Inoâs mortification of her previous actions was only superseded by her genuine affection and regard for the younger man before her. She still couldnât believe he had grown up so much. Of course, time had passed⊠but in Inoâs mind, those beautifully hand-written birthday cards were from that young genin student with round, marble-like eyes.
âAahaha, how long has it even been since I last properly saw you? Goodness⊠youâre taller than Sensei now,â she laughed,  although the woman reached up to pat his hair in a good-natured fashion. He would always be the boy in her memories⊠no amount of learning jutsu could change that.
Even now, he was smiling beside her, relatively calm and not at all upset by their previous encounters. ANBU must have given him a strong stomach. Ino was sure she was twice his age and should not have hit on him, considering their past connectionâŠ. But she could claim that she was drunk on one occasion.
Despite the change in him, she could still detect that warm, fiery chakra nature in him when they embraced. Her lips curved a tad wider and she squeezed him playfully.
âHehe, Iâm well â but clearly not as well as you. Ah, I heard you got promoted to lead ANBU, congratulations!â The fair-haired shinobi beamed at him with pride and patted his arm. âIâm sure that with time, you can even become Hokage!â
In some aspects, Ino was still that naĂŻve Jounin. She did not believe that being an Uchiha would impede his chances to become Hokage- after all, Itachiâs ability was unsurpassed for now.
âJust donât forget about me when you become Hokage, ne?â
He let out a brief chuckle as she patted his head, as though he was still a child. It was not something that he normally allowed, but he owed much to the elder. To describe her as motherly during his short time as her student would be a gross understatement.
She had smothered him, more like. He had lost count of the number of times she had carried him around, cooing excitedly. His father had thought it was embarrassing.
His mother, on the other hand, had found it amusing.Â
Shisui had found it downright hilarious.
He leaned back slightly, and--deeming it appropriate to let her go now, allowed his hands to slowly fall to his sides. Any longer and that wouldâve been overstepping his bounds.Â
âI daresay Iâm not that good, but thank you. But even if I do become Hokage, I would hardly forget the person who helped start my journey after the academy.â After he graduated, he had been placed under her tutelage as one of her genin students. That experience had only lasted for a few months.Â
Itachi thought about it, considering her earlier question. How long had it been since they last saw each other? That one drunken encounter excluded.
âPerhaps... It has been about ten years since we last saw each other? More than. Iâm 20 now...â And with his eyes and heart still set on becoming Hokage.
dailybridgerton
stormborns
2087
izzy806
romaincrisis
gummygunk
pixelskylines
theartofmadeline
