I watched as the color of the boy's eyes slowly shifted from a fierce red back to their original color. I noticed the subtle twitch of his brows, and for the first time, I caught a glimpse of emotion shimmering within those depths. The boy who had smiled kindly and fed the stray cats was returning, shedding the shinobi mask that had cloaked him moments before.

  With a deliberate movement, he withdrew his kunai, lowering himself to the ground with a soft thud. He exhaled deeply, the tension visibly leaving his body as he settled into a crisscross position. His gaze locked onto mine, and he spoke, "Although I shouldn't trust people outside of the village so easily... my gut tells me that you're okay."

  I remained silent, still processing the jumbo of emotions and events that had just transpired. How could this boy possess those same blood-red eyes?

  "You have those eyes too?" I finally asked, my curiosity piqued.

  He propped an elbow on his knee, resting his chin in his hand, contemplating whether to answer. "Even if you passed the test, it doesn't mean I'll just answer any of your questions," he replied, his tone guarded.

  How strange, I thought. Despite the threat he had posed just moments ago, I felt no fear toward him. Perhaps it was the realization that, aside from my Grandpa, this was the first real conversation I had with someone my age. Instead of anxiety, a sense of happiness bloomed within me. Here I was, interacting with someone who wasn't avoiding me like so many others back in the Village Hidden in the Frost.

  "You know my name...so what is yours?" I asked.

  A genuine smile spread across his face, illuminating his features. "Shisui Uchiha."

  My eyes widened in surprise, and I couldn't help but smile back. "You're an Uchiha too?"

  "Uchiha is our clan name," Shisui explained curtly, his demeanor shifting slightly as he spoke of his heritage.

  I nodded in understanding, the pieces of the puzzle clicking into place.

  "Wait," Shisui paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "That doesn't explain why you're in a cat transformation."

  "Well, you see..." I began hesitantly, weighing my words carefully. I had earned a bit of his trust, and I didn't want to jeopardize it with anything that might raise suspicion. "I'm actually not here right now."

  "What do you mean?" he asked, confusion flickering in his eyes.

  "I don't really know myself," I admitted. "When I use the cat transformation jutsu, I also get teleported here. But once my chakra runs out, or if I undo the jutsu, I'll be sent back home to the Land of Frost."

  I studied his face closely, recognizing the look of disbelief starting to form.

  "If you don't believe me, you can stick around and find out for yourself when my chakra runs out or when I want to return home. You'll see."

  Shisui's expression transformed from skepticism to intrigue, and he grinned widely. "Alright. I'm in."

  "Since we know each other's names now," I began, feeling a flutter of nervousness in my stomach, "let's be friends."

  Shisui fell silent, and his stillness made me question my words, planting seeds of doubt in my mind. Had I jumped the gun? Was this too forward of me?

  "Is that a demand?" he asked, a playful smile lingering on his lips.

  Embarrassment washed over me, and I turned my gaze away, the warmth of my cheeks betraying my flustered state. "No," I mumbled, feeling a pang of anxiety at the thought of admitting my loneliness. I was certain that if I revealed my lack of friends, he would tease me mercilessly.

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  "Sure," I heard him say, and I turned my head back to him, nearly unable to believe my ears. He looked so self-assured that I found it hard to doubt his sincerity.

  At that moment, I realized I had formed my very first friendship. It wasn't with who I had initially expected, but it didn't matter. I felt a surge of hope that, in this cat form, I could forge new connections-not just with Shisui, but perhaps even with Itachi as well.

  "Itachi Uchiha, isn't it?" Shisui mused, his brow furrowing in thought. "His parents are well-known in our clan. I've heard of him, but I haven't met him formally yet. But, I do know where he lives."

  "Is that so?" I replied, nodding eagerly. "Can you show me where?"

  Shisui regarded me with a thoughtful expression as if weighing the implications of my request.

  "I promise you, I'm not a spy," I stated firmly, hoping to dispel any lingering doubts. "I just want to thank him for saving my life."

  "Hmm..." he paused. The seconds stretched to a minute as I waited for his response. "Okay. Come follow me," he said finally.

  ~~~

  While weaving through the streets for what felt like an eternity, I focused intently on memorizing the paths we took, determined not to lose my way. Finally, we arrived at a residence that caught my eye. The first thing that struck me was how unusual it was; it resembled a village within a village, an enclave tucked away on the outskirts and isolated on both sides as if it were a hidden world apart from the bustling town.

  So this is where Itachi lives, I realized, noting that I had been searching far from the heart of the village.

  "Well..." Shisui sighed, his voice tinged with sadness. "All of us live here now."

  "What do you mean?" I asked, confusion knitting my brow.

  He lowered his gaze, staring intently at the cracks in the concrete, then glanced up at the surrounding town with a heavy heart. "After the attack..." He hesitated, weighing his words carefully before continuing. "The Uchiha clan lives here now."

  My mind raced with questions, but I could see the reluctance in his eyes. He didn't want to delve into the details, especially not with me-an outsider he had just met.

  "Do we go in?" I asked, my tone almost hypothetical as I studied the residence before us, taking in the quiet yet somber atmosphere that surrounded it.

  "I don't think-" he began, but his words trailed off when he caught sight of me. A thoughtful look crossed his face as he scratched his nose. "Right? You're a cat."

  If a cat could raise an eyebrow, I would have done just that.

  "Even if I forbid you, you're just going to waltz in there anyway, aren't you?" he said, a knowing smile creeping onto his lips. After a moment of contemplation, he relented. "Fine. Follow me but don't let anyone suspect that you're more than just a cat."

  As we approached the enclosed residence, it became evident that construction was underway within the compound. The sounds of hammers striking nails and the rhythmic thud of wooden beams being set into place filled the air, creating a symphony of industriousness that resonated with the spirit of resilience.

  I noticed dozens of individuals proudly displaying the Uchiha symbol on their clothing, their movements synchronized as they worked together to build more houses for their clan.

  That was when I realized that every person in this area bore the mark of their clan's identity. Not a single outsider was seen within these walls, and I couldn't help but ponder Shisui's earlier hesitation. Did that mean no one but the Uchiha was permitted inside the residence? A sense of unease crept into my mind as I considered the implications.

  Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, we came to an abrupt stop, and I found myself staring up at a closed gate. The double doors were crafted from sturdy wood, flanked on either side by two small trees.

  Shisui raised his hand and knocked on the door, and we waited in anticipation.

  A few moments later, the door creaked open, sending a rush of nervous excitement coursing through me. My heart raced at the thought of seeing Itachi again. This time, I would make sure to thank him properly for saving my life.

  As the door opened halfway, a small head peeked out from the other side. Itachi's dark eyes scanned Shisui first before darting to me for just a fleeting second, then returning to focus on Shisui.

  "Can I help you?" Itachi asked, stepping fully into view. Strapped to his chest was a bundle-a baby, whose curious eyes sparkled with innocence as he turned to look at us.

  Suddenly, a flash of light erupted in my mind's eye, and I instinctively shut my eyes tight. I was plunged into a vision: a young man, battered and wounded, collapsing face-first onto the ground, unconscious but breathing. The image was jarring, and as I studied the scene unfolding in my mind, I noticed a headband with that symbol that I had yet to understand but the symbol was crossed out as if it was done intentionally with a kunai. Next to this headband was a hand lying still, devoid of movement and covered in blood.

  A wave of dread washed over me, constricting my chest as I instinctively tried to shift my gaze to see whose hand it was. But before I could grasp the identity of the owner, the vision abruptly ended, leaving me breathless and shaken.

  "Hey."

  "Aki."

  "What-" I muttered, blinking rapidly as I felt my four legs wobbling beneath me, struggling to regain my balance.

  "Are you okay?" I heard Shisui's concerned voice as he knelt beside me, steadying me with a gentle touch.

  "Y-Yeah," I replied, shaking my head in an attempt to clear the dizziness that clouded my mind. "Thank you."

  "Did Whiskers just talk?" Itachi asked, surprise evident in his tone.

  "Whiskers?" Shisui turned his head to look at Itachi, then back at me, confusion etched on his face.

  "Whiskers, Mrs. Meimei's cat," Itachi clarified, a hint of amusement in his voice.

  Shisui's eyes lit up with recognition. "Oh, that's right! I thought she looked familiar. Mrs. Meimei's cat looks exactly like you."

  For some reason, their words seemed to echo uselessly in my ear. The familiar ache returned, tightening my chest as tears threatened to spill from my eyes. I looked up at Itachi, his expression a mix of confusion and concern as he examined me. Then my gaze shifted to the infant cradled in his arms.

  What...was that?

  POOF!