"Sister Izumi."
At that moment, Izumi was sitting on a stool in the yard, basking in the sun, gently stroking her baby bump with her left hand.
When she heard someone call her, she turned and saw—it was Menma!
A bright smile bloomed on her face. Ever since she got pregnant, Itachi had been overly protective—constantly fussing over her, telling her not to lift heavy things, not to go anywhere dangerous. Even two months before the due date, Itachi wouldn't let her leave the house.
Izumi understood Itachi's concern for both her and the baby, but… it was boring.
Itachi was often busy during the day, and the only company she had was Mikoto, Itachi's mother.
So, when she saw Menma arrive, she was genuinely happy.
"Wow, Sister Izumi, you're so beautiful! If I'd known you'd end up like this, I'd have asked you to wait for me a few more years. That bastard Itachi got too lucky," Menma said dramatically.
To be honest, Izumi was one of the most beautiful women in Naruto—not just in appearance, but in personality too. Top-tier in both.
"Hahaha." Izumi laughed, amused by Menma's bold words.
Then she smiled and said, "Menma, you're at the age where you should start thinking about dating. Do you like anyone? Want me to help you out?"
Just as Menma was about to reply, Izumi continued, "There are a lot of girls in our clan around your age. Interested in any of them?" She couldn't help promoting the girls from her clan.
While the Uchiha traditionally avoided marrying outside the clan, everything had exceptions.
Especially someone like Menma—so young, yet already so powerful. Even the Third Elder couldn't take him on. Izumi remembered Itachi once said that what they'd seen was only the tip of the iceberg. Plus, Menma was the son of the Fourth Hokage.
Powerful strength + powerful status = Enough reason for the Uchiha to break tradition.
"Sister Izumi, I'm still young! Don't rush me," Menma replied. He was only 12 years old!
"Not in a hurry? Are you planning to get married after Naruto?" Izumi teased. Everyone knew Naruto and Hinata had been dating for a while. If Menma, at his age and position, didn't even have a potential partner, how could that be?
"That's a good thing. Our family line is small—just Naruto and me. As the younger brother, Naruto should be the one contributing to the population. I'm hoping after he marries Hinata, they'll have ten kids!" Menma said enthusiastically.
If they had ten, even better if most were boys. That way, the next generation would thrive...
Izumi: ╮(╯▽╰)╭
Poor Naruto and Hinata.
"Just go with the flow, Menma. And as the older brother, shouldn't you set an example?" Izumi teased.
"No, no. I'm the one making the money to raise the kids. Naruto's in charge of spending money and making the kids," Menma said with confidence.
Izumi paused. Something about that sounded very wrong...
Just then, Itachi arrived.
"Menma, you're here," he greeted.
"Yep," Menma nodded. Then he immediately went on the offensive: "Itachi, I really regret giving up Sister Izumi to you. She's pregnant and you're barely around to keep her company. If it were me, I'd be by her side constantly. Can't you at least leave a shadow clone behind?"
Izumi silently praised Menma. She understood why Itachi was so busy, but she still felt a little neglected. Menma's words gave her the perfect outlet for that frustration. She smiled sweetly at Itachi, silently asking: Well? What now?
Itachi: ￣□￣｜｜
"I was wrong." As a responsible husband, Itachi immediately admitted fault. Being busy wasn't an excuse.
"Good. You're teachable," Menma nodded seriously. "So, you know what to do next, right?"
Itachi gave a wry smile. "Menma, not everyone's like you—using shadow clones left and right."
He thought to himself: I'd love to do that too—work while my clone keeps Izumi company—but it's not that easy for me. There's just too much going on.
"Alright, alright. Just spend more time with Sister Izumi in the future. Otherwise, I'll beat you up," Menma said threateningly.
"Get lost. Like you could even beat me," Itachi retorted, dropping his calm persona for a moment.
"Heh, in the last match, who was it that cried—mmph!" Before Menma could finish, Itachi clamped a hand over his mouth and whispered, "That's enough, Menma."
Menma nodded, signaling surrender.
Seeing this, Itachi let go. He turned to look at Izumi, who responded with a sweet smile. Itachi smiled back, the corners of his mouth rising gently.
It was a beautiful moment—until someone had to ruin it.
"Ugh, I'm full already. Enough with the lovey-dovey stuff," Menma complained. "Do you think I'm invisible?"
He felt like he'd just swallowed a mountain of dog food.
Itachi and Izumi laughed at his expression.
Izumi said, "Then hurry up and find someone of your own. Itachi, help me find a girl from the clan who'd be a good match for Menma."
"No problem," Itachi said, glancing at Menma with a playful smirk.
Another matchmaker?
My god, no. One Tsunade was already terrifying enough.
A few days earlier, for some reason, Tsunade had set him up for a blind date. Menma refused on the spot.
Everyone loves me! The man whose looks could make tires go flat! Why would I need a blind date? What a joke!
Tsunade had retorted, "Don't be so quick to refuse! At least go see her—I picked her carefully."
Menma rolled his eyes. "You're unmarried and know nothing."
Famous last words.
CRACK!
The table shattered again.
(Why is it always me? This is a tragic tale.)
Tsunade, once angry, was no small threat. Menma had to run for his life.
But run? Could he really get away?
Tsunade chased him immediately.
Menma ran across nine streets, but still couldn't shake her. In the end, he had to use a shadow clone to escape.
Tsunade was so furious, she ordered Konoha's Anbu to track him down. But when they caught him—it was just a clone!
(へ╬)(へ╬)(へ╬)
He even tricked Anbu with shadow clones...
"UZUMAKI! You're dead meat!" Tsunade roared.
"Lady Tsunade, why don't you go wait for him at his house?" Shizune suggested.
The one who tied the knot should also untie it—only Menma could calm her down now.
That made sense. Target acquired: Menma's home.
Tsunade rushed straight there—only to find the place empty.
Menma: Do you think I'm dumb enough to wait at home and get caught?
Tsunade waited a long time, but Menma never showed. Eventually, she had to leave and get back to her duties.
Once she was gone, Menma finally snuck back home.
How did he know Tsunade had left?
Kurama, of course.
But that information came at a price.
Sigh. Another novel gone just for one update.
"Sister Izumi, I'm heading out. See you next time," Menma said before walking away, completely ignoring Itachi and Izumi's attempts to make him stay.
Itachi seemed to have caught onto Menma's weakness.
o(￣︶￣)o
(End Of Chapter)
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