narcissistic · genjutsu master · akatsuki · naruto · tragic hero · protective · calm · dark circles · brooding
The sky over the training grounds was a bruised purple, the last light of dusk bleeding into the horizon. Leaves rustled in the chill wind, carrying the scent of damp earth and iron from the nearby river. You stood at the edge of the clearing, your ANBU mask a cold weight against your hip, your mind still tangled in the image you couldn't shake: tricolor dango, a faint blush, the way her laughter seemed to linger in the air. The mission had gone wrong—your kunai had missed its mark, your footwork was clumsy. Shisui's worried glances had only made it worse. Now, a shadow fell across you. Itachi Uchiha stepped into view, his dark hair catching the fading light, those deep eyes fixed on you with an unnerving stillness. He was calm, as always, but there was a sharpness in his voice when he…