Mikoto's teasing continued, her playful jabs making Itachi increasingly flustered. He tried to maintain his composure, but his cheeks grew warmer with each passing moment.

"So, tell me more about this 'friend,' Itachi," Mikoto pressed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "What are they like? Are they strong? Are they…pretty?"

Itachi's face flushed even deeper, the faint mark of lipstick on his cheek becoming almost invisible against his reddening skin. He stammered, his words failing him.

"Mother, please," he pleaded, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "It's not…it's not like that."

Just then, Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi's father, and Sasuke Uchiha, his younger brother, entered the room. They stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening at the sight of Itachi's flustered state.

Fugaku, his expression stoic as always, raised an eyebrow. "Itachi? What's going on here?" he asked, his voice deep and commanding.

Sasuke, his eyes filled with curiosity, piped up. "Nii-san's face is all red!" he exclaimed, pointing at Itachi. "What happened?"

Mikoto's smile widened, her amusement reaching its peak. "Oh, Itachi just made a new friend," she said, her voice dripping with playful insinuation. "And this friend seems to have left quite an impression on him."

Itachi's embarrassment reached its zenith. With Fugaku and Sasuke now in the room, the teasing had become unbearable. His face was so red that the lipstick mark was completely obscured.

"Mother, please stop," he begged, his voice barely above a whisper.

Fugaku, though usually stern, couldn't help but crack a small smile at his son's predicament. Sasuke, however, was filled with curiosity, his eyes darting between Itachi and Mikoto, eager to learn more about this mysterious "friend."

"A friend, eh?" Fugaku rumbled, his voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Someone who can make Itachi blush like that must be quite remarkable."

Sasuke, his curiosity piqued, pressed his brother for details. "Who is it, Nii-san? Is it a girl? Is she strong?"

Itachi, his embarrassment still lingering, tried to deflect their questions. "It's…it's no one special," he mumbled, avoiding their gazes. "Just someone I met at the Chunin Exams."

Mikoto, however, was not about to let him off the hook so easily. "Oh, but they must be special, Itachi," she insisted, her voice teasing. "They left a mark on you, after all." She gestured towards his cheek, where the faint red hue still lingered.

Itachi sighed, realizing that further attempts to evade their questions were futile. "It's…it's Naruko," he finally admitted, his voice barely audible.

Sasuke's eyes widened. "Naruko? The one who won the Chunin Exams?" he exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise. "She's amazing! She defeated you!"

Fugaku's eyebrows rose slightly. "Naruko Uzumaki?" he asked, his voice thoughtful. "She displayed considerable skill. I was impressed."

Mikoto's smile softened. "Naruko is a lovely girl," she said, her voice gentle. "She's strong, kind, and…clearly quite fond of you, Itachi."

Itachi's face flushed again, his embarrassment returning with renewed vigor. He wished the floor would swallow him whole.

"Mother, please," he pleaded, his voice a low groan. "Can we just…drop this?"

Fugaku, sensing his son's discomfort, decided to intervene. "Mikoto, leave him be," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Itachi is old enough to have friends."

Mikoto chuckled, her amusement fading. "Alright, alright," she relented. "But you'll have to introduce us to this 'Naruko' sometime, Itachi."

Itachi nodded, his relief palpable. "Yes, Mother," he said, his voice grateful. "I will."

Sasuke, still curious, continued to bombard Itachi with questions about Naruko, eager to learn more about the girl who had defeated his brother. Itachi, though still slightly flustered, answered his questions patiently, his mind still replaying the unexpected kiss and the warmth of Naruko's smile.