Naruto: I Reincarnated As Itachi Uchiha

The air was quiet, the tension palpable. Terumi Mei sat idly, tapping her fingers against the wooden floor of her small house. Her emerald-green eyes occasionally flicked toward the door. After waiting for what felt like an eternity—fifteen minutes, to be exact—her patience wore thin. With a sigh, she muttered, "Still not coming out, huh? You know the ANBU are gone by now?"

She rose from her seat, strode to the small pool in the corner of her home, and reached into the water. Her fingers gripped the back of Uchiha Itachi's shirt, pulling his limp form out. Her brows furrowed as she examined him. His skin was pale, and blood dripped steadily from his clothing into the pool below.

Her emerald gaze darkened. "Unconscious? But from what? I didn't even use much force. What did those people do to you?" she muttered, her voice laced with frustration.

Gently, she tore the fabric of his shirt, revealing a gaping wound running along his chest. The edges of the cut were pale and waterlogged, and the bloodied bandages had slipped down to his waist. Despite her usual calm demeanor, her lips pressed into a thin line as she tied fresh bandages around him.

Her gaze flicked toward the window, where the ANBU of Kirigakure had disappeared moments earlier. "What kind of monsters would do this to a child? If I ever become Mizukage, this senseless cruelty will have to be stopped."

With a deep sigh, she hoisted the unconscious boy onto her shoulder and carried him inside.

---

Meanwhile, in a dark, damp hideout far away, Orochimaru's serpentine grin stretched wide as he observed his subordinate, Mitarashi Anko.

"Lord Orochimaru, was it really necessary to go this far with Itachi?" Anko asked hesitantly.

Orochimaru chuckled, his tongue flicking out to lick his lips. "Anko, you underestimate him. Even at his age, Itachi has the potential to rival prodigies like Hatake Kakashi. He's a natural-born shinobi. And yet...he hasn't stepped onto the battlefield. Instead, he uses the Sharingan to manipulate inexperienced Kirigakure ninjas. Such brilliance...truly, the Sharingan is a marvelous tool."

Anko's eyes gleamed with admiration. "You're right, Lord Orochimaru. Itachi's abilities are remarkable." But as she thought of his injuries, a trace of concern flickered in her expression. "But what about his condition? Shouldn't we do something about it?"

Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed as he waved a dismissive hand. "That woman will know how to handle him. For now, just keep an eye on the situation. If anything goes wrong, retrieve him. I have more...pressing matters to attend to."

Anko nodded resolutely. "Understood, Lord Orochimaru!"

---

Pain coursed through Itachi's chest as he stirred awake. His surroundings were unfamiliar, the faint scent of herbs lingering in the air.

"Where...am I? Tch, it hurts..." he muttered, his voice hoarse.

A melodic, slightly teasing voice answered from nearby. "You're pulling on the wound. Careful, or you'll tear it open again. Seems like you're not only reckless in battle but impatient too."

Itachi turned his head toward the sound, his Sharingan instinctively flickering to life. Before him stood a young woman, her sky-blue dress flowing gracefully around her. Chestnut-brown hair cascaded down her shoulders in soft waves, and—he hesitated—her chest seemed...prominent, to say the least.

It took him a moment to place her face. When he did, his eyes widened slightly. "Terumi Mei?"

The woman smirked, clearly amused. "Oh? So you know me? And here I thought you were just a little brat who stumbled into the wrong place. What's your name, Uchiha boy?"

"Itachi. Uchiha Itachi," he replied cautiously. His mind raced as he pieced together her appearance. She looked younger, perhaps sixteen or seventeen—far from the confident and composed Mizukage he knew of in the future. "Damn Boruto and his timeline inconsistencies," he thought grimly.

Slowly, he sat up, ignoring the sharp pain in his chest. "Why didn't you hand me over to the ANBU? I attacked you. Isn't it natural for you to turn me in?"

Mei rolled her eyes, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "ANBU? Those fools saw a middle-aged man, not a kid. They'll believe anything I tell them. Besides..." Her smile turned wicked as she leaned in closer. "You have some nerve, showing up while I was enjoying a hot spring. Did you get an eyeful of my body, Uchiha brat?"

Itachi's gaze briefly flickered downward, his composure slipping for a fraction of a second. "Circumstances forced my hand," he replied evenly, though his reddening ears betrayed his calm tone.

Mei's emerald eyes narrowed. "What's with that look? Have you never seen a woman's chest before?"

"No," Itachi admitted bluntly, his gaze lingering a second too long. "But yours is...quite... Big, to say the least. If I wasn't being chased, I might've stopped to admire it a little longer."

Her expression darkened instantly, a comical vein popping on her forehead. "You arrogant little Uchiha brat! Do you know who you're talking to?!"

Itachi smirked, the faintest trace of amusement tugging at his lips. "If you're that mad, you can always take me back to ANBU."

Mei took a deep breath, visibly calming herself before she glared at him. "Oh, trust me, I'm tempted. But I've decided....I quite like having you around—for now."

Despite the pain in his chest, Itachi chuckled softly. "You're...an interesting person."

Mei reached out and ruffled his hair, her teasing smirk returning. "And you're an infuriating little brat. Come on, let's take a walk. I'll make sure you don't collapse again."

Reluctantly, Itachi nodded. "Fine...big sister."

Her laughter echoed through the room, light and carefree. "You're lucky you're cute, Itachi. Otherwise, I'd have fed you to the sharks."