I really like your analysis, so I'm curious about your opinion. I just finished Shinden and it really bothers me that Itachi is being tried to be in a romantic situation with Izumi. Am I the only one who finds this romance very forced and one-sided? I really can't imagine such a characterless woman next to him. I always thought Itachi would be like Kakashi...
[[ Failing to see the "like Kakashi" part. Because Kakashi's single? I think Kakashi being single is more because Kishi couldn't really find someone to pair him with and it didn't make sense, not that Kakashi himself didn't wanna share his life with someone. But...! To try to answer your question. Hearing about Izumi when the sneak peeks of the novels first came out did bother me at first, then I just got over it. Yes, it's fairly one sided, but also... why does it matter? Itachi doesn't hate her. He wants to protect her by trying to shy her away from shinobi work. Hilariously a little sexist but Itachi is not that smart in that department.
The more I read, the more I don't mind. Again, Izumi is harmless, Itachi never had any negative feelings about her, and she's always been polite and kind to him. Romance doesn't always have to be "I would end the world for you" type. It can just be someone you get along with who cares about you. It's not always that dramatic.
Itachi got along with her and didn't want to see her hurt and he didn't mind at all settling with her had the massacre not occurred. They would've made a perfectly normal, boring (in a positive way), couple. Izumi also did not expect to be put above Sasuke. Do you know how disastrous it would be if Itachi's wife didn't get along with Sasuke?
TLDR it doesn't bother me. Izumi's fine. Itachi x Izumi is fine. It's a bit bland but it works in its favor. ]]
