Erasing Impossibility Chapter 10, a naruto fanfic

Erasing Impossibility 10

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHA

Hi guys! I wrote this in a hurry, because midterms are coming upon me, and that's why this chapter is probably really messy and… not as good. But I hope you'll still like this chapter anyway. Thank you for all of the wonderful reviews!

You're going to figure out Rin's MOTHER LANGUAGE and therefore her original hometown from back then! Think of that as a gift for the angst I dropped on you last chapter.

THIS CHAPTER IS A FLASHBACK CHAPTER.

TAKES PLACE BEFORE THE LATEST'S CHAPTER'S LAST SENTENCE, WHERE KAKASHI ASKS FOR HELP FROM RIN.

Enjoy!

Warnings: hAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA it's a surprise

Rin ; 3 months prior The Fall

"I talked to dad."

I look at Kakashi, a tinge of hope within me as I wait for him to continue. Kakashi hesitates, if only barely, before he bulldozes forward with the rest of his sentence, not looking at me in the eye. Because of what, I'm not sure. Perhaps it's because of Rinny's punch, or Rinny's disappointment, I am not quite sure. Inside of me, Rinny makes a noise of surprise. Guess she didn't think her disappointment will affect Kakashi this much.

"…I… forgave him," he says, almost a whisper to the wind.

Even if he hesitated, it's still a thing, because whether he tells it to me or not, it doesn't matter for me. What matters is Sakumo and knowing Kakashi talked to Sakumo and forgave him….

My lips stretch into a smile, and I poke his cheek, startling the boy out of whatever internal debate he seems to be having with himself.

"That's my boy," I say, a bit teasingly, to ease his nerves. It seems to work, because Kakashi glares a bit at me, his hand clamping where my finger poked his cheek mere moments ago. I think he's scowling under his mask.

I grin, very amused indeed, and take his hand within mine, dragging him toward a nearby training ground.

"C'mon, let's spar. I'm sure you want revenge for that punch the other day or something."

Kakashi narrows his eyes at the unspoken challenge, though his shoulders relax as he steps right beside me, knowing that by inviting him to spar leisurely like that…

I've forgiven him too.

From the shouting match.

From his stubbornness.

From his willingness to abandon family.

And maybe—

He's relieved.

Relieved of guilt, perhaps, for even daring to abandon his father like that.

And also, from Rinny's—and by proxy, mine—huge bucket of disappointment. I'm pretty sure Rinny is smiling in the Mind Palace as she watches this.

I politely ignore how Kakashi's hold on my hand tighten as I chatter to him about my day—on how Mum and Dad got called for a joint mission at the border between Suna and Konoha, how Kishimoto-sensei is going to start teaching me to fight offensively with medic jutsu, how Orochimaru is very knowledgeable about tasty spicy foods within Konoha's grounds and I am thoroughly enjoying his food recommendations, how I miss Pakkun very much and can I please hold his paw waws after this spar?—and how he keeps on staring at me, because clearly he's simply puzzled that I can forgive him this easily.

Well, he has got to know now that I don't abandon friends that easily; even when they're in the wrong. You don't abandon friends who've done mistakes; you correct them, tell them they're wrong, guide them to the right. At least, that's what I'd do.

He'll understand that soon.

The spar ends with another argument about hedgehogs, both of us shooting theories about the possibility of hedgehog summons while I hold lil pup Pakkun in my hands. I'm pretty glad to see the tension out of Kakashi's body, even for a little while.

Because Konoha is still being a jerk, and Kakashi needs all the normalcy he can get, with almost the entirety of Konoha spitting on his family.

I can't change Konoha's opinion—no matter how shitty it is—so I can only do what I do best.

That is, by staying at Kakashi's side, no matter what.

When I see Obito next, he's pouting.

I wonder if something happened. If he perhaps forget his lunch (again), because he's too accustomed with getting lunch boxes from me. If he steps on something sharp on his way helping old people around the streets, if Inomaru scares him with his tutoring again (still wondering what happens during Inomaru's tutoring, by the way. Why is Obito so scared of him?), if he loses another spar against Gai, or if he's simply pouting for the sake of pouting.

The answer, as expected, is none of those.

"It's been too long, Rin-chan," Obito says, huffing. His arms are crossed, the boy kicking the dirt with his foot absentmindedly. "You rarely spent time with us, anymore. The last time I saw you was when you healed me—! You're always training or with Kakashi, it's unfair."

I blink, feeling a bit guilty. That's true; I spent so much time training—if not with Mikoto-sensei, it's with Kishimoto-sensei, or rarely, even Orochimaru—and visiting the Hatake Compound.

Sakumo has… locked himself in the compound. Because whenever he comes out, insults and spits and heated words are always directed at him, if not glares, and for someone who is heavy with guilt already, he cannot take it.

He simply chooses to escape those.

…Not…. The best choice, I think. But I can understand. Everyone has their way to cope differently; Naruto is to smile and act like an idiot, begging for attention, Kakashi is by reading porn in public and being absolutely an aloof asshole, Sasuke is by REVENGE, Orochimaru by leaving the village behind altogether, and in Sakumo's case, it's to escape from them completely.

At least he's not shutting himself down when Kakashi is nearby. Not much anyway.

I think it's because Kakashi talked to him that day, after my shouting match with the silver haired boy, and that Kakashi actually forgave him, that Sakumo can still hold onto little parts of himself when he's in the Compound.

His smiles aren't the brightest, but he sometimes smiles.

And if the White Fang often needs to be taken out of whatever stupor he's in when he's idle, it's another story altogether.

The main point is, I think Sakumo cannot be left alone with his dark thoughts as company. I often come to tell him stories about my training, about Pakkun's soft paws, about Kakashi's cuteness (and get smacked by Kakashi for that bit), about whatever random hilarious thing I can find during the day. I even tell him about Orochimaru, just to take him out of his daydreams. It's clear whenever he's thinking of negative thoughts, his eyes will darken, and he'll look absolutely solemn.

I usually call his name to get his attention.

Kakashi usually tugs on his hand or his sleeve.

His summons are there for him too, especially the pack leader—much like how Pakkun will be in the future—who often cuddles with Sakumo when he's asleep, to chase the nightmares away.

But well, no matter how Sakumo needs all support he can get—

It's not right to forget about my other friends, right?

So I am rightfully guilty.

I smile sheepishly at Obito, scratching the back of my head, "sorry, Obito. I was busy."

If anything, that makes Obito pout even more. Though this time, I can tell it's purposely exaggerated in order to get a response out of me.

Sighing in amusement, I put both hands on my hips and raise an eyebrow.

"Well, then, what do you want to do with me as compensation?"

Obito's eyes brighten. Hook, line, sinker. The boy steps closer to me, his eyes twinkling in obvious giddiness of an accomplishment. "I want you to teach me that strange code, Rin-chan!"

I blink, processing his words.

"…Strange code?"

"Yeah!" Obito bellows, fist pumping. "The one you and Bakashi use! Do you even realize you talk to him in that strange code sometimes? Me and Inomaru are always so left out whenever both of you start whispering to each other with that code… I wanna know, too!"

Oh.

Oooooh. He means my mother language.

Right.

I shrug, "Uh, sure."

That somehow makes him pause. "Really?" He blinks, looking surprised. "Just like that?"

"…Well, yeah?" I answer, confused, "I mean, it's mine, so I can just teach it to whoever I want… Though, you have to promise not to share it to anyone else and be serious in learning it."

"Yeah! Yeah!" Obito cheers, "I want to learn it, Rin-chan! It'll be so cool! Our very own code! …Though Bakashi knows about it too…." He mutters before he's back to cheering, "I'll give it my all!"

I smile, "Sure. I'll go to your place tomorrow?"

"Yeah!"

"Ne, Rin-chan?"

"Hmm?"

"What is the code called?"

"Hmm. It's called Bahasa Indonesia."

"Indone—isn't that one of the countries in Bumi History, Rin-chan?"

"Yes, I'm surprised you remember, Obito," I say, one hundred percent surprised, I really didn't expect him to remember. "But yes, it is. It's… the country's language."

"Yeah, well, I always pay attention when you're talking, Rin-chan," Obito laughs sheepishly, rubbing his nose with his finger. "Okay, so it's called Baha—er, Baha…? Ba… yeah, that. I'm going to master it in no time!"

I smile, a bit amused. Because of course Obito will forget what it's called after a few seconds. "Sure, Obito."

"See you tomorrow, Rin-chan?"

"Yep. See you tomorrow."

"I'm gonna start teaching Obito Bahasa Indonesia tomorrow," I say absentmindedly to Kakashi while petting Pakkun, who is making my lap his very comfortable mattress. Sakumo is in his room, probably being snuggled by his summons while he tries—and fails—to fall asleep. He sleeps a lot these days, probably because he has, like, nothing to do in the Compound, and he doesn't want to leave the Compound either. The only thing he can do is to sleep. Beside me, Kakashi twitches, glancing at me.

"Why?" He asks, though it sounds more like a groan.

"Why not?" I shoot back, "It's my code, I can distribute it to whoever I want it to."

"It won't be a code if you tell it to everybody."

"It's only been you and Obito, it's not everybody," I poke his side, causing him to squirm away because hey, Kakashi is ticklish! I beam at him, titling my head, "if we get to be a team, it'll be like a team code! Won't that be cool?"

"…How do you know we'll be a team." He deadpans, "Why would I be in a team with him."

"I'm psychic," I reply with a grin, causing him to give me his judging look, "and why not? Obito is great!"

Kakashi dares to scoff. "He's weak."

"His taijutsu is getting better thanks to Gai, you know. He'll beat you in no time."

"No way in hell."

"Yes way!"

"Ugh. Just… shut up."

"Sir, yes, sir," I snicker, rolling my eyes. I snuggle Pakkun close to my chest as I change my sitting position to avoid soreness, the pug simply enjoying whatever affection I have to give for him. Man… at this rate all of Kakashi's ninken are so going to be spoiled. By me, that is.

Kakashi silently munches on the klepon I made half an hour ago, less sugar for his anti-sweets preference, watching me giggling and snuggling with even more puppies with barely concealed exasperated fondness. Probably for his very cute puppies.

Did I say puppies? Puppies!

Rinny cheers, as well. PUPPIES!

"Sarimin pergi ke pasar," I say, "Sarimin goes to the market."

"Sarimin pel… per… per? Per—gi.. kepasar."

"Ke pasar."

"Nice one, Tobito-kun," I smile at him, in which he replies with a beaming one of his own. "Next one is…"

"Kek, kuku kakiku kaku-kaku kek."

"….W-what?"

"Kek kuku kakiku kaku-kaku kek."

"…..Um."

I grin slyly at him. "It means… Grandpa, my toe nails are stiff, grandpa."

"….Wha?"

I snicker, "it's a tongue twister sentence, Obitobi-kun. If you can't say that, I have another one, it's… Cita Citata punya cita-cita, cita-citanya Cita Citata jadi penyanyi. Cita Citata has a dream, Cita Citata's dream is to be a singer."

Obito whines. "Rin-chan! You're mean!"

"Hahaha!"

"I made a list of the alphabets here, and some more new words for you to learn; keep that list safe from prying eyes, okay?" I say, handing off a small book with a blue cover to him, before turning around to start putting on my sandals. "You'll learn faster if you study it regularly, even on your own, after all."

"Um, Rin-chan?"

I turn around to face him, "Yeah?"

"Will you… come here again tomorrow?" Obito fidgets on his spot, looking at me with hope and hesitation. I furrow my eyebrows. Obito has been acting weird… What's wrong with him? Usually he'll just say outrightly he wants to play or something with me, not being this… hesitant. His face is red, and he's sweating bullets.

Damn, I really screwed up big time, huh? By focusing too much on training and neglecting my Academy mates. Did I push away Obito and the others by my negligence? To the point where Obito hesitates in inviting me?

I… Don't think that's really it. Comes Rinny's hesitant comment, me noting on how she sounds… a bit bewildered? Bwuh?

…Eh, really..?

Yeah… I think—

"I mean…" Obito starts, cutting Rinny's words short. The Inner part of me makes a noise, and tells me that she'll tell me later—in which I send a mental 'okay' to her, attention now back to Obito.

"It's been so long… And you haven't been meeting up for more story telling sessions…" He flails a bit, seemingly embarrassed for acting like a needy child—not that he's wrong, he's a child, and I agree that I have been neglecting my bonds with them for awhile—"Not—Not like I don't understand you're busy! I mean, we're at war," he says, a bit solemn, "but you're still only genin, so you must not be that busy, right? And I really mis—WE really miss you, Rin-chan! Me, Inomaru, Chouzou…" He trails off. "…Uh. I don't know about Shikako, but let's just… let's just add her in the list."

I let out a startled laugh at that. Obito is always so awkward around Shikako, the ever logical girl, it's very amusing. "Sure, Obito," I shrug, mentally remembering my schedule for tomorrow—with the war, Kishimoto-sensei almost gets taken away early for new shinobi patients that civilian nurses cannot handle, including today. I presume it'll be the same tomorrow, as well. If he doesn't, well… I can ask him to reduce my training hours for one or two hours I guess.

"I'll see you tomorrow."

He grins, giving me a hug. "See you tomorrow, Rin-chan!"

As I walk home, I talk to Rinny, eager to know what she was talking about before.

…Hey, Rinny?

Yeah?

What was it, that you want to tell me before?

Oh! …Right! …Okay, remember canon!Obito?

Yeah…? I frown, not really knowing what's up with this.

How does he act around Canon!Rin?

...Huh?

How does he act around canon!Rin, again? If I remember correctly….

Um… Really excitable? Blushes a lot? Super excited and bubbly? Sweats a lot? Jealous glares toward Kakashi?

Mm-hm. How did Obito act around us today?

He's really excited to learn Indonesian. Shouted a whole lot, probably because of his excitement. Just like a puppy! I mean, you were there, Rinny, why must you ask? He was jus—wait a minute.

…Um. You're not suggesting what I think you're suggesting, right?

I feel tiny discomfort and amusement rushing over me, coming right from Rinny herself, and I swear I can feel her shrug in my Mind Palace.

Well. There's this theory about fixed events; Maybe Obito's crush is one of them?

…What. WHAT.

Rinny, you didn't! That—That was the worst joke ever; and a theory I'd like to never ever think about because hello, Sakumo's death, it can very well be a fixed event as well, because Fate is a bitch! That theory can go suck itself, okay? I regret reading up about that theory when I was still alive, Back Then.

But Obito's crush? REALLY? That, th-that's like, impossible! Impossible, okay? I punched and embarrassed him at the first day of Academy, surely he won't like a girl who did that to him, am I right? Nevermind that Obito before canon!Rin's death is very warm and forgiving, he's the type of person who can give Therapy no Jutsu before eventually he ends up being the one who needs that Therapy instead. Nevermind that Obito is so sweet that it's not so farfetched that he either has forgiven me or even completely forgotten about that punch. Since it's been, like, more than a year.

Hahahaha.

Yeah.

Fuck.

Inside of me, Rinny lets out a snort. It's not that bad.

No, no, no, he's only eight! Almost nine! But still eight!

You're eight too, just saying.

I already feel like an old woman. A grandma. I feel like a shotacon, okay. Obito is too—

Cute? Sweet? Amazing? Absolutely adorable?

…Rinny, that's your cute boys fangirl mind talking.

But it's true. Obito is adorable.

Well yeah, he is—wait you're not helping here! I huff, pouting when I can hear Rinny giggling.

How did you come to this theory anyway? I mean, he probably just genuinely misses us as a friend, since that's just how he is. AS A FRIEND. You know, friendship? Friendship and the fuzzies, good stuff right there. And it's normal for friends to miss each other! Yeah. That's it! I can't suddenly judge that he has a crush on me simply because he's supposed to have a crush on Canon!Rin. He's just being friendly, and there's no real proof anyway, right!

Rinny hums, her amusement in this matter is very, very clear. And—And is she humming a song? She's really enjoying this, isn't she. Rinny sings a lot when she's comfortable or happy, especially songs from Back Then she likes, like the Lion King opening song with that sunrise—or was it a sunset?—and the whole IT'S A FUCKING LION in the song's translation.

Last time, that song stuck in my head for a whole week, I sung it near Kakashi for three days until he started humming it himself—embarrassing him when he realized that he was doing it and thus he drove me face first to the dirt during a spar as punishment.

I think Minato-sensei was caught in the web, too, because I saw and heard him humming it while he made coffee for himself while Kakashi was off doing some menial labor outside. Only he wasn't embarrassed by it and seemed to enjoy the song a whole lot.

Mikoto-sensei just looked at me weirdly and asked what it meant, and looked properly confused when I told her it was just talking about a lion. Probably worried too. Because why would I sing about lions? Because lions. Duh.

Though this time, I hope I don't have Maji Love 1000% as my background song for the week.

I swear Rinny deliberately told me about this… crush…. Theory… because she wants to embarrass me and make me feel awkward. In which, you know, she did it. I'm now feeling very awkward and embarrassed. And I want to crawl to my bed and hide under the blanket for a long long time.

Congratulations.

But man… I'm so, so screwed, if that theory is true.

I don't know who to blame: my bleeding heart, for befriending Obito and being genuinely kind for him (in which I will never regret, actually, because Obito is the silly best friend you will always love forever and ever), my stupid brain for even thinking that Obito won't have a crush on me, simply because I punched his face on the first day of Academy, or Obito himself for even falling for me. I'm not even as sweet and supportive as Canon!Rin!

I think you are though, Rinny says, voice kind, you're really kind and supportive, you go out of your way to help others, even if you are sometimes crude.

And do I need to remind you what you said to him last time around?

I think it's something along the lines of… "—whenever you're hurt, I want you to come to me, so I can heal you up."

….

UgHhUgUHgUghGhgHghHhH.

I hate myself.

Of course when I try be #TeamMom, I get someone crushing on me instead. Of course.

Doki doki de kowaresou 1000% LOVE—

Rinny, shut up.

Rinny laughs.

For the entire trip home, Rinny sings UtaPri songs in my head, and it ends up stuck in my mind for the rest of the day.

Kakashi ; 3 months prior The Fall

It's getting harder for me to enjoy my walk around the village nowadays.

Minato-sensei has been taken away temporarily for a high ranking mission outside of the village, I'm absolutely bored and Rin hasn't been able to visit the compound at all for the past week. I meet her, sometimes, but she's always either on the way to the hospital, errands with Uchiha Mikoto, or going to Obito's house.

Father has been asking for her, and he seems to be gradually getting sadder and sadder without any bubbly company around him. Rin always knows how to make father smile, with her abundance of stories, fiction or not, her discussions about whatever new things she manages to find out during the day, or even her songs. And father's summons can only do so much for him, so what does that make for my pack? Pakkun can't make his eyes sparkle like Pakkun does to Rin, and I'm…

I'm not… too good with comforting someone.

Not even for my father.

How do you comfort someone? It doesn't help that both of us think it's Father's fault that this war happened in the first place. Father blames himself and I… acknowledge that he's failed. He failed his mission, and there's that. I don't… hate hate him over it, because he's my father, and even though I'm disappointed, Rin was right—I can't just abandon him. He's my father. He loves me, and I…

Father was my idol.

Still is, I think. Even amidst this hell.

But war is raging, almost everyone I meet glare or even try to attack me, my father is hiding in the compound like a coward—why is he acting like such a coward—

….

I don't know what to do. How do you comfort someone? I can only distract him with questions about training and theories and that don't always help, father is slipping away from me and it's something that I didn't think can even happen until now. My chest feels heavy, it's hard to breathe sometimes when father is not being himself in particular. There's this particular emptiness in my chest as if a hole is present and I want it to go away—

i always get the smell of tears from father's room, whenever the door opens. Father cries in his sleep. The summons's cuddles don't help that much anymore. One time, father asks for mother in his sleep and I'm—

Am I not enough?

Is my presence not enough?

I forgave him, I'm still here for him is it not enough for him what more does he want from me why does he ask for someone who is no longer here I'm right here why won't he see me—

Why can Rin make him smile, no matter how small, and I can't?

Why, why, why, why—

Why does he look so sad whenever he sees me?

WHY CAN'T HE SMILE AT ME?

HOW CAN HE SMILE AT ANOTHER BUT NOT AT ME?

I'M HIS SON WHY DOES HE ALWAYS LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT WHERE IS MY FATHER THAT IS NOT MY FATHER—

I want him to look at me! Just like before, with those warmth in his eyes and—and—

I…

I want my father back.

I want him back.

Bring my father back.

What did I do wrong?

What did I…

I want to leave this place but at the same time, I don't want to leave.

I want to go out, to train, to be useful, to prove that the Hatake Clan is still as great as it was before this shitty war.

I want to stay home, be with father, and make him smile.

I do not know which one is a better option.

The ninja handbook tells me to prioritize mission, duty, over everything.

That is what it means to be a good shinobi, after all.

Rin told me not to leave family ever.

That is what it means to be a good son.

Which one is more important?

I can't decide.

Not yet.

Kakashi ; 2 and a half months prior The Fall

I hate you.

I hate you, I think, as I see Rin once again manages to make father smile. Maybe it's just an indulgent smile, or a fake smile—because father once said that there are different kinds of smiles—simply to reassure Rin that he's fine, even if he's not, even if I know that he's not; because he still cries himself to sleep, he rarely eats, and nowadays, he barely even dares to look at me.

Am I so unsightly that he doesn't even want to look at me?

I hate you, I chant in my mind, lips pressed together and gaze focused on Rin, whose back is in front of me, who doesn't know in the slightest on what I'm thinking. Who doesn't know how I'm so tired of her presence in this compound—simply because she's closer to father than I am. It's a bad train of thought, I know, but I can't help it. I really can't help it. I hate her simply because she's helping my father more than I can.

I hate you, I want to say to Rin. Get out of my house, I want to tell her. Get away from my father, and never come back ever again, I want to shout.

Stop acting like you care. (But she does really care, doesn't she?)

Stop trying to hang out with me. ("That's what friends are for, Bakashi," I can almost hear her say).

Go away. ("Friends do hugs, so I'm gonna hug you!")

I can handle this alone. ("Teamwork is important, okay, Kakashi!" is said with a smile).

I—

Have to do this. If I don't, it'll simply continue and I will probably explode.

I can't handle this anymore.

"Go home," I say, finally, when father retreats to his room. Rin glances back at me, blinking in surprise.

"Bwuh?"

"Go home," I repeat, stiffly. My heart is thudding loudly in my chest, and my hands are trembling. I don't dare look at her face, merely because I know that she'll look confused, she'll look so innocent and I—

"I'm tired of you coming here so often." I bite out, noticing that Rin flinches because of it and I feel so bad but I can't stop—

"Wha—"

"This is my problem. Stop butting into other people's problem. You're being annoying."

"Kakashi, what—"

"I hate you."

Silence.

I still don't dare look at Rin.

"You're taking father away from me," I say bitterly, realizing belatedly that I'm being mean to her simply because I'm jealous.

But what does it matter? It's the truth.

Rin doesn't say a word.

"I hate you." (No I don't, I think, and I squash it away.)

"Go home. Don't ever come back."

Rin hesitates, taking a small step back, perhaps waiting for me to say anything more. But I'm already reeling on the fact that I just said all that and oh God I just said all of that—

I—

It's the truth, it's the truth I'm angry at her for hogging father for herself but—

Are the others really necessary?

I don't hate you, not really—

I'm just jealous, I'm sorry—

I just want my father and you're taking father away from me and I—

Rin turns around.

I'm sorry.

She runs out of the compound, slamming the door behind her.

You can come back, I didn't mean it.

I can smell tears.

Please don't cry. I'm sorry.

The words never come out of my mouth.

I'm left standing there, staring at the vacant space where Rin has been occupying mere moments ago.

("You're my friend. I'm going to stay by your side, no matter what," she said a month ago, a small smile playing on her lips. "Just repay it by not leaving my side, either. Kay, Bakashi?"

"…Sure.")

I'm

Sorry

…Rin never comes back.

Obito ; 2 months prior The Fall

Rin-chan laughs!

I'm really glad.

I don't really know what's gotten into her two weeks ago, though. Her eyes were red and puffy, and it looked like it took great effort for her to even smile. And it was strange and really worrying, because what made Rin-chan like this?!

Of course, I asked, and she said she was just worried about her parents.

That's understandable. It's war, and her parents are sent to border patrol. It's a longterm, dangerous mission in the times of war. I think she misses her parents a whole lot and worries about them. So me and Inomaru tried very hard to cheer her up—

It took us whole two weeks and many awkward moments, but just now, she laughed!

Well, it's probably because Inomaru slipped and ended up getting his ice cream all over my face—but she laughed! That's great, okay!?

I smile at Rin, embarrassed but very, very glad. The most beautiful girl I've ever seen in my life is laughing so hard it looks like it's hard for her to even breathe, but she's laughing so whatever. Unless she suddenly topples over and dies because of laughter, I'm not gonna panic.

"Ah~ Haha," Rin-chan sighs, an almost bitter smile displayed on her lips, "it's been quite awhile since I last laughed like this. Are you okay, Obito?"

"Y-Yeah! No worries! I'm perfectly okay!"

Inomaru is still apologizing to me, in which I wave it away, because it's alright really, we reached our goal, so this kind of small sacrifice is nothing!

Though I'm still embarrassed. I must look so lame. In front of Rin-chan nonetheless!

Oh mannnnn….

"Hmm, let me help you with the ice cream."

Lips quirking up, Rin-chan uses a small scale of Suiton jutsu on me, to wash the ice cream off of my face and shirt.

And here I thought she's going to eat the ice cream.

…wait. Ew. Gross.

This Suiton jutsu is way better.

Though I won't mind a kiss.

N-No, no, no, no, no, focus Obito! Yeah, just focus. Focus on Inomaru—why is he still apologizing?—or on… On the coolness of the Suiton jutsu! Actually, that jutsu is really cool. Even if it's small, like a hose spray, but it's still cool. Maybe it's like Teppodama but it's on a smaller scale?

"It is," Rin-chan answers, nodding.

"Can I learn it?!"

"It'll be hard if your affinity is fire… but sure!"

"Hell yeah!"

"Hey, Rin-chan?"

"Mm?"

"Are you really okay?"

"…I'll be fine, Tobito-kun."

"I'm sure your parents will be alright, Rin-chan! Don't worry!"

Rin smiles, more genuinely this time—in which I count it as a success, thank you very much!

"Of course!" She chirps, "I can't wait to make a buffet for when they come home."

"Oooh! Can I come too?! Will you make pizza again, Rin-chan?!"

She laughs.

"We'll see, Tobito-kun."

"Are you going to join the Chuunin Exams, Nohara-chan?" Inomaru inquires, and my attention snaps to the girl who is busy with her dough—Rin-chan is making us pizza today!—who pauses a bit before shaking her head.

"No, Mikoto-sensei deems me not ready for it yet," she says, "and since it's a team oriented exam, Mikoto-sensei said it's better if I join a team first and familiarize myself with them, rather than jumping into the bandwagon and just fill in whatever team is missing a member."

"Oh, for proper team formations?" Inomaru asks.

"Yep. Teamwork is important, after all."

"Does that mean Hatake-kun is not joining the exams, too?"

Rin-chan falters, before replying with a short, "Dunno," she shrugs. "It's up to Minato-sensei to decide."

"I bet he demands to be put in it, though," I add in my two cents, watching Rin-chan's expression closely, because clearly there's something wrong here. Inomaru doesn't seem to realize, but—

But Rin-chan doesn't talk about Kakashi for days—weeks, even.

That doesn't happen. Ever.

Well maybe Rin-chan is just too worried over her parents but, but I think something is wrong.

"I can just imagine it," I continue, "him demanding to be in the Chuunin Exams without any regards about his sensei's feelings or something. That Bakashi is too impatient."

Rin-chan smiles a little. "…He is, isn't he?"

And the topic about Kakashi is dropped just like that.

Instead, Rin-chan starts talking about her new training sessions: Kishimoto-sensei apparently starts teaching her to make blood vessels explode (me and Inomaru both shudder at that thought. It's a nasty, nasty and messy technique to kill someone) after Rin-chan manages to master chakra scalpels ("Kinda," she says, rather sheepishly, "I still mess up with it sometimes.")

Mikoto-sama—or rather, Aunt Mikoto, still very happy I get the permission to call her that, by the way—meanwhile starts abandoning her original set of training and focuses more on offense and defense. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, whatever Rin-chan is allowed to learn, because unfortunately Aunt Mikoto knows clan jutsus more than the generic ones.

Her wedding got postponed, sadly, because of the war. They need as much man power as they can get, and thus Fugaku-sama is sent out on missions before he finally will hail as the Clan Head.

And Rin-chan somehow gets training from Orochimaru.

Like, one of the Sannin.

I don't like snakes, but I can see that it's awesome that she gets Orochimaru to teach her stuffs! Even if they're not cool jutsus!

Apparently Rin-chan managed to make Orochimaru talk about his former teammates, and she told us they were absolutely hilarious, even if she promised Orochimaru not to tell us anything, so we didn't get anything else other than that the team dynamic was really funny.

And well, Orochimaru taught her how to do autopsy, somehow.

Not that she could do it right off the bat, but Orochimaru showed her how.

It's kind of icky to think of, but it's still awesome that Orochimaru was the one who showed her how to do autopsy.

…even if it was on corpses.

Uuuuugh. Shiver.

And apparently, the hospital staffs started calling Rin-chan as Orochimaru's lil pup.

Or lil snake.

Or duckling.

All three of them, actually.

Inomaru laughed so hard when Rin-chan told us that. Her face was indeed funny. She looked so lost and confused and genuinely gobsmacked that people actually dare call her as Orochimaru's cub.

I heard Kishimoto-sensei was so insulted he played a prank on Orochimaru as revenge.

Rin-chan never could tell us what, though, because she always ended up laughing too much whenever she thought about it.

Rin-chan is wrapping a gift, the paper light blue with dark blue dog paws printed on it. She says it's for Kakashi, because he passes the Chuunin Exams with flying colors.

"Really? Did he tell you that?" Because if he did, I'm not really surprised. That jerk is too arrogant.

"No," Rin-chan says instead, surprising me. "I heard from Minato-sensei."

"Oh."

"Yep."

"…What did you get for him?"

"Medical pack for first aid, a small note about how to handle bleeding…" She pauses, "…treats and shampoo for Pakkun."

I can't help but snort. Rin-chan really loves that pug. Of course she's going to sneak in presents for the pug in the gift as well.

"Anyway… You don't spar with Bakashi anymore, Rin-chan?"

"Mmh? No. He doesn't want to."

"He doesn't want to? What?! That jerk! Just because he's a prodigy, he can't just shove you away like that!"

"Maa, it's okay," she says even if it's clear that it's not okay; her smile doesn't reach her eyes when she talks about Kakashi and even though I can see that she still likes him, it's wrong. It's not okay at all.

"I understand why he acts that way. It's my fault, too, I shouldn't have pried too much," she mutters, finishing up her wrapping. I stare at her, confused. What is actually happening between them?

"I… Look, Kakashi wants to be left alone for now, it's understandable. I still hear about him regularly from Minato-sensei, and I have Sakumo-san's ninken to keep me updated, but I'll stay away from him for a little while, you know? Until he calms down and all that. Don't worry," Rin-chan smiles at the gift, "He'll come around."

I huff, crossing my arms. "Fine… If Rin-chan says so…"

She laughs a little, "I do say so."

Gen ; a month before The Fall

Kakashi stares at the gift sitting in front of his room.

He just got home from another mission with Minato-sensei and some random teammates, and this is what greets him.

Selamat ya, it says.

His brain automatically translates it.

'Congratulations'.

It doesn't say anything more.

When? He thinks frantically, registering that yes, yes he can smell her in the house but it's faint and when? When did she come? When did she come here?

"…Dad?" He calls out, voice hoarse. "…When did Rin come?"

"Three hours ago, actually," Sakumo's main summon instead who answers, stepping out of Sakumo's room. "Why, you wanna meet her? She comes by sometimes when you're not here. Only because I drag her here. Always asks if you're at home or not. Pretty adamant in avoiding you, that pup."

Too intelligent eyes watch how the boy stills, and the ninken sighs.

"If you want her to come back, you should say so, pup. I'm not going to do it for you, and neither is Pakkun."

"..It's easier said than done."

"Humans are so complicated," the summon sighs again, "if you keep on stalling, you'll end up not getting that chance forever you know."

"…"

"Just an advice, pup."

Rin ; 2 weeks before The Fall

Kakashi still hasn't approached me. And it's frustrating me more than I can admit. I can't... I don't know if I can approach him, because he clearly told me not to. If I want to talk to him again, it has to be him who approach me out of his own will, not me. Even Rinny is against approaching him, mainly because we're still getting war flashbacks of his "I hate you", which, you know, doesn't help me in the slightest. Especially my mood. It always goes down fast like a roller coaster whenever I get reminded of those particular words.

Ugh.

I've always been afraid of Kakashi's opinion of me—mainly because I like him so much as a character Back Then, and to hear it from him, nevermind if it's a younger Kakashi, it still hurts.

I genuinely see him as a friend and—and it hurts, okay? To be told that way. To be told to vanish from his sight. To never return.

Minato-sensei doesn't really know what is happening, not really, only that we're fighting—kind of—and he keeps on reassuring me that Kakashi doesn't hate me, not really, and I truly appreciate his efforts to comfort me, a nobody in his book.

And—and maybe Kakashi doesn't really mean all of them. Though it's probably hopeful thinking. He is still six, after all, and emotions get the best out of kids around that age.

Still, it's frustrating.

My efforts to keep Sakumo away from suicidal thoughts as far as possible backfired on me, because Kakashi is angry that I'm, apparently, closer to his father than he is.

…Okay, so it is my fault.

It's understandable that Kakashi gets angry, actually.

Here I am, a random girl, closer to his father when he and his father are hated by the whole village.

Yeah, I totally deserve that hate.

Uuuugh.

Uuuuuuuugh.

I hug Pupuruhi, willing the sad thoughts to go away. It will not help me in this situation. Moping around won't do anything other than make me lose focus (and I did, a few days after Kakashi's outburst. Kishimoto-sensei had to send me home that day, because I just couldn't fucking concentrate), I need to think about something else.

Positive thoughts, positive thoughts…

Like, I don't know, puppies, training, new books, what to make when my parents come home…

Or Obito's crush.

…Rinny nO.

Hehehe.

I still don't know what to do with it. DO I IGNORE IT? ACKNOWLEDGE IT? REJECT HIM? I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO OKAY

Well, I don't know, why don't you—

The doorbell rings, cutting off Rinny's words. I blink at the feel of unfamiliar chakra from outside. Huh. Strange. I don't usually get visitors. Maybe it's my parents' friends? Pursing my lips, I quickly walk toward the door.

What greets me is the sight of a clearly unfamiliar jounin, who looks distinctly uncomfortable. It confuses me, actually; why is he feeling uncomfortable? I don't even know him.

"Um…?"

"Ah, yes. Nohara Rin, correct?"

"Yes…?" How does he know about me?

"I'm from a backup team sent for the border outpost near Suna. I have something to give to you."

Oh, so that's why.

…Wait, border near Suna? Isn't that where my parents are? They sent something for me?

Letters, maybe?

Maybe…? I mean, it's been awhile, after all..

"….O…kay?"

The jounin hands me two scrolls, and it takes me a few seconds to register the black marking on them. I turn a bewildered gaze at the jounin, who actually looks apologetic.

"Your parents died in an attack on the outpost. My team couldn't save them on time. Our deepest condolences."

...Oh.

That's…

"I—Oh. R-Right. Oh. Um, thank you. Um," I stutter, mind reeling on the news that Oh, my second set of parents just died in the war. It's… I don't… I never thought it'd happen. Okay, I know about the war, but I don't know about Canon!Rin enough to be afraid that my parents will die so suddenly like this. There's the lingering fear, of course, but as any child, I believe my parents to be strong and simply, childishly, naively, believes that they'll be alright.

…Only it turns out they aren't alright, considering how their bodies are in this scrolls right about now.

I don't really register that I'm crying, or that the jounin is absolutely uncomfortable and proceeds to run away from a crying eight year old girl, nevermind that he just left the girl with two body scrolls that contained her parents bodies.

I just—

I—

What am I supposed to do with these? Keep them? Bury them? Burn them?

I… I can't do this. I need—I need someone. Anyone.

…

I run toward the Uchiha Compound.

…I intended it to be longer than this, but… eh.

This seems a bit half assed, don't you think? But no, it's not. Im just in a really huge author's block for this one, and this is really all I can conjure up. At first, I wanted to make Kakashi being all OK with Rin hogging Sakumo's attention but then think back and it hit me that a normal six year old won't be happy that their parents are taken away from them, best friend or not.

I also originally wanted Kakashi to fight with Obito instead of with Rin, but decides against it because they're still below the teenage age, and I'm not going to touch the "love" subject.

It's not going to happen for a long while, even with Obito's new crush. It's just a crush, and Rin herself opts to ignore it for now.

And why suddenly Obito POV? Because I want to show him as observant—at least in regards to Rin, really—and also because I don't really want to write Rin's thoughts after Kakashi's whole "I hate you" drama.

Mainly because I already cried writing that drama. Her thoughts are all jumbles and messy because of Kakashi's words, let it be said here that she's shocked, sad and yes, she did cry.

And life doesn't get better.

I'm not gonna update EI for awhile, because midterms, expect the next chapter to come at the end of October or something.

But here, a preview:

Through all of that,

Kakashi never came by.

Yeah, I'm evil. Thanks for reading, review pleaseeee!