically it. She didn't exactly want anyone clingy, that would be rather annoying. Also, a personality that would intrigue her. She clicked her tongue, unusual for the girl. This would be a difficult task.
An explosion rang out through the forest. A large crater-forming from the sudden combustion. A gust of wind smashing into the rocks surrounding the blast radius, a dark smoke splashing over the area.
"Oh, how did I get myself paired with you?",
"Can't handle my art, yeah? Shark fuck. Those Suna bastards didn't stand a chance.",
"Yeah, and now your huge ass explosive BANG is going to bring the whole damn village on us.",
"I say bring it on, un.",
"I say shut your mouth, and let's get the fuck moving! The others are waiting.", the blue shark-like being spat at his stupid blond teammate. The kid was definitely the kind to get himself killed. He nudged him forward.
"Yeah, yeah, Konoha awaits the Akatsuki." he geared, his bird-like creature sweeping down and allowing both of them to board.
"It's rare that the Akatsuki sends out invitations..." with that the birdshot off into the sky, flying towards their destination. Konoha!
Naruto shook his head, nodding now. "That's not necessary, I don't need you help." Shisui crossed his arms, the Anbu's eyebrows raised as he glared at Naruto with a look that said 'really?'.
"Really?"
"Really, man!"
"I'm sort of a ladies man.", Naruto boasted his words a mist of lies.
"For some reason, I almost don't believe you."
"Well, believe it!", he resurrected his original slogan from his childhood. Blue eyes sparkling, as he smiled from eye to eye.
The curly-haired Uchiha cleared his throat. "Even so, Izumi isn't just simply any girl, you can just bag. She's much more complicated.."
"I know that already!"
"And so you admit to trying to bag my cousin."
He stepped back, realizing his mistake. Why was his mouth so big?
"Okay, yeah. I like Izumi, but she doesn't seem like the type of girl to date anyone."
Shisui chuckled deeply. "That's why you need me! Her best friend as a wingman, you got an inside man!", Naruto became skeptical, his hands at his side. He didn't exactly know how he should answer his punisher.
"Well..", he stopped, his statement, the blond scratching his head. He was considering it, his proposal was extremely tempting.
"Look, I'm usually chasing fuckers away from the girl. Do you know how many fanboys she has? An uncountable amount, that's for sure! The fact that I'm allowing you to pursue her, let alone, helping you do so should be considered an honor! So pick wisely."
"Okay, okay. I guess if you put it that way.",
"No, not you guess.. Answer properly!", The charcoal haired man shook his head, smacking the Seventeen-year-old blond on the side of the head.
"Ow..", Naruto scratched the back of his head. What was he getting himself into? Suddenly he wondered if the whole thing was worth it.
"You hear me, bro?",
"Yeah... Um.. ", the blond cleared his throat. "Yes, I would like your help Shisui.", The two began to walk, Naruto to heading into the direction of his home, Shisui following slightly behind.
"This works out for all of us as I said. But you're going to have to do everything I say.", That didn't sound good. Shisui was known to be rather irrational... Much like himself. Maybe even more irrational, even more so doing everything Shisui said didn't seem to be the right choice.
"Uh..", then again, Naruto didn't make many rational decisions. "..why not."
"Great then my lesson begins now! First things first, you are not fucking my Cousin..", His blunt statement stabbing the boy taking him by surprise, and with that Naruto knew he should've never accepted to his terms.
The next morning, Izumi was in front of Tsunade, her Anbu mask laying lightly on her face, as Anbu squad one was informed of the assignment, this mainly dealing with the Chunin exams that would be taking place this week. They were to be her, as you could say body-guards for the Semi-finals/finals. Not that she needed it. Though still, they would stick to her like white one rice, by her side monitoring her every move, surveying the area. Just simply keeping things safe.
"Of course, this will be considered an S-Ranked mission, despite the obvious ease of said assignment.", she explained.
Her mind, unusually swirled away from the Godaime's words, she had done similar missions like this before, it was simple, to say the least. Her mind stuck on the ultimatum her father had given her. He was right, she did need to get to her responsibilities, her clan needed her and she was attempting to avoid passing on the main family bloodline. She understood his disapproval and distaste with being the clan head. But it was simply she knew she wouldn't enjoy it. To be the leader of the clan and to bare the future children.
"...the theme of this exam is teamwork, you pass as a team, you fail as a team."
The pressure of having the future of the clan in her hands wasn't the issue, Izumi just simply didn't want the responsibility. Not that she wasn't fit enough, she just didn't feel as if she'd enjoy it. But it wasn't about enjoying her time as leader. No! By all means, that's what made her selfish. It was about her successfully living up to her responsibilities. Yes, she would hate it, but she had to endure none the less. Which brought up the other dilemma. Finding a mate for herself, it didn't seem possible to the girl. No one seemed to be of any interest to her.. Well except...Naruto? Her eyes unintentionally widened at that thought. Naruto. The best friend and Teammate of Sasuke. The boy she had surveyed for the majority of her Anbu career... The container of the Kyuubi fox spirit. She had considered his name first out of any of the options she had. How weird... He seemed to be on her mind more than the girl, wanted to admit.
"Izumi, are you paying attention?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama.", she hadn't been whatsoever.
Shisui snickered at this, the laughter soft but not inaudible to the Hokage.
"Do you find this funny, Shisui?", Tsunade attacked Shisui with her words.
"Why, yes Hokage-sama. Extremely funny..", he retorted, his voice smart and rebellious. Izumi glared at Shisui, her Sharingan activating, which should've been enough to tell her cousin to shut his mouth. Neji's face was unchanged, and Shizune glared also.
"And you know what else is extremely funny?", The scare tactic didn't work on the genjutsu master, unfortunately.
"What, Hokage-sama?"
"One-month, academy training." Shisui fell silent at the threat, Izumi knew the man wasn't very good with children. He absolutely hated them actually. Which probably explained why he didn't have any.
"Now, I don't think any more explanation is needed for this particular mission. It's simple enough... Now go.." she dismissed them all with her hand, obviously not in the best of moods.
"Izumi, I heard about what old Fugaku's doing.", he decided to get things rolling, his plan burning like a small flame in a forest.
"From who?", they jumped from the rooftop of an apartment building, landing softly on small restaurant before jumping to the next and repeating.
"Unlike you, I actually attend the clan meetings.", he explained to her, the Uchiha heir seemed to be disinterested.
"Ah.",
"He was making such a fuss about it, you sure you're not interested.", he knew how to speak the dialect of his own people, it was his own people after all.
"I don't wish to ponder on it for so long.", was her response.
"But you do in fact need to get married soon, a year can go by faster than you think.", Shisui smirked slightly, observing her verbal response. "Maybe, you should start looking for someone to start a relationship with.",
"Eventually...", they continued their slow movement to the Uchiha compound.
"I can help you with that Izumi..", now he had her full attention. So she did care more than she had first let on. "Let me ask you a question.",
"Go on.",
"Do you have anyone who could possibly be fit for you?", he inquired, waiting for her response. She remained silent, a long moment passed as Shisui anxiously awaited her response. He wanted her to say his name, it would make things so much easier and his plan would be perfectly executed. Shisui the matchmaker! He waited a bit longer, noting the girl to be in a small stream of thought. The genius of the village was currently contemplating what to say... She was obviously indecisive. Which could be both good and bad, simultaneously.
"Did you forget about the question, already?",
"No.",
"Then, who do you think?", He asked again, the rough thumping of their feet hitting the rooftop the only sound emitted as they stopped on said roof. She was silent again, her eyes filled with an allure of thought. It was as if she were in a trans, Shisui was curious as to what her reply could possibly be. Izumi wasn't one to tell what was on her mind so easily, he kept in mind.
She sighed finally choosing to speak.
"I don't know honestly.", her words were finally spoken. Shisui of the body flicker shook his head, not receiving the results he wanted.
"Really all that build up. Just to tell me... you don't know?",
She was quiet, for an interval of time, almost motionless at the same time. Before without warning, she took off. Jumping to the next rooftop without Shisui.
He was so close! It was a damn shame, he had almost gotten answers from Izumi so easily. Jumped off the roof heading in her direction. God, this was going to be more annoying than he thought.
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