As I followed closely beside Shisui, we were soon approached by three girls his age. From their outfits and the tool pouches wrapped around their right thighs, it was clear they were also shinobi, likely his former classmates from the academy.

  "Hey, Shisui!" one of them called out, her voice bright and cheerful, cutting through the air like a refreshing breeze.

  Shisui stopped in his tracks, and I mirrored his movement, curiosity piquing my interest. He turned toward the girls, a genuine smile spreading across his face as he waved. "Yumi, Reiko, and Mina! You're all back from your missions too?"

  The girls halted a few feet away, their expressions a delightful mix of excitement and shyness. I could have sworn I saw one of them blush, her cheeks turning a rosy shade. She stood slightly apart from her friends, a hint of timidity in her demeanor that made her stand out to me immediately. Her short brown hair framed her fair skin, enhancing her delicate features and making her look remarkably pretty.

  As I watched the four of them engage in friendly chatter and laughter, a twinge of sadness crept into my heart.

  My world felt rather small in comparison. Beyond my Grandpa, Itachi, and Shisui, I hardly knew anyone else. At this thought, a cloud of unease descended upon me. What if, one day, both of them became too engrossed in their friendships with others and forgot about me? What if they realized I was just a boring, plain girl—or cat? The thought of being alone again in the frigid Land of Frost, with only my grandpa for company, was unbearable.

  Before I could dwell on these worries any longer, Shisui was already waving goodbye to the three girls, their smiles still lingered as they walked away.

  "Let's go, Aki," Shisui said, nudging me gently as he resumed his stride.

  "Ok."

  When we reached the academy, we found that the little shinobis in training had already been dismissed for the day. We began scanning the area for Itachi, hoping to catch a glimpse of our friend amidst the chaos.

  "There he is," Shisui said, pointing towards a large crowd of girls gathered around someone. "Looks like he's being swarmed by the girls."

  I followed his finger and, sure enough, Itachi was indeed surrounded by a mob of eager girls, all vying for his attention, asking him questions that I couldn't quite hear over the excitement.

  Shisui laughed and said something to me, but I barely registered his words as my mind spiraled into a whirlpool of thoughts.

  I had been right; one day, I would be forgotten amidst all these people. The fear of being alone again loomed like a dark cloud over me, threatening to overshadow the joy I felt so far. How long would it be before they lost interest in me entirely?

  "Itachi!!" Shisui shouted, waving his hand enthusiastically. His sudden exclamation jolted me out of my melancholy.

  At the sound of his name, Itachi perked up, spinning around to see us standing in the shade of a nearby tree. The expression on his face was a mix of relief and exasperation, almost comical if it weren't for the heaviness in my heart just moments before.

  He said something to the crowd, likely an attempt to excuse himself, and then wove his way out, rushing toward us with an expression of gratitude. "I thought I'd be trapped there until nightfall. Thank you, Shisui."

  Shisui slapped his shoulder playfully, a grin spreading across his face. "It's only been three days since the academy started, and you're already this popular. Tell us your secret, Itachi!"

  Itachi frowned slightly, but there was a spark of amusement in his dark eyes. "You're one to talk."

  Shisui chuckled, ruffling Itachi's hair with pride, their friendship evident in the easy banter they shared.

  "What's wrong, Aki?" Itachi asked, his attention suddenly shifting to me. His gaze was soft, filled with concern, and it tugged at my heart. "You're quieter than usual."

  I hesitated, feeling the weight of my earlier thoughts threatening to surface. I knew I shouldn't let such pessimistic feelings consume me, especially not in front of my friends. I didn't want to burden them with worries that felt unwarranted.

  With a small, reassuring smile, I replied, "I'm fine." I quickly brushed off my unease.

  In an instant, Itachi scooped me up into his arms, and with a powerful leap, he propelled himself off the ground, soaring effortlessly to the roof of a nearby building. Shisui followed closely behind, landing gracefully beside us. As the two of them knelt down with an expression of concern on both of their faces, I found myself at the center of their attention.

  "What in the world is going on?" I asked, confused and shifting my gaze between the two. My head moved so quickly that I felt a bit dizzy. "What is this?"

  "You can't leave without telling us what's wrong," Itachi insisted, his tone gentle yet firm.

  Shisui settled into a sitting position, crossing his arms as he regarded me with earnest eyes. "We've let you off the hook many times. We're your friends, Aki. You can tell us anything. We will help you however we can."

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  Their concern struck a chord deep within me, and I felt my eyes burn with unshed tears as I fought to hold them back. I wanted to be brave, to show them that I could handle this burden on my own.

  "You know, I can leave if I just undo the transformation, right?" I said, attempting to lighten the mood.

  "Yes, but you won't," Shisui countered, his tone resolute.

  He was right. Deep down, I knew it. So I shifted my focus from one friend to the other, the weight of my troubling thoughts creeping back in.

  A flood of embarrassment washed over me, and I felt a flush creeping up my cheeks. There was no way I could voice my worries aloud; they felt so trivial and foolish now that I was thinking about them.

  "Guys, really... it's nothing," I said, trying to sound lighthearted and cheerful, attempting to brush off their concern.

  However, Itachi shook his head and Shisui maintained his arms crossed, clearly signaling that they weren't going to let this go.

  Sighing in defeat, I curled up on the sloped roof, wrapping my arms around my head as if to hide myself from their watchful eyes.

  "Is it that bad that you're hiding yourself now?" Shisui asked with a hint of amusement in his voice, though I could tell he genuinely cared.

  Itachi shot him a sharp look, shaking his head in disapproval, which effectively silenced him.

  "Don't laugh," I ordered, still buried in my makeshift cocoon.

  "Yes, we won't," they replied in unison, their voices sincere.

  After a moment of silence, I took a deep breath, forcing myself to confess despite the cringing embarrassment that threatened to swallow me whole. I debated whether I should simply undo the transformation right then and there, abandoning my resolve.

  "I..." I trailed off, my throat tightening as I struggled to find the right words. Swallowing hard, I finally managed to voice the fear that had been gnawing at me. "I'm just worried that one day soon, you two, my friends... will find other people more interesting and forget about me... and then I'll be alone again."

  The admission hung in the air, heavy and raw, as I finally allowed my fears to surface. I felt exposed, yet relieved to share what had been weighing so heavily on my heart.

  I waited in hiding for a response, but there was none, so curiosity compelled me to peek out from my hiding place.

  Itachi and Shisui smiled at me, their expressions radiating warmth and genuine care.

  "There's no way we could forget about you, Aki," Itachi reassured me, placing a hand on the roof as he settled down beside me. "After all, we are friends, and we don't leave anyone behind."

  Shisui nodded in agreement. "That's right! So you don't have to worry about anything like that happening."

  Slowly, I emerged from my cocoon, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness and relief wash over me.

  Oh, how I wished I could hug the two of them.

  How I wished I could protect the light in their eyes.

  "Itachi. Shisui..." I slowly began, looking from one to the other. "When we're a bit older, ...I'll travel here—to the Hidden Leaf Village."

  They stared at me, their eyes wide and unblinking, as the air shifted around us.

  "So, I won't have to be a cat anymore. That way, we can do everything together—more easily. There's so much I want to do." Then, I hesitated for a moment. My heart pounding in suspense, "and, I will tell you two everything... Promise me that you will believe me no matter how absurd it is."

  Their grins widened, and they nodded enthusiastically.

  "That's a promise."

  "We will be waiting."

  I knew that making such promises was a risk I couldn't ignore, especially with the ominous future I had glimpsed lurking in the corners of my mind. The weight of uncertainty pressed heavily upon my shoulders, a reminder that every promise carried the potential for heartbreak. Yet, despite this awareness, I felt a fierce yearning to hold on to the hope that flickered like a candle in the dark.

  As the three of us sat and chatted about the academy, Shisui animatedly shared stories from his recent mission and all the new ideas he thought of.

  Time seemed to slip by and soon we were watching the evening sun dip slowly toward the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow across the landscape. Its rays stretched out like delicate fingers, reaching for the earth below, illuminating the sky in a breathtaking tapestry of colors. Hues of vibrant orange, soft pink, and deep purple blended seamlessly, creating a breathtaking canvas that seemed to breathe life into the twilight. The air cooled slightly, carrying with it the fragrant scent of blooming flowers and the earthy aroma of the day's warmth dissipating.

  As the sun descended, shadows began to lengthen, stretching across the ground and enveloping the village in a gentle embrace.

  I could feel my chakra draining, signaling that my time in this form was nearing its end.

  "What are your dreams?" I asked, feeling hopeful.

  Pondering for a moment, Itachi replied solemnly, "It probably sounds childish, ...but I want to end all wars and bring peace to the world."

  Shisui and I turned to him, intrigued by his earnest ambition.

  "I believe to do that, I'll have to be the strongest shinobi and become the Hokage. It won't be an easy path, that's for sure, but I'm determined that peace can be achieved..." He paused for a few seconds. "So that my brother, Sasuke, and the children of the village won't have to witness the cruelty of war."

  Shisui placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, a look of unwavering support on his face. "It doesn't sound childish at all, Itachi. It's an admirable dream. I will help you with whatever I can but with you leading the way, I know you can achieve it even without my help."

  Itachi smiled in appreciation, but as I listened to his aspirations, my thoughts drifted back to the haunting visions of the carved faces on the mountain overlooking the village. A deep ache settled in my heart at the thought of what might be lost.

  "As for me..." Shisui paused, his tone growing serious as he gazed out over the village, lost in thought. "I wish for everything to return to how it was—or even better. I want the village and the Uchiha to be united as one family."

  Itachi stared at him, a knowing expression crossing his features, tinged with sadness at the weight of those words.

  "I'll—!" I declared with determination, trying to clear the heavy atmosphere. "I'll definitely support both of you! Itachi, I'll help you bring peace to the world. Shisui, I'll do whatever I can to help you reunite the village and your clan."

  Shisui laughed, his eyes sparkling with warmth and mischief. "Don't tell me that's your dream?"

  "Don't you have a dream, Aki?" Itachi asked, his smile broadening, genuinely curious.

  I took a deep breath, the weight of their gazes filling me with a sense of vulnerability. "My dream is right here... in moments like this," I replied softly, my heart swelling with emotion.

  With the two of you—alive and well.

  My dearest friends...

  They exchanged looks, a silent understanding passing between them, and then grinned widely, a shared joy lighting up their faces.

  "With the three of us, anything is possible as long as we stick together!" Shisui declared proudly, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

  As the two boys turned their focus back to me, their smiles radiated warmth and reassurance as the last glimmers of sunlight shone in their eyes, casting a golden hue that seemed to kiss their skin. It was as if the light held within them were mirrored by the setting sun. A gentle breeze swept past us, rustling through the branches overhead and setting the leaves into a soft, whispering dance. Each leaf caught in the wind drifted gracefully through the air like a ballet.

  It was a moment suspended in time, where the past, present, and future converged in perfect harmony.

  "The three of us..." I whispered under my breath, the words barely escaping my lips.

  Yet, in that moment of blissfulness, an unsettling feeling began to weave its way into the edges of my consciousness once more. It was as if the cruel hands of fate lingered just beyond our fragile happiness, its presence a shadowy specter that loomed overhead. This ominous feeling cast a subtle pall over the serenity, like a cloud slowly drifting across an otherwise clear sky.

  The call of duty and destiny, always present in the lives of shinobi, hovered like a dark specter, watching us from the shadows with an unyielding gaze. It was a reminder of the world we lived in—a world where peace was often fleeting and the bonds of friendship and family were tested by the harsh realities of life as a shinobi.