Itachi was indeed nervous.
This mysterious girl from the same clan had genuinely piqued his curiosity.
That's why he had paused his shuriken training to search for her.
He'd even told a white lie, worried she might be upset.
Truth be told,
He'd combed through these woods extensively before finding her...
This was no accidental encounter!
Though partly a gamble,
He didn't know her training schedule.
He remained unaware of her family circumstances.
Fortunately, his gamble paid off.
The girl was indeed still practicing in this grove.
Admittedly, beneath his nervousness, Itachi felt a quiet joy.
Yet his meticulous nature made him tread cautiously.
"If... if I'm disturbing you, I can train elsewhere."
"My apologies."
With sincere remorse, Itachi slowly raised his gaze to meet Qingchuan's.
The initial frost in her eyes had thawed,
Now carrying the faintest hint of amusement...
But as their eyes met,
The warmth vanished, replaced by her signature icy detachment.
The unapproachable Qingchuan persona resumed.
"Stay if you wish. I'll leave."
"The Uchiha clan head's eldest son isn't someone to cross. Better to avoid trouble."
With that, Qingchuan spun on her heel,
Her high ponytail swaying behind her...
Her act served a purpose.
Inspired by Itachi's humble demeanor,
Since embracing this cross-dressing persona for the 30% training boost,
Why not weaponize its charm?
Even Qingchuan had startled himself when first seeing his reflection!
Though mildly mortifying...
He couldn't deny its devastating effectiveness!
Truth be told,
Few anime characters could rival this feminine visage.
Using it solely for training seemed wasteful.
While his progress was promising, his starting point remained low.
Seven years remained until the Night of Massacre.
But dangers lurked beyond just Itachi.
Moreover, as his power grew, so would his training's visibility.
Crafting a plausible, low-profile alter ego through this disguise might prove essential.
As expected,
This performance catapulted the innocent Itachi's guilt to its peak.
He'd been the intrusive one,
Yet this girl yielded because of his status.
What had he done?!
"Wait!"
"That's not what I meant!"
"Please... please let me explain!"
The urgency amplified Itachi's voice,
Revealing his determination
To clear misunderstandings and seek redemption!
Under Itachi's earnest gaze,
The retreating figure paused as if sensing his resolve.
Turning halfway, the girl regarded him with feigned puzzlement.
Finally,
Biting her lip as if making a concession...
"Speak."
.....
Ten minutes later.
In the same grove,
The pair sat side by side on a tree branch, conversing.
Though maintaining respectful distance,
The scene radiated unexpected warmth...
"So you train here simply to avoid disappointing your father?" Qingchuan inquired.
Itachi nodded hurriedly, "Partly... But true change requires strength."
"I see..." Qingchuan lowered her eyes. "How fortunate to have such a caring father."
"Truly."
Indeed,
He couldn't reconcile this gentle boy
With the future kin-slayer.
Yet undeniably,
Should history repeat itself...
Their destined clash during the massacre
Had already begun
In this very moment.
"I... deeply respect my father."
"He's the standard I strive toward."
The conversation had eased Itachi's initial tension.
Though still enigmatic,
The girl's icy barrier had softened slightly.
Delighted yet vigilant, Itachi remained cautious.
"Then let's resume training."
Qingchuan smiled faintly, leaping gracefully from the branch.
Clearing space for Itachi, she moved aside.
As anxiety resurfaced in the boy, her next words dissolved it completely.
"My name is Qing... Uchiha Haruko."
"Let's improve together."