Dreamcatcher

By Airyo

Lessons in Wishing - 4

It was hard not to warm up to Itachi a little when he was being considerate. Hinata had come to the field with the expectation that she will have more nightmares tonight. Instead, he'd only done a few minor genjutsu and said he'd learned enough.

Such was the difference of a genius.

Itachi walked beside her. As if sensing her mixed awe and confusion, he began explaining in further detail. "The Uchiha's bloodline limit is the Sharingan, and the activated form grants users what seems to be the ability to predict the future. In reality, it is more a case of hypersensitivity to chakra movement. That same hyper-awareness allows for better genjutsu. While I only cast genjutsu without the use my Sharingan, your reaction was similar as if I had used my doujutsu on another target. I will have to investigate that similarity further, of course..."

While Hinata normally disliked having things she already knew explained to her, she found herself enjoying the lecture. She was coming to suspect that Itachi was actually a talkative person by nature. He enjoyed explaining things, and he did it well with a soothing, even-paced tone. He moved his hands in an almost animated way and his dark eyes seemed to flash.

"You enjoy teaching," she commented.

"Indeed," he readily confirmed. "Though I've only taught one genin team."

"The Rokudaime's team."

Even though he only smiled slightly, Hinata could see his pride in his students. She found herself curious, and welcoming of a subject that wasn't about how weak and weird she was.

"Can you tell me about them?"

"There is Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Namikaze Naruto. Sasuke is my little brother, and Sakura and Naruto were his classmates who graduated in his class. Normally, they avoid assigning family together, but the council was quite accommodating."

Quite accommodating? Something about the way his inflection seemed odd. She wondered if had something to do with the uproar surrounding the Uchiha clan over a decade ago.

"How old were they when they graduated the Academy?" Itachi tilted his head, and Hinata realized that she was rudely prying. "I mean I wonder if I knew them back then," she backtracked, looking down with a wince at her awkward prose. Her curiosity had made her forget her manners.

Maybe she shouldn't be so condemning of Itachi's rudeness when she was such a hypocrite.

"Sasuke and Naruto graduated when they were nine, and were placed under my tutelage. They did not become genin until two years later, however, when Sakura graduated as well and completed Team 7."

"I remember Sakura," Hinata murmured. The pink-haired girl stood out most in her mind, because she could barely remember a Naruto and a Sasuke after their brief time in her class. A lot of people had disliked the loud, know-it-all girl, but Hinata had admired her. She seemed fearless, and despite the girl's attempts to hide behind a feminine exterior, was freakishly strong, judging by the bruises and subsequent wariness that decorated the other boys' faces when they pissed her off.

Itachi remained silent, letting her mull over her thoughts. Before Hinata knew it, they were at the side-door she favored. She began to unlock it and looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Good night, Hinata-sama."

The faint hint of a smile fell from her face. He waited, patiently, and it made her think of what he told her before.

I am not a patient man when my patience is unwarranted.

The idea that her answer was warranted gave her bravery. She spoke after a moment, unused to sharing her displeasure. "Please don't call me that. It seems overly formal."

"Would 'Hinata-san' be tolerable, then?" She nodded. "Then I request the same courtesy for my name as well."

Her courage still rushing through her veins, Hinata added, "And please don't be late tomorrow."

There was a hint of a smile on his lips. "I will try my best."

"Good night, Itachi-san."

"Good night, Hinata-san." With another little bow, she stepped through the gate and closed the door behind her with a soft click.

AN: Whew, so much backstory.

- My theory is that after Canon-Itachi had himself a little massacre, the Academy stopped letting kids graduating early. Something about the need for slightly more stable children and all...so no massacre means kids are still allowed to graduated early. :D
-Also, yes, I played with the ages a little. Itachi would have been solidly 14ish instead of 13ish during the Uchiha massacre. I'm assuming a five year difference, making the Rookie Nine 9ish at that time.