Konoha's most peaceful spots to study and train happen to be in the forest within the safety of the walls. On this particular day the breeze whispered of danger coming, despite that Rin sill sat under a tree studying. She pushed a stubborn strand of her silver hair behind her ear as she brought the scroll closer to her face. It didn't even faze her when a new presence appeared before her.

"Always studying," he commented.

"If I want to know all about seals I have to be studying," she looked up at the raven haired male and frowned "What's wrong Itachi?"

"A dilemma has occurred between my clan and my job."

"Oh?" Rin packed up her things as he sat down beside her "Are you going to elaborate or do I have to drag it out of you?"

"Promise me you'll remember me as I am."

"We've been dating for the past five years, though in secret, nothing you do will change my opinion of you."

Itachi smiled weakly "Konoha wants to destroy the Uchiha clan, while my clan wants to destroy Konoha."

"Ouch," she winced "Now that's a dilemma."

"What should I do?"

"Follow your gut?" he grimaced at the response "I know that doesn't really help."

"No it doesn't."

"Really think over what you truly think is right, and I'll help any way I can."

Itachi smiled an idea coming to mind he kissed Rin softly "Do you know of any seals that could confine a large group of people and block out sound?"

"As a matter of fact I do," she excitedly shuffled through her bag and pulled out a scroll to show him "This seal is a little tough but I can pull it off. It does need special symbols around the location and one person to stay to activate it. It stops sound and people from exiting, but it doesn't stop people from entering."

"Impressive," he took the scroll to study it more closely.

"What are you thinking?"

"Both sides plan on attacking tomorrow night, if I act tonight then maybe I can save the futures of some."

"But whose future?" she put the scroll away.

Itachi closed his eyes and leaned against the tree "I don't know."

"You still have time," she reassured him resting her head on his shoulder "Rest for now and when you choose I'll be there to help."

As night fell Itachi made up his mind. He and Rin set up for an attack on the Uchiha clan, Rin got the seal ready as Itachi massacred his clan in the protection of her seal. When all was done the only ones who knew the truth were Rin, Itachi and the Hokage. Itachi disappeared that night with the title of 'dangerous traitor' and Rin stayed to continue her studies. He promised to return for her in a few years when she was done.

Rin stayed in the village watching over Sasuke, Itachi's little brother and the only survivor of the clan massacre. She protected him until he was under Kakashi's wing, she trusted him with his safety. Rin then went to Iwagakure for a couple of years and learned new seals. There she met Deidara, a young clay artist, his passion for art intrigued her.

They drew closer as she studied and they ended up living together while she stayed in the village. Deidara carried a curse on his chest, Rin studied extra hard to find a special seal for him. If it got out of control then an entire village could be destroyed along with himself.

"Are you sure this will work?" Deidara questioned as he sat in a chair shirtless.

"Nope," she grinned mixing the proper herbs "But right now it's the best option. According to the scroll it can last five years, I've tweaked it to add another year on top of it. Just in case I'd get it checked after the first five years."

"I'll just come find you."

"Ready?"

Deidara took a deep breath "Yes."

Rin used her first two fingers to draw four symbols around the cursed area then an X over it and along the palm of her hand in the opposite direction with the exotic mixture of herbs. Then she did the necessary hand signs before placing her herb coated palm over the area. Deidara yelled as the seal took effect, a glass of water set aside for him to drink after all the screaming, she turned her hand so the two X's matched. His scream of agony got louder, he doubled over in pain but Rin didn't remove her hand until she knew the seal was complete. The pain took over Deidara and he passed out. Rin removed her hand and started to clean up, she checked for a pulse to ensure that he wasn't dead.

An hour later he was able to gain consciousness, sat up straight and took a drink of water "That wasn't so bad."

Rin grimaced "I can never tell when you're serious."

"Let's go celebrate this accomplishment," he put his shirt back on as if he never passed out "Dinner is on me."

She sighed, just as they left his apartment there was an explosion down the street. Rin ran ahead to see what happened, when Iwagakure's police arrived they found left over clay. Deidara, being the only bomb clay user in the village, was immediately blamed for the explosion. They talked to Rin and went to his house but he wasn't there, the village blamed Rin for being an accomplice since she was so close to him and sent her to Houzuki Castle.