Chapter 45 - brief meeting with Itachi

Chapter 45 - brief meeting with Itachi 

The Days Passed 

One day Morning at the Training Ground

The early morning sun cast long shadows across the training ground as I strolled through the familiar paths. The sound of shuriken slicing through the air caught my attention, drawing my gaze to a young boy practicing with intense focus. His small frame was unmistakable, yet his precision was far beyond his years. 

"Hey, is that Itachi? The little genius of the Uchiha clan?" I called out as I approached.

The boy, no older than five, turned to face me, his expression calm and composed. "Yes, I am Itachi," he replied, tilting his head slightly. "And who might you be?"

I couldn't help but smile at his serious demeanor. Squatting down to his level, I said, "I'm Ruki Oguchi. Nice to meet you, little cutie."

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to assess my intentions. "Ruki-san, do you want something from me?"

I chuckled at his straightforwardness. "Yes, I wanted to ask about Shisui. Do you know where he is?"

As if on cue, Shisui appeared, walking towards us with his usual easygoing smile Ruki-san, what brings you here?"

I Poked his head with two fingers and answered.

"Nothing much, just passing by when I saw this little guy," I replied, nodding towards Itachi.

Shisui gave a light laugh and patted Itachi's shoulder. "Itachi, this is Ruki-san. No need to be on guard around him."

I waved off Shisui's concern with a grin. "Oi, Shisui, don't say that. Itachi here is pretty easy to get along with."

I reached out to ruffle Itachi's hair, fully expecting him to dodge. He tried, but I was faster. My hand landed gently on his head, and I ruffled his hair, much to his chagrin. Shisui wasn't spared either; I messed up his hair too, earning a playful scowl from him.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, signaling that it was almost noon. I decided it was time for a break. "Alright, how about we grab some ice cream popsicles?"

Shisui and Itachi agreed, and we started walking towards the nearest shop. On the way, I noticed a familiar figure standing by a meatball stall. It was Obito, already enjoying his meal.

A mischievous grin spread across my face as I quietly approached him from behind. "Oi, Obito!" I slapped him on the back, causing him to jump in fright.

"Ahh!" he exclaimed, spinning around. When he saw me, his panic turned to relief. "Oh, Ruki, it's just you."

I laughed, unable to resist teasing him. "You're always so jumpy, Obito. You should be more aware of your surroundings."

Obito grumbled good-naturedly as he rubbed his back where I'd hit him. "Yeah, yeah. But don't sneak up on me like that. You almost gave me a heart attack."

Shisui and Itachi caught up to us, and I introduced them to Obito. "Look who I found practicing shuriken this morning. Obito, meet Itachi, the future star of the Uchiha clan."

Obito's eyes widened as he looked at the young boy. "Whoa, you're Itachi? I've heard a lot about you."

Itachi gave a small nod, acknowledging the compliment with his usual calm. "Nice to meet you, Obito-san."

We all grabbed some ice cream and meatballs, enjoying the food and each other's company. The afternoon passed with laughter and light-hearted banter, a welcome break from the rigorous training and missions that filled our days.

Evening Reflections

As the day drew to a close, I found myself reflecting on how much things had changed over the past few months. My interactions with others—whether it was with Kakashi, Shisui, or even the young Itachi—reminded me of the bonds that made life in Konoha meaningful. These were the people I fought for, the ones who made all the challenges worthwhile.

Before parting ways, I ruffled Itachi's hair once more, earning a small but genuine smile from him this time. It was moments like these that reminded me of the simple joys amidst the chaos of our lives as shinobi.

I can clearly see Itachi becoming warmer to me, from an troublesome kid to a cutie pie in just hours perhaps.

We all headed home as the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky painted with hues of orange and purple. Another day had passed in Konoha, but it was far from ordinary. Each day brought new connections, new challenges, and the steady march toward whatever awaited us in the future.