[Truth 7]
The two of them sit at the bank talking for what seems to be hours. Finally Jiraiya turns to the trees where a young boy with red raggedy hair is trying to hide. Jiraiya motions for him to come over. The boy shyly comes out of hiding and slowly walks over to them, stopping just in front of them.
'Is that…?' Rini stands up surprised as she sees his swirled purple eyes.
'You came to send her back right, Nagato?' Jiraiya stares at him in a lecturing manner.
'Y-yes.' Nagato flinches. 'I'm… really sorry.' He bows his head.
'As long as you learned your lesson.' Jiraiya pats his head. 'Ready to go?' he points to the edge of the woods.
'Yeah.' Nagato nods with a small smile. 'But… before I go, I need to tell you about the man in the orange mask.' He turns to Rini.
'What about him?' Rini seems confused.
'There's really two people. One is younger and I don't know what he looks like but the other… will I was here I learned his name is Donzo.' Nagato explains. 'He's wicked and wants to take over ALL the villages.'
'What?' Rini flinches with wide eyes.
'I… I know it might not mean much coming from me but… but please stop him Rini.' Nagato bows his head to her.
'You can count on me.' Rini pats the young boys head.
"Rini! Rini come on wake up!" Sakura treats her wounds.
"Why isn't she waking up like the others?" Kiba sits by her as he watches over Rini, shaking with fear as Akimaru and Nao sit by him.
"I don't know." Sakura shakes her head slightly. "She has a steady pulse, she just… isn't waking up." She stares at her beat up body.
"Rini." Kiba cries clenching his fists. "Rini please come back." He shakes from sadness and fear.
"K-Kiba?" Rini turns to him weak.
"Rini!" Kiba stares down at her.
"What did I miss?" Rini tries to sit up.
"A lot you idiot." Sakura makes her lie back down with shaking hands.
"Don't do that again. Not ever again you hear me?" Kiba tries to wipe away his tears.
"Promise." Rini nods with a small smile.
A few months have passed since Pain's attack. The village is still being rebuilt and Tsunade is in a coma. Despite these two facts everyone is in high spirits. Rini is forbidden from doing much since she used Sage Mode for so long exhausting her body. Sakura and Kiba keep her company while Naruto seems to be avoiding her and Rini is doing the same.
"How are you beating me at this again?" Shikamaru scratches his head staring at the Shogi board.
"It's not very hard once you get the hang of it." Rini laughs happily with Nao curled up by her feet. "Besides I was trained by Grandpa Nao." She gently pats his head.
"So how much longer are you stuck in bed?" Shikamaru finally moves a piece.
"An other week or so. Sakura wants to make sure my chakra levels and body strength are on the same level." Rini moves a piece.
"This is getting to be a drag." Shikamaru sighs scratching his head. "By the way, why hasn't Naruto come bye at all?" he glances over at her as he makes a move.
"Not sure." Rini stares at the board with a sad smile.
'He's… probably mad… that I didn't… use THAT jutsu on him.' Rini moves her piece.
"Well you win." Shikamaru stands up. "I think I'm gonna go check on things." He waves as he leaves.
"Sure thing, see you later." Rini waves him off.
'That sad smile…' Shikamaru stops outside the tent. 'That doesn't suit her.' He walks off.
"Rini! Are you okay?!" Naruto comes running in panicked covered in sweat.
"What? Why wouldn't I be?" Rini blinks with a book on her lap.
"B-but Shikamaru said…" Naruto stammers pointing outside.
'Shikamaru?' Rini's eyes widen a bit. 'So he's the one that made the move.' She gives a small sad smile.
"Well if you're fine then… I should just go." Naruto saddens as he heads for the exit.
"Naruto!" Rini calls. "I'm… I'm sorry." She bows her head slightly with Naruto stopping. "I… I should have done it. I should have used IT. I'm so sorry." She clings to the blanket.
"It's not your fault." Naruto turns around with a repenting expression. "I… I shouldn't have asked you to do it." He clenches his fists standing in the middle of the tent. "I'm so sorry Rini." He bows his head.
"Want… to play cards?" Rini points to a deck on a little trunk.
"Yeah." Naruto nods with a small smile heading over.
'Good they made up.' Shikamaru smirks outside the tent. 'But… what are they talking about? Did they come up with a new jutsu?' he has a nervous sweat drop as he walks off.
"Hey Rini, I'm back from…" Kiba walks in to see Naruto by Rini's bed.
Naruto motions for him to be quiet. "She fell asleep while we were playing cards." He whispers heading over to him.
"Wait Naruto, what happened between you two?" Kiba stops him by lightly grabbing his arm. "I mean you've been avoiding each other for a couple of months." He glances over at Rini's sleeping face then back at Naruto.
"Wait do you think…" Naruto's eyes widen as he fights his laughter. "We're like siblings." He smiles waving his hand in front of his face laughing.
'Way to make me look like a jealous idiot.' Kiba blushes glancing to the side.
"But if it's not that then what is it?" Kiba looks back at Naruto.
"I… asked her… to do a jutsu that would stop the fox but… but it would have… hurt me. I thought she'd be mad at me for asking it of her so I didn't know how to face her." Naruto glances over at her. "I'm glad I was wrong." He gives a soft smile.
"So that's what happened." Kiba looks over at her with tenderness.
"She's too gentle to use a jutsu like that on anyone. Let alone someone she knows." Naruto heads out.
'Rini.' Kiba kneels down moving her hair to behind her ears.
"Hi Kiba." Rini sleepily looks over to him.
"Sorry did I wake you up?" Kiba smiles down at her.
"No." Rini sits up rubbing her eyes. "Where did Naruto go?" she sleepily scans the room.
"He just left a few minutes ago. He also told me… about that jutsu, or at least the basics of it." Kiba stares at her a bit worried.
"I see." Rini stares at the ground with shaking eyes.
"Can I ask why you didn't tell me?" Kiba looks at her with a slightly hurt expression.
"It's not because I didn't trust you." Rini shakes her head slightly. "I… I just… didn't want to admit that it exists. Let alone that I made it." She shakes with fear cling to the blankets tightly.
"Then it doesn't." Kiba places his hand over hers. Rini glances up at him with misty eyes. "Once Lady Hokage wakes up we'll have her declare it a forbidden jutsu and sealed away. Think you can wait until then?" he smiles gently at her.
"Yeah." Rini leans against his shoulder feeling better.
"Things will get better, I promise." Kiba leans his head against hers lovingly.
"Right." Rini snuggles into his shoulder.
