~Heeey, guys, nice of me to show my face again, right? Don't get too excited. My talent of being overwhelmed has grown that much stronger, and I'm about to go submerge again. Sorry-not-sorry!

Time: Chapter 18

Uchiha Compound, Konoha. Seven years after Kyūbi.

"Itachi," Mikoto said quietly as he walked in the front door. "You do realize that however mature that girl is, she is still very young, right?"

"Of course, Mother." But that was no reply, and he knew it. His mother deserved much more than that . . . and to be honest, he owed a discussion to Wakana. Not to the girl―he didn't care how ridiculously mature she was―but he needed to have a conversation with a trustworthy adult, and Shisui didn't count. His mother would know what to do. She would help.

"Your father and brother won't be back for several more hours. Would you like to help with the laundry?"

He had another mission tonight, and he really needed to research the history of the village he'd be heading to. "Of course." He had time. Spending it with his mother was an ever-increasing rarity.

"Do your thoughts toward her concern you?"

"No. She is a person I value. I enjoy her spirit and the perception she shares freely. My thoughts do not trouble me."

"There is nothing wrong with having friends, Itachi," she replied. "Friendships tie people together. You have precious few as it is. I am sorry your father and I never gave you a sister, but this is a wonderful opportunity for you to see another child grow."

Somehow, he felt like Wakana watched him grow, and that while he knew her very well, she knew everything about him. He'd had to stop himself from voicing his worries about the clan several times now, and even then, she'd seemed to catch on. Perceptive barely began to describe Wakana. One day, she would become a household name for her talent at using that perceptiveness to her favor, because no matter what happened, he had no doubt that she would somehow come out on top.

Wakana carried an air of victory―as if she had been born with the knowledge that the future would turn out in her favor. It was an air that Itachi had only seen twice before. Minato had had it, and a wizened lady who owned a tea house had possessed it, too. It wasn't optimism. It was a sense of assurance.

It meant that Itachi could never see his young friend as a child.

"Let her be a child, Itachi. She hasn't seen what we have seen."

His mother didn't understand. Perhaps he should have this conversation with the Hokage, instead. He knew the village leader understood.

He owed Wakana an explanation.

But of what, he couldn't explain.

He nodded to his mother and finished folding the clothes for her, content in the thought that he wouldn't have to explain anything to Kakashi's daughter. Kakashi, on the other hand. . . .

~Okay, now sorry-not-sorry. Hahaha.

But let's keep in mind that people's perceptions of each other aren't always accurate, and often jaded or skewed by something. So I think comparing their opinions is really funny.

Hehe, Itachi-rant. Which has basically shown nothing.

See you guys later!