Author's Note: This literally gave me a run for my money trying to compile this. In the anime, Itachi and Izumi meet prior to The Academy, and prior to the Nine Tails attack. In the novel, Itachi and Izumi meet in The Academy.

I already decided to have them meet during the Nine Tails attack, but it's not really meeting as Izumi doesn't introduce herself. So I decided that below would be their first official meeting. Enjoy!

Citations: Naruto Shippuden Episode #452, Itachi's Story: [Daylight] pg. 32-35

Chapter's Song: "New Divide" by Linkin Park

Chapter 8
Injustice

Itachi stared as The Village was being rebuilt. You could hear construction all around.

"Itachi-kun!" A familiar voice rang out to come running to him. Itachi turned to look and see the Uchiha girl he had saved. She placed her hands together on her chest. "T-thank you for before…" She approached closer, grinning. "Because of you, I was safe!"

"I'm glad you didn't die." He said blankly.

She was taken aback by his words, and looked down. She then noticed baby Sasuke glaring at her, holding Itachi's shirt.

"Your younger sister?" She asked sweetly.

"Younger brother." He corrected straightly.

"Can I hold him?" Her voiced beamed with hope.

"No." He said straightly.

"Why not?" Izumi furrowed her brows in offense.

"I don't want him to cry." Itachi explained.

"You're not gonna cry, are you?" She asked Sasuke sweetly as she took him out of the wrap.

Sasuke threw a tantrum, shocking Izumi, pushing her cheek away as he cried.

Itachi took Sasuke back away from Izumi. "There, there!" Itachi comforted. "There, there!"

Sasuke joyfully clapped his hands and reached for Itachi.

"There, there!" Itachi continued to comfort with gentle eyes as he then went around Izumi to by pass her, walking away.

Izumi shook with frustration, and jumped around to yell at Itachi's back, "Aww, come on!"

Itachi didn't flinch as he kept walking away. Izumi running to catch up with Itachi.

"Hey! Where are you going?" She asked, skipping to his side.

"I'm meeting someone." He replied with no emotion.

"Her?" Izumi pointed as Akina approached. Izumi just stared.

"Hello," Akina breathed shyly, and bowed. "I'm Mochizuki Akina."

"Oh," Izumi bowed. "Nice to meet you, Akina-chan! My name is Uchiha Izumi."

"Nice to meet you, Izumi-chan." Akina smiled, sweetly, yet dignified.

"Izumi-chan… So that's your name." Itachi acknowledged, glancing at the girl.

"Wait! You didn't know my name this whole time?!" She shouted at him, shocked.

"How would I? You never told me and you already were calling me by my name."

"Yes! Obviously, because you're part of the head family of my clan!" She informed, bitterly.

Akina just watched, until she teasingly giggled, "Obviously, Itachi."

"What are you doing out of the hospital, Akina?" He glared.

"Itachi-kun is concerned about her, and they've dropped honorifics." Izumi thought, her expression going blank.

"I feel fine!" Akina pouted. "I'm not going to stay in bed because of a cracked rib. My arms and legs work."

Itachi glared at her even more with disapproval.

"Hi, Sasuke!" Akina mewed to peeping in at him on Itachi's body, it's how she would change subject, making Itachi sigh as she reached in to pick up Sasuke. "Come here, cutie!

"Oh! He doesn't let anyone hold him, Akina-chan—" Izumi informed, waving her finger.

Sasuke cooed happily, cuddling into Akina's shoulder as she rubbed his back.

Izumi's mouth dropped open in utter shock. Itachi smiled awkwardly.

"What?" Akina asked, confused.

"I thought you said he would cry if anyone else tries to hold him, Itachi-kun?" Izumi whined, disappointed.

"I said, 'I didn't want him to cry'." Itachi corrected.

"Well, why isn't he?!" She got mad again.

"He's familiar with, Akina-chan." He shrugged.

"Oh… So you're close friends." Izumi voiced out loud.

"Our parents were friends so we've known each other since we were babies." Akina smiled. "From the pictures of us, Itachi was even prettier then Sasuke."

Itachi took Sasuke back, and started walking away.

"Come on," Akina turned to follow Itachi. "I was just teasing!"

Akina turned back, softly holding her left ribs. "You coming, Izumi-chan?"

"Oh, no. I have to head home." Izumi awkwardly said, bowing.

"Okay… See you!" Akina waved, as she dashed after Itachi. "Hey, Itachi! Wait up!"

Itachi stopped, seeing Izumi turn away as Akina came towards him, obviously still in pain. "Exactly why you should be in bed."

"Shut up…" She pouted, holding onto the chain-linked fence outside Konoha Hospital for support, deep breaths hurting.

"You live in the northwest corner of The Village. That's a long walk home."

"Then we can take a break and get dango." She smiled sweetly, making Itachi smile, too.

The Hokage and elders sat behind Danzo who paced with a pointer rod, and the clan heads sat at the table before him. The Hokage and Councilors behind Danzo at their desk.

"The Nine Tails Attack caused devastation throughout The Village." Danzo turned as he was at the head of the table. "For the reconstruction, we've decided to revise a number of village boundaries."

He pointed to the southeast border part of The Village. "We'd like the Aburame Clan to move into this district. The Clan previously submitted a request to occupy the forest, so we took that into consideration."

Aburame Shibi silently bowed his head in acknowledgment.

"The Nara Clan's territory was not part of the stricken area, so they will remain where they are." Danzo continued.

Nara Shikaku kept his eyes closed and arms crossed.

Danzo looked to Fugaku. "The Leaf Police Force headquarters which sustained damage will be rebuilt here." Danzo pointed to the most northwest corner of the village.

Fugaku brows furrowed and he choked in insult as he looked at the map where Danzo pointed. "And the Uchiha Clan will move along with the headquarters…"

"Lord Danzo!" Fugaku stood in protest. "The Uchiha Clan makes up the Leaf Police Force that protects the Hidden Leaf. As such, that location is too far from the village center."

Akimichi Choza nodded in agreement with Fugaku.

"We wouldn't be able to act swiftly in an emergency." Fukaku added.

Shikaku opened his eyes, to eye Danzo.

"We have the Anbu Black Ops for such emergencies." Danzo coldly replied.

Fugaku choked up again, clenching his jaw in complexion. Fugaku then looked to The Third Hokage, who spoke. "The Leaf Police has to commute to the training grounds, does it not? This location is near an area that's ideal for training. You can use that area exclusively for the Uchiha's training grounds." He said unwavering.

Fugaku remained standing, not knowing how to verbally counter The Hokage.

"Continuing on…" Danzo addressed. Pointing to the southwest side. "In conjunction with the reconstruction of the Leaf Police Headquarters," Fugaku sat down. "The Uchiha Clan will also relocate."

"Homes and buildings that were spared will be…" Fugaku couldn't hear anymore as he zoned out in feeing disrespected.

"May I remind you, Danzo-sama, that the Mochizuki Clan lives in the northwest corner. We grow medicine and poisons to supply The Village. We don't need our terrain run over with police training. You can't promise it exclusively."

"Another valid point…" Fugaku perked up.

"Then share the grounds. The Mochizuki have a huge compound, that was undamaged by the Nine Tails attack, I think you could manage your crops within your compound, no? To be welcoming to The Uchiha."

Iva looked at Fukaku. "We'll see what we can do. Welcome to the northwest corner."

Fukaku nodded in thanks. "She tried. Danzo is just too conniving."

Nakano Shrine

"During the Nine Tails incident, we Uchiha were not called upon because they feared that we would use our Sharigan to manipulate the Nine Tails." A clansman argued.

"Even worse, there are some who say that the Uchiha caused the Nine Tails incident!" Another clansmen added.

"They are sending us to the outskirts of the village in order to keep an eye on us!" The first theorized.

"This is just like during the Second Hokage's era when the Uchiha were rounded up and isolated in one part of the village!" Another to the left pointed out.

"This time, it's even far worse!" The first clansman added. "The Village suspects us! Captain, we can't accept this decision! We should reject it outright!"

"Captain! Captain!" They all insisted in unison. Fugaku's eyes stayed shut as he listened, and opened for everyone to go silent.

"You are absolutely right. But the other clans have accepted their respective relocations as well. The Uchiha cannot be the lone voice of dissent."

"But Captain!" A young Uchiha man insisted, putting his fist to his knee.

"I'll do what I can to negotiate the conditions. But we must accept the move. Pass the word around. That is all. Dismissed." Fugaku reclosed his eyes and everyone dispersed, they by passed Itachi reading a scroll as he leaned against the archway poll at the stairs of Nakano Shrine.

"How do you feel?" Fugaku's voice reached out to Itachi as he approached.

"Let's go and see it, Father." Itachi stood up straight, holding his scroll.

"Hm?" Fugaku's eyes opened in wonder.

"The new training grounds." Itachi answered as he rolled his scroll and trotted off down the stairs. Fugaku watching blankly, to then follow.

Fugaku and his son overlooked the lake.

"We're right on the edge of the village, there's so much more nature here unlike the center of The Village. Finding places to train will be easy. Akina, is close now, too, we can explore outside The Village's border together in the hills she's talked about. This will be a peaceful place for Sasuke to grow up." Itachi breathtakingly thought, and concluded, "I like it here."

"Is that so?" Fugaku asked.

"Father, teach me jutsu…" Itachi asked as he ran off down the hill. "Generational Uchiha Jutsu…"

"I have to distract Father… We have to be positive about this move. It's decided so that should be the end of it. We're not the only clan going through difficult times…" Itachi thought of Yasuo-sama, sadly. "We should be grateful that this compound has been set up so quickly, while other's are still grieving their loved ones while trying to rebuild…"

"All right!" Fugaku agreed, following.

Fugaku did the snake, ram, monkey, boar, horse, tiger hand signs as Itachi watched closely. Fugaku breathed in and blew out a fireball across the lake, about twenty feet, it then dispersed into the air. "This is fundamental Uchiha Ninjutsu… Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu. All right, the signs are—"

Itachi turned away from listening to do the hand signs he memorized. He took a breath in and blew out a fireball, it didn't remain as long, but it was just as big as Fugaku's fireball. "I did it!" Itachi stated in relief.

Fugaku broke out in laughter and Itachi looked up at his father in wonder; he looked at his father who had pride in his eyes. "What a surprise. That's my boy."

Trees lined the sides of the sidewalk into the compound that Itachi and Fugaku headed into, they stood watching as they listened to construction inside the compound. "We'll be moving in no time, huh?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah." Fugaku replied.

Itachi looked up at his father after that brief answer, seeing that he was lost in thought. "What's the matter?"

Fugaku turned to his boy, but he was still staring off above over Itachi's head, he then looked in the opposite direction at another tall building. "We're surrounded… I wish it was my imagination, but…"

"What is it?" The sweet boy's voice breathed.

Fugaku looked ahead. "It's nothing…" And he looked down smiling at his boy. "'In no time, huh?' The same could be said about you, Itachi."

Itachi stared in wonder up at his father. "Since you're going to be six-years-old soon… Come late Spring"

"All right, I'm going." His father's voice came from behind.

Itachi was sitting eating supper with his mother and Sasuke. But of course, his little brother still couldn't eat solid food. Perched in his highchair, Sasuke bobbed his head from side-to-side, having only recently grown strong enough to hold it up. Sasuke turned big, round eyes on his brother, and stared curiously at Itachi lifting rice from his bowl to his mouth.

"This boy is putting something white in his mouth on long sticks. What on earth do you suppose he's doing?" Itachi thought to assume Sasuke's thoughts. The baby's gaze was so intense that Itachi almost wondered if he wasn'tthinking grown-up thoughts like this. The baby wasn't yet a year old, but he hadstrong eyes that clearly communicated his thoughts and will.

"What about supper?" His mother asked, looking past Itachi.

Itachi took this as an invitation to turn around, and caught a glimpse of his father's stern face through the tiny gap in the sliding door.

"I'll eat out. And I'll be back late, so you go ahead to bed without me." Fugaku ordered.

"All right. We'll see you later, then." Mikoto sweetly said with worry in her voice.

"'Bye," Itachi added to his mother's farewell, and his father's cool gaze pierced him. Unlike his little brother's eyes, his father's gave away no hint of what he was thinking.

"Next year's the academy. You make sure you keep training hard." Fugaku ordered.

"All right." Itachi nodded.

"Ahunnnh," Sasuke raised his voice unintelligibly in imitation of Itachi. His father looked at the baby and nodded slightly before disappearing completely behind the sliding door.

The family in the kitchen started eating again.

Mochizuki Manor

"Milady," A maid with a short black ponytail addressed from behind Iva's sliding door. "Fugaku-sama is here."

"I'll be there shortly." Iva said, stuffing her pipe with tobacco.

She then made her way passed the maid, who bowed low in fear, and down the stairs to a room she entered to see Fugaku kneeling in. "Fugaku-sama," Iva addressed.

"Iva-sama," Fugaku addressed just as stern.

"So, let's not bother with small talk…" She sucked on her pipe. "Why did you want to see me?"

Fugaku hesitated, but he raised his head. "I didn't get the chance to thank you for standing up for my clan."

Iva sucked on her pipe, and puffed out smoke. "Danzo's reasoning was a flimsy excuse… I have ears, Fugaku-sama. I see how prejudice against the Uchiha has only worsened, both by the government and civilians."

"You really do get to the point." Fugaku's brows furrowed.

"So…" She sucked on her pipe harder and blew out in frustration. "What does the Uchiha plan to do?"

Fugaku didn't have complete trust for Iva, especially after Yasuo not speaking up to put in a vote for him as Hokage.

"My brother was a coward… He didn't like rocking the boat, much unlike myself. You know that's why my mother instated Yasuo as head of my clan instead of me, don't you?" Iva informed, holding her pipe lower.

"I never was told the details, actually." Fugaku crossed his arms.

"Well," Iva smiled. "What's the plan, Fugaku-sama?"

Fugaku nodded and confidently explained, "I don't want to take action, but if The Village persists, I seek that the Mochizuki will continue to be an ally of the Uchiha?"

"An alliance… In civil war?" Iva mewed.

"I don't want it to come to that." Fugaku emphasized.

"But what if it does?" Iva asked, sucking on her pipe.

"A bloodless revolution." Fugaku admitted.

"You want to leave The Village?" Iva contemplated. "I'll have to discuss this with our clan elders… Actually… No. Why should the Mochizuki leave with the Uchiha?"

"To show your support against injustice; The Mochizuki historically has been a mediator between the Uchiha and Senju."

"Exactly…" Iva began. "You should be able to resolve all suspicions if they're not true and The Village will back off. My brother unquestionably trusted your character, he told me again and again, but I'm not a trusting person, Fugaku-sama. Danzo had a flimsy excuse and you saying a bloodless revolution, it's equally as ridiculous."

"You've just been fishing me out. So do you believe this prejudice is unjust or not?!" Fugaku spat.

"It is, but not so much so to cry like a baby and declare civil war…" Iva laughed. "It was unjust for my mother to skip over me in favor of my brother, but I bided my time, and here I am as Clan Head… Do you think I would just leave The Village because of your clan's mess?"

Fugaku stood. "Your mother was a discerning woman."

Iva snarled, as Fugaku bowed and turned to leave.

Itachi woke up hearing the doors in his house, he got up to put his ear to the wall to listen, "How'd it go?" He heard his mother's voice ask.

"Horrible. Iva is more Machiavellian than Danzo."

"Itachi—" It was his mother's voice, sternly scolding his eavesdropping. "Come here."

Itachi went out of his room, into the hall, and opened his parent's door. "You need to get better at that. This is second time I've caught you." Fugaku glared.

"I'm sorry, Father, Mother." He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, as well… I don't want you to hang out with Akina anymore."

"B-But…" Itachi argued and then lowered his head under his father's gaze. "Okay."

"You have Shisui and there's plenty of children within the Uchiha to be friends with."

"Yes, sir." Itachi knew there was no sense arguing even if every fiber of him wanted to, it was better to act submissive and secretly rebel.

"Back to bed, Itachi." Mikoto ordered.

He just nodded, and turned away, closing his parent's door almost shut as he said, "Goodnight."

"What exactly are the grown-ups doing so late at night?" Itachi tossed the question at his only friend within his clan.

Shisui stared off at the Hokage Monument in the distance, a loose smile curling up the corners of his mouth.

They were sitting on a cliff outside The Village, in a spot only they knew about. Below the cliff rising up perpendicular to the ground, there was a river that meandered along from behind the Hokage Monument and flowed out of the village. By the time it reached Itachi and Shisui, the water flowed much faster and deeper than at its starting point in The Village.

"I'm a Genin," Shisui said, eyes still focused off in the distance. He turned toward the quietly listening Itachi and continued softly, "So I go to the adult's meetings."

"Huh?" Itachi asked, wanting to know more.

"They meet regularly at Nakano Shrine." Shisui informed.

Itachi wanted to ask what exactly Shisui was talking about, but he was afraid, and no words came out.

Shisui looked down. "It's something you don't have to know about yet."

Uneasy, Itachi stared at his friend as he averted his eyes.

"A heavy air's hanging over the clan... Let it be a guess" Itachi murmured over and over in his heart.

"Hey!" Benjiro waved as he came jogging with Akina walking behind him.

"My father told me to not hang out with Akina…" Itachi whispered.

Shisui sighed, waiting for the Mochizuki to join them.

"What's wrong?" Benjiro asked, eyes opening in suspicion.

"Benjiro is my teammate," Shisui smiled at Itachi as he raised his finger up towards Benjiro. "So I have to hang out with him whether I want to or not."

"Hey," Benjiro smirked, crossing his arms. "Were you told to stay away from us?"

"Itachi was." Shisui explained, making Itachi's eyes fill with apology.

"We were both told at breakfast by my mother, as well. I'm sorry my mother is being prejudice." Benjiro placed his palm to his face,

"We don't think your clan is responsible for the Nine Tails." Akina murmured, going closer to Itachi.

"Thanks," Itachi said, smiling.

"But, for all of us to stay in good standing with our clan, which is especially important for Akina, we should only spend time here together. You two shouldn't be in The Village without us…" Benjiro informed.

"Once you both start Academy it will be easier for you to make excuses." Shisui added. "You'll be classmates after all."

"It can't come fast enough," Akina said, handing out a bento wrapped in cloth to Itachi. "Rice balls for lunch."

"Thanks, Akina." Itachi took it.

"Okay! Thanks!" Shisui smiled. "Let's work up an appetite and train!"

"Yeah!" Itachi and Akina nodded in unison.