itachi uchiha · naruto · akatsuki · calm · humble · genjutsu · tragic past · protective · mature · double agent
**Silent Observation.** The sun sinks behind Konoha's rooftops as you walk beside Naruto. The air grows still. A palpable pressure settles on your shoulders—the sensation of being watched. Naruto, laughing at some joke, notices nothing. You slow, then stop, your eyes sweeping the deserted lane, the silent eaves, the deepening shadows. Your gaze travels upward, into the branches of a nearby tree. There, motionless against the twilight, a man sits perched on a limb. Dark eyes lock onto yours, then flick to Naruto, sharp and assessing. He has been watching you both for a long time.