shinnogi

[shinnogi]

I will probably do things here today !

[shinnogi]

Maybe I should bring Orochimaru over to this blog…he doesn’t fit this aesthetic tho but

[shinnogi]

      Homura pouted as Itachi explained that the kitten couldn’t eat apples. They were his favourite food and he was sad that his new friend couldn’t enjoy it, however he was sure there were a lot to other tasty snacks that the kitten could eat so he wasn’t too upset. ❛  Fish snacks are tasty too, but they are hard to eat…  ❜ he toddler mused to himself, thinking back to when he had tried dried fish for the first time, it was tasty but hard for him to eat and if it wasn’t for father cutting it in bite sized pieces for him, he wouldn’t have managed to enjoy it.

      ❛  Will you cut it very small for the kitty, daddy?  ❜ Homura asked, although at being picked up with the cat in his lap he squeaked, a sound of surprise and slight fear. Trying as best as his three year old self could to hold the kitten safely. ❛  T-that’s what father did when I tried fishie snacks.  ❜

      Being set on the counter was also scary, but Homura didn’t tell his dad that, trying to be brave even if his little frame was shaking. The cat in his arms purring gently and nuzzling her head against him. ❛  I-I want to help, please.  ❜ Homura said, voice soft and carrying that lilt of hesitation it always did.

      ❛  Won’t father be angry? I don’t want him to be mad at us, daddy.  ❜ Homura knew his father very well, and he knew the man didn’t like surprises, didn’t like to not be told things beforehand. He didn’t want anyone to be upset. 

ㅤ«Kitties don't really enjoy apples, they prefer tasty snacks made of meat or fish. Though - this one may still be too young for that.» Which might be a slight issue, if so, because they didn't have proper cat milk replacement at home. Then again, she did seem to be quite the independent little lady so maybe they should give her more credit. Only one way to find out.

ㅤCareful to scoop up the kitten first, leaving her comfortably snuggled in Homura's hold, Itachi then stood from the couch and brought both babies along with him, heading for the kitchen - which, of course, was as pristine as ever and emanating a soft floral aroma. He sat Homura on one of the counters -something he would absolutely not trust Ryuuichi with, knowing it'd take the other twin a grand total of five seconds to try and climb down on his own- and opened the fridge to study their options.

ㅤ«Would you like to help me, sweetheart? The food needs to be cooked first, to make sure the kitty won't get sick.»

ㅤBefore that, though... as Itachi now brought out of said fridge a porcelain bowl where he'd stored some slabs of meat to be prepared later for the family's dinner, there was a different kind of smile tilting his lips. A very rare one that spoke of mischief only. «We will tell father once he's home, no need to disturb him while he's working. And I'm counting on you and Ryuu to help me convince him.» No way Neji was going to be able to say 'no' to big pleading eyes from his husband and both toddlers!

[shinnogi]

      Mikoto had been a child like Itachi once, no matter how collected the boy was, in moments like these he allowed himself to be childlike in his excitement. She had been much the same, wondering and babbling about a world yet to come — about discoveries yet to be made, adventures yet to be had. Adulthood had forced her to lock that side of herself away in favor of being the perfect wife, of honouring her husband as an Uchiha Matriarch should.

      ❛  Time, ne…  ❜ she mused, a gentle smile taking hold of her delicate features, hands still softly stroking Itachi’s hair. ❛  Well, I am excited to see what time will bring us, but mostly I am happy you will get to see some of that new world of discoveries,  ❜ her voice was soft, gentle as it always was, but carrying a lilt of longing - a waver of sadness. ❛  At least more than I will.  ❜

      Time was a cruel master, but it was far better for children to bury their parents than the other way around. She did not like to think about death, not when most of her life had involved being trained to kill and to die at the proper moment. Still, she was in her early thirties, soon she’d be forty, fifty maybe even sixty if she was allowed to live that long. Eventually she’d have to leave her children behind. That thought scared her a bit.

      The woman responded to her child’s smile with one of her own, eyes soft and glittering at the sight of his happiness. ❛  I like to think every life form is intelligent in their own ways,  ❜ she had always thought so, and that had been the cause of many arguments between her and a certain Hyuuga back in the academy. ❛  After all, intelligence isn’t just academic knowledge.  ❜ There were many forms of intelligence in her opinion, and so many people were dismissed simply because they didn’t possess the academic variety.

      ❛  I think alien robots might be a bit too scary for me, darling,  ❜ she chuckled, cheeks dusted pink in pure happiness of spending time with her eldest. She missed these moments so much, having Itachi near her soothing an ache within Mikoto she didn’t even know she had. That conversation reminded her of an odd dream she had once, something that she had mistaken as a meteor shower as it first began, but her instincts told her the white lights falling from the sky were creatures.

      Creatures she couldn’t see, but were completely white, and their impact upon the earth devastating. ❛  Maybe they won’t look like anything we know at all, completely different and indescribable to us,  ❜ she mused, eyes kind as she stared down at her baby. ❛  Either way, I am sure you would befriend them quite quickly, wouldn’t you?  ❜

ㅤ«We don't yet have the technology to properly study it,» Itachi said in response to his mother's remark, shifting ever so slightly in the very much comfortable position so that he could look at her while speaking, «but it's only a matter of time. A hundred years ago, we only knew of our own galaxy. We knew that our Sun is a star, but we didn't understand how it is able to shine and produce heat. So, imagine where we'll be a hundred years from today?»

ㅤA topic that was very dear to Itachi, after all - or perhaps not the only the topic itself, since he had such vast interest in so many different fields, but the overarching theme. This prospect of watching science develop and expand, of wondering what might be known and what might be possible in a relative short span of time. Up until Sasuke's birth, the older brother had struggled to find any sort of meaning in life... why was he here, why did the world exist to begin with, why was he alive if he was supposed to die one day like all things did? Themes like this, they had helped him a lot during those days - maybe he didn't know why he was alive, maybe he wasn't sure what purpose or usefulness he had, but even a tiny spec of dust in the grand scheme of things like he was could marvel at the wonders around him. Could feel compelled, even excited, to know more and learn more about them. Maybe that was a meaning, in and of itself.

ㅤAnd, thankfully, nowadays 'meaning in life' was something as simple as the little kiss to his forehead he'd just gotten and that had his smile growing twofold. If only he could bond with Fugaku in the same way... except, if he ever was to bring such news to his father, no doubt he'd be offered a disappointed stare that spoke for itself: why is my firstborn and heir wasting time on such non-sense when he could be training to improve himself and honor our clan. ...Anyway. «I agree!» enthusiasm returned upon his mother's shared perspective, he continued, «The universe is virtually endless, there is no way our planet is the only one where conditions for life have emerged - perhaps even intelligent life.»

ㅤEven that classification, wasn't that arrogant as well? Just because alien life might be different than humans, why should that immediately imply they were not intelligent? If anything, microscopic lifeforms, like Mikoto had just mentioned, might be the smartest of them all - able to thrive in the harshest of conditions. Who needs a brain with a huge pre-frontal cortex, right? Putting the paper down for a moment, Itachi instead directed his gaze to the sky above, as if subconsciously trying to find a little UFO going around and ready to land on their backyard.

ㅤ«I would love to meet an alien, would probably be asking them questions for days. I'm not sure what I imagine they'd look like, though... green skin and multiple eyes or arms sounds so stereotypical. What if they aren't anthropomorphic to begin with? The lizard trope is also very cliché, but it might make for interesting forms. Imagine if they had camouflage abilities, like chameleons? Or imagine they aren't alive at all - something like machines or robots.»

[shinnogi]

      Chocolate brown eyes dull, but incredibly keen, caught the strange way in which the Uchiha has arrived — it wasn’t that anything was out of the ordinary, but Sasori had the impression that something had happened during the younger’s brief visit to town. He didn’t know what it was, but his instincts told him it had affected the stoic child quite a bit.

      ❛  Mhm,  ❜ he hummed, doubtful but deciding not to interrogate the younger man, giving him that moment of respite at least. ❛  That will do, lavender is already a second option, concentrated oil is better than the regular one,  ❜ the puppeteer explained, accepting the small vial and nodding in gratitude. Please and thank you was not something Sasori said, a simple nod was all people would receive out of him if they were worthy.

      Carefully he took out of Hiruko his tools and equipment — kunai, shuriken, needles and so much more. He’d be filing them, polishing them and adding the oil to the poison he’d lather them with. Though as he prepared everything he had an idea. It was a silly idea, and he didn’t know why he would even think about it, but Itachi was not the worst option he could have had for a companion on a mission, hell, he was much better than Deidara that is for sure. And so why not try to bond a little?

      ❛  Brat,  ❜ he began, casting a look at the Uchiha. He hoped this bonding activity would also ease the younger’s mind, take it away from whatever had caused him to come back so early. ❛  Sand those down,  ❜ he threw a couple Kunai at the Uchiha’s feet along with chakra infused sand paper. ❛  You can do that, can you not?  ❜

Lavender oil.

ㅤImagine traveling with an S-ranked criminal who'd been featured in the Bingo Book for decades, and he asked you to buy lavender oil. How many cocky bounty hunters had Sasori deceived with such apparently delicate demeanor? How many had found their untimely demise at the end of Hiruko's tail, no doubt left washed in the scent of lavender, for believing they could take down an opponent so unassuming? Not that Itachi himself had the morals to judge, however. With minimal effort, he himself could be disguised as a helpless half-child or as a harmless, beautiful woman.

How funny,

that such disjointed musings came to him in the puppet master's presence.

«Understood.»

ㅤNo need to linger, either. Matters between them, save for the occasional confrontation born from the older shinobi's temper and fueled by the younger's sass, tended to be straightforward. Go and get supplies and lavender oil, and so the Uchiha would. A quick stop by the nearby tea shop, to grab a box of dango sticks - yes, that did count as a real meal as far as he was concerned - and then on to search for any drug stores or anything similar. Itachi himself rarely ever needed to replenish his gear, because it were his eyes that he'd put to use instead. Since killing was unavoidable, better to have it be quick and clean and devoid of suffering - which, for a moment, brough him the smallest smile as he pondered how Kisame and Deidara might have been getting along together, for their own mission. Or, in other words, how much of a mess those two were creating together.

ㅤA smile destined to fade too soon, wither like a flower under the scorching heat, the moment he exited said drug store with the new package in hand and chanced to glance aside and see a perfectly common sight. Two boys, one a bit older and one a bit younger, talking and laughing and getting excited as they looked at the displays of the toy shop. Two brothers, no doubt, planning what to do with their free time and dreaming about presents they might receive for the next birthday. The most casual of sights, and one that put an immediate stab of pain through Itachi's chest. Enough to make him forget about sightseeing and to immediately send him in the direction of the inn for the night. There was no running from memories, of course, nor from grief and sorrow, but there was always the option to grab it all, chuck into a tiny little ball, and force it back to the depths of his mind while using something else as distraction.

ㅤAnd so he kept his perfectly stoic expression as he ventured inside the room, nothing amiss at all save for the frantic beating of his heart. One moment to silently close the door behind him, another to remove his straw hat and the Akatsuki coat and to leave them neatly on top of the dresser, and then to go join his partner as he held out the package containing the oil.

ㅤ«Nothing interesting,» he briefly agreed, not unless you're into post-traumatic stress and aggressively intrusive thoughts, «and I did find the oil. The shop owner mentioned it's a concentrated variant, however. Will it still be usable for you?»

[shinnogi]

      we can never be gods, after all - but we can become something less than human with frightening ease [...] the knives that will slaughter heaven, our heads bloody but unbowed [...] for ours is a fate worse than death...

      𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 (  here  )  𝐓𝐎  ( @kikaichuno )

      Hanging out as a group was getting harder and harder the older they got, still they tried to find time for at least a monthly hangout. It worked well with most of their schedules, so while the more extroverted of them were screaming around the grill, Chouji had chosen to be near Shino where it was much quieter and less…hectic. ❛  E-eh? Really? Ah, I’m glad then,  ❜ he laughed shyly, face burning up as he scratched his cheek. A nervous little habit from childhood.

      ❛  It must be so cool to talk to insects. Do they tell you a bunch of interesting stuff?  ❜ He asked, once again genuine curiosity in his gentle voice. He chuckled at himself, the butterfly that had been following him settling against his cheek. ❛  When I was a kid, before the academy, I released a blue butterfly from a spider’s web, after that,  ❜ he paused gently picking up the butterfly on his finger, hazel eyes sparkling with fondness for the blue insect. ❛  Wherever I go, one of these guys will trail behind me, isn’t that odd?  ❜

[shinnogi]

      we can never be gods, after all - but we can become something less than human with frightening ease [...] the knives that will slaughter heaven, our heads bloody but unbowed [...] for ours is a fate worse than death...

      𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 (  here  )  𝐓𝐎  ( @kikaichuno )

      It was sad to admit that he was used to death, he was a Shinobi after all, still it didn’t stop making him feel sort of…empty. Cold. He wasn’t really sure how to describe the feeling, but it wasn’t a nice one. Being assigned this mission with team 8 had him feeling nervous — he didn’t want to disappoint them. They were all people he admired, looked up to even and so Chouji did his best to be useful. Killing their target was what the mission involved, Chouji had helped but Shino was the one to deal the final blow.

      ❛  That was scary,  ❜ he commented, attempting a smile at the insect user. ❛  I’ll be okay, though! No need for pills, killing just makes me feel a little strange, that’s all.  ❜ Asuma had scolded him about it before, his dad too, but it wasn’t like Chouji was trying to be like this. He’d much rather be cold and able to kill easily. But he wasn’t.

      ❛  Do you think we’ll be heading back now? Or will we set camp somewhere instead?  ❜ Shino was the leader of the mission, so Chouji found it best to ask him directly, he himself was responsible for the brute strength, and the food he supposed. Not that he’d be eating any. 

[shinnogi]

I just posted the last two replies I had waiting to be edited, I've gathered all the replies and memes I got today and I'll be working on them during the week and throwing them in the queue >w< for now I'll be lurking through all my blog uwu

[shinnogi]

      You have nothing to be sorry about, my love…Itachi’s words pierced him and he nodded, although deep inside he felt like he had. Neji felt like he had so much to apologize for, and the silliest part of it all was that he wanted to apologize for things of the past — for his failures as a subordinate, the amount of times he had snapped at Itachi, had challenged him. It was all ridiculous, since all those happenings had landed them there: happily married and with two children.

      The way the older man held his face caused Neji to whimper, starlight eyes falling shut, unable to look into his husband’s eyes. The eyes he had fallen so deeply for. ❛  Whatever you want, I just want to hear your voice.  ❜  he admitted, opening his eyes again to follow after the Uchiha. Hand in hand as they had been for the past 20 or so years.

      He watched as his husband changed into his pajamas and settled onto their bed, it was still striking how incredibly beautiful Itachi was. The feeling of being around him had not changed one bit from when Neji first met him. It was like being in the presence of a miracles, something ethereal and precious. Neji couldn’t stop himself from staring whenever Itachi was like this — cozy and happy and warm.

      Neji walked to the bed, and climbed on it, deciding to settle himself comfortably on his husband’s lap, straddling him, chest to chest as he hid his face against Itachi’s neck once more. ❛  You could tell me about your day, or anything at all. I just…I just want to be with you right now.  ❜  He was shaking in itachi’s lap, shaking with the struggle against his thoughts and the love his husband was clearly showing him.

      ❛  D-did you do anything fun today?  ❜ 

«You have nothing to be sorry about, my love.»

ㅤIn saying this, his hands coming up to gently cup his husband's cheeks, Itachi then held his silence for a moment longer - simply taking in the sight. The feeling, the moment. To fully immerse himself in it and enjoy it to the fullest. Call him cliché, but how could he not? There was never such thing as a perfect life, of course, but he could humbly consider his own as very close to it. Which was why, as he'd spoken the previous words, the genuine smile had never left his lips and his dark eyes carried the same glint of awe that they'd had for the past two decades, give or take. Every time he looked at Neji, it was still like the first time; not an ounce of magic lost.

Yes, terribly cliché and terribly cheesy. See if he cares.

«What would you like me to read? Or-»

ㅤGenius brain ever bubbling with ideas and potential to solve problems - though, praise the gods, for years it had been put to use to solve mundane domestic problems such as making children eat their vegetables and how to wash dishes without them losing their shine over time, rather than to devise plans to level villages and dispose of rogue criminals. The wonders that civilian life could do to one's mental health, truly. Bringing his hands down, Itachi used them to take Neji's instead and began tugging the other man out of the kitchen and then down the corridor towards their bedroom.

ㅤ'Nothing to be sorry about', he'd just said and he meant it, but he was never one to stop at words. Time to show his lover he was more than happy to care for him and shower him with affection - not unlike what Neji always did for him every time his chronic illness decided to flare up yet again. After quickly changing into his night clothes, Itachi climbed on the bed and sat himself, then patted at his lap with the same smile in place.

«Come snuggle here. I'll tell you a story.»

[shinnogi]

      Ryuuichi couldn’t stop crying, little hands aggressively rubbing at his eyes, trying to get the tears to stop flowing. He felt bad, he felt horrible and he couldn’t quite understand why this was happening. Why his dad had made him apologise to a mean person like that. It wasn’t fair! It wasn’t fair that he had to deal with consequences and Osaida-san didn’t. It wasn’t fair that he could just insult any and everyone and he didn’t have to apologize!

      The feeling in his tummy was making him sick, it was warm but also heavy and cold, his breath hitching as he tried not to make noises. Ryuuichi allowed himself to be tugged into an alleyway, but he could hardly part much attention to his dad. His tears and despair clouding his head and judgment. Though the bits and pieces he did get from what his dad said made sense, Ryuuichi still felt betrayed. Still, it felt like his father had thrown him to the wolves.

      As he was hugged, a tiny whine escaped him, body tensing him. Part of him wanted to cling to his father, to ask for comfort and reassurance but the other part, the part that was angry and felt betrayed did not want to be touched by the older man. Did not want to look at him. It was so conflicting to feel that way, so many emotions going through his mind that Ryuuichi felt dizzy. He felt like he would pass out and be sick at the same time. He did not feel any better as Itachi walked away from him, adding the cold of abandonment to his already shattering heart.

      The young Hyuuga didn’t want to be alone on the streets, didn’t want people to talk to him. So he followed after his father, behind him like a little shadow, head cast down, tears still streaming silently down his face. Ryuuichi disassociated through it all, didn’t even know what his father bought or when they had made their way back home, it was only as they crossed the porch that he spoke again.

      ❛  It’s not fair…  ❜  he hiccuped, eyes bloodshot not only due to the tears but to his sharingan being activated, two little tomoes swirling inside of crimson hues. ❛  it’s not fair that I was the only one to apologize. All I did— all I did was take some stupid cherries...  ❜  Ryuuichi was growing more frantic, hands clawing at his arms. ❛  I didn’t hurt anyone, I didn’t call anyone bad names, I didn’t to anything that bad!  ❜  The child was sobbing, scratching his arm as a way to try and reign himself back in, but to no avail. He was cracking.

      ❛  Why did I have to apologize? When Osaida-san didn’t? Why does he get to call us bad names, and throw things at me and nii-chan without consequences?!  ❜ 

ㅤIndeed, no S-ranked mission could compare to the difficulty and the intricacies of being a good parent. Rarely a day went by when Itachi did not wonder if he was making the right choices, if perhaps he should be more lenient, if perhaps he should be more strict - unable to not overthink almost every little step. Something that he'd chatted to his mother about on numerous occasions, asking for feedback and advice, but the tiny little ball of fear never really left the pit of his stomach. What if he accidentally ruined his children's entire life? What if he ever damaged their bond beyond any chance of repair? Paranoia, yes, and irrational musings, but he was powerless to stop them all the same.

ㅤAnd it seemed they had just been self-fulfilled, judging from the way Ryuu now seemed about ready to crumble to pieces in the middle of the street. ...Had he done something horribly wrong? Had he pushed too much, had he pushed too little? Mistakes were unavoidable, Mikoto would always remind him of during those conversations, and Itachi knew that for a fact - he could well remember moments here and there when even his mother, whom he basically considered to be an angel on earth, had somehow made him upset without trying. Or had made choices that he could never bring himself to agree with. And did he love her any less for that? Never! It was, indeed, unavoidable and the most important thing was to keep going, after it. Try to learn from it and try to do better, rather than sink into self-pity. And so he had to at least try.

«Ryuuichi,»

ㅤIn a serene tone of voice that betrayed nothing of the turmoil within, Itachi gently tugged at his son's hand and guided him to a side alleyway, where they wouldn't be pierced by the looks of curious passer-bys ready to start gossip. The only gossip Itachi was interested in spreading was about how Ryuu was such a sweet child for what he just did and how Osaida-san should not be so grumpy and mean towards such a boy. He then knelt down with one knee on the ground, at about the same eye-level with his baby's tear-stained face, but did not force eye contact. At the moment, he wanted to be heard more than seen.

ㅤ«I know you are upset with me and I know you don't understand why I just put you through this.» Which was an understatement, he also knew, but he had to start somewhere. And empathy always seemed like the best place - along with emotional validation. «And that is all right. I'm not going to scold you for it and I'm not going to say you don't have a right to feel this way - you do. Your anger and sadness are justified, much as I wish I did not cause them.» A brief pause, for the sake of exhaling a very heartfelt sigh. «But, in this world we live on, people do not always see the same thing nor do they always feel the same way. Which is why we fight and argue and get upset at others, even the ones we love the most. And that's all right, too. We are humans, we make mistakes - even when we have the best intention at heart. It's unavoidable.»

Just like mother always said to him. If only he was half as eloquent as she was.

ㅤ«I wish this afternoon could end on a better tone, but I am not going to apologize for what just happened. Because I had my reasons to do what I did, much like you had your own to go and take those cherries. Both are valid, even if they are so far apart. And I don't want to sound like an old man who's the owner of the truth, nor do I want to belittle you for your age - I make my own mistakes and I carry my own share of insecurities. But there are certain matters that you are still unable to fully grasp, not because being young makes you daft but because you are inexperienced. You have much to live and much to learn, the same way I and your father did at your age. Maybe one decade from today you'll still remember this day, and you'll think back on what happened. And maybe that day you will understand why I did it, or maybe you won't and you'll hate me for it all the more - who knows. Whatever happens will be all right. You'll be a grown-up adult then and you'll be forging your own path in this world, which may easily end up being completely different than my own. But, right now, you are still a child - my child. It is my responsibility to decide this sort of matters for you in the way I believe to be best, until you gain that sort of experience for yourself. And so I'll continue to do it, even if it means we'll have more days like this - when you don't want to look at my face and you possibly think I'm the most cruel person in this village. That, too, is all right.»

ㅤHeavens, would this whole solemn speech even amount to anything? Was Ryuu even paying attention to a single word of it, was it resonating with him in any shape or form? Was Itachi himself making a mistake again, right on top of the last one? Only time would tell, he supposed. Before standing up again, he gently wrapped his arms around his son's smaller frame for the briefest of moments; barely two seconds. Just enough to convey the message: I love you no matter what and I'll always be here for you, even when you want to kick me all the way over to Suna. That done, he stood and quickly dusted off his clothes before heading back out towards the main street.

ㅤ«I'll be at the produce vendor, like I mentioned.» And now Ryuu would be free to come along or to run back home instead, or to go look for his father and brother. Whatever he chose would be all right.

[shinnogi]

pov: you roleplay & english isn't your native language

[shinnogi]

      Ryuuichi laughs as Suen pushes his hand away from him, it just showed that the younger was growing up. Getting older often made head pats and hair ruffles start to lose their loving meaning, not that Ryuuichi would ever stop doing it to the younger boy. He liked annoying people, it was sort of like a love language.

      ❛  Well, aren’t you a charmer?  ❜  He teased, not really knowing how to handle people worrying about him. Not since his mission, since people had tried to steal his eyes, that was the moment Ryuuichi vowed to not let anyone ever worry about him again. ❛  You already have my heart, Suen, no need to try to steal it.  ❜  He winked, but there was genuine fondness in his dark eyes as he looked at his little cousin.  ❛  You’re already strong, I’m glad you want to be stronger, but don’t do it just for me, yeah?  ❜

      He worried about Suen, about how he seemed to care for people so much. If he wanted to be stronger that was fine, but Ryuuichi would rather he become stronger for himself — stronger for more selfish reasons, and not to sacrifice himself for others.  ❛  Pffft, oh kid, I’ve lost my cute factor years ago. You’ll see, Aunt Hinata has no trouble kicking me out of her home. You, though? You’re as cute as a button.  ❜ 

As the youngest in the family, Suengri was no stranger to head pats and hair ruffles. If it came from his family, he didn't quite mind. But if it turns out he doesn't grow past a certain height, he was not only going to blame his dad's latent genetics but those head pats, too.

He softly brushes away his cousins hand and laughs a little, open and genuine. Ryuuichi had a trademark smile that swooned many civilians and shinobi alike. He knows because people like to talk, and Suengri always wondered who he took after in that regard or if it was something he picked up along the way. After all, when Suengri smiled or laughed, many people described it as sincere and bright, much like his Dads. "Just because you're strong doesn't mean I wont. Even the strong need to be worried about, y'know. That's why I'll make sure to get strong, too."

Fingers interlock behind his head as he follows behind cousin, rolling his eyes at the comment. If anyone knew how to use their looks for their gains, then it was Ryuuichi. "You're the one related to her. That counts more than anything. Of course she won't say no to you. Not like Aunt Karin. She burns cookies for a living."

[shinnogi]

      Ryuuichi was not like his twin, far from being a homebody who clung to his parents, he had been out of the nest as soon as he learned how to fly on his own, and yet there was nothing quite like being snuggled up against his dad, having the man run his fingers through his hair and listening to his heartbeat against his ear. It soothed something deep inside of Ryuuichi he didn’t even know had been aching.  ❛  Oh, that’s right, you had a fan club too right? Uncle Sasuke as well?  ❜  He smirked, thinking about his very serious dad having to deal with fangirls and maybe fanboys left and right.

      ❛  It must be the mysterious vibes, girls like things that. I’m sure father had one too, that ice prince thing he has going on must have been a chick magnet back in the day.  ❜  And Ryuuichi wouldn’t doubt it was currently still working for him too, countless times having to remind colleagues that his father was: one, too old for them, and two, very much happily married.  ❛  I’m happy I don’t have one, I mean, I don’t really need one because I am a man of the people, after all.  ❜  He smiled brightly, like he hadn’t just called himself a whore in front of his dad.

      Ryuuichi was approachable, and dwelt in places people like his father, his dad and his brother wouldn’t even dream of stepping foot in. But he liked the thrill of it, liked the excitement of one-night stands, of chasing and wooing a partner, the ache of the breakup. It was all very performative and fun. There was no mystery to him, so no need to create a group to speculate about his life. He was an open book.

      Caught off guard by the sudden tickle attack, Ryuuichi had to squirm and try to bat his father's hands away from him, tiny giggles escaping him. This was a form of punishment, the only way Itachi used to get him to listen to him back in the day.  ❛  Tch, I knew you wouldn’t snitch on him,  ❜  he huffed, breathless and still between chuckles, but pulled away from the hug just to look into his Itachi’s eyes, a serious look on his face.  ❛  Listen, I won’t violate his privacy or whatever but this Mahiru guy is bad news. He’s like me but worse.  ❜  He hoped Itachi would understand where he was coming from. That his dad would help him somehow, because Ryuuichi knew if Mahiru hurt his brother in any way shape or form, he would have to kill him. And he didn’t fancy going to jail at the age of 20.

      ❛  And I know I haven’t met the guy personally, but the things I’ve heard about him? Yeah, I don’t want him near my brother. Can’t you, I don’t know, talk to Mura about it?  ❜  Ryuuichi pleaded, his eyes a mirror of Itachi’s now glittering with protectiveness.  ❛  I know he probably gushed about the guy’s long white hair or green eyes to you, said he’s nice or whatever but seriously dad, this guy is a monster.  ❜ 

ㅤ«Heavens above,» and a brief pause on what he was about to say, for the sake of sighing in an unnecessarily dramatic manner [yes, Ryuuichi had gotten it all from him] and, at the same time, to sink further back in the couch so that he could rest his son's head on his own chest for more proper cuddling, «-there were two things I had hoped I could spare my children. One was my illness and the other was rabid fans. I suppose I at least succeeded in one.»

ㅤEven to this day, the thought of pretty much every girl in the academy and at least half the boys swooning every time Itachi entered a room was slightly terrifying. Hopefully, Homura would remain oblivious to it for as long as possible and save himself the secondhand embarrassment. As Ryuu continued on spilling the tea, though, now with the added bonus of his dad gently playing with his hair as he spoke, said dad's expression reverted to a neutral one - the one he'd always wear when channeling all genius-brain resources into analyzing whatever situation was unfolding at a given moment.

«He did. And, before you ask, no, I won't share it with you.»

ㅤNow to brace himself for Ryuu's tantrum over being left out of such a hot topic. Just in case, he moved his free hand a bit further down to be able to catch his son in a merciless tickling rampage if there was need for it. Long gone were the days where he'd be able to simply hoist him up and carry him away, after all.

«If your brother wants you to know about it, he will talk to you. Otherwise, respect his privacy.»

[shinnogi]

      The way Itachi held him, ran his fingers through his hair and gently rocked them side to side reminded Homura of something he didn’t really have memories off — as if his body remembered but his mind didn’t have the pictures of this, of being lulled to sleep by those arms. Still, even as an adult, the care with which his father held him caused him to grow sleepy, blinking heavily trying to keep himself awake.

      ❛  It’s hard to…imagine that when I see you guys together,  ❜  he admits, voice soft as he enjoyed being pampered with affection. Truly, he has always been the softer brother, the one who needed their parents more than the other, who was more dependent on them. As a teenager, Homura had been ashamed of that, but now? Now he couldn’t bring himself to care. This was his dad, the man who had raised him, who was still his safest haven, why shouldn’t he enjoy being given affection. Being taken care of?  ❛  You and father just seem so in sync, so in love. I couldn’t ever have imagined that it wasn’t always the case.  ❜

      He wondered what made them confess? What had these two very stubborn humans admitting to their feelings?  ❛  W-when did you tell father that you loved him? Or was he the one to tell you first?  ❜  Homura wasn’t sure it was okay to ask, but knew that if it wasn’t, his dad would simply tell him that and not scold him for it. There was no need for him to be afraid.

      Itachi’s words resonated through him, made him think of himself and of his bond with Mahiru, how they navigated their missions, how they acted when they were off duty.  ❛  At first, Mahiru is quiet, not so much like me but he is reserved,  ❜  Homura began, eyes closing as his dad kissed his forehead again, a small smile gracing his face. If he were a cat, he’d be purring happily by now.  ❛  that changes when he gets to know you, he becomes…more lively, intense, I think that adjective works best.  ❜

      They had disagreements before, silly things or even more serious ones during missions that was true, but Homura was ashamed to say he always relented to Mahiru’s wishes, even if at times he didn’t necessarily want to.  ❛  We’ve disagreed before, but I’ve always yielded to his wishes. I don’t know if it is because I like him, or because I just hate confrontation.  ❜  Homura was a bit afraid of admitting that to his dad, knowing that he was quite protective of him.

      ❛  I think I like him, dad.  ❜  He sighed, feeling his chest tight with anxiety and the grandeur of liking someone romantically for the first time.  ❛  I like the way he makes me feel, I like how he always pays attention to me, how it seems like…I’m the only one he sees,  ❜  Homura speaks shyly, blush colouring his cheeks as he shares his thoughts with his dad.  ❛  I-I like how strong he is, how I can count on him when we have missions together, or when I need help with anything else.  ❜

      Slowly Homura pulled away from Itachi’s hug enough to bring up the small pouch attached to his leg, opening it up and taking out a little chain — something made to be attached to a headband or used as an earring, at the tip of the chain, a representation of the full moon, made with everlasting ice.  ❛  He made me this, using his kekkei-genkai. He said I…I remind him of the moon, because of my eyes.  ❜  The younger Uchiha turned to the older one, biting his lip as he blushed, clutching the little chain he had yet to wear.  ❛  Do you think that means he likes me too, dad?  ❜ 

Did the two of them ever use to argue.

ㅤAs he shifted, so that he could more comfortably hold Homura close to himself, the memories brought Itachi a smile so wide that it almost did not fit his face. «As for your father being annoying... infuriating is perhaps the best adjective. And I can assure you that the feeling was mutual.» Of course, nothing that the two of them, back then, could not set aside for the sake of being professional and carrying out their missions flawlessly; it did help a great deal that both were also semi-obsessed with doing matters always as they should be and to the best of their ability. But outside that? Whenever they had been forced to co-exist as friends or, at the very least, as co-workers? Yes, many tales were still whispered among the ANBU veterans about those not-so-veiled confrontations.

ㅤWhat also helped, now with Itachi's curiosity, was the name that his son had absently provided - Mahiro. It did not ring any specific bells, especially because there was no clan or family name to go with it. Surely he would have worked with a couple of Mahiros in the past, or met them in passing, or heard of them around the neighborhood, and none at the moment particularly stood out. As he pondered to himself the ethical pros and cons of raiding the village archives in order to learn more about his child's crush, though, the way Homura snuggled into him claimed priority in his span of attention and brough the same fond smile back to Itachi's lips. His free hand came up to card through his son's soft locks, as he began gently rocking the two of them - not unlike what he used to do many years before, whenever one or both of the twins were fussing and refusing to fall asleep. It really came to him as instinct, at this point.

ㅤ«That was my experience, however - or our experience, should I say. There's absolutely no requirement for your own to be the same, or even anything similar to begin with. You are your own person, Homura, with your own understanding of the world.» Was he even answering the younger one's question? Maybe he should try to be more to the point and less cryptic? Give a straightforward answer, instead of raising a myriad other possibilities? Ever the struggle for the genius brain. Unable to hold his soft chuckling, Itachi brushed back Homura's hair and kissed his forehead again. «You have come for advice from the worst possible source when it comes to matters of the heart, I'm afraid. All this to say - think of how you feel when you are with this person. Do you enjoy being in his presence? Do you find yourself yearning for it whenever you two are apart? You just mentioned you never argued with him but, surely, you've had moments when perspectives diverge - how do you feel at those times? Do you respect his opinions even if they are different, do you believe he's worth the hassle of trying to find a compromise?»

[shinnogi]

      an indie & selective oc from sk8 the infinity       matchablossom's child, sakurayashiki shion       with verses on jjk, kny, bsd, castlevania, & more to come       adored by gigi . pls read rules before following 💕

[shinnogi]

      Mikoto had the urge to laugh at his response. It seemed the older man was just as done with this mission as she was, perhaps from having had to deal with his own colleagues just as she had had to deal with hers. Truly, Mikoto wasn't suited for escorting missions, she was too energetic for it, much preferring seek and destroy missions.

      ❛  I'm afraid I can't say much more than you probably already know,  ❜ she responded sheepishly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was growing far too long for her liking. ❛  Konoha is under the command of the Third Hokage, an honorable man, reasonable, I am sure Ryuji-san won't have any trouble with him. ❜

      The Uchiha sighed, biting her lip as she thought about who might give the samurai in front of her more than enough trouble for a lifetime of headaches. ❛  It is the council that might prove difficult,   ❜ dark eyes stared up at him. ❛  they will be present in your meeting, so they might be...a bit of a grain of sand in your shoes, if you know what I mean.  ❜

Goto was not too fond of it either, but to say as such when he has the potiental to lead the samurais in the future is foolish by itself. after all Mifune is a old man by now, and though war has taken its toll, there would be only more age to come. and then he would have to find his own apprentice to over take him...there was so much important things to do, Goto just wants to take a nap by the river.

"Unfortunately not, unless you can provide me information on the current leaders of the hidden leaf."

he wants a nap.

[shinnogi]

      Neji knew she struggled with the status she now had; it could not be easy to spend most of your life being told you aren't worthy of a birthright only to get it back through blood, sweat and tears. It must be a shock to her to have people who looked down on her now doting on her, caring for her gladly. Neji was guilty of that, guilty of having let rage and half-truths deviate him from the duty he had been born to do. He had been born to protect her, to serve the heiress and for years he had done nothing but hurt her. A single sleepless night wouldn't be able to redeem years of mistreatment, but he would make it all up to her.

      ❛  Please, don't worry about me, Hinata-sama,  ❜ Neji soothed her, starlight eyes kind as he looked at her. He understood her frustration, but within the walls of the Hyuuga, she wasn't a shinobi. She was their heiress, their future. ❛  One night without sleeping won't affect me, besides, it has given me time to reflect on a couple of things.  ❜ He admitted, a small smile on his face.

      ❛  You are strong, one of the strongest shinobi's of our generation,  ❜ he assured her, conviction in his voice echoing around the room. Deep voice leaving no room for disagreement. ❛  But you are home, Hinata-sama. And here, you don't have to be a shinobi. Here, you can be you, you can be the Hyuuga Heiress you were always meant to be.  ❜ Even if Neji would have to weed out some traitors before she could truly be the heiress she had been meant to be all along.

      ❛  I will let you eat in peace, I'll be back in a few minutes to escort you,  ❜ With that Neji bowed to her, and left the room, swiftly going home to bathe and change into his uniform for his mission. Once he was done, he walked back to the main house and in the direction of Hinata's room, stopping in front of it and announcing his arrival.

      ❛  Are you ready to go, Hinata-sama?  ❜

Now awake, Hinata sits up straighter as she stretches slightly, her eyes drifting around a little before returning to Neji. A small frown plays at her lips, as he mentions how well she slept. "Oh, but I'm afraid that means you didn't sleep at all," she expresses in dismay, feeling the sudden guilt.

Of course, she's not the only one who feels guilty. Perhaps it's a Hyuga trait. Her head bows slightly, and Hinata shakes her head. "Do not feel sorry. I should be able to protect myself and the people around me; am I not a shinobi of the Leaf as well?"

As the tray is set beside her and Neji (again) denies himself the ability to eat with her, Hinata sighs softly. She'll eat quickly then, not wanting to make this any harder than it has to be. Maybe it's selfish, but she hates the division between the branches, now even more than she used to.

Her gaze lifts to look at Neji once again. "I would be happy to spend more time with you, of course, and your escort would be appreciated," she agrees. "I'm sure Hanabi would be happy to see you, as well."

Maybe he can rest in-between visits, she thinks.