"What's on your mind?" Kakashi asked that evening when he saw her emerge from her study, where she'd been locked away for hours. "Is it something for Sasuke's gift?"
"That's right. I was finishing it. I'll have to make him a coupon like the one I made for you. I don't think he'd enjoy opening it in front of everyone."
By "everyone," she meant the other genin and jonin sensei they'd invited just so Kakashi wouldn't feel out of place among so many teenagers. Sasuke, of course, couldn't care less whether they came or not, but since Ino, Kiba, and Naruto were determined to plan it so that everyone attended, he just shrugged it off.
"Are you done?"
"Yes. It wasn't that big of a deal, really."
Most of the work had been completed before the portrait was painted, and she hadn't done the painting herself. The memories of Itachi, incorporated into the deactivated portrait of Mikoto, were the most extensive part. Itachi, with his prodigious memory and the time he'd spent alongside Mikoto, had contributed the most to the portrait. The Mikoto from Akemi and Yoshino was only a fragment of her. With Itachi's memories, the portrait became much more complete. It would never be truly whole, as it wasn't Mikoto's actual consciousness, but it was the closest thing possible.
The frame, crafted from branches and filled with delicate carved flowers and runes, was a result of sheer imagination. She set it on an easel and covered it with a velvet blue sheet, eagerly anticipating showing it to Sasuke in a couple of days.
"Speaking of surprises, what's this thing you want to show me tonight?"
"It's a secret. That's why it's called a surprise," he chuckled. "Once they're asleep, we'll go."
Unfortunately, Sasuke and Naruto's bedtime didn't roll around until well past midnight. With no missions or training while they awaited news of their potential promotions, they had too much energy to sleep at a reasonable hour. They spent the evening playing conjured Monopoly, cheating shamelessly as usual.
"...I don't know why I taught them this game," she muttered to herself as the game stretched into its third hour.
"You owe me 1,000 ryo, dobe!"
"That was a five, not a six! Didn't you say the sharingan helps with near-sightedness?"
"Near-sighted people can't see far, idiot, but they see just fine up close."
She watched Kakashi's shoulders shake silently with laughter at their bickering. Seina stared blankly at them. The argument ended when Naruto rolled again, only to land on one of Sasuke's smugly owned hotels. With a malicious smile, Sasuke held out his hand. Grumbling under his breath, Naruto handed over his last bills, tears welling up in his eyes. Kakashi gave her a look, trying not to laugh outright.
"This is a team of little trolls," she said, half-horrified, half-incredulous.
The jonin burst out laughing, unable to hold back. Seina let herself lose, avoiding any cheats. She was done with Monopoly. Plus, she was eager to see the surprise Kakashi had mentioned. Following her lead, Kakashi let himself lose next. With two players dropping out, the remaining two lost interest and begrudgingly stopped playing. In the end, Sasuke emerged victorious, counting his cash and finding himself 200 ryo richer than Naruto, much to the latter's disgusted irritation.
"Tomorrow, we'll play again! Just wait and see what I'll do to you!"
"In your dreams, dobe."
They all headed upstairs to their rooms. Naruto and Sasuke presumably to do whatever they did, while Kakashi and Seina got dressed again. A short while later, they snuck out of the house.
"I thought they'd never go to bed," she muttered as they walked toward the forest.
"Interesting game, Monopoly."
"Ugh, don't even start. By the way, where are we going?"
"Here is fine," he said, glancing around to ensure they were alone.
He suddenly scooped her up and used the shunshin no jutsu without warning. They arrived at their destination in seconds. The first thing she noticed was the sound of a waterfall.
"Come on, it's this way."
She followed Kakashi over the water, stepping into the cascade, their hair soaking instantly. Seina dried them both with a flick of her hand, observing the small hole behind the waterfall with mild surprise.
"A cave? How did you find it?"
"Training with my ninken."
He crawled into the narrow entrance, going on hands and knees for a short stretch before it widened. She sent out a few orbs of light to illuminate the path.
"We're almost there."
She stood behind Kakashi, looking at the space, realizing it was a medium-sized cavern with another chamber connected by a narrow path.
"Turn off your spell," he asked. "You'll see."
She complied, letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. Kakashi took her hand, guiding her further inside. The faint sounds of insects filled the air. Confused but curious, she followed until they reached the next chamber. Just from the echoes, she knew it was much larger. They sat on the ground—Kakashi first, with her settling between his legs, leaning her back against his chest.
"What are we waiting for?" she whispered.
"Shh..."
They sat in silence until, suddenly, she saw a faint greenish glow appear on the ceiling. One after another, the lights began to sparkle above them. It wasn't magic, but it came close. Soon, the cavern ceiling lit up like the Milky Way. Fireflies. Thousands of fireflies illuminated a hidden cavern behind a waterfall. She watched in awe, as if seeing magic for the first time, noting how the soft light reflected off the pool of water at their feet like a black mirror.
Kakashi rested his head against hers, both silently admiring the natural spectacle. Gradually, the heavy weight of the past few weeks lifted from her shoulders, replaced by a peace she hadn't felt in ages. Even Kurama seemed to calm, viewing the lights through her eyes as soothingly as a melody tames a beast.
She turned in Kakashi's arms, meeting his uncovered gaze—one dark grey eye, one black—filled with tenderness. She could count on one hand the times he'd let his guard down like this. With one hand, he pulled down his mask, sparing her the effort, and kissed her. It was a kiss so innocent, chaste yet brimming with desire, it almost brought her to tears.
In his eyes, she saw everything he wasn't saying. How he knew she needed an escape, how he wanted to comfort and support her, how he would do anything for her. Most of all, she understood that he was reminding her that he was there—for her, no matter what.
She closed her eyes as she listened to his heart, avoiding crying like a schoolgirl. When she had composed herself enough, she lifted her head and saw that he wasn't looking at the cavern but at her. The moment she saw his eyes again and read what was written in them, she had an epiphany: Kakashi loved her. She raised a hand to caress his bare face, her fingers tracing his high cheekbones, straight nose, full lips, and smooth, freshly shaved skin. She watched as he closed his eyes in pleasure, accepting her touch without hesitation. Then she had another epiphany: she loved Kakashi.
In that moment, she realized that although Konoha might manipulate her, she was no longer certain she could leave Kakashi behind. She had been naive to think that even if her heart broke, she could walk away from him. She simply couldn't. Because she was in love with this man—far more than she had ever been with George. And wasn't that both worrying and thrilling? She had thought she had loved George with all her being. Maybe it was the life-or-death nature of ninja life amplifying her feelings, but she was 100% sure that losing Kakashi would break her soul.
She had to steady herself with the thought that Kakashi was alive, he was well, and he was with her. She had no idea how long they stayed there—seconds, minutes, hours—but it felt like too little. When they left and headed home, she saw the first rays of sunlight over the clouds. She hadn't slept a wink, yet she felt reborn. Perhaps she had, in Kakashi's arms.
Neither of them spoke as they returned to the house where Naruto and Sasuke were still sleeping. It was as if breaking the moment with mere words would have been sacrilege. They climbed the stairs to their bedrooms. Before he could leave, releasing her hand reluctantly, she cupped his face and gave him one last chaste kiss on the lips. And just as she had understood so much that night, Kakashi understood that the kiss was a thank-you wrapped in an "I love you." He watched her with adoring eyes until she closed the door behind her. Only then did he exhale shakily, finally catching his breath.
When she came down for breakfast, she saw everyone seated at the table. The atmosphere, though seemingly normal, had shifted between them without anyone noticing. She felt it the moment their eyes met again, full of secrets. They hadn't said a word, but both knew that something had changed when they looked into each other's eyes hours earlier.
She had a silly impulse to blush and look away, but she didn't. Instead, she smiled and listened to Naruto chatter for all three of them. The rest of the day flew by. They trained lightly, returned to their usual schedules, and fell back into routine.
When Monday came, Sasuke's birthday, Seina woke up with a huge grin from ear to ear. Everyone looked at her, both puzzled and pleased by her good mood.
"Happy birthday, Sasuke!" she said the moment she saw him, hugging him.
"Hn. Thanks, Seina."
Sasuke hugged her for a few seconds before pulling away. Naruto, who shared her good mood, smiled as he also congratulated Sasuke. For a moment, she wondered whether to give him his gift right away but decided it was better to wait. She didn't want him thinking about the portrait during the entire meal.
"And where did you say the meal is being held?" Kakashi asked.
"In the largest hall of the Akimichi clan. Apparently, Chouji got us a discount since there are so many of us."
"Huh. What do you all think about taking it easy again?"
"Again?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. Again."
And so, they waited for time to pass by playing a game of ninja-style tennis in the yard. Naruto and Kakashi versus Sasuke and her. She had to admit it was more fun than she expected.
"Did you play this a lot?" Kakashi asked.
"Quite a bit, actually. I used to play it with my best friend, Hermione, who didn't like flying or Quidditch. She convinced me to try it, along with skiing."
"Hermione was your super-smart friend, right, nee-chan?" Naruto asked.
"Yes. If it hadn't been for her during my teenage years, I'm sure I would've died—well, before I turned 17, at least."
Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi frowned, remembering her confession about how she had "let herself die" at 17. It struck Naruto and Sasuke even more since they had seen the memory from her perspective. Then, thinking of memories, an idea for a possible gift for Kakashi came to mind. Something useful, magical, and very fun—a Pensieve. She'd have to modify the design so he could use it without her help, but she thought of making him one for his birthday on September 15. Unless she came up with something even better, of course.
"We'd better take a quick shower," Kakashi said, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Hn."
Sasuke sighed with mild reluctance, remembering his birthday party where everyone had been invited. He knew part of him was glad to spend the day with his friends, no matter how hard it was to admit they were friends, while another part of him dreaded the idea of so many social interactions in a confined space.
She dressed in casual clothes, realizing they weren't going anywhere fancy. Black fabric pants, loose and reaching her knees, a pastel blue tank top with wide straps and a square neckline that showed her teardrop-shaped grey pendant, and ordinary black ninja sandals. She modified her pouch to look like a summery crossbody bag. Her hair, now reaching her hips, required only a couple of brush strokes. It was so straight and thick that it didn't need much brushing. She left it loose but braided a few front strands into a headband style to keep it out of her face.
She saw Naruto dressed similarly, with black knee-length pants, sandals, and a white T-shirt with orange designs. Sasuke, on the other hand, wore a navy-blue shirt without his usual high collar. It was one of the rare times she saw them in casual clothes. The only one not dressed differently was Kakashi. She had never seen him wear anything but his uniform in the presence of his students. The day she saw him in casual clothes with Team 7, she'd take a picture.
"Are we all set?" Kakashi asked, reading his book.
"What do you think people are going to gift the teme?"
"Naruto, don't spoil Sasuke's fun."
Sasuke snorted a laugh at that. They stopped by Karin's place to pick her up since she had also been invited to the party to get to know the rest of the group better. She was waiting outside her apartment with a small, wrapped gift in her hands.
"Hey, guys," she greeted. "How was Suna?"
"Awesome! You should've seen us!"
"Hn. It wasn't bad."
Naruto did most of the talking, though Sasuke chimed in occasionally. Karin listened, nodding and smiling. Seina wondered if she felt sad seeing everyone moving forward while she was still under surveillance in the village. She would be monitored for at least three more months, or until the end of the year if anything… unusual happened. With Karin's behaviour and Inoichi's evaluations, she didn't think her probation would last the whole year. Besides, if Karin had harboured malicious thoughts toward Konoha, the magical barriers would have alerted her. Honestly, Seina believed Karin had seen the metaphorical light.
"You know, Inoichi-sama told me that if I complete my probation perfectly, he might recommend me for Konoha's barrier team," Karin said with a smile.
"Really?" Seina asked, genuinely surprised.
"That's what he said. With my skills as a sensor, it would be the ideal role for me."
She noticed Kakashi glancing subtly at Karin. Then it hit her. Konoha's barrier team was composed 90% of Yamanaka clan members. Nowhere else would Karin be more closely monitored. Another manipulation? Seina shook her head, realizing it was both manipulation and not. While it was true they could keep an eye on her, they were also giving Karin a life goal aligned with her skills. That it benefitted Konoha was just a bonus.
When they arrived at the Akimichi restaurant, they realized they were the last to show up.
"Happy birthday!" echoed throughout the room, with some offering congratulations more enthusiastically than others.
"Hn," Sasuke replied, before Seina elbowed him in the ribs. "Thanks."
Laughter followed his response. They took the remaining seats. Seina ended up with Shikamaru across from her, Sasuke to her left, and Naruto to her right. The jonin sensei, of course, sat at one end of the table, as far from their students as possible.
"I like how your hair looks loose," Tenten said, nodding toward her. "I'm too lazy to leave mine down—it always gets in my face!"
"That's why I made the braid."
"I'll try it out."
She chatted with everyone a bit about their plans now that they weren't training intensely for the exams. Unsurprisingly, everyone agreed to continue training together every Monday. They seemed to enjoy the routine of eating together and duelling with people outside their usual teams.
She was chatting with everyone about what they planned to do now that they were no longer training relentlessly for the exams. Unsurprisingly, they all agreed to continue training together every Monday. It seemed they had taken a liking to meeting for meals and sparring with people outside their usual teams.
"Even my father has noticed how much I've improved," Hinata said softly. "I feel like I have so much more confidence now compared to a year ago."
"That doesn't surprise me, Hina," she replied. "Interacting with people gives you experience, and experience brings confidence, which is exactly what you needed."
She didn't say it out loud, but she was sure her friend read between the lines. What Hinata really needed was to escape the confines of her clan's territory, where some looked down on her and where she was under constant pressure. She doubted even in her own room she could find peace, knowing that anyone could activate their byakugan for a second and spy on her. Leaving her house, out of range of the other Hyuga, must have been a breath of fresh air. If you added that everyone was training with Hinata, honing her skills, and teaching her things her family didn't even know… Well, it was clear why Hinata had gained confidence in herself.
Had Seina been under that kind of pressure, she would have either told them all off or taken notes from Itachi. It hit her then that she had the perfect gift for Hinata and Neji. What a day! She couldn't stop coming up with ideas for her friends.
"Here, Sasuke, this is a gift from Team 10," Ino said.
"We hope you like it," Chouji added.
As soon as he opened it, he understood why it was a gift from four people. It was a beautiful katana with a rather expensive look. Sasuke examined it with eager eyes, thanking each of them and promising to train with it. The next gifts weren't as extravagant: luxury bath products, upgraded inner armor, interesting books, vouchers for free meals at some restaurants, a perfume for non-mission days, and, curiously, a carnivorous plant. Sasuke stared at it, puzzled, but accepted the responsibility of caring for it.
The last gifts were from their team. Kakashi gave him the yukata, as they had planned. Naruto gave him tickets to a show they both knew Sasuke wanted to see. And she handed him the note. She watched him read the words "coupon for a secret gift" with a raised eyebrow.
"What's this?" Kiba asked cheekily.
"Don't be so nosy, Kiba," Kurenai scolded.
"I don't know. It's a coupon," Sasuke said, looking at her.
"I figured you wouldn't want to open it here," she shrugged. "So, you'll see it later."
That piqued the curiosity of more than a few people. In fact, no one knew what she was up to—not entirely, at least. Not even Naruto or Kakashi. The only one who knew was Tsunade-sama. They spent a couple of hours eating and celebrating the birthday, but it was obvious to her that Sasuke was itching to find out what she had given him. She wasn't surprised. Everyone knew how she was when it came to gifts, especially with her magic, which could create incredible things.
"I can't wait to see Sasuke's gift," Naruto said as they left the restaurant.
"Let him show you if he wants."
"Hn. Then no."
"You jerk! After I gave you multiple tickets instead of just one!"
Kakashi shook his head, suppressing a yawn as he listened to them argue for the umpteenth time. With every step they took towards home, Seina grew more excited about showing Sasuke the portrait. They crossed the door with a bit of enthusiasm.
"I'll show it to Sasuke first, if you don't mind."
Kakashi nodded, sitting on the couch and dragging Naruto to the armchair when he saw his mock pout. She and Sasuke climbed the stairs to her studio.
"Is it in there?" Sasuke asked, seeing the covered painting. "What is it?"
"Wait a moment while I activate it."
Seina quickly reactivated the painting. She gestured for Sasuke to uncover it, which he did with curiosity. As soon as he saw his mother in a hyper-realistic, moving portrait, he was speechless. He stared at it intently, swallowing hard, as he began to grasp the magnitude of her gift.
"W-What…?"
"...Sasuke?" Mikoto asked, seeing her youngest son for the first time. "It can't be. Sasuke? Look at how much you've grown, my baby!"
"Seina?" his voice held a clear plea. "What is this?"
"It's a magical portrait of your mother. It holds the memories of her closest friends… and of Itachi."
"Of Itachi?" Sasuke whispered in stunned disbelief. "How is that possible? Why?"
"I wrote him a letter asking for his help. Who knows your mother better than you two…?"
"So, is this really my mother?"
"It's as close as possible to Mikoto Uchiha. Normally, magical portraits are made while the person is alive, so they're a perfect copy of their original self. In your mother's case, that wasn't possible, so I had to ask for help."
"So, I'm a copy of my friends' memories? Of my eldest son's?" the portrait asked, her expression a mix of sadness and pain.
"Yes."
"Oh, Sasuke… How much time has passed?" Mikoto asked aloud. "How old are you?"
"Today's my birthday. I'm 13 years old. Do you remember… what happened?"
"Oh, my baby," Mikoto sobbed, seeing the tears in Sasuke's eyes. "I remember. I'm so sorry for making you suffer like this."
"It wasn't your fault," Sasuke whispered.
"Of course, it was. I should have refused, should have stopped the coup outright. You were—are—more important to me than the clan. I should have listened to my instincts."
Seina squeezed Sasuke's shoulder and left the room, leaving them alone. She went down to the living room, seeing Kakashi and Naruto looking at her curiously.
"Where's the teme?"
"He's talking with his mother."
"What?" Kakashi asked, stunned and pale. "What do you mean?"
"I managed to recreate a magical portrait. Mikoto isn't an exact copy of her original self since she couldn't imbue her consciousness into the canvas while alive, but she's the closest thing to it."
Kakashi regained some colour, realizing it wasn't what he had initially thought. Perhaps he had assumed she'd used the forbidden jutsu from the First Hokage's scroll? Naruto, meanwhile, seemed to stare blankly into the distance. She decided not to use their bond to figure out what he was thinking and simply sat on the couch, pulling out a book to read. She anticipated Sasuke would take hours to come down…