Author's Note: Twentieth chapter! The upcoming chapters will delve into the Chunin Exams, it won't be that long from what I'm editing, and after the Chunin Exams, things really progress as far as plot is concerned, not just romance, much, much more.

Citations: Itachi's Story: [Daylight] pg. 88-94

Chapter's Song: "Walk Me Home" by P!nk

Chapter 20
Confliction

6 Months Later

The man had been waving his kunai up at the sky for a while, before Itachi finally placed a gentle hand on his back. "You done yet?"

The man's shoulders shot up, as though Itachi's voice had awakened him from a dream, and he whirled around. "The thing you've been trying so desperately to cut in half is my Genjutsu."

"Wh-what…" The man stuttered in fear.

"Do you want to have the dream again?" Both of Itachi's eyes were a deep red.

"Ee! Eee!" The man dropped his kunai and cowered the moment he saw the Sharingan. "H-have mercy!" He begged, tears streaming down his face.

Itachi's eyes turned black again.

"Itachi!" A voice called from behind. Minazuki-sensei. Two ninja trailed along behind him, the new additions to Team Two.

Tenma's death forced Shinko to confront the reality of the callous nature of the world of the ninja, breaking her spirit. So she resigned as a ninja, and now worked in a teashop in The Village.

The new ninja had both graduated from The Academy that year. They had been ahead of Itachi at school, but as a ninja, Itachi had two year's seniority on them.

"Did you catch him?" Minazuki-sensei asked, coming to Itachi's side.

"Mm." Itachi turned his gaze back to the man quailing on the ground. Minazuki-sensei came over to stand in front of the man; the two new recruits behind him looking relieved. "You can't sneak into the village and misrepresent your history just because you want to be a ninja, you know. That's not how people become ninja."

"I-I'm sorry." The man stuttered.

Minazuki-sensei pointed back at Itachi with his thumb. "By the way, this kid's only nine. We got kids like this all over the place; that's the world of the ninja."

The man opened his eyes wide in surprise, looking at the numb Uchiha Itachi.

A resident of the Land of Fire had slipped into The Village, with the intention of becoming a ninja. They were to secure the man, and put the fear of the ninja in him. That was their current mission. Of course, it was the lowest mission rank, a D-mission. But it was the right level for the two newcomers, so that was how it had to be.

Naturally, however, Itachi couldn't get completely on board with this. It had been just over three months since they started doing nothing but D-rank missions, and Itachi felt a growing sense of urgency. Did he really have the time to be doing this sort of thing? He had the absurd thought that he was actually training himself to master the Sharingan through these sorts of missions.

"Way to go, Itachi-senpai! As always!" The new girl called out, cheerfully. Even though she was four years older than he was, she called him, Senpai. Her name was Himuka. She had a face that didn't make much of an impression.

The other newcomer was a boy. It had been three months since he joined Team Two, but Itachi had never once seen him talk. His name was Yoji, and he was from the Aburame Clan, but so far, Itachi hadn't seen him use insects.

"All right, let's head back to The Village." Minazuki-sensei's bright voice made Itachi's heart that much heavier.

"Hah!" Expelling a breath full of ambition, Shisui looked at Itachi and smiled. "Yeah, training with you forces me to really put my back into it."

Itachi looked at his cheerful friend and felt refreshed in both mind and body, as he stood there drenched in sweat. They had been sparring seriously for three hours or so, as a way for Itachi to vent his anger with his assignments. They had already gone fifteen rounds, with breaks of about three minutes after each one, resulting in six wins for Itachi and nine for Shisui.

The only rule was no Sharingan; everything else was fair game. Sharingan was off limits because the visual technique used up a large amount of chakra, and they wanted to spar for as long as possible.

The shuriken they flung at each other clashed in the air, and flew off in some unexpected direction. Neither Itachi nor Shisui watched to see where they went. They were already leaping at each other, and closing the distance between themselves.

"Chi!" Itachi exclaimed.

"Hah!" Shisui breathed loudly.

Their fighting cries blended together. Their bodies collided in midair, tangled together, and crashed to the ground. Shisui got to his feet and in position first, and launched a kick at Itachi, who was propped up on one knee. Itachi immediately thrust his right arm out to block it. His field of view shaking with the impact of the kick, he saw his friend quickly weaving signs.

"Fire Style! Great Fireball Jutsu!" Shisui shouted, and an enormous ball of flames shot out of his mouth.

Itachi stared at the flames streaking toward him, a smile pulling up his lips at the corners.

"Just like Shisui…" Itachi was thrilled. He gloated to himself that even among the people of their clan, only his father and Shisui could release a fireball this massive. Shisui wouldn't be able to manage a counterattack in time. His defense would be slow. "Direct hit."

"No way!" Shisui cried out at the unexpected result. The giant ball of flames ripped Itachi into countless pieces, which transformed into a myriad of crows that attacked all at once. "Substitution."

The real Itachi was running around behind Shisui. Before Shisui could sense his aura and whirl around, the smaller boy had a kunai at his throat.

"So you win, huh," Shisui said, regretfully.

In the end, they sparred thirty-five times. The result was eleven wins for Itachi, and twenty-four for Shisui.

"You're beyond Genin level already." Shisui took a swig of water from his canteen. "Your Chunin Exam being put off again this year?"

"Yeah," Itachi replied, before tilting his own canteen back to pour cool water into his mouth.

"You said your supervisor Jonin was Minazuki Yuki or something, right?"

Itachi nodded silently.

"Is he maybe jealous of you? Maybe he's not into what a genius you are, so he's putting off recommending you for the Chunin Exams?"

"There's nothing I can do, even if that is what's going on with him." There was no point in thinking about Minazuki-sensei's thought process in not recommending Itachi. He wouldn't get to take the Chunin Exam again this year. That was a fact.

"But I mean, you're already so—"

"Let's just forget about it." If they talked about it anymore, all that would happen would be that his regret would just grow stronger.

"That reminds me, what happened to that girl, Uchiha Izumi?" Shisui awkwardly changed the topic, and Itachi turned wide eyes on him. "It's usually hard to figure out what you're thinking, but I guess this at least, is pretty easy."

"What do you mean?" Itachi asked nervously.

"Go take a look in a mirror," Shisui said, a playful smile spreading across his face.

Itachi averted his eyes. "I don't have an opinion on her either way."

"And yet, the minute I said the name 'Izumi,' you looked like you had a pretty strong opinion."

"Strong opinion… Do I? Izumi is one of the few friends I have, but that's all she is, a friend. I realize she likes me, but…" When pressed by Shisui like this, he felt like maybe she was different. Still, that said, whatever his feelings for her were, they didn't seem romantic. In short, he didn't really know either. She was the safe option where he knew he wouldn't be rejected, but Akina, he was uncertain of her feelings for him.

"Anyway, how's your father?" Itachi broke out of his thoughts saying

"Don't change the subject," Shisui said with a grin, before his bright expression clouded over the slightest bit. "Same as always."

His father had lost a leg in the last Great War, and fallen ill because of that injury, he was currently bedridden. Shisui lived alone with his mother and father, and was the family breadwinner. "He's gotten a lot weaker lately. He's even stopped recognizing me."

"Really…" Itachi saddened with this surprise.

"Well, everybody dies someday. I'm ready for it."

Faced with Shisui's sad resolve, Itachi didn't know how to respond.

"Akina's been the one making house visits to treat him, you know." Shisui glanced at Itachi's reaction, a tinge of pink trying to be controlled from spreading across his cheeks. Shisui grinned, raising his canteen to his lips, first saying, "She's been training really hard lately."

"Yeah, I haven't seen her lately. Is she entering the Chunin Exams?" Itachi informed sadly.

"I think so. She's probably at my house right about now… You want to see her in her nurse uniform?" Shisui shook his finger devilishly.

"Why would I?" Itachi pouted, flustered.

"You're so obvious when it comes to girls…" Shisui sighed. "So you like Akina more than Izumi?"

"I'm headed home." Itachi informed, standing. He looked down on Shisui with question. "How do you know about Izumi anyway?"

"We're from the same Clan… She's your age and former classmate."

"Akina mentioned her to you? In what context?" Itachi's eyes suspiciously narrowed.

"Hmm. Akina said Izumi likes you so I was wondering about your feelings."

Silence.

"Just ask Akina if she likes you." Shisui insisted.

"I'm not ruining that friendship." Itachi insisted. "I'm focusing on my training, both Izumi and Akina will remain just friends."

"You're so boring." Shisui teased, to stand, being a head taller than Itachi.

As Shisui and Itachi turned on the street that led into the Uchiha Compound, Itachi stopped, seeing Akina in a white Medical Corp. dress. She stopped, noticing her two friends, and then continued to approach. "Itachi, Shisui…" She smiled sweetly.

"You coming from seeing my father? Thank you." Shisui gave a slight bow of his head.

"Just doing my job. I'm sorry there's not more I can do." Akina saddened.

"Don't take too much responsibility…"

She looked down, and then to Itachi. He stiffened. "Happy Ninth Birthday."

"Oh… Uh, thank you. Happy Ninth Birthday in advance."

"Hey, you wanted to ask her something…" Shisui eyed him, insisting.

"Oh?" Akina's eyes glistened with suspicion as she looked at Itachi.

"Uh…" Itachi searched his thoughts, hearing Shisui in his thoughts say 'Just ask Akina if she likes you.' but Itachi couldn't, so he recalled his other question, and blurted out, "Are you entering the Chunin Exams?"

Akina's eyes widened and settled, nodding. "Yes, I am."

"Did you get a new teammate?"

"No. Why?"

"I got two new teammates before you… Even though Hisoka died before Tenma. I wonder why." Itachi thought out loud.

"My sensei says he won't take on any new students. He's just been teaching me Medical Ninjutsu." Akina shrugged. "What about you, Itachi?"

"No… Minazuki-sensei says need to work on teamwork with my new teammates."

"Maybe, you should take exams alone?" She suggested.

"You need a three-man team."

Akina shook her head. "Just Yugao and I are taking the exams."

"Well, still, you're not alone."

"We'll see. Yugao is already being scouted for Anbu because she technically had both a Heaven and Earth scroll from our last Chunin Exams. She accomplished the mission."

"But without you, her surviving teammate." Itachi added.

"That's what Anbu looks for in a ninja." Shisui crossed his arms, explaining.

"Lots of comrades die, Itachi…" Akina added. "You should be able to take the Exams alone… Maybe you could even join my team?"

"I'm just going to wait for the upper echelons to notice." Itachi rubbed his neck. "You mentioned that to me before."

She poked him in the forehead. "You always get noticed so it's a rational conclusion." Akina passed them, and waved as she continued forward, not looking back. "See you guys later."

Shisui nudged Itachi.

"Ow…" Itachi complained.

"Walk her home." Shisui insisted, tilting his head quickly in Akina's direction.

Itachi looked and jogged after Akina, her green eyes looking up to his face at her side, now walking besides her. She eyed him with question, seeing his gentle and awkward smile. "Can I walk you home?"

"I literally live one compound over from you…" She rolled her eyes.

"It's principal." Itachi rolled his eyes to close them.

"Hmph," Akina smiled. She turned left, Itachi stopped, looking to the right where he could clearly see the entrance to the Mochizuki Clan.

Akina glanced back. "You coming?"

Itachi hesitated, but followed. As he came to her side, he asked, "Are you ready for the Chunin Exams?"

"Yeah," She smiled. "I've been training hard."

"Emotionally ready?" Itachi persisted to dig deeper into her thoughts.

"…Ninja are to put asides their emotions, Itachi." She informed

"So if I ask you to get dango tomorrow…?" He hinted at. "It can be our way of celebrating our birthdays together."

"I have a mission." She rejected.

"What rank?"

"D-rank." She blankly said.

"Okay." Itachi nodded. Akina looked suspiciously. "You take nighttime walks when there's something on your mind."

"You know me far too well," She smiled, and turned on her heel gracefully to head straight towards her Clan's entrance. Itachi turned around, as well. They remained quiet, and Akina stopped in front of her Clan's entrance, a wood arbor with a sign carved and painted having the Mochizuki Clan crest and surname carved in kanji, beyond the arbor, a long winding path uphill where the compound resided.

"Thanks for walking me home…" Akina smiled, staring at him. "I want to kiss his cheek, but… He has to make the first move, so that I don't interfere with any feelings he may have for Izumi."

"No worries." Itachi bobbed his head, and turned away, Akina watching him as she stared at his Uchiha Crest on his back. "

Akina stood outside the Hokage's Office, waiting for her client of the mission she just completed, the client Madam Shijimi, was also her Aunt.

"Thank you so much, Akina dear." A voluptuous woman with lots of makeup and strong perfume smiled as she approached, holding a brown cat. "I'd say I take you shopping, dearie. You need to wear brighter colors, you're such a pretty girl."

"Oh, uh, but being a ninja I think—" Akina glanced over her maroon qipao dress, white long sleeves under her dress, and black boots with bandages wrapped up her legs.

"Hey, Akina!" Itachi's voice called from behind her. She looked with slightly surprised green eyes.

"Oh, Itachi-kun…"

"You ready to get dango?" He smiled.

"Uh," Akina had no idea. She told him she couldn't last night. "That's why he asked what rank my mission was, he took the chance hanging around here to see me complete it quickly, knowing it was only a D-mission. Sneaky weasel."

"Oh, did you already have plans?" Madam Shijimi asked.

"I'm sorry. Can we cancel, Itachi-kun?" Akina grinned devilishly.

"Oh no, you two go have fun!" The ostentatious woman loudly said, waving her hand to walk away.

"Thank you, madam." Akina bowed.

Itachi bowed with Akina.

"Did you really want to cancel with me?" Itachi turned his head, smirking.

"Just said that to make her be considerate." Akina glanced away, pouting.

"Then why didn't you agree to dango last night?" He tilted his head.

Akina still didn't look at him. "I didn't know if… How long my mission would take me…"

"Back to catching cat missions… You knew it wouldn't take long." Itachi insisted.

"She's my aunt..."

"Daimyo's wife…?" Itachi's eyes raised.

"They've come to Konoha for the upcoming Chunin Exams."

"You're going to become a Chunin… We won't have much time together."

"It's not guaranteed I'll become a Chunin." She looked at him to inform.

"Even recently you've been busy. Would you like to come with me?" Itachi placed his hand on his neck.

"Where to?" Her sense of longing for adventure overtook her.

Sora-ku

Itachi handed a stack of bills to Grandmother Cat. Akina looked through drawers of kunai, and shuriken.

"Whose she… A girlfriend…?" Grandma Cat whispered to Itachi.

"A friend, Neko-Baa." Itachi corrected, smiling.

"For now…" She took a suck of her pipe.

"She's so pretty." Tamaki whispered, jotting over to Akina.

Akina looked down at the girl, smiling, this made Itachi smile. "Is maroon your favorite color?" Tamaki asked.

"Yes, it is." Akina grinned. "What's your favorite color?"

"Pale orange. Like a sunset!" Tamaki informed joyfully.

"Nice," Akina nodded, not particularly liking the color orange. She looked in the next drawer, looking at the double-bladed knives and folding knives.

"You can throw them if you like." Grandma Cat informed.

At that moment, Akina threw quickly to a supporting wood beam. Three knives perfectly aligned down the beam. "I like these…"

Itachi approached. Picking one up, looking at both ends having a sharp knife. "Heavier than kunai." He threw one to try and align it with Akina's three knives, but he was off a little bit to the left. He pouted.

"How much for these?" Akina asked, gleefully.

Itachi and Akina walked side-by-side on the dirt road home.

"You really haggled well with Neko-baa." Itachi half-snickered.

"…Why," Akina began to say deadly seriously and suspiciously. "Sora-ku is known for being a city for the black market… What business does the Uchiha Clan have?"

Itachi got sadly serious. "I have no control of what adults do, Akina."

"What are they doing?" She pressed, asking.

"I don't know enough to speak on the matter."

"Okay." Akina dropped the subject.

Silence conquered between them as they walked for a while.

"What are your new teammates like?" Akina asked.

"Himuka, she's a lot more meek than Shinko." Itachi described. "And Yoji, he's quiet."

"Quieter than you?" She teased.

"You're pretty quiet yourself, you know." He annoyingly grinned.

"I know…" She nodded, seriously.

"Instead of being viewed as awkward, you're the cool aloof guy. Everyone admires you, especially our Academy Class." She smiled.

"Not really. Those from our class were immature and threatened."

"Unlike you, I still kept in touch with those from our class… Izumi doesn't seem threatened… Everyone admires you, but she makes an effort to talk to you."

"Because we live in the same Clan Compound."

"Or she really likes you." Akina elbowed with a nudge. She had seen Shisui do it.

Itachi shrugged, holding where Akina nudged.

Akina felt the awkward tension. "Trying to be one of the guys… Epic fail."

"That lady earlier was your aunt?"

"Yeah," Akina nodded awkwardly.

"Other then her being critical… Why didn't you want to hang out?"

"My uncle is the Fire Daimyo, he's the older brother to my mother." Akina explained. "My mother was cut off by her father when she decided to stay in The Village and marry my dad, when she got pregnant with me, she was cut off by the Shijimi family, but since my dad descends from Lord Second, the Third Hokage smoothed relations over as a sign of alliance. Irony is, Madam Shijimi and the Fire Daimyo have no children."

"Does that mean you could be the Fire Daimyo?"

"No," Akina snickered. "I have to lead my clan, remember?"

"Yeah," Itachi snickered. "I know, I know."

"You're the heir to the Uchiha, you know." She scolded.

"Yeah, I know…" He held his sigh.

"Something is wrong." Akina thought, watching him.

"So what training have you done besides Medical Ninjutsu?"

"I'm thinking of signing a summoning contract…"

"Summoning, huh? You can create lots of clones so you shouldn't have a problem with it."

"You should summon cats if you like them so much…" She teased. "All those cats at Neko-baa's surrounded you."

Itachi brushed off any remaining cat hair from his shirt. "I already summon crows… You should create a contract with the ninja cats."

"I'd hate for an animal to get hurt in my fight." She explained and he listened, admiring her gentleness. "I don't like fighting as a team, either, honestly."

Itachi smiled. "So is that your hesitation in not signing the contract?"

"No…" An anxious resolve blanketed her aura. "Apparently, flytraps take mass amounts of chakra to summon, and they can protect a Black Rose user when they die…"

"But?"

"But if you use all twelve lives, the flytrap will consume you."

"…You're not going to use all twelve lives." He stiffened.

"I've already used two in my nine years of life." She shrugged.

"I will make you resign if you get too low in using up your lives." He numbly informed.

"Yes, Hokage-sama." She mocked.

Itachi sighed, and sincerely requested, "Even if I don't become Hokage… I hope you resign."

"…I have to become the head of my clan." Akina dismissed.

"I know." He breathed, acknowledging her determination. "Is it really your dream?"

"Am I allowed to dream?" Akina contemplated, not wavering from looking ahead.

"If you weren't the heir to your clan… What would you do?"

"Seems pointless as I am the heir to my clan…"

"I suppose you're right."

"I'd travel…" She dreamingly thought out loud.

"Where to?" He perked up in a smile at her answer.

"Everywhere," She said lost in thought, and then looked at him. "I enjoyed this trip."

"I'm glad." Itachi nodded, he had enjoyed their trip, as well. "I know our Clans are not on good terms right now, so we can't be at each other's birthday parties…"

"Those Clan parties display us just to brag…" Akina said in a growling sigh, eyes grudgingly closing.

"Yeah," Itachi frustratingly sighed.

"Today is June Tenth, your birthday was yesterday, and my birthday is tomorrow. Let's always celebrate our birthdays together, on the tenth." She shyly suggested with all her courage.

"Yes." Itachi agreed, feeling his heart skip a beat.