The bitter winds and chilling temperature mimics his inner turmoil. But neither deters his determination to complete training, nor revisit the urgency represented in Shisui's voice from earlier today.
Cold, exhausted and covered in dirt, Itachi and Shisui stand by the frozen patch of grass that demarcates the training ground from the village.
There is a tense silence fixated between them, as if the subject matter is continuously expanding and is awaiting containment.
Shisui is the first to contain by breaking the odious quietude.
"Things are getting worse. If nothing is done, I am afraid Konoha will eventually bear the brunt of it," he says solemnly.
The turmoil distends uncomfortably, but Itachi is adept at subduing his own unrest.
This is the first time he is being tested. There is the conflicting wound that has never healed since the Nine-tails attack. Yet Itachi's desire to protect the village he loves and pay homage to his clan is now mutually exclusive.
"I know," Itachi answers.
Shisui shares his burden, and the brotherly relationship between them is what keeps his mind from faltering.
"Itachi, she's here."
The rain materialises in soft drops, its frequency is far from deterring the overenthusiastic aura of Izumi's approaching energy. He is thankful for her existence. She provides an alternative motivation he finds wildly commendable.
"I'm so ready for this," Izumi pants.
Her entirety is drenched, yet her determination is an overpowering element that exudes zestfully into the dismal atmosphere.
"Right, lets get training shall we?" Shisui says, "Izumi you said you need someone to practice with."
"Yes! My targets have improved, but I need to make sure I get it right," she answers brightly.
"That would mean you need to account for retaliations," Itachi says.
"That's right," Shisui adds, "Izumi, you may be able to target perfectly, but shinobis are volatile. There is always movement. In basic scenarios someone can easily dodge, but others can both attack and defend at the same time."
"That is why your Sharingan would come in handy," Itachi explains.
"Right, how about you and Itachi aim at me and I will evade and retaliate. You will need to defend yourself against the retaliation," Shisui suggests, "Note your blind spots and the nasty weather. It'll impede your vision slightly."
x
Shisui may be compassionate, but his lack of empathy during hard training makes up for the minute traces of his unpleasantness.
Perhaps Itachi's presence is fuelling Shisui's actions? Either way, it may be an unfair game on Izumi's end.
In the midst of heinous weather, they train tirelessly.
Izumi's aim is perfect, but Shisui's elusion and speedy attack is far superior. She is hit multiple times. The cuts and grazes across her arms and back are increasingly evident against the dimness of village lights. But she refuses to relent.
"Izumi, focus more on your Sharingan to pinpoint Shisui's retaliation," Itachi calls.
The rain almost swallows his words, but Izumi briefly glances in his direction as a sign of acknowledgement.
At the next attack, she is less frantic.
She times the retaliation perfectly and stops a flurry of shurikens slicing their way through the air.
But her speed falls short.
Itachi knows Shisui's training tactics. He tends to gravitate towards a multitude of counterattacks at once from different directions rather than a single origin.
Izumi sees this, or part of, but cannot keep up with the rapid weapons.
With one piercing sound, the shurikens slice through her back and she topples to the ground in despair.
"Izumi!" Itachi cries, "I think that should be enough for today-"
"No," she mutters, "We keep going."
Shisui approaches with a look of distinct fear across his face.
"My attacks, I aimed it so it wouldn't do this much damage. Why did you deliberately step in the way?" He asks shakily.
"I wanted to dodge all of them," she answers weakly.
"That was bad judgement on your part," Itachi says gravely, "There was no way you could have dodged all of them in your condition. Attacking them with weapons would have been your best bet."
"You dodged them the same," she replies exasperatedly.
"You can't compare yourself to Itachi," Shisui says lowly, "Our skills vary."
Izumi does not answer. Her expression is unusually vacant.
"We should get going-" Itachi starts.
"No," Izumi interjects, "I can still train."
"Izumi, you've worked enough today. If you keep pushing yourself, you will end up bedridden," Shisui says.
"You worked hard already," Itachi adds.
At these words, there is a sudden brigade of austere emotions parading Izumi's features.
Then, she lowers her head in what appears to be disappointment, but when she speaks, it is far from it.
"What would you know anything about hard work?"
Her tone is soft and deadly, a strong hint of accusation beneath the very unnaturally composed voice.
"Izumi…"
Itachi stares. He is unsure of her impending actions. Beside him, Shisui appears to have anticipated the outcome, because he steps back and gives space.
"You, of all people, the prodigy, have no rights to decide on what constitutes hard work!" She shouts angrily.
There are tears streaming from her face, and in that simultaneous moment, the rain provides reinforcement to the rage and frustration of her state.
Then she is brusquely stopping herself, as if she did not mean to speak her mind but her emotions have erupted in a tidal wave of resentment.
Without a word, she pushes past and disappears into the vastness of the village.