Crow
His summon was in love with her.
The thought of one of his crows eyeing his wife wasn't disconcerting. Not really. Rather, it was just... new. His crows were never particularly vocal about their preferences in regards to people or things. If he needed something done, then they did it. No questions asked. Maybe a tilt of their elegantly sloped heads, but otherwise they kept their opinions to themselves. Their likes and dislikes were a well-guarded secret that they never made apparent to anyone—not even to him, who had been their most frequent summoner for the past two decades.
They'd also never blatantly shown affection to any one of his friends or family. They just did their job when called and disappeared when it was finished. Itachi favored them for their respect and for their efficiency.
So, why was it that when he came home after a grueling two-week long mission guarding a young woman that proclaimed to be madly in love with him after a single glance, one of the crows he usually left to watch over Hinata while he was gone was sitting on her shoulder, rubbing its dark head against her cheek in a manner more fit for a dog than a bird.
Itachi rubbed his eyes, making sure that he was seeing right. His eyesight had been spotty recently, but not to the point where he would mistake his bird for something else. Perhaps he was caught in a genjutsu of some sort? No, that was impossible. Uchiha Itachi didn't get trapped in genjutsu—if he did, then it would have to be a spectacular one, indeed. The sort that could bring the rest of the world to its knees. Was this a hallucination then? A trick of the light? While he wasn't prepared to declare himself mentally unsound, there was no other explanation for the sight before him. Did the insane even know they were past the realm of reality? Or did the realization come to them after time and medication? He wasn't sure, but he made a mental note to find out.
"Itachi," Hinata called, delighted. She ran up to him to take the pack from his shoulders. His bird was still balanced gracefully on her shoulder. "Welcome home."
"... I'm home," he said, late. But that didn't stop her from smiling up at him. Itachi didn't return it, but he did take note of it, memorizing it and comparing it with the rest of her smiles in the back of his mind. Just in case there was something wrong. He did that in the span of a second, before his eyes focused back on his crow.
His summon was glaring at him. As if he was the enemy.
It was... it wasn't right.
"Takase was keeping me company," she explained when she noticed his distracted gaze.
Hinata rubbed the bird's plume, and Itachi narrowed his eyes. Since when did his crows give out their names? And when did they willingly approach anyone? When he'd first made his pact with them, he'd gotten into a six hour long glaring contest with their leader—a creepy, six-eyed thing with eyes blacker than tar and talons sharper than any of his blades. Its appearance didn't stop him from emerging the victor, but he easily considered it to be the most unnerving six hours of his life. And Takase knew that, simply because he was the leader's son and had been present throughout that long stare down. Itachi didn't appreciate being glared at by the bird, who was starting to look eerily similar to his father.
He'd always known that Hinata had the uncanny ability to attract people to her. He blamed it on her kind demeanor. It screamed, 'protect me.' But seducing his crow was another matter entirely. If she could do it, then surely others might.
Itachi had never thought of his crows as easy creatures, but perhaps—
"I am not easy," Takase squawked, affronted by the thoughts making themselves apparent in Itachi's eyes.
Itachi was quick to smooth his face over into its usual indifferent mask. Had he said that out loud? Or were his thoughts just that transparent? He didn't think they were, but when he wasn't on missions, most of his days were spent in his wife's adoring company. She was so open all the time, which prompted him to act in a similar manner. It didn't help that he was comfortable in her presence. There were downsides to being off his guard for extended periods of time.
"I'm sorry," Hinata quickly said, wanting to relieve the sudden tension between them. "I asked Takase to come inside. He was perched on the tree nearby like usual, but you were gone, the house was quiet, and it was cold out, so I figured he'd be more comfortable inside, seeing as how his job is to watch the house with me."
"Hinata," he called, lifting her chin up to see her eyes. "I'm not angry. Just... surprised. Takase is much like myself. He prefers to be left to his own devices."
Hinata tilted her head at him in confusion. "But he came inside so quickly. It must've been very cold out."
So, his crow was easy.
"I am not!" Takase screeched once more.
Itachi never had to physically try to restrain his expressions before, but he was also rarely surprised. He reminded himself to work on his slowly crumbling mask. After he had a talk with his summons leader of course. It would be best if someone other than Takase kept watch from now on.
He's wasted on guard duty, Itachi reasoned. With that unnerving glare, Itachi knew he'd be better fit for missions outside the village. He was lethal with a strong pair of wings and razor sharp reflexes. Takase was meant to be out with him, lost in the heat of battle. Not nuzzling his wife, who was all too happy to cater to the bird's whims while he was away. His summon might get soft.
... Or so he told himself.
And that's exactly what he'd tell Takase's father, too.