Chapter:15 My mother?

Itachi was about to explain his reasoning when she interrupted, her voice carrying an authoritative tone. "I'm ordering you to finish your meal. Are you really going to argue with your mother?"

He sighed softly, recognizing that familiar motherly insistence that wasn't worth arguing against. "No, Mother," he replied, resigned but amused.

Without further protest, Itachi continued eating, finishing the dango quickly. Yana watched him with a smile, knowing he still had that serious streak even in such simple moments.

"See? That wasn't so bad," she teased gently, clearly pleased.

Itachi wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at her with a rare but genuine warmth in his eyes. "Thank you, Mother. It was... nice."

Yana's smile deepened. "I'm glad, Itachi. I just want to make sure you're happy."

After dinner, Itachi and Erika made their way to the backyard. The evening air was cool, and the quiet surroundings made it the perfect time to train. Activating his Sharingan, the familiar red glow flickered in his eyes, and he glanced at Erika.

"Erika," Itachi said calmly, "could you bring me some knives?"

Erika looked at him in shock, her eyes widening. "Why do you need knives?" she asked, her voice a mixture of concern and suspicion.

Itachi sighed softly, knowing she'd misinterpret his request. "Not to kill you, if that's what you're thinking."

"Not funny," Erika shot back, frowning. "Just tell me why you need them."

"For target practice," Itachi replied in a matter-of-fact tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Erika hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded. "Fine," she muttered. "How many?"

"Six," Itachi responded.

Although Erika didn't fully understand why he wanted to practice with knives, she trusted him enough to comply. She went to the kitchen, while Itachi returned to his room to gather some targets. When Erika came back, she saw Itachi positioning wooden targets around the yard, some above him, suspended with sticks, and others at various angles.

"I brought six knives," Erika said, handing them over, still skeptical about what she was about to witness.

"Thank you," Itachi said calmly, inspecting the knives before stepping into the center of the targets. He assessed the distances with his Sharingan, gauging the angles and the best trajectory for each throw.

With a swift, graceful leap, Itachi hurled the knives into the air. The blades spun rapidly, and each one struck its target dead center. The sound of metal hitting wood echoed in the backyard. Erika's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape. She knew Itachi was skilled, but seeing it in action was another thing entirely.

Standing at the edge of the yard, someone else had been watching as well—Yana, their mother, who had slipped out to see what her son was up to.

"Itachi…" Erika whispered, still in shock.

Itachi landed softly on the ground, exhaling as if what he had just done was nothing out of the ordinary. He stood up, dusting off his hands, and then spoke without turning around.

"Mother," he said, his tone neutral but knowing. "I saw you standing there."

Erika turned, startled, and saw Yana stepping out from behind a corner. She looked as composed as always, but her eyes held a certain mix of surprise and pride.

After Yana had observed Itachi's flawless knife-throwing practice, her smile faded slightly as her curiosity deepened. There was something about his skills, something beyond what a normal quirk should grant. She walked toward him, her expression more serious now.

"Itachi," she said in a calm but firm voice, "you mentioned your quirk allows you to see in slow motion and predict movement. Is that how you managed such accuracy just now?"

Itachi, sensing the gravity in her tone, maintained his usual composure. He quickly formulated a believable explanation, knowing he had to be careful with how much he revealed.

"Actually, Mother," he began, his voice even and steady, "I was with Keigo earlier. We were just playing around, tossing stones. He challenged me to hit a distant target, so I threw the rock with the help of my eyes, just like I mentioned. After I hit the target accurately, I figured I could apply the same skill to this practice. I wanted to see if my aim would still be as good."

Yana's eyes softened, though there was still a trace of concern. She stepped closer, standing in front of him and gently placed her hand on his cheek. "Knives are sharp, dear," she said with a motherly tone. "If you must practice, use something dull. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Itachi met her gaze, his expression calm but appreciative of her concern. "I understand, Mother. I'll be more careful next time." He nodded respectfully, knowing that she wouldn't let the matter go otherwise.

Yana smiled at his response, though a lingering curiosity remained. She was proud of Itachi but also cautious. "Good. Just... promise me, nothing too dangerous. You're still a child, after all."

Itachi, taking her words in stride, nodded once more. "I promise."

Yana seemed satisfied but then raised an eyebrow as if sensing that he had more to say. "Is there something else you wanted to ask, Itachi?"

Itachi hesitated for a brief second but then decided to voice his request. "Mother, there's something I would like to have... if it's possible."

Yana smiled warmly, clearly willing to indulge her son. "Like I've told you before, Itachi. Whatever you need, just ask."

Itachi paused, carefully choosing his words. "I would like to have some kunai... and shurikens."

Yana's eyebrows lifted slightly, a questioning look crossing her face. "Kunai and shurikens? Like the ones ninjas use?"

Itachi sweatdropped a little, realizing how strange it might sound for a child to request such items. But he nodded, staying composed. "Yes... I want to practice with them. They're not much different from throwing knives, but they're more balanced."

Yana chuckled lightly, not entirely surprised by his unusual request but finding it amusing nonetheless. "Ninja tools, huh? You're quite serious about your training, aren't you?"

Itachi gave a small, respectful nod. "Yes, Mother. I want to be prepared."

She smiled at him, her love and pride for him clear in her expression. "Alright, dear. I'll get them for you. But remember, no overdoing it. You're still young."

Itachi smiled softly, grateful for her understanding. "Thank you, Mother. I'll be careful."