Chapter Text
[First Name] clutched the small note she had written earlier, the edges slightly crumpled from how often she’d unfolded and refolded it. Her heart had been an uneasy tide all day—rising, falling, waiting for the right moment. But how could there ever be a right time to confess to someone like Shisui?
He teased her, challenged her, protected her—and never once realized how deeply she had begun to fall for him. He had always kept a comfortable distance, never crossing a line, never asking for more than she could give. Perhaps he thought he was doing her a favor. After all, hadn’t he been the one who told her to pursue Itachi, Sasori, and Deidara?
But that path kept curving back to him.
No matter how far she tried to run, her heart always returned to Shisui. And she could not keep it buried anymore.
There was just one problem.
He was gone.
He had disappeared without a word. At first, she thought it was just one of his usual spirit realm errands. But weeks passed. Itachi had no clues. Sasuke muttered something about “weird spirit time”. Neither knew anything. And the silence hurt more than she could admit.
Desperation settled in her chest like a stone. She dropped to her knees, fingers trembling as she began forming the seals for the Summoning Jutsu that Indra and Ashura had gifted her. Her mind conjured Shisui’s face—his smile, his eyes, the way he tilted his head when she said something dumb.
“Summoning Jutsu!”
She slammed her palm against the ground.
Nothing.
Just stillness.
She gritted her teeth and tried again.
Still nothing.
Why wasn’t it working?
“Looks like you’re in trouble, [First Name] [Last Name],” came a serene voice.
Her eyes shot up. Floating cross-legged in the air, surrounded by gentle motes of light, was Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki.
“... Where is Shisui-san?” she asked, breathless, pleading.
“Shisui?” Hagoromo’s voice held a distant kindness. “Ah. His time in the human world has ended. After helping seal Black Zetsu, he and I agreed it was best to sever the connection between the spirit realm and the living one. Spirits and humans were never meant to coexist for long.”
Her lips parted, but no sound came. It felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.
“…You’re saying I can’t see him again?”
“I didn’t say that,” Hagoromo replied with a small smile. “I can offer you one final chance. A farewell, if you wish.”
Before she could respond, the world shimmered and dissolved into light.
When she opened her eyes, she was no longer at the hideout.
The spirit realm unfolded around her like a dream. The air shimmered with hues of lavender and gold, and translucent clouds drifted lazily beneath her feet. She stood on a bridge of starlight suspended over an endless sky, which led into a bustling, otherworldly town. Spirit lanterns floated above glowing stalls, casting soft light over the cobbled street. Vendors—some human, some not quite—called out in sing-song voices, selling ethereal wares: silken fabrics that danced on their own, floating calligraphy scrolls, sweets shaped like miniature constellations.
She wandered through the market in awe, but her heart remained heavy. Her feet led her on instinct alone.
Then she saw it.
A warm, familiar scent drifted toward her—the crisp, toasted aroma of rice crackers.
Uchiha Senbei.
Someone there had to know where he was!
She immediately sprinted to the shop, spotting Mikoto arranging fresh crackers behind the counter.
“Mikoto-san!” she called out, her voice trembling with urgency. “Have you seen Shisui-san?”
Mikoto looked up. Her eyes widened. “Shisui-kun? I’m sorry, [First Name]-chan, I haven’t seen him. Why are you in such a hurry—?”
But [First Name] was already backing out of the shop, heart thundering. If he wasn’t here, then—
The forest where he trained her.
She knew it without a doubt.
Her sandals pounded the soft, mossy ground as she raced through the trees, down winding paths until—
There.
By the river’s edge stood a lone figure, hands in his pockets, watching the water ripple.
“SHISUI-SAN!” she cried.
He turned sharply. “[F-First Name]-chan?! How did you even—”
She ran straight into him, throwing her arms around his torso, burying her face in his chest like she had no intention of ever letting go.
“If you were leaving,” her voice trembled, muffled by his shirt, “you could have at least told me.”
He froze, stunned.
Then, slowly, gently, he placed a hand on her head. “…There, there.”
A silence stretched between them. The scent of the river, the green leaves that gently waltzed in the air, the space between realms… it all felt fragile and fleeting.
“…You know,” he murmured, “spirits and humans aren’t meant to be together. The only reason I was able to stay with you as long as I did was because of Hagoromo-sama’s help.”
She pulled back, meeting his eyes.
“But... why not?” she whispered.
Shisui looked down at her, and for the first time in a long while, his smile was faint—tinged with something more fragile than his usual playfulness.
“…Because if we stay too long in the human world, we start to forget what we are,” he said quietly. “We lose parts of ourselves. And you…” His voice softened, eyes flickering with something unreadable. “You shouldn’t have to hold onto someone who’s already halfway gone.”
She shook her head. “But you’re not gone. You’re here. You’re standing right in front of me, Shisui-san. And I still feel everything.”
A breeze passed, stirring the leaves around them. She took a small, trembling breath.
“I kept thinking… maybe it was just admiration. Maybe I was mistaking it for friendship. But no matter how many times I tried to deny it, it always came back to you.”
Her fingers curled slightly into his shirt, like she was afraid the wind would take him away.
“I like you, Shisui-san. I really, really like you. And I needed to say that. Even if it’s too late.”
There was a long pause.
“…You idiot,” he said softly.
She blinked up at him.
He smiled, this time a real one—gentle and warm, eyes crinkling at the edges, as if something in his chest finally gave in.
“Why did you wait until now to say it?” His voice was husky, almost a whisper. “You think I didn’t notice the way you looked at me? You think I didn’t feel it, too?”
He rested his forehead gently against hers, eyes fluttering closed, causing her heart to pound hardly against the chest.
“I wanted to tell you so many times… but I was afraid. Afraid that if I reached out, I’d drag you into a world that doesn’t belong to you. That I’d become the reason you couldn’t move forward.”
His thumb brushed away a tear she hadn’t realized had fallen.
“I don’t care,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t care about that world, or whatever rules say we shouldn't be together. I just want to stay by your side.”
A warm wind stirred the air—and from it, a familiar presence emerged. Hagoromo appeared in a soft glow, floating just above the ground with his arms folded, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Was he here to tell her that her time's over?
“I’ve heard everything,” Hagoromo said calmly. “Love… is a powerful force. One that crosses time, fate, and realms. And your feelings, [First Name], have reached me loud and clear.”
She blinked in surprise, her breath catching.
He continued, eyes gentle. “Shisui was meant to return to the spirit realm after fulfilling his role in guiding you. But… your bond is genuine. Sacred, even. If a spirit chooses to love a human so deeply, and that love is returned with the same strength… I see no reason to sever that connection.”
Shisui stared at him in disbelief. “You’re saying…”
“I will grant Shisui a permanent place in the human world.” Hagoromo lifted his hand, a soft golden light circling Shisui’s form like a blessing. “Cherish it. And protect it.”
The light faded, and with a faint smile, Hagoromo turned to leave, fading into the wind.
There was a long moment of silence. Shisui stared at his hands, then at her, like he was still grounding himself in reality.
“…I guess this means I get to stay with you,” he said, almost breathless.
She let out a shaky laugh, tears still slipping down her cheeks—but now they glistened like joy, not sorrow. Her hands flew up to wipe at her eyes, and her lips trembled into a smile so full it almost hurt.
A warm, bubbling feeling spread through her chest—relief, disbelief, overwhelming gratitude—all tangled together in a flood of emotion she could barely contain. Her heart felt so full, as if it could burst from the sheer joy of it.
It was then he tilted his head and looked at her expectantly, a faint blush on his cheeks.
“…I’m not kissing you first,” she mumbled, averting her gaze.
Shisui grinned wide, a teasing spark in his eyes. “Really now? You’re still as stubborn as ever, [First Name]-chan.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Alright, alright. Close your eyes. And don’t peek, okay?”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
His lips touched hers—gentle, warm, a soft promise wrapped in one moment.
Her heart was still racing when they pulled apart--
Grrrgle.
A very loud, very ill-timed stomach growl echoed from her.
Shisui blinked, then burst out laughing.
“Well, someone’s hungry,” he said between laughs. “That was… honestly adorable.”
Flustered, she covered her face. “Can we pretend that didn’t just happen?”
“Nope,” he smirked. “That’s going in my memory forever.”
He reached out his hand toward her, still smiling with that familiar ease. “Come on. Let’s go grab something from the vendors. A continuation of our date—how does that sound?”
She laced her fingers with his, cheeks warm. “Perfect.”