(The day after Sarada was awaken from the Izanami).

Sakura, I'd like you to operate on Sarada's eye transplant. I will give her mine." Sasuke said.

"Are you sure about this?" Sakura clarified.

"I appreciate your concern for our daughter, but the Uchiha had plenty of enemies Sasuke. You need your eyes to protect yourself and Sarada."

Sarada heard their discussion from behind and interrupted. "It's ok papa. When I was under the Izanami, I thought I hated Kasai and that I would hate her forever. But when I was released.. I realized she had been in so much pain and hatred already. If she knew you gave me your eyes, she'd abhor you and me too."

"But..." Sasuke stood up to assist Sarada. " how can you manage without your eyes? You are still too young."

"I have one request from all of you. Please make me an excellent kunoichi. I want to learn ninjutsu even if I am blind. I can feel my other senses are becoming more sensitive."

"But baby.." Lee objected.

"Dad, I am not a baby anymore." She said.

"I have accepted my reality now. I have to move on with who I am and what I am today. Someday I'd like to save Kasai from the darkness she is in... from the pit of hatred. I wanted to be stronger. I want to learn from all of you. Please." She pleaded.

Sakura embraced her daughter and agreed to her. "Yes dear we will support your decision. I, your dad and Sasuke will teach you and make you the best kunoichi."

"Thanks mom." She smiled.

"But allow us first to put some fake eyeballs on you. So you wouldn't look like blind." Sakura insisted.

"As you please mom." Sarada agreed.
.
.
.
Time skip
(Four months after)
.
.
.
Sasuke brought Sarada to the Uchiha weapons supply depot.

"All Uchihas went to training with the ninnekos. The ninja cats worked hand in hand with our clan as police force of the Leaf village ever since the village was founded."

"Cool! So it's the same with the insects for the Aburame clan and dogs for the Inuzuka clan. The Uchiha has cats! " Sarada commented happily.

"Yes. But as a tradition, all Uchihas must pass through a test with getting paw prints from all the ninnekos." Nekobaa, the granny cat said.

"Yes, Sarada, it's like an acceptance ceremony. You need to get the cats acknowledge you for them to work with you in the future." Sasuke reiterated.

Tamaki blushes at the sight of her long time crush, Sasuke. "Here Sarada, this is where you let them stamp their paw prints." she gave Sarada the paper contract.

"Are you sure she can do this Sasuke-kun? " Whispers Tamaki to him.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sarada's eyebrows raised as she heard how Tamaki flirted with her father.

"ah.... eh----" Tamaki stammered.

"She is my daughter Tamaki. She can manage." Sasuke winked at her and she blushed even more.

Oh my the snobbish Sasuke-kun just winked at me! She thought.

"You can do it Sarada." Sasuke pats her back.

" I am warning you though, we have one difficult cat here." Nekobaa said.

"Who? Denka, Hina, Momo, or --- oh I yeah remember now... Nekomata? Is he still difficult to please?" Sasuke said.

"Who is Nekomata papa? " Sarada ask.

"He is the leader of the ninnekos and the most capable cat. But I defeated him and got his paw print." Sasuke informed her.

"Not Nekomata Sasuke. Someone worst than him... " Nekobaa said smiling.

"Worst than him?" Sarada asked.

"Yeah, Her daughter!" Tamaki gave her a warning smile. "Here's how she look like, Sasuke."

"Hn. That cold-hearted cat got married? And he got himself a daughter too. She's doesn't look intimidating." Sasuke smirked.

"Yes. But she's more capable than her father. " Nekobaa said.

"Her name is Neko " Tamaki said. "She is one of the most respected ninja cats. She's strong, cold, scary and no one had ever seen her smile."

"Good luck Sarada! Here's what you should wear. " Sasuke give her the cat headband.

"Do I look cute papa? " Sarada asked.

"Hahaha yes you are! " Boruto interrupted.

"You're are finally here. " Sasuke snapped.

"I'm sorry for being late sir. I have to pass by Mitsuki first. Hi Sarada, I'd like you to meet Mitsuki my best friend " Boruto introduced him.

"Oh hi Mitsuki. " She offered her hand for handshake.

"Hello Sarada. I didn't know you're are so beautiful. " Mitsuki said.

"Hn." Sasuke smirked and glared at Mitsuki. "You two better get instructions from Tamaki so you can start your exercise."

"Yes sir. " Both answered in unison.

.
.
.
Time skip
.
.
.

"Huh... we're almost done Sara-chan" Boruto said catching his breath.

"Yeah, we just need one last paw print Bolt." Sarada sits down to relax.

"Who was that cat again? Neko?" Mitsuki asked.

"Although I got these cuts and wounds from the other cats earlier, these are just shallow. I bet that "hard-to-get" ninneko princess is just as easy as the others. They're just exaggerating . I alone is enough to catch her." He bragged.

"Yah! Mitsuki you're so proud. Let's bet for who can get her paw print." Boruto challenged him.

"Sorry Borusara, I guess we don't need the lovebirds to catch a cat." He bullied Boruto and Sarada.

"What do you call us? BORUSARA???" The two reacted in chorus.

"Aren't you lovers already?" Mitsuki asked.

"Well, yeah." Boruto replied proudly while Sarada just smiled blushing.

"Yay, I hate being the third wheel here. I leave you two to team up while I get that hard-to-get cat alone. I think she can't win against ---" Mitsuki said but before he could finish talking Neko knocked him down in one blow.

"It's her!" Boruto left Sarada and rushed to catch her but she's elusive. Wow she's an amazing cat. How could she do that to Mitsuki? I can't even defeat him during training.

While Boruto was lost looking for the cat, Neko surprised him as she transformed into her lion form and attacked him. She knocked him down too.

(Neko's lion form)

"Stupid ninjas. What is the academy teaching this generation of ninjas? Such weaklings!" She talked to herself in disappointment. "Now let's see what that blind Uchiha got."

Sarada smelled the strong scent of the cat who attacked Mitsuki. "Hi... Neko right?" She called out to her.

Neko walked closer to her, impressed that she sensed her even from a distance.

"Are you just gonna sweet talk me to get my paw print?" Neko snapped. "Do you think I will pity you because you're blind? Then quit playing ninja! " she attacked Sarada and intended to knock her down in one blow just like what she did to Mitsuki and Boruto.

But Sarada was quick to dodge her attack and release a fireball toward her direction.

"Well at least you're a bit better than the two. But that fireball is weak. Don't disgrace the Uchiha name by being lame because I don't associate with weaklings!" she attacked her again but this time in her lion form.

"I am not a weakling!" Sarada throws her kunai to Neko. They've fought for ten minutes already but Sarada is not quitting despite getting hurt. Sasuke saw them fight and was proud at how his daughter wouldn't quit. He remembered his bestfriend Naruto in Sarada, so he smiled looking at them.

Neko stopped catching her breath and turns herself into human form. "I am getting bored with you Uchiha. No paw print for you."

(Neko's human form)

She walked-out but was stunned as she saw Sasuke smiling at them.

Oh my, I think I saw an angel smiling at me. She blushed seeing Sasuke for the first time. I finally get to meet my prince charming. She smiled at him coyly.

"Noooooo... w-waittt----" Sarada shouted in desperation.

"It's ok my child." Sasuke helped her up. "It's ok. I am happy and proud of your progress."

Child? She's her daughter? Neko turned around and saw how caring Sasuke was with her hugging Sarada. Oh wow, my prince is so warm.

"Thanks Neko for giving my child a chance to fight with you. I am Sasuke Uchiha." he held out his hand to her.

"I know your dad, Nekomata. I didn't know you can transform yourself into a lion and a human. you are indeed greater than your dad."

Neko blushed receiving a compliment from her crush. She felt like a lady for the first time. But she hid her excitement for she couldn't afford to lose her reputation of being hard-to-get. She shook hand with him showing a poker face even if she was melting inside.

So this is Sasuke-kun. I never thought he is this cool in person. I only saw him in the news. She transformed back into a cat so Sasuke wouldn't notice her feelings.

"Give me that." she snatched the paper contract from Sarada and stamped her paw print. "I must admit, I like you for being brave facing me in my lion form and I admire your persistence in fighting." she said in a snob way.

But deep inside her, she just wanna be closer to Sasuke. I must get to the girl to get to her dad. I heard he was divorced. hmmm...

Sarada was stunned and couldn't believed what just happened. "Are you sure with this?"

Neko turned her back and said "Don't be too happy weakling. I just don't want you to disgrace the Uchiha and ninneko collaboration for many generations by having a weakling like you around."

Sasuke and Sarada were speechless with the cat's bluntness.

"How can an Uchiha be an Uchiha without eyes? From now on, I will be your new eyes."

And with that Neko left smiling for the first time.

******
Author's note

This chapter is dedicated to my friend kage_neko
The pictures above were drawn by her very talented admin. Thank you!