The moon hung high above the Hidden Leaf Village, casting a soft, silver glow over the forest. Crickets hummed, and the wind whispered through the trees, but Itachi Uchiha’s senses were sharp, cutting through the night’s serenity. His Sharingan glowed faintly in the shadows as he stood guard—his back pressed protectively in front of her.

“You shouldn’t be out here,” his voice, smooth but laced with concern, broke the silence. “It’s dangerous tonight.”

The woman he loved, the one who had managed to slip through the walls he built around his heart, stood firm beside him. “You’re always protecting me, Itachi,” she replied softly, “but you can’t carry every battle alone.”

Itachi turned his head slightly, just enough for her to see the softness in his crimson gaze. “I would carry the weight of the world if it meant keeping you safe.”

A sudden rustle in the trees snapped him back to the moment. In an instant, he was in front of her, his arm shielding her from sight, his voice low and deadly.

“Stay behind me. Whoever they are… they won’t touch you.”

His enemies could come from the shadows, from the past he fought to conceal, but for her—he would become a shield, a sword, and a sanctuary. Always.