Since the night that Mikoto had told Itachi and Shisui about Koka, the two boys had become more determined than ever to befriend Koka and Kaede. The younger girl still wanted nothing to do with the two Uchiha, but Kaede was slowly being won over by Shisui. A fact that was not unnoticed by Koka. The three and eight year old girls hid nothing from each other. Koka knew that Kaede felt like she was betraying the younger girl by liking the two boys and their attempts at friendliness. It was hurting the older girl, and finally, Koka had enough.

Koka sat in the garden, Kaede next to her. The younger girl had asked her to go with her, but that was normal. Despite how she tried to keep everyone away, it was obvious that Koka was close with the older. The five years between their ages made little difference. What was odd was the fact that there was a slight twitch in Koka's mouth, causing her to frown once in a while. But they sat there, just watching.

"You're sitting still for once?" Kaede nearly fell over as she jumped in surprise. She looked behind her to see Itachi and Shisui standing there. She had not heard the four and seven year old come up. Koka let out an annoyed huff. It had been a week since the two boys had been over, and a week since Mikoto talked to them about the blue eyed girl.

"You're annoying." Koka snapped at the two boys, but made no move to leave. Kaede watched the younger girl and a smile began to lite up her face. Koka had known the two were coming and when they would arrive. She had planned it perfectly and instead of leaving with Kaede, she stayed. Kaede leapt onto the small girl with a hug and laughed.

Itachi just watched as Koka let out a grunt from being squished by the older girl. Obviously she knew about the two boys, and she must have known it was bothering Kaede. A small smile perked up his lips, he thought he was now beginning to figure out the mystery that was Koka. Shisui himself laughed at the two girls and sat down beside Kaede, who was no longer crushing Koka. Itachi followed his example, sitting next to Koka.

He could see the unhappy look in her eyes as well as the resignation, but she did not let her feelings get to Kaede. She released a sigh and turned her eyes upwards, Itachi following her gaze. It was on a bird in one of the trees. When he looked back at her, the blue eyes of hers were glowing again. He could not help but stare. For the first time in his short life, Itachi found himself thinking about something unexpected. He thought Koka was cute.

The four children continued sitting together for the remainder of the visit, Shisui and Kaede doing most of the talking. Mikoto and Heiwa watched the scene with smiles.

"I'm glad to see them sitting together for once." Mikoto took a blissful sip of her tea.

"It's because Koka saw something." The older woman blew on her own tea.

"Oh?"

"Yes, she would not say, but something made her decide to open up a little bit." The two watched the children from the window. Things would work out.

After the Uchiha's left, Koka wandered around the streets herself. She had told Heiwa she would be back before dark and had changed into a simple light blue dress. Before Kaede even knew what was going on, Koka had left.

She had a lot to think about. She had seen various things that day, some were pleasant while others left a sour taste in her mouth. The girl had been so intent on her thoughts that without realizing it, she had become lost. The little girl looked around, seeing nothing familiar until a stone caught her attention. Walking forward, Koka realized it was the Memorial Stone. She lightly traced the name Obito Uchiha.

"Little girl, are you lost." Koka looked behind her to see a silver haired AMBU. She knew who he was, but could not let that slip.

"I'm not little." The male chuckled lightly.

"Of course. How old are you?"

"Three years old." The ANBU walked up to the girl and knelt down in front of her.

"What's a smart three year old like you doing here then?" Koka frowned and looked down, embarrassment flush on her cheeks. Something like this had not happened to her before.

"I was thinking and walking and I saw the stone and wanted to look at it." A pout appeared on her face. She was losing her composure over being lost. She wanted to go back to the shrine. No matter her mental age or past life, she was still a child in body.

"Well then, shall I help you with your thoughts?" Bright blue eyes looked up at him in wonder.

"Why?" He regarded her question for a moment before deciding to answer honestly.

"The name you were looking at, it was the name of my team mate. He was someone who would have stopped in the middle of the road to help a kid like you." She looked at him for a moment before solemnly nodding her head.

"Ok, Mr. ANBU." The man in front of her seemed to twitch. He took off his mask and said,

"Call me Kakashi when I don't have this mask on, ok?" Koka nodded.

"I'm Koka." She held out her hand, a serious expression her face, and Kakashi took it with a smile and shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Koka."

When Koka had told Kakashi where she lived, the boy had insisted on walking her home. No doubt it was to prevent her from being lost again. The small girl walked next to the tall ANBU silently before speaking up.

"Mr. ANBU, what would you do if someone very important to you liked somebody and that person made them happier than you could, but being with them could hurt your important person?"

Kakashi looked down at the little girl, momentarily disregarding her nickname for him. She was sharp, he could give her that. She reminded him of himself when Kakashi was that age. So he knew he would have to take her seriously.

"Well I would want them to be happy. If they were in danger then I would do everything in my power to protect them. The future is never set in stone, so you don't know that it will hurt them. Since you don't know, isn't it better off to let them be happy and watch over them?"

Koka had a face of concentration on as she pondered his words.

"Let them be happy and protect them when they get hurt?" Kakashi hmmed in confirmation.

"Well that's what I think anyway. You should do what you think is best." They had reached the shrine where Koka lived now and Kakashi turned to leave, but Koka's voice stopped him.

"You'll be a good teacher." The boy stopped and looked back at her in confusion, but she was already heading inside. The ANBU just shrugged and continued on his way.