Port was such an unusual way to describe places. The last town she was in was a port, it was barely big enough to be called a city. To have such a small and quiet place as that share a descriptor with the grandeur before her simply felt like it did not do the word justice. Port Ikomu was massive. All of Konoha could fit inside the city perhaps twice over. It sprawled over hills with streets that twisted like snakes hungry to feast on the lifeblood that the harbor brought.

The city seemed to be alive with color, even now with the sky turning orange behind them as the sun prepared to set on the ocean. Each building - the same basic rectangle squashed or stretched to fit the needs of the city - was saturated with sky blues, rosy reds, and verdant greens like the city was a celebration of color.

But the most amazing thing was all the boats. Just within the harbor - which was roughly as large as Konoha (she should get out more) - there were more boats than she ever thought existed, they came in all shapes and sizes, sitting in the water with pure white sails hanging limply, like flat lazy clouds. "Why are there so many boats?"

She looked back to Jiraiya who gripped the rope so hard that his knuckles turned white. Yet his face was that of a man that looked ready to go to battle. "We came at a good time, it's the Festival of Lights."

"What's that?" Naruto asked, his smile widening when he met her eyes. She matched him, tooth for tooth.

"Dammit, boy, do I look like I know everything?"

Rin rolled her eyes, "You're the one that said what it was! Besides you're old, you're supposed to know stuff."

"Yea!" Naruto laughed as much as he said.

"Bah," Jiraiya grunted pulling hard on the rope, the sail groaned and they turned hard to the side, sending her tumbling into Naruto as they wiped between two large barges.

"I got you Rin," Naruto held onto her shoulder until the ship grew steady.

She nudged him with her elbow, a smile still on her face. "Thanks, Naruto."

"Fine, it's basically a bunch of holiday's rolled into one. There's the Summer Solstice, some religious celebration from the temple of six paths, and a couple local customs that kind of all got rolled into one as the city grew and grew." Jiraiya let the rope go slack and the sail went slack, an open spot along the dock was waiting for them. Wasn't that someone else's spot though? Jiraiya looked like he knew what he was doing. "I mostly know that it's a good time if you're here looking for beer and fun, or as a…" Jiraiya paused tossing some rope up onto the dock. He looked at her, then to Naruto, then back to her and nodded to himself. "Bah, you two should light a lantern together and set it off, supposed to be considered good luck."

"When do they set the lanterns off?" Rin looked around seeing many of the paper lanterns in the hands of people. Some were plain and white, others ornate and a few extravagant. And they were most often in the hands of couples, old and young. "And this isn't some attempt to get me and Naruto to do something Romantic is it?"

She felt her heart retch at that idea, like it was torn between the past, future, and present all at once.

"Fine, you got me." Jiraiya held up his hands and stepped off the boat wearing a smile that was just asking to be smacked. "It started during a war and a woman would light a lantern and set it to the currents every day until her husband came home. Legend says that it was on this day that the man came back and he was reunited with his love. So now releasing the lantern as a couple, or family is a tradition to overcome the hardships. Or in some cases to find love, or wish those that have pass farewell."

"Now if you'll excuse me I have to find someone that'll buy a boat and a good whore house. Find me tomorrow." With that, Jiraiya vanished into the crowd with only his perverted giggling marking his passing.

Naruto climbed out of the boat, offering her a hand up as well. He was always doing that. Watching out for her, looking at her. It wasn't bad. It just reminded her of Obito. Probably because he was her friend, the same as Obito and Kakashi. And the two did have similar personality and dreams. But it was also different. How did she feel about Naruto?

She took his hand and felt the difference between him and her teammates. With Obito, she thought of him like a brother, even now when he was still lost in the world. And at this point, Kakashi was more her weird uncle than he was her crush. Seeing him without his mask certainly didn't help anything. But for Naruto, it was just different like he sat as this undefinable enigma.

In many ways, she looked up to him. He was brave, confident, friendly, and a hard worker. It was like a perfect combination of Minato and Kushina.

"So, what do you want to do?" Rin asked, feeling her legs wobble despite the solid ground beneath her. She had been on that boat for way too long, though in many ways she will miss sleeping under the stars with Naruto every night.

"We should go light a lantern."

Rin gawked at him. He said that with a straight face looking her right in the eyes while holding onto her hand. Did that mean that he liked her? Was that what all those not letting go of her hand meant? His eagerness talk to her? No that couldn't be it, that was just what Naruto did he was a friendly guy. That was it. Right? "Did you hear what Jiraiya said? That's something that couples do."

"It's also for wanting someone important to you to come back right?" Naruto's smile came back for a moment only to die in a breath.

She felt Naruto's hand slide free from her grip. Wait, she was the one holding onto him this whole time? It was, wasn't it! She even made him cuddle with her when there was lightning. She asked him to watch the stars with her. And Naruto was just a good friend hanging out with her. They'd only known each other for half a year now, and she spent the first one depressed, the second one depressed, and now here she was with a goal in mind because of him.

No, there was no way that Naruto would have a crush on her. Right?

"I have Sasuke and you have Obito, we both need them to come back right? So I think that we should set off a lantern for them." There was nothing but resolve in Naruto's eyes.

No hidden motive, nothing. Just that same drive that she was begging to… what was she feeling towards him? Stupid emotions! Why were they so hard? "Uhh, yeah I'd like that a lot Naruto."

"Awesome!" Naruto grabbed her by the wrist, pulling her through the crowd of people, the wood bouncing like a drum with each step they took. There were so many people, the tide was coming in as more and more people rushed towards the sea to prep their lanterns. An hour remained maybe less until the sun was swallowed by the ocean.

Where would they even get a lantern? Would a vendor sell them? A lot of them looked handmade. Did they even have money?

"Yo! Naruto." A voice broke through the crowd like thunder on a clear day. It was calm, tired, almost like it was a yawn. They exited most of the crowd, coming to stand on a dirt path in front of a warehouse. A boy with black hair tied into a short ponytail waved at them, to his side was a pretty blonde girl with blue eyes and an overweight boy with spiky orange hair.

Behind them was a handsome and gruff looking man wearing jounin equipment and a cigarette in his mouth. They all wore Konoha headbands.

"Shikamaru!" Naruto let go of her wrist and barreled towards his friends, arms outstretched like he wanted to hug them, but stopped when he got near. Was she the only one he hugged? "Choji! Ino! What are you guys doing here?"

Wait, Ino-Shika-Cho? That would explain their looks. But why did the sensei look so familiar?

"We were on a mission Naruto!" The girl - Ino? - said with her hands on her hips.

Choji - the round one - nodded, munching on a bag of popcorn. "Well we were; right now we're just enjoying the festival."

"Mission's not over Choji, as soon as our client gets back we'll be on duty again." Their sensei said taking a drag from his cigarette. Those things were so bad for his health! And he was a jounin! He should really know better than that! And why did he look so familiar? Who was he!"

"Aww, Asuma-Sensei!" Ino whined grabbing her sensei's jacket with all the drama expected of a teenage girl. "Can't we just relax for a day or two."

Wait a second. "Asuma? Asuma Sarutobi?" She marched up to him, it was him. wasn't it? And he was smoking! His mouth went slack and she yanked the cigarette from his mouth stomping it under her foot. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Do you have any idea how bad these things are for you?"

"Holy shit." Asuma mouthed. "Rin? Are you a ghost?"

Apparently, Kakashi hadn't told him anything.

"Long story, ask Kakashi, now explain why you're smoking! Sure you're an adult now! But you should know better! These things will eventually kill you!" she pointed towards the pile of ash under her foot. "And they smell!"

"Psst, Naruto." She heard Ino say from behind her. "Who's your girlfriend?"

Her righteous fire died in a heartbeat, replaced by a cold sweat that went down the back of her neck. "Girlfriend?" her voice cracked. "It's not, like that, Honestly it's just we're training together to control the beasts, not that he isn't a good friend or anything, but we're not dating." Her face must have been red. She looked at Naruto and saw him look almost hurt.

Shit did he like her or something? No that must just be her imagination.

"Beasts?" Shikamaru asked eyebrow raised, he looked at Naruto then at her and shrugged.

"Listen here Rin, I'm not going to just ask Kakashi why you're alive." She felt a strong hand grab her shoulder. "You're here, and I think I deserve an answer after you just crushed my last cigarette."

"As much as we'd love to stay and chat!" Naruto slipped past Ino and Shikamaru grabbing her by the wrist once again. "We really need to find one of those lanterns to set off so we can bring Sasuke and Obito back!"

XXXX

He could catch them, they were just genin after all, even if one was Rin. But what was that about Obito? Asuma sighed, scratching at his beard. He really needed to have a smoke right now. Shame that Rin was as health conscious as ever, now he'd have to find someplace that sold his favorites in this city.

"Still, Obito's alive too?" Asuma sighed, this felt way above his pay grade. "Better bug Kakashi about this when I get back."

"Hey Asuma," Shikamaru looked up at him once Naruto was far away. "What did she mean by 'beasts'"

Damn boy was too clever for his own good sometimes. "Beats me," Shikamaru didn't believe him at all. But probably wouldn't follow through. "You'll just have to ask Naruto when you see him again, won't you?"

"Troublesome."

That it was.

Ino huffed. "No really who was that? She wore a leaf headband; was she naruto's girlfriend or something? Hey Shikamaru, if Temari becomes your girlfriend do you think she'll join the leaf?"

Shikamaru refused to comment, his face as ready for sleep as ever.

"I'll tell you who Rin is when we get back to Konoha, I need to talk to Kakashi about some things." he actually knew exactly what he was going to say. 'What the hell?'

XXXX

She didn't have any idea whose roof they were on, but it was a beautiful spot overlooking the bay, that began to shine as the last rays of the sun began to pass beyond the horizon. There were so many people still running about, some joining them on the rooftops, others milling about the city like ants.

"Did you figure it out yet?" Rin turned to see Naruto still holding the lantern they were given by a kind old lady - A reward for Naruto stopping to help her - like it was some kind of a puzzle box. It was intricate in design and pure white in color. No doubt it would shine like a star.

Naruto nodded, pointing towards the wick. "Yea, I think we just light this and then I don't know." he bounced it in his hand watching it slowly fall. "It's really light though do we throw it?"

"I don't think so it looks delicate. Maybe we should wait and see what everyone else does." Rin looked over his shoulder looking at the small wick that sat at the bottom of the lantern. "Maybe the fire will make it fly?"

Science wasn't exactly a course in the academy when she attended, even something like history was an afterthought and a crash course. And Naruto, well, he was Naruto reliable yet very clueless.

"You sure? Wouldn't it just burn up or something?" He scrunched his face up in the way that he did when he was confused about something. It was cute like a perplexed puppy.

"I don't think so, let's wait and see what everybody else does." It was going to be starting soon. Actually shouldn't it be starting right now? The sun was already past the horizon, only the last echoes of its light remained. But nobody was lighting their lantern. "What are they waiting for?"

Naruto shrugged, joining her in looking over the bay.

The light continued to fade until the stars began to appear.

"There!" Naruto pointed towards the dock. She saw it too! A lantern was lit, then one and another, the light spread like wildfire snaking its way through the streets of the city. Soon the whole city was aglow with the soft light of thousands of lanterns. "Naruto quick! Light it!"

"Okay!" He fumbled with the lantern, trying to light it while not damaging it. She stepped forward holding the lantern for it, excitement washing over her and she couldn't help but bounce. "Thanks, now one second."

Their lantern was lit, shining like a miniature sun in her hands. "Can you feel it Naruto?" She could. It was their desires to bring back their friends. And something more. All around them the lanterns began to lift up into the sky floating up and out towards the sea. Forming a bridge of light to the heavens.

"Yea," She didn't believe him, but he nodded placing his hands over hers as she held the lantern. "Let's bring them back okay?"

Together they released their lantern. It drifted slowly almost falling back down into their hands before the wind took it and it was off joining the countless others as they made their journeys to deliver their hopes and dreams. It was beautiful in so many ways.

"Hey, Naruto?" She couldn't take her eyes off of the lanterns.

"Hmm?" He hummed stepping next to her, his eyes locked on her as their hands brushed against one another.

"I just want you to know that I'm really happy you saved me back then. And I'm really happy to call you friend." She turned to him giving him the best smile she could give. With him by her side it didn't matter what stood in their way, they could overcome it. It was weird how he had become so important to her when half a year ago he wasn't even born. Well in her messed up timeline, even though he was actually her age.

Just thinking about it made her head hurt.

Naruto nodded, his smile unmatched. "I'm happy you're here too Rin."

Yes, those were her feelings, she was just happy to be around Naruto. Nothing more, nothing less. And the same for him. Besides, she was like thirteen and that was a way to young to be thinking about love and stuff.

XXXX

Kakashi woke up in his apartment from the poor excuse of rest that people called sleep on full alert. Something was off. His muscles were still sore from the hellish training Gai was putting him through and the headache he got from straining his Sharingan was still there. Foot on the ground before he opened his eyes Kakashi found his plain room to be as clean and vacant as always.

A knock came from the window, sounding like thunder in the silence. Okay, he was no stranger to the middle of the night visits, but he was normally the one doing the visiting. More importantly who the hell was at his window at two in the morning? If it was an emergency the Anbu seal on his arm would be flaring or his door would have been kicked in by an angry Hokage.

Or a drunk one.

Kakashi opened the window and found himself at a loss forwards. Sitting on his windowsill staring out at the sky while he chewed on a fingernail was Itachi Uchiha. He did not wear his Akatsuki Robe, nor did he have the ring or any other markings, save for the leaf headband that sat in his free hand.

"Uhh, Hello?" Kakashi asked resting on his elbows. Where were the Anbu? Why was Itachi even here? Why wasn't Itachi trying to kill him? "I thought you Akatsuki were taking a break? Or did Obito send you?"

Itachi shrugged and let out half of a laugh that lacked humor. He turned to him, Itachi's black eyes boring a hole into his soul. "I need your help."

Well, this was new. "And why would I help you?"

"Because I know where Obito is." That was actually a very valid point. "And how to get to him."

"Alright, now what exactly do you of all people need help with? I won't betray Konoha." Kakashi crossed his arms, leaning against the window sill to meet Itachi's gaze, a move that normally would be suicide.

"I never wanted to betray Konoha either, never wanted to kill my family. But I did because that's what I thought was best." Was that remorse in his voice? Where was that when he murdered his entire clan? "It's come to my attention just how much I've fucked everything up. The man that promised me a world without war turned out to be nothing more than a child throwing a tantrum that someone died."

The anger was real in his voice and Itachi shook.

"The only thing I don't regret is leaving Sasuke alive, everything else from Shisui's death has been a mistake." Itachi closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. "You're the only person I can trust right now, as my anbu instructor." He gripped the headband tighter. "And as someone who has Konoha's best interest at heart, I need your help to set things right."

"Which is?"

"Kill Danzo, Orochimaru, bring Sasuke back and Eliminate the Akatsuki."

"Danzo's loyal to Konoha."

"That's why he hoards power and has made so many underground deals that often damage Konoha in the long run." Itachi slipped from the window sill, now standing in Kakashi's bedroom. Everything about him was pleading, Itachi needed this more than anything.

"Alright, I'll hear you out."

AN: I really need to stop changing canon so much when I write a time travel story. It messes me up so much because I keep worrying that I'll lose interest by writing all the boring action stuff (In case you can't tell I really do prefer character interactions and romance). Hopefully I'll be able to keep it up by keeping the action part of the story in those little chunks I've been doing with Kakashi and Obito.

Also, it's been pointed out that there's a bit of a difference in how long I think has passed in the fic and how long you all think it's been. In thoery Rin's been here for almost eight months now. But a lot of you think it's only been a few weeks. So I'm going to do a time skip next chapter that will sync our times. And I'll try to make the passage of time more apparent in the future.

Anyways, let me know what you think. Should I keep up with the "Canon" changes? Or toss them in the background and just focus on Naruto and Rin as they ultimately come to terms witht heir relationship?