Chapter 1
“I heard from Ishi-sensei you managed to wrangle a job as our chaperone,” says Fuu.
Itachi doesn’t look up from the dumplings he’s making, but hums.
“There’s no way he’d stay away,” says Sasuke. “Itachi’s afraid I’d stub my toe fatally during the written exam and he’d have to weep dramatically over my corpse. Which, as we know, he’d be no good at.”
“I leave the dramatics to Shisui,” says Itachi. “As we know, he’s a natural.”
“When’s he coming back?” asks Sasuke. “He said his mission shouldn’t take longer than a day and it’s been twenty-eight hours.”
Itachi doesn’t want the reminder. He’s not entirely comfortable, still, with his family going on dangerous missions. The best way he has found to protect them is as Shibuki’s administrative assistant, vetting their missions. Sasuke has told him many times to stop, but Shisui understands. Itachi even thinks he might find it comforting, and it’s perfectly in line with their shared philosophy of defending the ones he loves from the shadows.
“Patience,” says Itachi. “Our cousin is closer than you think.” Shisui is walking up the steps to the house, and neither Sasuke nor Fuu is in the habit of keeping their senses on high alert for approaching chakra signatures. Even after four years, Itachi hasn’t been willing to give that up.
“I’m hoooome,” calls Shisui from the doorway. “I’m starving, is there food?” Having immediately identified Itachi as a potential food source, he comes to rest his chin on Itachi’s shoulder. “Dumplings!” he says happily, leaning his head into Itachi’s.
“So how was it?” demands Sasuke. “Weren’t you near Thunder Country? Did you have any trouble with Kumo nin?”
“None at all! I think they’re being extra polite for the upcoming chuunin exam, which I guess means they plan on entering some genin. I know the whole thing between Suna and Konoha has made them a little wary about entering.”
“I can’t wait to meet them,” says Fuu. “I love to meet people from different cultures but it’s so hard in a tiny country like Cliff. No-one ever comes through here.”
“I feel sorry for the Suna genin who will have to take the exam in Kiri,” says Sasuke, shoving Shisui aside to start scooping dumplings out of the pot.
“Not sorry enough to not destroy them, though,” adds Fuu.
“Chikusa’s going to love it there,” says Sasuke. “Her quicksand release will be—hey!” Shisui flickers away, having stolen Sasuke’s bowl of dumplings. Unfortunately for him, Sasuke seems to have predicted where he would go, and follows to take them back in a blur of chopsticks.
“I regret ever teaching you body flicker,” says Shisui sourly.
“You didn’t teach me,” says Sasuke around a mouthful of dumpling. “Itachi did. You’re useless to me now.”
“My own little cousin! My adored cousin who I raised from a baby! I remember when your demon cat only had two tails, and you were this tall!”
Itachi looks over his shoulder at Fuu, raising his eyebrows. See? Dramatics. She giggles and comes over to get the newest batch of dumplings while Sasuke and Shisui are arguing.
“How is your gale palm technique coming?” Itachi asks her.
“Ehhh,” she says. “I don’t think I’ll be able to use it in the exam. At least I have blade of wind, that makes a really good combination with Sasuke’s fireballs. We’re thinking of calling it cutting inferno.”
“A good combination can be controlled,” Itachi says softly. “I’ve seen the results of that one, and I would say it needs more work.”
“Itachi! The exam is in Kiri, it’s not like we’ll be able to set that much stuff on fire.”
“After the exam, then,” he says. “I’ll help you work on it.”