"Izumi, be very, very honest with me, but is there a reason why you are training on the day of the Fireworks Festival?"
In the early hours of the morning, Izumi assembles by the village training ground and begins another gruelling day of weapons work.
"You didn't have to come all the way out here with me," Izumi replies.
Nanami frowns.
"It was the only way I could spend time with you. You were in hospital for so long, then right after discharge you run off to train."
She takes a shuriken and throws it at the target. It misses the bullseye and lands somewhere on the far right.
"And I still suck at aiming," Nanami sighs.
"A big reason you should be training instead of slacking off," Izumi smirks.
She stands by Nanami and aims her shuriken at the same target. It lands in the centre.
But instead of triumph, her mind conveys disappointment.
Itachi would have been able to hit Nanami's weapon, then use it as leverage to hit the centre. That would be two birds one stone. So why can't I do it?
She halts the thoughts. Again, her mind latches to him, every hour of every day. And the more she forces it out, the stronger it returns.
"…and it's obvious that you're comparing apples and oranges. Are you even listening to me?"
Nanami steps close and presses her forehead to Izumi's.
"Do I need to be this close in order for you to take notice of me?" Nanami grumbles.
Then she steps back and flicks her forehead.
"Hey! That hurts!" Izumi cries.
Her tone may float between bewilderment and vexation, but there is a silent veneer of relief that has everything to do with the destruction of those intrusive thoughts.
"Then stop zoning out when I'm talking to you. Let's hurry and get this training done with, unless you want to stand there and think about Itachi all day."
There seems to be an invisible veil that only Nanami can dismantle. And it is always when Izumi's thoughts are on that one person.
"I was…I will not!"
Her response is automated. A searing flush that seeps through the lines of her pale cheeks.
For two hours, they train in sporadic intervals of fifteen or twenty minutes, then switching between differing terrains and weaponry.
But whilst Nanami's improvements are notable, Izumi only has stamina to show. Concentration may engulf her mind, but it is her subconscious that is resisting. And try as she may, willpower alone cannot subdue the underlying layers of torment. Her body pulls her back to that other world and fixates itself on her encounter with Itachi. An Itachi who was plagued by an unknown illness. Yet the physical was a minute issue that shielded the radiating aura of his internal agony. The Itachi she knew of this world is a separate Itachi from the other world, but the two are bounded by an unseen thread that connects them to others across numerous universes.
For a long time, Izumi speculates a connection between this world and that specific world she had visited. If Shisui's theory is right, then why not the other worlds? Why is it that specific world?
"Izumi, are you okay?"
She hears Nanami's approaching voice, and the impending anxiety that emits when her footsteps collide with the ground.
"I'm okay, I've stagnated. So let's go home."
Her answer is blanketed by an airy tone that provides little defence against an astute Nanami.
"You've been a bit different since returning from that mission. Did something happen?"
Yes. But even if she discloses such information, the absurdity would only place her under surveillance by a perplex Nanami. Shisui has also forbade her from revealing any details.
"It was a tougher mission than I expected, and being in hospital for so many days, I feel like I've fallen behind."
Her reply is genuine albeit a fraction of the truth. Yet Nanami seemed content with the explanation. Perhaps it is the veracity? Any form of fabrication is unlikely to pass Nanami's inspection.
"You know these things happen, it's a fact that all shinobis must acknowledge," Nanami leans in and embraces her, "your determination and stamina is ridiculous, so you will catch up really soon."
The words do not placate her, rather, it is Nanami's kindness that disperses the agitation.
"We should rest up and enjoy the Fireworks Festival tonight," she continues, "I'm sure watching the fireworks with Itachi would help with some motivation."
She gives a smug grin that indicates an underlying meaning.
"How would that even-" Izumi starts.
"I mean, given that you would be wearing your yukata, I'm sure it would impress him regardless," Nanami interjects loudly.
"Stop changing the topic!"
The red returns, and this time with an accompanying burn that ignites her entirety.
"You know, I heard the Third has temporarily suspended all missions so everyone can enjoy the Festival. That would mean Shisui will be there too. I'm also certain your yukata would impress him."
The sudden quietude is a victorious indicator of Izumi's payback. It is now Nanami's encounter with crimson.
x
There is nothing amiss about the intoxicating air of a festival. It may be the infectious atmosphere, or the auspicious time and day that brings council members to a consensus every year, but there has never been any major disturbances during the one hundred years of the Fireworks Festival celebrations.
Tonight, they sit by the stalls and enjoy an array of festive foods and activities. With the temporary suspension of missions, there is a larger presence of shinobis amongst the congested streets.
"Every year, it amazes me with the amount of shinobis in our village," Nanami says confoundedly.
"You'd be surprise how many ninjas are out on missions at any given time," Yuki answers.
She takes a particularly large takoyaki ball and places it into her mouth.
"Yuki that's gross," Nanami shoots her a disapproving look.
"Hu ami toshimess?"
"What?"
Yuki swallows, then shrugs.
"I said who am I to impress?"
"It's common courtesy," Nanami answers reproachfully.
Then she looks to Izumi, who is eating quietly and watching a group of ninjas jester amongst each other.
"You're quiet, is it because Itachi failed to show up?"
His name breaks the reverie and she instantly turns.
"Of course not, I'm just enjoying my food."
A lie. And she knows it. So does Nanami.
"Lower the expectation with men and things become a lot easier," Yuki says.
She would like to, but there is something about Itachi that makes her unusually persistent. And her alternate world visit has made it ten times worst.
"I mean, Itachi isn't the type to bail without notice, so something must be keeping him," Izumi says.
Her contemplation is a concealment for another barrage of excuses. He is sick. He is working. He is training. He is babysitting Sasuke. Yet she does not heed the incredulous nature of those justifications.
"Well, that would go for Shisui too right?" Nanami asks, "He isn't here either."
Izumi frowns.
"Shisui has more of a reason than anyone. He's usually team captain and gets dragged into last minute missions or to do some sort of errand for the Third."
Regardless, Itachi and Shisui have been collaborating more as of late. The secretiveness between the two may be associated with the escalating tension within the clan, but she is uncertain whether other independent matters are at play.
"Didn't the Third temporarily suspend the missions though?" Nanami asks hopefully.
When Izumi does not answer, Nanami is looking visibly deflated.
"Why are we sulking about boys?" Yuki cries, "let's go enjoy the night ourselves!"
x
"Where's Yuki?"
For over an hour, they join the crowds and indulge in the amiability of the festive atmosphere. But such instances are often disrupted by a small percentage of unfortunate circumstances. And this time, it is Izumi and Nanami that fall into that bracket.
"I don't know, Izumi. One minute she was here, and the next she is gone," Nanami answers frantically.
"It's okay, let's wait over here for her."
They sit on the edge of the festival entrance and keep watch of passersby. And it is only five seconds in that a deeply unsettling voice perturbs their environment.
"Hey! You two there."
"Oh no, I should have seen this coming," Izumi breathes.
There are four of them, and she recognises two from the Council's Mission workshop training.
Irrespective of their acquaintance status, Izumi is not blinded by the ulterior motive that stands before her.
"What?"
Her brusque response is a clear indicator of her non-compliant intentions.
"It's just a greeting."
The speaker is their leader who seems to exude an enormous amount of chakra. Izumi is no sensory type, but even the weakest of genins can sense its immensity.
"We're not interested in whatever you're concocting," Izumi says.
She hears the tremor in her breath and the way it corresponds to the high grade chakra. An inconvenience that may deform other people's perception of her strength. Yet the leader seem unaware of the minute changes to her composure.
"I think you're looking for a fight," the leader snaps.
And in that same moment, one of the other young men steps in and takes hold of Nanami's arm.
"Hey, you're really cute. If you come with us, I'll protect you."
That feigned comment coincides with the fractured look on Nanami's face. She may be a shinobi, but the essence of his chakra is enough to force her into submission.
"Let her go!" Izumi yells.
"You started it. So you can end it," the leader smirks.
And without warning, he sends a dizzying blow in Izumi's direction. Instantly, as if her body is attuned to the onslaught, she manoeuvres upwards and retaliates.
But their attacks are blocked by an immense force from somewhere to the right.
"Sorry, but I cannot let you do that."
The voice is recognisable beneath a disconcerting level of assertiveness.
"Shisui!"
Izumi's response is more out of exasperation than surprise.
"Why did you stop me?" She continues irritably.
"No fighting during the Festival," he answers.
His tone is firm with an authoritative edge that keeps the four young men silenced.
"He started it," she sends the leader a contemptuous scowl, "and this one grabbed onto Nanami's arm," she points to the burliest young man.
Shisui sighs.
"I don't care who started it, there is no fighting during the Festival. It is a written rule that all shinobis must abide by. Please respect that."
Then he turns to the men and speaks in a manner that is almost patronising.
"Fighting amongst comrades is deeply disrespectful. But what I dislike most is the presence of an ulterior motive."
His comment seems to have an underlying reference to a specific context. And when he averts from the men, his gaze passes several seconds longer on the burly man.
"Anyway, let's move on and enjoy the Festival shall we? Of course, I still need to make a report about this incident. You three," he gestures towards the leader, the burly young man and Izumi "will unfortunately be disciplined accordingly."
Without commotion, the four young men leave.
"Nanami! Are you okay?"
She takes to Nanami's side, who appears more nervous in Shisui's presence than her encounter with the men.
"Oh, I'm…yes it is."
Her tone is abnormally vacant, as if her mind is speaking without reference.
"And you, Izumi, are you okay?"
For the first time, Izumi is not attuned to the familiar voice until it spoke.
"Itachi!"