Chapter Text
The sun had begun its slow descent over the Hidden Leaf Village, painting the horizon in warm hues of orange and pink. You found yourself at Sasuke’s house, the usually quiet Uchiha compound now filled with the energy of your Team 7 squadmates. Naruto had, predictably, been the first to raid Sasuke’s kitchen, while you lounged on the couch, watching the two boys argue over a bowl of rice.
“Would you two stop fighting? We’re guests here,” you said with a laugh, trying to diffuse the tension before Sasuke snapped.
“Hmph,” Sasuke muttered, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. His dark eyes, sharp and assessing, flickered to you briefly before returning to Naruto. “He’s the one being annoying.”
“Am not!” Naruto yelled, mouth full of rice. “(Y/N), tell him I’m not annoying!”
You rolled your eyes but smiled nonetheless. This was your life now—constant bickering, endless missions, and somehow always being caught in the middle. You wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“Keep it down,” Sasuke said suddenly, his tone dropping. “Itachi’s training in the courtyard.”
You perked up at the mention of Sasuke’s older brother. Itachi was a legend, someone who moved with grace and power you couldn’t help but admire. You’d only met him a handful of times, but each encounter left you in awe. Naruto, however, wasn’t impressed.
“So what? He’s not the boss of us!” Naruto declared loudly, earning a glare from Sasuke.
Curious, you stood and made your way to the window, peeking outside. Sasuke’s warning had been right—there was Itachi, effortlessly deflecting attacks with his Sharingan activated. But it wasn’t just him. Another figure was sparring alongside him, moving just as fluidly, just as powerfully. You squinted, trying to get a better look.
“That’s Shisui,” Sasuke said, his voice suddenly close behind you. You turned to see him standing at your side, his gaze fixed on the two figures outside. “He’s Itachi’s best friend.”
Shisui. You’d heard the name before—another Uchiha prodigy. But seeing him now, his dark hair tied back and his quick, confident movements, you couldn’t help the way your breath hitched. There was something captivating about the way he fought, his every move precise yet almost playful.
“Wow,” you whispered, unable to tear your eyes away.
“Wow?” Sasuke repeated, his tone clipped. You didn’t notice the way his jaw clenched or the slight furrow of his brows.
Naruto joined the two of you at the window, his face pressed obnoxiously close to yours as he tried to see what had caught your attention. “Who’s that?” he asked, his usual loudness toned down for once.
“Shisui Uchiha,” you replied absently, your focus still on the scene outside. “He’s… incredible.”
Both Sasuke and Naruto stiffened at your words. Naruto scowled, crossing his arms. “Incredible? Come on, (Y/N), he’s not that great. I could take him.”
You snorted. “Sure you could, Naruto.”
Sasuke, on the other hand, said nothing. His dark eyes remained locked on Shisui, his expression unreadable, but the tension radiating off him was palpable. He didn’t like this. Not one bit.
✇
The courtyard was even more breathtaking up close. After much cajoling (mostly from Naruto), you’d all wandered outside under the pretense of needing fresh air. Itachi and Shisui had finished sparring by the time you arrived, and now the two stood off to the side, discussing something in low voices.
Shisui noticed your group first, his piercing gaze landing on you. He smiled, a lopsided grin that somehow made your heart skip a beat. “Hey there,” he called, waving casually. “Enjoy the show?”
You felt your cheeks heat up, but you managed a nod. “You’re amazing,” you blurted before you could stop yourself. Sasuke and Naruto both froze, their heads snapping toward you.
Shisui chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. “Thanks. Always nice to have an audience.”
Itachi glanced at you, then at his younger brother, and you could have sworn a flicker of amusement crossed his usually stoic face. “Shisui, don’t let it go to your head,” he said calmly.
“Too late,” Shisui joked, shooting you another grin.
Naruto stepped forward, planting himself firmly between you and Shisui. “Yeah, well, (Y/N)’s just being polite! I’m way stronger than you, anyway.”
Shisui raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh? Is that so?”
Sasuke joined Naruto, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. “Don’t mind him. Or her. We’re leaving.”
“Wait, what?” you protested, but Sasuke grabbed your arm, dragging you toward the house. Naruto followed, throwing one last glare over his shoulder at Shisui, who merely laughed.
Back inside, the atmosphere was tense. Naruto paced the room, muttering under his breath, while Sasuke sat silently, his jaw tight. You stood in the middle, utterly confused.
“What is wrong with you two?” you finally asked.
“Wrong with us?” Naruto snapped. “What’s wrong with you ? You were practically drooling over that guy!”
“I was not!” you shot back, though your flushed face betrayed you.
Sasuke stood abruptly, his dark eyes locking onto yours. “He’s not as great as you think he is,” he said coldly. “You don’t even know him.”
“And you do?” you challenged.
“That’s not the point,” Sasuke muttered, looking away. “Just… forget about him.”
Naruto nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Forget about him! We’re your team, not him!”
You stared at them, the realization hitting you like a punch to the gut. They were jealous. Both of them.
For a moment, you didn’t know what to say. But then you smiled, shaking your head. “You two are impossible.”
“And you’re annoying,” Sasuke muttered, though his cheeks were slightly pink.
“Yeah, well, I’m still stronger than that Shisui guy!” Naruto declared, puffing out his chest.
You laughed, feeling a strange warmth settle in your chest despite the chaos. Maybe your team wasn’t perfect, but they were yours. And for now, that was enough.
✇
The night carried on with a buzz of energy that refused to wane. The embers of the fire crackled softly, casting warm, flickering shadows across the clearing, but none of it compared to the sparks igniting between the boys around you.
Naruto and Sasuke, as if spurred by some unspoken rivalry, seemed determined to outshine Shisui. Naruto was loud about it, throwing wild jabs in the air and talking up his future Hokage potential, his voice rising over the hum of cicadas in the distance.
“Shisui’s just a show-off!” Naruto declared, puffing out his chest and flexing exaggeratedly. "I could take him down if I wanted to. Believe it!"
Sasuke, on the other hand, was quieter but no less competitive. He stood straighter, sharp eyes darting to where you watched the ongoing sparring session. With a huff, he turned toward you. "He’s nothing special," Sasuke muttered. "Watch closely—I’ll show you what real talent looks like."
Before you could respond, Sasuke and Naruto turned on each other, each launching jabs, demonstrations, and over-the-top antics, all to prove a point: they were better than Shisui.
And yet, your gaze couldn’t help but wander back toward Shisui, watching as he tossed off his shirt mid-spar, the firelight catching the sheen of his sweat-dappled skin.
It didn’t go unnoticed. Not by Naruto. Not by Sasuke.
Naruto let out an exaggerated gasp, pointing a dramatic finger at you. "Oi, (Y/N)! Stop staring at him like that! You’re acting like he’s some kind of—of superhero or something!"
You blinked, startled by the sudden outburst, and turned back to Naruto, whose cheeks were puffed in frustration. "I’m not staring!" you protested, but your voice betrayed you, a little too defensive to sound convincing.
Sasuke, standing just a few paces away, scoffed audibly. His arms were crossed, his usual glare sharpened as his eyes flicked from you to Shisui. "Tch. You might as well be. What’s so impressive about him, anyway? He’s not that good."
Your eyebrows shot up. " Not that good? " you echoed, half-laughing. "Sasuke, did you see him? He’s incredible! The way he moves—it's like he doesn’t even need to try."
Big mistake.
Naruto flailed his arms, cutting in before Sasuke could speak. "Are you kidding me?! If you think that’s impressive, then you haven’t seen my Shadow Clone Jutsu lately!" He puffed out his chest and jabbed a thumb at himself. "I can make, like, a hundred clones at once, easy! Bet Shisui can’t do that, huh?!"
Before you could respond, Naruto clasped his hands together in a familiar seal. "Watch and learn, (Y/N)! Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke filled the air around him, and within seconds, an army of Narutos filled the courtyard, each grinning at you expectantly. "See?" the real Naruto beamed, gesturing to his clones like they were the grandest thing in the world. "Way cooler than some guy with a Sharingan, right?"
Your lips twitched, a laugh threatening to spill out as you took in the ridiculous scene. But just as you opened your mouth to speak, Sasuke interrupted.
"That’s nothing," he said coolly, stepping forward with a flick of his wrist. His Sharingan spun to life, and his fingers formed a series of quick seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu."
The courtyard lit up with a bright orange glow as Sasuke exhaled a massive ball of fire, its heat pulsing in the cool night air. The flames roared toward the sky before dissipating into embers, leaving the courtyard bathed in their afterglow.
He turned to you, his gaze fierce and unwavering. "Let’s see Shisui do that ," he said, his voice low and almost daring.
Naruto growled, stomping his foot. "Oh, come on, Sasuke! You think a fireball’s impressive? I’m the one who’s gonna be Hokage! (Y/N) should be more impressed by me! "
Before Sasuke could retort, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.
"Well, well," Shisui said, strolling over with his shirt still slung over his shoulder. His lopsided grin was firmly in place as his eyes gleamed with mischief. "Seems like you’ve got your hands full, (Y/N). Your teammates are quite... lively."
Sasuke stiffened immediately, his Sharingan still active as he glared at Shisui. Naruto, meanwhile, stepped forward and jabbed a finger at him. "You! Stop trying to act all cool! (Y/N)’s part of our team, so quit distracting her!"
Shisui blinked, looking between the two boys and then at you. A chuckle escaped his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Distracting, huh? I wasn’t trying to. But if I am..." He trailed off, his gaze settling on you with a wink.
Your face burned, and you were pretty sure it had nothing to do with Sasuke’s fireball still lingering in the air.
Sasuke took a step closer, his glare sharpening. "Don’t you have somewhere else to be?"
Shisui raised his hands in mock surrender, clearly amused. "Alright, alright. I didn’t mean to start anything." He turned to you with a small, knowing smile. "But if you ever want to see some real technique, you know where to find me."
Naruto practically exploded. "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
Before he could charge at Shisui, you grabbed his sleeve, holding him back with an exasperated sigh. "Naruto, calm down! "
Shisui laughed, the sound light and carefree, before tossing his shirt over his shoulder and retreating toward Itachi, who had been quietly watching the entire exchange with a faint smirk.
The three of you stood there for a moment, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a kunai. Finally, Naruto huffed and crossed his arms, muttering under his breath about "show-offs" and "stupid Uchihas."
Sasuke, however, was silent. His gaze lingered on the spot where Shisui had disappeared, his jaw tight and his fists clenched.
You sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose. "You two are impossible, you know that?"
Sasuke shot you a sideways glance, his expression unreadable. "You’re the one wasting your time on him," he muttered under his breath.
"Yeah!" Naruto chimed in, his pout still firmly in place. "You don’t need him, (Y/N)! We’re way better than that guy!"
You shook your head, a mix of amusement and frustration bubbling in your chest. "You two seriously need to stop worrying so much. Shisui’s just... interesting, that’s all."
"Interesting," Sasuke repeated, his tone dripping with disdain.
Naruto threw his arms in the air. "That’s it! I’m gonna train so hard, you won’t ever think about that guy again! Believe it!"
Sasuke didn’t say anything, but the determined look in his eyes spoke volumes.
As the night wore on, the rivalry only seemed to intensify. Naruto was loud, proclaiming his plans to outshine Shisui with every new jutsu he learned, while Sasuke practiced in steely silence, his eyes flickering toward you every now and then, as if gauging your reaction.
You couldn’t help but smile to yourself, watching the two of them. Sure, they were jealous, over-the-top, and more than a little ridiculous—but they were your team. And no matter how much chaos they caused, you wouldn’t trade them for anything.
Not even for Shisui Uchiha.
✇
Later that night, the courtyard was quiet, the stars scattered like shards of glass across the velvety black sky. The earlier chaos had died down—for the most part. The embers of the fire glowed faintly, casting a soft orange light over the three of you sitting in its warmth. Or rather, you were sitting peacefully, while Sasuke and Naruto continued to sulk like stubborn children.
Sasuke leaned against a tree, his arms crossed, his dark eyes fixed on some distant point in the night. Naruto, meanwhile, was sprawled across the grass, glaring up at the stars like they had personally offended him.
You sighed, rubbing the back of your neck. "Alright, are you two going to keep pouting all night, or are you finally going to talk to me?"
"I’m not pouting," Sasuke muttered, his tone clipped.
"Yeah, well, I’m not talking to you," Naruto grumbled, turning his head away dramatically.
You resisted the urge to roll your eyes. Instead, you got up and moved closer, sitting cross-legged on the grass between them. "Oh, come on, you guys. Are you really still mad about Shisui?"
Neither of them answered, but their silence spoke volumes.
"You know you’re my favorite boys, right?" you said softly, your tone teasing but warm. "I mean, who else could I count on to make me laugh every day?"
Sasuke glanced at you from the corner of his eye, his expression unreadable. Naruto, however, peeked over at you with a pout that was starting to falter.
"You’re just saying that," Naruto mumbled.
"Am not," you replied with a grin, poking his forehead lightly. "You’re my Naru, and you know it."
That got a reaction. Naruto’s face instantly turned bright red, his blue eyes widening. "Wha—?! N-Naru?! You can’t just call me that out of nowhere!"
"Oh, so you don’t like it?" you teased, leaning closer with a smirk.
"I didn’t say that!" Naruto shot back, his face practically glowing.
Before you could tease him further, Sasuke cleared his throat, drawing your attention. He was looking away, his expression slightly annoyed—but there was a faint pink hue dusting his cheeks.
"And you, Sasu," you said, turning to him with a playful smile. "You’re my calm in the storm. Even if you do sulk like an old man sometimes."
Sasuke stiffened at the nickname, his eyes snapping to yours. "Don’t call me that," he muttered, but his voice lacked its usual sharpness.
"Oh, come on," you teased. "It’s cute!"
Sasuke’s gaze flickered away again, his ears turning red as he muttered something under his breath.
Before you could press him, a low chuckle sounded from the edge of the courtyard. You turned to see Shisui and Itachi standing there, their sparring session clearly over but their expressions entirely amused.
"‘Naru’ and ‘Sasu,’ huh?" Shisui said, stepping closer with his trademark lopsided grin. "I didn’t realize Team 7 was full of pet names. Pretty cute, if you ask me."
Sasuke immediately straightened, his jaw tightening as he glared at Shisui. "What are you doing here?" he snapped.
Itachi, standing calmly behind Shisui, raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything, though you could see the faintest twitch of amusement at the corners of his lips.
Shisui ignored Sasuke’s hostility and turned his attention to you, his grin widening. "So, (Y/N)," he said, his tone light and teasing. "If they get nicknames, where’s mine?"
That simple question was all it took for chaos to erupt.
"NO!" Naruto yelled, practically jumping to his feet. "You don’t get a nickname! You’re not part of our team!"
"Absolutely not," Sasuke said firmly, his voice colder than ever.
Shisui tilted his head, clearly enjoying himself. "Aw, come on. You don’t think I deserve one? I mean, you called me amazing earlier." He flashed you a wink, and both boys practically combusted on the spot.
"Don’t wink at her!" Naruto shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Shisui.
Sasuke took a step forward, his glare sharp enough to pierce steel. "Go away, Shisui."
You couldn’t help but laugh, hiding your grin behind your hand as Shisui continued to play up the situation. "What about ‘Shishi’?" he suggested, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Or maybe ‘Shu’? No, wait—how about ‘Shi-Shi’?"
"STOP!" Naruto yelled, looking like he was about to throw something at him.
"It’s not funny," Sasuke growled, though the tips of his ears were practically glowing red.
Shisui just laughed, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I’ll leave you guys alone. But you can’t blame me for wanting to fit in. After all, it sounds like you’ve got a good thing going here."
With that, he turned and strolled back toward Itachi, who gave you a subtle glance before following him. You could’ve sworn you saw a flicker of amusement cross Itachi’s face as well.
Once the two were out of sight, Naruto flopped back down onto the grass with an exaggerated groan. "That guy is the worst!" he muttered, crossing his arms.
Sasuke said nothing, but the tension in his posture slowly eased as he sat back down as well, though he was still clearly irritated.
You shook your head, smiling fondly at the two of them. "You know, you two are really something else," you said softly, leaning back to look up at the stars. "Shisui doesn’t stand a chance against my Naru and Sasu."
Naruto’s face turned bright red again, and he muttered something about you being "too nice." Sasuke, as usual, remained silent, but the faintest hint of a smile ghosted across his lips as he glanced your way.
✇
The night had grown darker, the stars brighter against the velvety sky as the warm glow of the fire faded to embers. The once lively courtyard was now quiet, save for the soft hum of crickets in the distance. It was getting late, and you and Naruto were preparing to leave Sasuke’s house after a long, eventful evening.
Naruto stretched his arms over his head, yawning loudly as he shuffled toward the gate. “Man, what a day! I’m beat,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. Then he paused, glancing at you with furrowed brows. “Hey, (Y/N), you’re gonna be walking home alone, huh?”
You shrugged, not particularly fazed. “Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll be okay, Naru. It’s not that far.”
Naruto frowned, his usual carefree attitude replaced by a rare hint of concern. “Still, it’s late, and it’s kinda dark out there… You sure you don’t want me to walk you home?”
You smiled at his thoughtfulness but shook your head. “Thanks, but you live all the way on the other side of the village. I’d feel bad making you walk back and forth just for me. I’ll be fine.”
Naruto didn’t look convinced, and neither did Sasuke, who stood nearby with his arms crossed. His sharp gaze flicked toward you, then away just as quickly, his expression unreadable.
“I don’t see what the big deal is,” Sasuke muttered, though his tone was clipped. “(Y/N) can handle herself. She doesn’t need someone babysitting her.”
“Still!” Naruto protested, throwing his hands in the air. “What if something happens? You’re just gonna let her walk home all alone?”
Before Sasuke could respond, a calm voice cut through the night. “Sasuke.”
All three of you turned to see Itachi standing just beyond the courtyard, his presence somehow commanding despite his relaxed posture. He had clearly overheard your conversation, his sharp gaze resting on his younger brother.
“Sasuke should walk her,” Itachi said, his tone even and unyielding, as though his suggestion wasn’t up for debate.
Sasuke stiffened immediately, his jaw clenching as he met his brother’s gaze. “She doesn’t need me to walk her home,” he said firmly. “She can take care of herself.”
“Don’t be stubborn,” Itachi replied, his voice calm but carrying an edge of authority. “It’s dark. You don’t know what could happen.”
“I said she’ll be fine,” Sasuke snapped, looking away. You knew he was still upset over the whole Shisui situation, and this was his way of avoiding dealing with it.
Before anyone could say anything else, another voice joined the conversation, this one light and teasing.
“Well, if Sasuke’s not up for it, I could always walk her home.”
You turned to see Shisui standing not far from Itachi, his lopsided grin firmly in place as he strolled into the courtyard. His casual confidence made it clear he wasn’t joking—or at least, not entirely.
Naruto immediately bristled, practically jumping between you and Shisui. “No way! You’re not walking her home!” he yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the older Uchiha.
Shisui raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Naruto’s outburst. “Why not? I’m perfectly capable of making sure she gets home safely.”
“BECAUSE YOU’RE YOU!” Naruto shot back, his face red with frustration.
Sasuke, meanwhile, glared at Shisui with barely concealed irritation. “She doesn’t need you, either,” he said coldly.
Shisui smirked, unfazed by the hostility radiating from both boys. “Relax, I’m just offering. It’s not like I’d kidnap her or something.” He turned to you with a playful wink. “Unless you’d prefer that?”
Naruto nearly exploded on the spot. “WHAT DID YOU SAY?!”
“Shisui,” Itachi said, his tone carrying a warning as he stepped forward. Though his expression remained calm, there was a certain finality in his voice that immediately silenced his friend. “That’s enough.”
Shisui raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin never faltering. “Alright, alright. I’ll back off. Don’t want to get jumped by your little brother and his blonde bodyguard here.”
Naruto fumed, his fists clenched at his sides, while Sasuke looked like he was about two seconds away from igniting a fireball.
Itachi sighed softly, shaking his head before turning to you. “I’ll walk you home, (Y/N),” he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument.
You blinked, caught off guard by his offer. “Oh, Itachi, you don’t have to—”
“It’s no trouble,” he interrupted, his voice as steady and composed as ever. “You shouldn’t have to walk alone at this hour.”
Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but Itachi silenced him with a single look. Even Sasuke, though visibly annoyed, said nothing as Itachi stepped forward and motioned for you to follow him.
“Thank you, Itachi,” you said, offering him a small, grateful smile as you fell into step beside him.
As the two of you walked away from the courtyard, you couldn’t help but glance back over your shoulder. Naruto and Sasuke were still standing there, both of them watching you go with identical expressions of frustration and unease. Shisui, meanwhile, was leaning casually against a tree, his grin as infuriatingly smug as ever as he waved at you.
“Don’t worry,” Shisui called after you, his tone dripping with amusement. “If Itachi gets tired, just let me know! I’ll be right here!”
Naruto’s angry yell echoed into the night, followed by what sounded suspiciously like Sasuke telling Shisui to shut up.
You shook your head, laughing softly as you turned back to Itachi. “You’ve got your hands full with those three, huh?”
Itachi’s lips quirked into the faintest of smiles. “They mean well,” he said simply.
The rest of the walk was quiet, the cool night air wrapping around you like a blanket. Itachi walked a step behind you, his presence steady and reassuring, and though you felt perfectly safe with him there, a small part of you couldn’t help but wonder what Sasuke and Naruto were saying about this back at the compound.
You’d probably hear all about it tomorrow.
And honestly? You couldn’t wait.