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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.

Chapter Text

The next day, the tension between your teammates hadn’t eased in the slightest. Sasuke had barely spoken to you since dragging you away from the courtyard, and Itachi taking you home, while Naruto spent most of his time loudly proclaiming his superiority over "certain Uchiha show-offs.” As for you, you tried your best to ignore their behavior—though their sulking was painfully obvious.

By mid-afternoon, Sasuke had grudgingly invited you and Naruto back to the Uchiha compound under the pretense of a sparring session. You suspected it was more about keeping you away from Shisui than anything else.

When you arrived, Itachi and Shisui were once again training in the courtyard. It seemed to be their favorite pastime. Shisui waved at you the moment he saw you, a teasing grin already in place.

“Well, if it isn’t our most enthusiastic fan,” he called out.

You felt your face heat up, but before you could respond, Naruto jumped in front of you, his hands on his hips.

“She’s not your fan!” Naruto shouted, glaring at Shisui. “She’s part of Team 7 ! Got it?”

Sasuke, who had been standing off to the side, frowned and crossed his arms. “Ignore him,” he muttered, addressing Shisui. “We’re here to train.”

“Uh-huh,” Shisui said, looking amused. His gaze flicked between Sasuke and Naruto, then settled on you. “You seem to have some pretty intense bodyguards, (Y/N).”

You groaned, wishing the ground would swallow you whole. “They’re not my—”

“Don’t talk to her like that!” Naruto cut you off, stepping closer to Shisui. “She’s not interested in you!”

“Oh?” Shisui tilted his head, his smile growing wider. “Interesting. Why don’t we ask her, then?”

Before you could so much as open your mouth, Itachi’s voice cut through the air.

“That’s enough, Shisui.”

The older Uchiha stepped forward, his ever-calm demeanor somehow managing to quiet everyone at once. His sharp, calculating gaze moved over Naruto, Sasuke, and finally landed on you.

“Interesting dynamic you have here,” he said, his tone unreadable.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sasuke asked sharply, his brows furrowed.

Shisui chuckled, crossing his arms. “Oh, come on, Sasuke. It’s obvious.”

“What’s obvious?” Naruto demanded, clearly feeling left out.

Shisui turned to Itachi, pretending to look serious. “They don’t know, do they?”

Itachi’s lips twitched, as though he was fighting back a smirk. “Apparently not.”

“Know what?” you asked, confused.

Shisui pointed at Sasuke, then at Naruto. “You’ve got yourself two admirers, (Y/N).”

The courtyard fell silent. Naruto turned bright red, and Sasuke froze, his expression somewhere between shock and outrage.

“What—? That’s not—!” Naruto sputtered, waving his arms wildly. “I don’t—!”

Shisui raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because the yelling, the glares, the possessiveness… kind of a dead giveaway.”

Sasuke clenched his fists, his face darkening. “Shisui…”

But Shisui wasn’t done. “And you,” he said, turning to Naruto with a playful grin. “You’re about as subtle as a brick. Seriously, (Y/N) must be blind not to notice.”

“Hey!” Naruto yelled, his embarrassment quickly turning into anger. “You don’t know anything about me!”

Itachi, ever the peacekeeper, stepped between them. “Calm down, Naruto. Shisui is just… observant.”

Shisui laughed. “Thanks for sugarcoating it, Itachi.” He turned back to you, his expression softening just slightly. “But seriously, (Y/N), you’ve got a couple of loyal fans here. Don’t let them scare you off.” He says with a wink.

You didn’t know what to say. The idea that Sasuke and Naruto might like you— like like you—wasn’t something you’d ever seriously considered. Sure, they were protective and sometimes overly competitive, but…

“Shisui, that’s enough,” Sasuke said, his voice low and dangerous. His Sharingan flickered briefly, a clear warning.

Shisui held up his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll stop.” He glanced at you one last time, his eyes glinting with mischief. “But if you ever get tired of these two, you know where to find me.” He says with a wink before walking away.

Naruto let out a strangled yell, and Sasuke looked ready to explode. You, meanwhile, wanted nothing more than to disappear.

Itachi sighed, placing a hand on Shisui’s shoulder. “Let’s leave them to their training.”

As the two older Uchiha walked away, Shisui’s laughter echoed behind him, leaving you alone with a flustered Naruto and a fuming Sasuke.

“…So,” you said awkwardly, breaking the silence. “Sparring, anyone?”

Neither of them answered, too busy glaring in the direction Shisui had gone.

This was going to be a long afternoon.

✇

The tension in the courtyard still lingered as you, Sasuke, and Naruto prepared to spar. Shisui’s teasing words from earlier hung in the air, making everything feel twice as awkward. Naruto stood across from you, his face still pink with lingering embarrassment, while Sasuke tried to act composed, though the tight set of his jaw betrayed his irritation.

You rolled your shoulders, stretching out your arms. “Alright, are we actually going to train, or are you two just going to keep glaring at each other all day?”

“Training,” Sasuke said curtly, stepping into position.

“Yeah, training,” Naruto echoed, though his enthusiasm felt forced.

What none of you noticed was that two figures had taken up positions in the shadows of the house nearby. Itachi and Shisui stood at a window, watching the three of you with quiet amusement.

“You think they’ll notice us?” Shisui asked, leaning casually against the wall.

Itachi didn’t take his eyes off the courtyard. “No. They’re too distracted.”

Shisui grinned. “This should be interesting.”

✇

Back outside, you squared off with Naruto first. Sasuke stood to the side, arms crossed, his dark eyes watching your every move.

“Alright, Naruto,” you said with a grin, cracking your knuckles. “Don’t hold back.”

Naruto smirked, his earlier embarrassment forgotten as his competitive nature kicked in. “You asked for it, (Y/N)! I’m not going easy on you!”

The match began with Naruto charging at you, his fists swinging wildly. You ducked and weaved, easily dodging his attacks. He was fast, sure, but his movements were predictable. After a few exchanges, you saw an opening and took it.

With a quick sweep of your leg, you knocked Naruto off balance, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before he could recover, you pinned him, your knee pressing lightly into his chest and your hands holding his wrists.

“Gotcha,” you said, grinning down at him.

Naruto’s eyes widened, and his face turned a deep shade of red. “Wha—hey! Let me up!”

“Not until you admit defeat,” you teased, leaning closer.

Behind you, Sasuke’s glare could have cut through steel. He shifted slightly, his fists clenching at his sides.

Naruto sputtered, clearly flustered. “I—I’m not gonna lose that easily!” He tried to wiggle free, but you held him firmly in place.

From their spot in the house, Shisui snickered. “Look at him. Absolutely helpless.”

Itachi’s lips twitched into the faintest of smiles. “(Y/N) is better than I expected. She’s keeping them both on edge.”

Shisui raised an eyebrow. “You think Sasuke’s going to handle it any better?”

“We’ll see,” Itachi said quietly, his gaze never wavering.

Naruto eventually admitted defeat—though not without a lot of grumbling—and you let him up. Next, it was Sasuke’s turn.

The two of you faced off, and unlike with Naruto, Sasuke didn’t rush in. He was calm, calculating, his Sharingan flickering to life as he studied your movements.

“Don’t think you’ll win so easily,” Sasuke said, his voice low and confident.

“We’ll see,” you replied, smirking.

The sparring match was more intense this time. Sasuke’s movements were precise, his attacks forcing you to stay on the defensive. But you weren’t about to let him intimidate you. You dodged, countered, and matched him blow for blow.

Eventually, you saw your chance. When Sasuke lunged forward, you sidestepped and grabbed his arm, using his momentum against him. In one swift motion, you flipped him onto his back and straddled him, pinning his arms above his head.

“Looks like I win again,” you said, grinning down at him.

Sasuke’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked genuinely stunned. His face turned a faint shade of pink, and he quickly turned his head to the side, avoiding your gaze.

“Get off,” he muttered, his voice tight.

“What’s that?” you teased, leaning in slightly. “I didn’t hear you.”

“I said get off ,” Sasuke repeated, his tone sharper now, though the blush on his cheeks remained.

From the house, Shisui doubled over in laughter. “Oh, this is priceless. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sasuke that flustered.”

Even Itachi allowed himself a quiet chuckle. “She’s more of a challenge for him than I expected.”

Shisui nudged him. “Think we should let them know we’re watching?”

“Not yet,” Itachi said, his tone calm but amused. “This is far too entertaining.”

By the time you finally let Sasuke up, both he and Naruto were sulking. Naruto wouldn’t stop grumbling about how unfair your moves were, while Sasuke avoided looking at you entirely. You stretched your arms, feeling smug.

“Man, you two are sore losers,” you said, laughing.

“Shut up,” Sasuke muttered, brushing dirt off his clothes.

“Yeah!” Naruto chimed in. “You just got lucky!”

“Oh, sure,” you said, rolling your eyes. “I totally won twice in a row because of luck.”

Before either of them could retort, slow clapping came from the house. You all turned to see Shisui and Itachi stepping out onto the porch, both of them looking far too amused.

“Well done, (Y/N),” Shisui said, smirking. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”

You blinked, heat rising to your cheeks. “Wait… you were watching?”

“Of course,” Shisui replied, leaning casually against the doorframe. “How could we miss such an entertaining performance?”

Naruto turned red, sputtering. “You—you saw all of that?!”

Sasuke’s glare returned full force, directed squarely at Shisui. “What are you even doing here?”

Shisui shrugged. “Just enjoying the show. You three are hilarious.”

Itachi’s calm gaze met yours, and he gave you a slight nod. “Your skills are impressive. You handled them well.”

“Uh… thanks?” you said awkwardly, unsure whether to feel proud or mortified.

Naruto groaned, covering his face. “This is the worst day ever.”

Sasuke didn’t say anything, but the dark look he gave Shisui spoke volumes. Shisui, of course, just laughed.

“Don’t worry, Sasuke,” he said, grinning. “I’m sure (Y/N) still thinks you’re very cool.”

That was the last straw. Sasuke stormed off toward the house, muttering something under his breath. Naruto, not wanting to be left behind, followed after him, still complaining.

You stayed behind, shaking your head. Shisui flashed you one last grin before following Itachi back into the house, leaving you alone in the courtyard.

“Well,” you muttered to yourself, “at least they’re consistent.”

✇

The courtyard was quiet for a few minutes after Naruto and Sasuke stormed off, and you finally allowed yourself to sit on the ground and catch your breath. Sparring with them back-to-back had been exhausting, but seeing them so flustered made it all worth it.

You were just starting to relax when you heard the sound of footsteps approaching. You glanced up to see both Naruto and Sasuke walking back out of the house, their expressions set with determination.

“What now?” you asked, raising an eyebrow as you stood up.

“We want a rematch,” Sasuke said bluntly, his Sharingan already active.

“Both of us. At the same time!” Naruto added, pointing at you with a confident grin.

You blinked, caught off guard by their demand. “Wait, you want to fight me together? Isn’t that a little unfair?”

Naruto snorted. “You’re the one who said we were sore losers. Let’s see if you can handle both of us at once!”

Sasuke nodded, his tone clipped. “You’re always bragging about how fast and clever you are. Prove it.”

A small laugh escaped you as you shook your head. “Alright, but don’t cry when I win again.”

Unbeknownst to the three of you, Itachi and Shisui were still watching from inside the house. The two older Uchiha stood by the window, the perfect vantage point to observe the chaos.

“Round two,” Shisui said with a grin. “This should be good.”

Itachi hummed in agreement, his sharp eyes studying the scene below. “They’ve been provoked. Let’s see how far they take this.”

✇

The sparring began, and true to their word, Naruto and Sasuke came at you together. Naruto charged in headfirst, his movements wild and uncoordinated, while Sasuke hung back, calculating your every move.

You sidestepped Naruto’s attack easily, landing a quick jab to his side before flipping away from Sasuke’s incoming kick. The two boys coordinated their efforts surprisingly well, forcing you to stay on your toes.

Naruto grinned as he lunged at you again. “You’re not getting away this time!”

“Keep telling yourself that!” you shot back, ducking under his swing.

Just as you moved to counter, you felt a sharp rip . The bottom hem of your shirt caught on Naruto’s hand as he grabbed at you, and with a loud tearing sound, the fabric tore, leaving your stomach exposed. The tear up to right below your chest.

Everything stopped.

Naruto froze, his eyes going wide as his face turned a deep crimson. Sasuke, who had been about to attack, also stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze snapping to your now-exposed skin.

“Uh—uh—I didn’t mean to—” Naruto stammered, holding up the torn piece of fabric as if that would somehow help.

You looked down, noticing the damage, and sighed. “Seriously, Naruto?”

From the window, Shisui let out a bark of laughter. “Oh, this is gold .”

Itachi’s lips twitched into a faint smirk. “They’re even more distracted than I expected.”

Sasuke quickly averted his eyes, his face tinged with pink. “Idiot,” he muttered, glaring at Naruto. “You’re so reckless!”

Naruto waved his arms wildly, still flustered. “It was an accident! I wasn’t trying to—! I mean—!”

You crossed your arms, trying to ignore the heat rising to your own cheeks. “Relax. It’s just a shirt.”

Before anyone could say anything else, a calm voice interrupted.

“(Y/N),” Itachi called from the porch, holding a neatly folded shirt in his hands. “You can borrow one of mine.”

You turned to see him standing there, as composed as ever, while Shisui stood behind him, barely able to contain his laughter.

Naruto’s jaw dropped. “Wait, what? Why do you have to give her a shirt?”

Shisui leaned against the doorframe, smirking. “Well, unless one of you wants to give her yours…”

Naruto and Sasuke both froze, their faces somehow growing even redder.

“Absolutely not,” Sasuke muttered, his voice sharp.

Naruto crossed his arms, pouting. “Why does it have to be Itachi’s shirt, though?!”

You sighed, walking over to Itachi and taking the shirt he offered. “Thanks, Itachi.”

“Of course,” he said, his tone polite but tinged with amusement.

Shisui grinned. “It suits you. Sasuke, you might want to take notes. That’s how you treat a teammate.”

Sasuke glared at him, his fists clenched. “Stay out of this, Shisui.”

Naruto stomped his foot, still fuming. “You didn’t have to make it weird , Itachi!”

You quickly  turned away from the four males and took off your ripped shit and pulled the new shirt on, grateful to be covered again, and turned back to face your teammates. “Can we get back to sparring now, or are you two going to keep pouting?”

Naruto grumbled something under his breath, while Sasuke gave Shisui one last death glare before stepping back into position.

From the porch, Shisui shook his head, laughing softly. “This is better than I expected.”

Itachi folded his arms, watching as you resumed sparring with Naruto and Sasuke. “They’re too preoccupied to focus. She’s got them both completely out of balance.”

“And completely wrapped around her finger,” Shisui added with a grin.

Itachi didn’t respond, but the faintest trace of a smile lingered on his lips as he continued to watch.

✇

The sparring resumed, though it was painfully obvious that Naruto and Sasuke weren’t quite as focused as they usually were. You’d pinned them both in the past, but this time, their distracted state made it even easier. Their movements were sloppy, and they kept shooting each other annoyed glances, like each was blaming the other for what happened earlier.

“You two better start taking this seriously,” you said, dodging another wild punch from Naruto. “If you don’t, I’m going to win again .”

Naruto growled in frustration. “I am taking it seriously!”

“Could’ve fooled me,” you teased, sidestepping his next attack and landing a light kick to his side, sending him stumbling backward.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and stepped in to cover Naruto’s slip. He moved faster than before, his Sharingan spinning as he tried to predict your movements. You had to admit, he was good—but you were better at keeping your movements unpredictable.

When Sasuke went for a high kick, you ducked under it and swept his legs out from under him, sending him to the ground with a thud.

“Tch,” Sasuke muttered, glaring up at you as he quickly got back to his feet.

“You two are hopeless,” you said, shaking your head but smiling.

Naruto charged again, this time coming at you with a Shadow Clone for backup. You dodged the first Naruto’s strike and ducked under the second, grabbing his wrist and flipping him onto his back. He groaned as he hit the ground, winded.

“Still hopeless,” you teased, panting slightly.

Sasuke came at you again while Naruto was down, his movements sharper now. He managed to force you onto the defensive for a while, but as the spar went on, you saw his fatigue starting to show. With one last burst of energy, you grabbed his arm mid-punch, twisted it behind him, and shoved him to the ground.

Both boys lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in defeat. You dropped to your knees, completely out of breath from the effort.

“Three for three,” you panted, flopping onto your back in exhaustion. “You two really need to step up your game.”

Neither Naruto nor Sasuke responded right away, too busy catching their breath. You lay there, staring up at the sky, completely oblivious to the fact that the bottom of the shirt you were wearing—Itachi’s shirt, still slightly oversized for you—had ridden up slightly, exposing part of your stomach.

Naruto was the first to notice, his head snapping toward you before his face turned bright red. “(Y/N), your—your shirt—”

“Huh?” you mumbled, turning your head to look at him.

Sasuke had noticed too, though he didn’t say anything. His gaze lingered for a moment before he quickly looked away, his cheeks tinged pink. “Idiot,” he muttered, though it wasn’t clear if he was talking to you or himself.

“What are you—oh,” you said, realizing the issue as you glanced down. Your stomach was exposed, the fabric of the shirt having ridden up just enough to be noticeable. You immediately tugged it back down, feeling heat rush to your face.

From the porch, Shisui let out a low whistle. “Well, well. I see why they’re struggling to focus.”

You sat up quickly, your face burning as you turned to see both Itachi and Shisui walking toward you. Shisui was grinning as usual, while Itachi maintained his calm, composed demeanor.

“You looked good out there,” Shisui said, his tone teasing. “And you look even better now.” he says with a wink.

“Shisui!” you snapped, pulling the shirt down even more and glaring at him.

Naruto shot to his feet, pointing an accusing finger at Shisui. “Hey! Don’t talk to her like that!”

Sasuke, still sitting on the ground, glared at Shisui as well. “What are you even doing out here?”

Shisui shrugged, clearly unfazed by their hostility. “Just offering my honest opinion. Don’t get so worked up.”

Itachi’s gaze shifted to you, his expression neutral. “You’ve improved,” he said simply, though his words carried a quiet weight of approval. “Your stamina is impressive.”

“Thanks,” you mumbled, still feeling embarrassed.

Shisui tilted his head, his grin widening. “Don’t let these two get to you, (Y/N). They’re just jealous.”

Naruto sputtered, his face still bright red. “We’re not—! I mean, I’m not—! Just shut up, okay?”

Sasuke stood up, his glare sharp enough to cut through stone. “You’re annoying.”

Shisui laughed, clearly enjoying himself. “Alright, alright. I’ll leave you three alone. For now.”

With that, he turned and walked back toward the house, his laughter echoing behind him. Itachi lingered for a moment, giving you one last nod before following Shisui inside.

Once they were gone, you turned back to Naruto and Sasuke, who were both still visibly flustered.

“Are you two done being weird?” you asked, crossing your arms.

Naruto pouted, looking away. “I’m not being weird…”

Sasuke didn’t respond, though the faint pink on his cheeks hadn’t gone away.

You sighed, shaking your head. “Whatever. Next time, try focusing on the fight instead of—well, whatever that was.”

They didn’t argue, though the awkward silence that followed spoke volumes.

From inside the house, Shisui peered out the window, grinning as he watched the scene unfold. “They’re hopeless,” he said to Itachi.

Itachi didn’t respond, but the faintest trace of a smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Chapter Text

The sun hung high in the sky as you, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi trained together in an open field just outside the village. It had been a few days since the sparring incident at the Uchiha compound, and while things had mostly gone back to normal, you couldn’t help but notice that Naruto and Sasuke were still acting a bit strange around you—more competitive than usual, if that were even possible.

Today, though, the bigger problem was Kakashi. Or, more specifically, his apparent disinterest in training. As you, Naruto, and Sasuke practiced various jutsu and sparring techniques, Kakashi leaned lazily against a tree, his infamous orange book held up in front of his masked face.

“Come on, Kakashi-sensei!” Naruto yelled, clearly frustrated. “You’re supposed to be teaching us, not reading that dumb book!”

Kakashi didn’t even look up. “Hmm? Oh, I am teaching. I’m observing your techniques. Very closely.”

“Yeah, sure you are,” you muttered, rolling your eyes.

Sasuke didn’t say anything, but his glare spoke volumes. He was clearly just as annoyed as you and Naruto were, though he was too proud to complain outright.

You sighed, planting your hands on your hips as you walked over to where Kakashi was lounging. “Alright, sensei. If you’re not going to put the book down, I’m going to take matters into my own hands.”

Kakashi finally lowered the book slightly, one lazy eye meeting yours. “And what exactly does that mean?”

You didn’t answer. Instead, you lunged forward and snatched the book right out of his hand before he could react.

“Hey!” Kakashi said, sounding more alarmed than you’d ever heard him.

“What’s the big deal?” you said, holding the book out of his reach. “If it’s so interesting, I might as well read it, right?”

Naruto’s eyes widened, and Sasuke’s expression faltered just slightly. “Wait—(Y/N), you don’t want to read that!” Naruto shouted, waving his arms.

Sasuke crossed his arms, his voice low and tense. “Put it down, (Y/N).”

But their protests only made you more curious. You flipped the book open to a random page and cleared your throat dramatically.

“‘Her breath hitched as he pressed her against the wall,’” you began, your voice taking on an exaggeratedly sultry tone. “‘His hands traced the curve of her—’”

“STOP!” Kakashi said, his voice uncharacteristically panicked as he reached for the book.

Naruto’s face turned scarlet, and he covered his ears, yelling, “I don’t wanna hear this!”

Sasuke, who was normally composed, looked visibly uncomfortable, a faint blush creeping up his neck as he avoided eye contact.

You couldn’t help but burst out laughing, holding the book out of Kakashi’s reach as he lunged for it. “What is this ? Is this what you’ve been reading the whole time? No wonder you never take training seriously!”

“(Y/N), give it back,” Kakashi said, his tone unusually firm.

But you were having way too much fun. You flipped to another page and started reading again, your voice dripping with mock drama. “‘His lips brushed against hers, a promise of the passion that was yet to come—’”

“ENOUGH!” Kakashi yelled, finally managing to snatch the book back. He held it protectively against his chest, his face somehow looking flustered even with the mask.

You doubled over with laughter, tears streaming down your face. “Oh my god, Kakashi-sensei. I can’t believe you’ve been reading this in front of us the whole time!”

Naruto looked like he was about to explode from embarrassment, his face so red it almost matched his jacket. “Why would you even read something like that out loud, (Y/N)?!”

Sasuke, though quieter, was no less affected. His usual scowl was replaced with a glare of pure discomfort, his hands clenched at his sides. “You’re unbelievable,” he muttered, refusing to look at you.

What none of you realized was that you had an audience.

A short distance away, Shisui and Itachi had been passing through on their way back from a mission when they heard the commotion. Naturally, Shisui had insisted on stopping to watch, and now the two of them stood hidden behind a tree, listening to every word.

Shisui was grinning from ear to ear, barely holding in his laughter. “This is amazing ,” he whispered to Itachi. “Kakashi’s getting roasted, Sasuke looks like he’s about to implode, and (Y/N) is just killing them.”

Itachi, ever the composed one, watched with a faintly raised eyebrow. “It’s… an interesting dynamic,” he said quietly.

Shisui snorted. “You’re too polite, Itachi. This is pure comedy gold.”

As your laughter finally died down, you wiped at your eyes and turned back to Kakashi, who was still clutching his book like it was a lifeline. “Relax, sensei. It’s just a book. You don’t have to get so worked up.”

“You don’t understand,” Kakashi said, his voice muffled by the mask.

Before you could respond, Shisui decided to make his presence known. He stepped out from behind the tree, clapping his hands slowly. “Well, well. I knew you were entertaining, (Y/N), but this is on another level.”

You froze, your face instantly heating up as you realized who was watching. “Shisui?! Itachi?!”

Itachi followed behind Shisui, his calm gaze sweeping over the scene. He nodded to Kakashi. “Sensei.”

Kakashi’s visible eye narrowed slightly. “Itachi. Shisui.”

Naruto and Sasuke both stiffened, their embarrassment momentarily forgotten as they realized who had been watching.

Shisui grinned, tilting his head toward you. “I have to say, (Y/N), you’ve got some guts. Reading that out loud? In front of them ? I’m impressed.”

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “Please tell me you didn’t hear all of that.”

“Oh, we heard enough,” Shisui said, his grin widening. “And I have to say, you were really getting into it. Very… convincing performance.”

Itachi’s expression didn’t change, but there was a faint glint of amusement in his eyes as he added, “You have a talent for commanding attention.”

Now it was your turn to feel flustered. You glared at Shisui, your face burning. “You’re the worst.”

Shisui laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking.”

Naruto groaned, looking like he wanted to disappear. “This is the most embarrassing day of my life.”

Sasuke glared at Shisui, his voice icy. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

Shisui smirked, clearly enjoying every second of this. “Not really. This is way more fun.”

Itachi finally placed a hand on Shisui’s shoulder, steering him away. “We’ve disrupted their training enough.”

“Fine, fine,” Shisui said, still grinning as he let Itachi lead him away. “But seriously, (Y/N). Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re a natural.”

As they disappeared into the distance, you let out a long sigh, shaking your head. “Why does this kind of stuff always happen to me?”

Kakashi, Naruto, and Sasuke didn’t answer, all of them still too flustered to form coherent sentences.

One thing was for sure—you weren’t going to hear the end of this anytime soon.

✇

A few days had passed since your last training session, and today was supposed to be a day off. You were surprised when Sasuke invited you and Naruto over to the Uchiha compound. He didn’t give much of an explanation—typical Sasuke—but he claimed it would be “productive” to spend time together. Naruto, of course, was thrilled at the idea of hanging out, but you couldn’t help but suspect that Sasuke had ulterior motives.

When you arrived at the compound, the sun was shining bright, and the crisp breeze made the day feel light and easy. Since it wasn’t a training day, you’d opted for your normal clothes—a sleeveless, fitted top and shorts that were more comfortable than your usual shinobi attire. You didn’t think much of it, but the moment you stepped through the gates, you felt a shift in the atmosphere.

Naruto, who had arrived just before you, was mid-sentence when he saw you. His words faltered, and his jaw dropped slightly. “W-Whoa, (Y/N)… you look…”

You raised an eyebrow, confused by his sudden pause. “I look what?”

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing bright red. “Uh, different! I mean—uh, not bad just… different! You look, uh, good!”

“Smooth, Naruto,” you teased, chuckling as you walked past him toward Sasuke, who was leaning against the wall of the courtyard.

Sasuke’s reaction was less obvious, but no less telling. His eyes flickered over your outfit for a brief moment before quickly looking away. He cleared his throat, his usual stoic expression faltering just slightly. “You’re late.”

“I’m not late,” you said, crossing your arms. “I got here right on time.”

Sasuke didn’t respond, his gaze focused somewhere over your shoulder. His jaw was tight, and though he tried to act indifferent, you could tell he was struggling to maintain his composure.

“What’s with you two?” you asked, glancing between Naruto—who was still fidgeting awkwardly—and Sasuke.

“N-Nothing!” Naruto said quickly, waving his hands. “Nothing at all!”

Sasuke muttered something under his breath and turned away, his ears faintly red.

You frowned, feeling a little self-conscious. “Okay, seriously, what’s going on? Do I have something on my face or—”

“You’re fine,” Sasuke interrupted, his voice sharper than he intended. “Let’s just… get started.” turning his head away. 

“Started with what?” you asked, confused.

Before Sasuke could answer, a familiar voice interrupted from above.

“Well, isn’t this an interesting scene,” Shisui called, leaning casually against the roof of the compound.

You looked up, startled. “Shisui? How long have you been up there?”

“Long enough,” he replied with a grin, jumping down to land gracefully in front of you. “And I have to say, (Y/N), you’re really raising the bar today.”

You rolled your eyes, already bracing yourself for whatever teasing remark was coming next. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Shisui gestured vaguely at your outfit, his grin widening. “You know exactly what I mean.”

You felt your cheeks heat up as you crossed your arms defensively. “It’s just normal clothes. It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Tell that to your friends over here,” Shisui said, jerking his thumb toward Naruto and Sasuke. “They’re practically falling apart.”

Naruto sputtered, his face now an impressive shade of red. “I-I am not falling apart!”

Sasuke glared at Shisui, his tone icy. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”

“Not really,” Shisui replied, clearly enjoying himself. “Besides, this is way more entertaining.”

Itachi appeared then, walking out from one of the side entrances with his usual calm demeanor. His sharp gaze took in the scene with a single glance, lingering on you for a moment before shifting to his brother and Naruto.

“What’s going on?” Itachi asked, his tone even but curious.

“Just a little wardrobe-induced chaos,” Shisui said with a smirk. “Our dear (Y/N) here decided to show up looking like that” looking you up and down “and now these two can’t seem to handle it.”

You groaned, covering your face with your hands. “Shisui, you’re the worst.”

“I try,” he said, grinning.

Itachi’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of amusement in his dark eyes. He turned to Sasuke and Naruto, who were both clearly struggling to act normal. “You should both focus on maintaining your composure. It’s unbecoming of shinobi to be so easily distracted.”

Naruto opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. Sasuke, on the other hand, clenched his fists and turned his glare on the ground, refusing to respond.

Shisui snickered. “Don’t worry, (Y/N). I think they’ll recover… eventually.” winking at the end. 

You sighed, shaking your head. “I don’t know why I bother with any of you.”

But despite your exasperation, you couldn’t help but smile. Maybe the boys were a little ridiculous, but they were your ridiculous boys—and somehow, that made it all worth it.

✇

Later that night the sun had long set over the Uchiha compound, and the night was quiet and calm. You, Sasuke, and Naruto were still hanging out in the living room. Itachi and Shisui had left earlier, much to Sasuke and Naruto’s relief. Sasuke’s parents were away for the evening as well, leaving the house feeling unusually empty.

Naruto let out a dramatic groan from the couch, clutching his stomach. “I’m starving! Sasuke, don’t you have any food in this place?”

Sasuke rolled his eyes from where he sat across the room. “There’s food, idiot. I just don’t feel like cooking.”

“Then make something,” Naruto shot back, glaring at him.

“I just said I don’t feel like it,” Sasuke retorted, crossing his arms and looking away. 

You sighed, watching the two of them bicker for the hundredth time that day. “You know, if neither of you knows how to cook, you could’ve just said so.”

Naruto perked up immediately. “Wait—you know how to cook, (Y/N)?”

You shrugged. “A little. It’s not a big deal.”

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying you can cook better than us?”

“That’s not exactly a high bar,” you teased.

Naruto leapt to his feet, his hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. “Please, (Y/N), can you make something? I’ll do anything! I’m gonna die if I don’t eat soon!”

Sasuke rolled his eyes again but didn’t object. He glanced at you out of the corner of his eye. “Fine. If you can actually cook, prove it.”

You smirked, standing up and heading toward the kitchen. “Alright, but don’t complain if I end up putting you both to shame.”

✇

The kitchen in the Uchiha household was spotless, every surface gleaming and organized. You pulled open a few cabinets, finding the ingredients you needed with ease.

Naruto and Sasuke hovered nearby, trying (and failing) not to look too interested. You tied your hair back at first, but when it kept falling into your face, you grabbed a pencil from the counter and twisted your hair into a messy bun, securing it with the pencil.

It was such a casual motion—thoughtless, even—but it had an immediate effect on the two boys.

Naruto’s face turned bright red, and he fidgeted nervously, his gaze darting between you and the floor. “Uh, w-wow, (Y/N). You’re, uh… really getting into this, huh?”

Sasuke’s reaction was quieter, but no less telling. His eyes lingered on you for a second too long before he quickly looked away, his expression unreadable. He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms tightly as if trying to act unaffected.

You noticed the shift in their behavior but decided not to comment on it. Instead, you focused on cooking, humming softly to yourself as you worked.

“Do you need any help?” Naruto asked suddenly, clearly eager to distract himself from… whatever was going on in his head.

“Do you even know how to help?” Sasuke muttered, earning a glare from Naruto.

You laughed. “I’ve got it under control, don’t worry. Just sit back and let me work my magic.”

✇

Unbeknownst to the three of you, Shisui and Itachi had returned to the compound. Shisui had “forgotten something” (a thin excuse at best), and Itachi, as usual, had indulged his friend. When they arrived, the sight that greeted them in the kitchen stopped Shisui in his tracks.

“Well, isn’t this domestic,” Shisui said, leaning casually against the doorframe with a smirk on his face.

Itachi stood beside him, his sharp gaze taking in the scene. His expression remained neutral, but there was a faint glint of amusement in his eyes.

You turned to see them standing there, startled. “Oh, you’re back? I thought you left for the night.”

“We were just passing by,” Shisui said, grinning. His eyes flicked to the food you were preparing, then to the two boys sitting awkwardly at the table. “Didn’t know you were a chef, (Y/N).” 

Naruto frowned, his cheeks still faintly pink. “She’s just making something because we were hungry. What’s the big deal?”

Shisui ignored him, stepping closer to you. “You know, (Y/N), you’d make a perfect little wife. You’ve got the cooking skills, the multitasking down—and the look, too. It’s a shame you’re wasted on these two.” throwing a wink at you at the end. 

Your face turned bright red as you turned back to the stove, pretending to focus on stirring the pot in front of you. “Shisui, don’t start.”

“Oh, I’m serious,” Shisui continued, smirking. “If you ever get tired of these guys, I might just have to steal you away for myself.”

Naruto shot to his feet, his face burning as he pointed an accusing finger at Shisui. “Hey! Back off, Shisui! She’s not going anywhere with you!”

Sasuke’s glare was sharp enough to cut through steel. “You’re not funny,” he said coldly, his hands clenched into fists.

Shisui laughed, clearly enjoying the reaction he was getting. “Relax, boys. I’m just teasing. Probably.”

Itachi, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. “Leave them alone, Shisui. They’ve clearly had enough of you for one day.”

Shisui raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning. “Fine, fine. I’ll leave them to their little dinner party. But seriously, (Y/N)—great job with the wife material.” He winked at you before turning to leave.

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. “Why do I even put up with him?”

Naruto, still red-faced, sat back down with a huff. “I can’t believe he said that. What’s his problem?”

Sasuke didn’t say anything, but the way he was glaring at the doorway where Shisui had left made it clear he was just as annoyed.

You sighed, turning back to the food. “Alright, enough of this. Dinner’s almost ready. Just sit down and try not to start another argument, okay?”

They both nodded, though the tension in the air was still palpable. As you finished cooking and served the food, you couldn’t help but feel a strange warmth in your chest. Sure, Shisui’s teasing had been embarrassing, but seeing how much Naruto and Sasuke cared—no matter how awkwardly they showed it—was strangely endearing.

And maybe, just maybe, you didn’t mind putting up with their antics after all.