"There it is!" Hana pointed ahead excitedly. "That's the café!"

The newly built shop stood out with its cream walls and cat paw print sign swinging above the door. The soft chime of bells greeted them as they stepped inside, followed by the faint mews and purrs of cats lounging across windowsills, shelves, and cushions.

Obito blinked, unimpressed. "This is it? There's so many cats in here."

"Well... it is a cat café," Hana replied with a raised brow. "You're supposed to eat and drink with them."

"The owner even lets people adopt them," Kurenai added with a warm smile as she scanned the room.

They ordered their drinks, and the barista handed them over with a polite nod. Obito picked a window seat, and the three of them settled in.

Almost immediately, a fluffy calico leapt into Hana's lap.

"Aww, hi there," she cooed, already petting the cat like she'd just found a soulmate. She glanced at the tag on the collar. "Her name's Yuki."

Obito tried to get her attention. "Hana?"

She didn't hear him.

"She's zoned out," Kurenai giggled. "Yuki stole her soul."

Hana blinked and looked up. "Sorry! She's just so cute."

"I was asking about the genin exams," Obito said, leaning back in his chair. "Are you nervous?"

Hana nodded, brushing her fingers through Yuki's fur. "A little. But I've been training a lot—Uncle Minato's helped too."

"I've been going over everything nonstop," Obito said with a groan. "Taijutsu drills, clone practice—I've been losing sleep."

"I've had help, too," Kurenai chimed in, her voice a little quieter. She glanced at her drink, cheeks tinted pink. "A friend's been helping me work on my transformation technique."

Hana gave her a knowing look. "Anko?"

Kurenai shook her head, lips pressed into a shy smile. "No. Someone else."

Hana smirked but let it go. Obito was already tuning out, clearly uninterested in any conversation that didn't involve chakra or weapons.

"We'll all do great," Hana said simply, hoping her confidence sounded more real than it felt.

Kurenai checked the time and stood quickly. "Oh no—I promised my mom I'd help her with dinner. I gotta go."

"See you tomorrow," Hana called, waving.

"Good luck," Obito added with a grin.

The moment Kurenai left, Yuki the calico jumped back into Hana's lap like she'd been waiting for her chance. Hana laughed softly and resumed petting her.

"That cat hasn't left your side," Obito observed.

"I think we've bonded," Hana said with a grin.

"How do you know it's a girl?"

"Calicos are almost always female. It's rare to get a male one."

"Huh." Obito scratched his cheek. Just then, a gray tabby jumped onto the chair beside him. He reached out to pet it, only for it to hiss and bolt away.

He looked personally offended. "See? Cats hate me."

"Maybe that one just has taste."

Obito rolled his eyes, but he smiled. For a moment, things felt normal—comfortable.

Until Hana noticed him staring out the window.

She followed his gaze and saw exactly what she feared: Rin Nohara walking by, chatting with a friend.

Obito lit up. Just like that, she faded into the background.

"I wonder if Rin would like this place," he said, voice lighter than it had been all day.

"Maybe," Hana replied, eyes on Yuki again.

"She's really great," Obito said softly, a slight flush creeping up his face. "I think you'd like her."

Hana said nothing. She knew Rin. Sweet. Kind. Pretty. Everything a boy like Obito would fall for. And every time she saw Rin, Hana watched Obito forget she existed.

"Hey, you don't mind if I go see what she's doing, right?" he asked, already half-standing. "Maybe she wants to hang out with us."

Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "No. I don't mind."

"Great!"

And just like that, he was gone.

From across the café, an older couple glanced at her with thinly veiled sympathy. She hated that look.

Maybe that was her cue to leave.

She gently lifted Yuki off her lap, gave her one last pet, and walked out of the shop.

"Hana?"

She turned. Obito was with Rin now, the two of them smiling like it was the easiest thing in the world.

"Rin wants to check out the Yamanaka flower shop," he said. "That okay?"

"Yeah," Hana said with a forced smile. "I should get home anyway. Aunt Kushina needs help with something."

Obito nodded. "Alright. See you!"

Hana waved and turned before Rin could even say hi. She wasn't about to be the third wheel in her own friendship.

She hadn't made it far when she bumped into someone turning the corner.

"Ugh. Watch it—Red."

The voice was unmistakable.

Hana scowled. "It was an accident, Naomi."

Naomi Hyūga stood in front of her, arms crossed and smirking. They'd been rivals since the academy—not the soft kind. The petty, I-will-roast-you-in-front-of-the-class kind.

They used to be friends, but that ended the day they both tried to confess to Shinji Uchiha. Neither of them won. But Naomi never let it go.

"Where's your Uchiha?" Naomi asked mockingly. "Don't tell me he ditched you again for Rin."

"I left, actually. Some of us don't need babysitting."

Naomi raised a brow. "Sure. Totally believable. You just felt like wandering around alone, huh?"

"Better than being strung along by a guy who doesn't even know your name."

Naomi's expression twitched. "He knows my name."

"Right. That's why he pretended not to see you at the food stall last week."

Naomi huffed. "At least I'm not getting friend-zoned into oblivion."

"At least I'm not delusional."

Naomi didn't respond. She scoffed, flipped her hair dramatically, and stormed off.

Hana smiled to herself. Small victories.

When she got home, Kushina blinked in surprise.

"You're back already?"

"Yeah," Hana replied, slipping her shoes off. "I figured I'd get in some extra training."

Kushina tilted her head. "Minato's out with Lord Hokage, but I can help. What do you need?"

"Transformation jutsu."

Kushina smiled, took off her apron, and joined Hana in the living room. They reviewed chakra control, refining hand signs, and making sure every detail was sharp. Hana poured herself into the training, letting its rhythm wash away everything else.

By the time dinner rolled around, her legs ached, and her hands were tingling from focus—but her heart felt a little steadier.

Tomorrow was the exam.

And maybe—just maybe—it'd be a day where she came first.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While trying to make this as accurate as possible, the ages were all giving me a headache lol. Also, I'll remind you guys again that this is being rewritten so if this story seems all over the place, that's why.