Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 29

I slumped on the ground and panted heavily after done sealed a large fire ball from my white haired sensei and his summon. Jiraiya-sensei stood firmly beside one of his summons which I still couldn't believe my eyes. I never thought there was frog this big! Looking up and looked at Gamabunta really did give me a wonder, how come a frog could be this big? What was his food?

"Are you done resting?" Jiraiya-sensei asked.

Slowly I shook my head and took deep breath, my pant wasn't obvious anymore. Sealing an offensive element like fire was just too much. Unlike water, fire was more destructive and it was hot! It scared shit of me, thinking that it could burn my scrolls into ashes. I knew water had similar destructive power like fire or maybe even more powerful but somehow it was controllable in my own experience. And I could feel my chakra depleted every time we did it, after sealing it, Jiraiya-sensei would make me using it as weapons or barrier. Fire barrier was practically unsafe thus we set it aside for a moment. It was funny since fire was my chakra affinity but I couldn't really control it to the fullest. I also didn't learn many fire jutsus and I mostly depended on my seals, hiraishin and taijutsu during fight and practice. I couldn't do healing jutsu and genjutsu also wasn't my strong point. Thinking back at everything, my skills was pretty limited. My mind wandered at the small papers Inoichi-sensei gave us before. One month left before the event and Iruka didn't say anything about it yet.

Blinking slowly, I stared at the grass since I was lying on my side. Jiraiya-sensei was checking on something with his summon since they were talking softly. I shrugged, how could that big frog whispered with Jiraiya-sensei since all I knew his voice was pretty loud and grumpy too. My eyes focused at the white haired man. I thought he was just teaching me about seals not fighting techniques too. Ah, I should be grateful, right?

"You're not dead aren't you, Rin?" Jiraiya-sensei walked to me.

"No, I'm not but I'm tired." I groaned weakly and stayed in the same position, somehow the ground was nice as make shift bed right now.

"That's the queue for me," Gamabunta said and poofed.

The white haired man crouched near my head and checked on my sealing scroll. He hummed and looked at me with a smirk. "It seems that you managed to seal all the fire into this and there isn't any burn sign at all," He said and pointed at the writing on the paper. "But your chakra nearly depleted to the point of dangerous since you're barely moving this time."

"Ugh," I said and closed my eyes. "Save the explanation for later, can I just sleep now?"

"No you can't. We got something else to do now," Jiraiya-sensei said after securing my scroll and raised my body from the ground by pulling my arm. He held my shoulders so that I wouldn't sit or landed myself on the ground again. "Focus now; this is one of way to increase your chakra. Sleeping isn't really help with everything. It only helps you replenish it not expanding your reserve."

"Yes, I'm trying." Gritting my teeth I tried to stay my eyes open.

"Good and you're pretty boney too, I suggests for more-Ouch!"

Elbowing his stomach as hard as I could, I quickly released myself from his hold. "Super pervert!" I groaned and patted my shoulder with disgust where his hands had supported me earlier.

Jiraiya-sensei rubbed his sore stomach and laughed. "If you can do that, I wouldn't worry much about your chakra reserve then and don't act like I'm a disease or something!"

"Tch…but you're really one. Perverted disease…" I rested my hand on nearest tree so I could remain standing. Honestly I could barely feel my legs right now and I felt a little bit dizzy.

"Now, now let's do something more relaxing," He said and pulled out his orange book.

I narrowed my gaze. "That book…"

Jiraiya-sensei nodded. "Yes my book…I was in process of writing the second book and in need of some opinions."

Relaxing slightly and felt better than previously, I looked at the man. "Oh, opinion?"

"I know you're practically in legal age so can you read this for me?" He held out his book to me and I simply stared at the orange book. "I'll give this free for my student."

"Um, when you say it like that, why not?" Slowly I took the book and kept it in my weapon pouch. Well, free reading material and I felt like an adult!

Jiraiya-sensei smirked and pulled out an empty scroll. "That's aside, now back to the real business," He said and sat down. "Show me your seal writing skill."

"Okay," I said and nodded.


That afternoon, Inoichi-sensei set us for a team meeting. Iruka and I waited for our blond haired sensei at our training ground. The brunet really didn't talk much and he was reading a scroll about healing jutsu. I assumed that he had a class with Shiro this morning while I had class with Jiraiya-sensei. I was still tired from the practice that morning thus leaned my back on a tree and stared at the sky. Iruka sat beside me with his hands practicing hand seals by using the scroll on his lap as the guide. I peeked at his scroll and shrugged as the wordings inside it was too colourful. Actually it was hard to understand; I shrugged and resumed my stare at the bright afternoon sky.

"Iruka." Softly I called his name.

"Yes?" Iruka stopped his hands and looked at me.

I stared at sky. "About the chuunin exam…"

"I'm going to take it."

Looking at him, our eyes met each other. I smiled and nodded. I knew what I had, the skills and experience this far. This was a chance for testing it out.

"So we need to find another person?"

Iruka shrugged. "Yeah, I already talked about this with Haru; apparently she is also going to enter it too, with her team of course."

"Oh, that's news to me; I thought she is in genin corps?"

"For a year they are in the corps after that they get a jounin sensei and do the mission like us."

"I see," I said and wondered about anybody else who could be a genin but didn't have a team for entering the exam. Remembering Shizu and her team, I looked at Iruka. "Hey, have you asked Chouma?"

Iruka kept away his scroll. "Chouma? Oh!" He stood up and slowly I followed him as I felt two chakra presence entered the field.

Surprisingly Inoichi-sensei arrived at the field with Chouma followed casually behind him and waved his chubby hand to us.

Iruka waved back and I just smiled to him. Raising my hand was taking too much effort right now, my mind supplied. Jiraiya-sensei's training was really exhausting.

Inoichi-sensei simply raised his eyebrows at my tired appearance and gathered us in small circle.

"Okay, this is Akimichi Chouma and I think you both know him already." The man explained and looked at me and Iruka. We nodded at our sensei and looked at Chouma.

"Hey, it's been long time no see," Iruka said and bumped their fist. Wow boy's friendship really fascinating unlike girls. Once fought, never friend anymore. I shrugged.

"Yeah, been training with Shizu and Inora…they're going to kill me if I don't succeed this time."

"Wow, I hardly can imagine Shizu is threatening someone," I said and stared at Chouma. "Well, she's the laziest girl I ever know."

Chouma laughed. "Well, you should come and see us training more. She is pretty scary when mad. Never fight with a Nara girl or you're going to regret it later."

I pinched my forehead as my mind wandered to the Nara girl. "That's something pretty hard to imagine too. Shizu when mad…ugh my head."

Inoichi-sensei laughed and stopped it immediately as he looked at me and Iruka. Crossing his arms, he faked a cough. "So, what's your answer? Iruka? Rin?"

We looked at each other face and nodded once before gave our answer to him.

Chouma smiled as he listened to our replies.


At usual spot, I looked at the orphanage kids were playing loudly and happily inside the buildings. The older kids were loitering around the playroom either reading some books or joined the younger ones and played brotherly and sisterly roles. My eyes caught Naruto who was playing wooden blocks with few other kids around his age. Shrugging, I smiled and relaxed more on my seat.

"Naruto is doing fine, Kushina-san."

After we gave our approval about chuunin exam and Chouma as our third member, Inoichi-sensei didn't delayed any moments. He trained us daily and gave us only Sunday as day off. At the morning I had training with Jiraiya-sensei and after lunch hour I trained with the team. Same went with Iruka and Chouma; they had their own training at the morning. Our combination with Chouma at the beginning was worse since he had depended too much on Shizu's tactis and Inora's intellect while Iruka and I simply charged openly with minimal guide and gesture to each other as long as we had our back on each other. Three weeks left before the exam and we had too many things to learn from each other.

The branch was dipped slightly indicating for a newcomer had come to my place. I looked up and met with the anbu guy.

Waving my hand casually, I smiled at him. "Hey, it's been long time since our last encounter."

The anbu nodded and looked at the orphanage. I assumed that he also took a look at the blond haired toddler. I turned my head from staring at him and looked at playroom.

Somehow today I was very talkative. "Um anbu-san, I'm going to enter the chuunin exam at the end of this month," I said softly and played with my fingers. Damnit why I was so nervous? Slowly I looked up and looked at the masked guy. Surprisingly he was staring at my face or so, I assumed since his mask was facing me. "Wish me luck?"

It felt like eternity as I waited for his reply. Our gaze remained on each other; I just assumed he did the same. With the silence was surrounding us and the children voice slowly could be heard anymore. I looked at the building and noted that the playtime was over. Naruto was being escorted to his own room. I turned back to the anbu guy and could saw his gloved fingers twitched as if he was thinking a reply.

"Um, are you okay, anbu-san?"

Hastily I looked at the sky as a hawk screeched and noted that it was flying in circle as in giving a message. I narrowed my gaze but stopped as a hand grasped my shoulder. Looked at the anbu guy, I was surprised. I stared at his free hand.

"Good luck…" I muttered softly.

Another grasp and then he vanished with teleportation jutsu.

I stared at the empty spot he stood earlier. "That's it?"


Only few days left before the exam and Inoichi-sensei had given us off day from taking mission and group training. Our combination with Chouma was at the best as our sensei had observed. Inoichi-sensei had gave us some pointers since his team mate was composed with him from Yamanaka clan, Nara Shikaku and Akimichi Choza, thus he had most experience working with someone from Akimichi clan and Nara too. He was pleased with our growth and sometimes we did our training without him. He seemed busy from time to time with his work at torture and interrogation department. Knowing his skill and clan jutsu, Inoichi-sensei was one of the best people for interrogation but torture…I really couldn't place him in that field. It was just felt wrong. Seeing him cuddling with his daughter and next he was torturing someone was a mind destroyer! Of course we never seen he work with torturing part but…ah I should stop myself from imagine our sensei with whip in his hand and evil laugh came from him.

I rubbed my forehead with a groan. "Stop imagine that Rin."

A knocking sound came from my door and I stood up immediately. "Yes, wait for a moment."

Quickly walked to the door and unlocking it, I met with a surprise. There stood Tenzou in front of my door as I opened it.

"Tenzou, how do you know my place is? Ah never mind it, please come in." I stepped aside so he could enter my apartment.

"Sorry for the intrusion."

"Nah, it's okay but sorry for the mess." Closing the door, I quickly went into my kitchen and took out a bottle of orange juice from the refrigerator. Pouring it into a glass, I brought it into the living room. I raised my eyebrows as I saw Tenzou remained standing near the table. "Please take a sit."

"Don't worry; I'm just relaying a message to you."

"Yeah, still you're my guest," I said and waited for him to sit down. Thankfully the brunet took my word and sat down on one of the cushions.

Quickly placing a glass of orange juice in front of him, I sat down and waited. Tenzou drank the juice and relaxed. Now he made me felt nervous.

"Is it an important message?" I asked after long enough of silence.

Tenzou shrugged. He looked pretty cute with long hair of his. Somehow it made me feel a little bit envy. His hair was just so beautiful even though he was a boy. Ah, I guessed Iruka could rival Tenzou in this. That Umino boy did have a nice hair too since I helped him grooming it for few times.

"In my opinion not really but he made it sounded like a very serious matter," Tenzou said and sighed. "We're just come back too…"

"He? Who?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Senpai…"

"Oh…" I frowned. "What he wants?"

Tenzou shrugged and smiled slightly. "He want me escorts you to his place."

I laughed softly. "There's no need to do that Tenzou, I know where his place is. Just tell him I will come after I'm done with cleaning."

"He wants you there as soon as possible." The brunet laughed. "And here I'm enjoying a conversation with you."

I smiled and laughed a bit. "If it's very important why doesn't he just come here? Well you should come here more so we can talk a lot. You don't even share your secret about your hair yet!"

"He can't," Tenzou said.

"He can't?" I repeated in questioned manner. The brunet nodded slowly.

Now that was something worth for worrying, a high class ninja and an anbu couldn't come at this humble place of mine. Something had happened to Kakashi?


I stared at the sleeping figure under thick blanket and looked at Tenzou helplessly.

"What I'm supposed to do now? He is sleeping," I said and pointed at the sleeping figure.

Tenzou shrugged. "Wait here until he wakes up?"

"Wow, that's very helpful suggestion." I deadpanned and looked at sleeping Kakashi. He didn't seem really calm in his sleep as his brow twitched from time to time as if he had a nightmare and I didn't think a powerful ninja like him stayed sleeping when there was someone else in his place. And who was sleeping with his mask on? That was suffocating! Even just seeing him sleeping was enough making me feel hard to breath. Thinking back at the time I stayed here before, I was never seeing him sleeping since I always slept first.

"Just wait, well my job is done so see you later." With that Tenzou left Kakashi's place leaving me stood dumbly beside the bed.

"…" I stared at the empty spot where Tenzou stood. Sighing, I picked up the chair and set it beside the bed before rested myself on it. I stared at the sleeping Kakashi and shrugged. "Man, this is boring," I said and suddenly my eyes caught the orange book on his bed stand. Picking up the book, I flipped it open. My eyes caught at handwriting on the first page.

"Keep protecting Konoha Kakashi, signed Jiraiya," I read softly the handwriting and frowned. "Basically, Jiraiya-sensei who is the one gives this to this underage boy here." I waved the book casually and placed it back.

"Ungh…"

"Oh hey, you're awake!" I looked at Kakashi who slowly opened his eye.

"Too loud…" He groaned and shut his eye.

I placed a hand over my mouth. "Sorry, hey are you okay?"

"Tired, sore, cold…"

I blinked and placed my hand over his forehead, instantly I pulled and waved it slightly. "You're burning hot! Much hotter than my fire jutsu! You're sick and should stay at the hospital!"

"Please Rin, no hospital. I'm fine this is just come from my injury," Kakashi said and paused. "Um no, I'm just having a fever and no injury. Believe me, Rin."

"Injury?" I questioned and grabbed his thick blanket. Kakashi simply moaned sickly and didn't even fight back. My eyes widened and narrowed as I scanned his body, there were gash and bandages here and there and one of it around his thigh was bleeding. "Shit, Kakashi you're bleeding! I'm going to call someone now!"

"Please no medic!" The silver haired ninja pleaded.

Somehow he looked unsecured and scared too? I sighed. "S-Sure. Just stay tight!"

After ensuring a nod from him, I used my hiraishin seal at Iruka's apartment and startled the brunet who was reading a scroll.

"R-Rin! What're you doing here?" Iruka asked and stood up.

"Hey, Ruka hold me tight I'm going to teleported us at somewhere," I said and grabbed confused Iruka into a tight hug. Flashing the hand signs behind Iruka, we arrived at Kakashi's place. Slowly I released Iruka and found him blushing hard. "Stop blushing would you, we got a situation here," I said and pointed at Kakashi who stared at us tiredly. Iruka shook his head and walked to the bed.

"Hatake-san…"

Kakashi snorted. "Kakashi is just fine. You're Rin's team mate."

Iruka nodded and pulled the blanket. "I'm Umino Iruka, just call me Iruka, Kakashi-san." Iruka's eyes narrowed at the sight. "You should go to the hospital."

"Not that place, just do whatever you can."

Iruka sighed. "O-Okay." The brunet looked at me and asked for first aid box. I passed it to the brunet after found it near the bed and let Iruka did his job.


"Thank you Iruka-kun," Kakashi said and relaxed, there was a wet cloth over his forehead.

Iruka was rested on the same chair I picked up earlier. He looked tired. "You're welcome, I managed to heal everything, thank god it isn't something serious except for that fever, and I didn't see any signs of infection on any cuts you had."

"I was hiding myself in the river for quite time."

"…"

"…"

"…"

I decided to break the ice. "Well that's jounin class…"

Iruka shook his head slowly. "Jounin or not you should think your act properly but since it is a mission, I kind of understand but please be more careful after this," He said and stood up, collecting the used bandages and left the bedroom. My eyes followed Iruka's back.

I looked at Kakashi once Iruka was out from hearing range. "So, you didn't ask Tenzou to bring me here just for helping you treating your injuries."

"Yes," Kakashi said softly. "I want to talk about the chuunin exam; you're going to take it huh?"

"Yeah how did you know about it?" I frowned. I never told about it to anyone, even Itachi too. Oh except for one person, that anbu guy, he was an exception. I smiled internally.

"Nah, it isn't important," Kakashi paused and looked straight at my face. Somehow he was glaring but with his sick complexion it was more like to a tired stare. "Too bad that I'm in this state; I want to stop you from entering it…"

"Aren't we clear about my decision before? Can we just keep being civil on each other life, whoops it's more on your action on my life choice actually." I rested my right hand on my waist. "Stop nagging about my life, Kakashi."

"I know that Rin, but it's just…I don't know anymore."

"I really don't want to repeat my previous points about we're different people."

"I know…"

"Then why you're still…"

Kakashi rolled his eye and stared at the wall. "Just, don't die at the exam…good luck…"

The last wish came in whisper and I looked at now sleeping Kakashi.

My gaze softened and I sighed. Smiling at the sleeping figure, I muttered a word. "Thanks."

Iruka entered the room and we changed our gaze. Slowly I extended my hand to the brunet.

"Let's go home Iruka, his junior will come and help him later."

"S-Sure," Iruka said and grabbed my hand. "You're going to hug me again like earlier?"

I nodded. "Yeah that's the best way for me to do it, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Iruka said and stared at the floor. "Hurry up; I'm tired and hungry too. You owe me lunch and dinner, Rin."

"Okay," I said and hugged Iruka. I felt he rested his head on my shoulder. "You okay?"

"M'fine." Iruka mumbled. He sounded very tired.

"Okay, let's go home now," I said and performed the technique.


I was cleaning my kitchen when a thought came by. I stared at my clean and empty sink.

"That anbu…Kakashi…he is an anbu and he was in charge of protecting Kushina-san…the chakra." I frowned. I did feel Kakashi's chakra when I was with Kushina and not that masked anbu when he appeared but did I check it everyday? No…Wait a moment.

"I just only felt his chakra but never saw him around…and that anbu, we greeted on each other at that tree but I never detected his chakra, ha!" My eyes widened at the connection. Crouching on the floor and laughed. "Kakashi is a jounin! Of course he mastered the stealth and chakra masking techniques! Anbu never showed his or her identity and that include their chakra too! Damnit Rin! Are you a genius or a stupid girl?" I groaned and punched the floor.

Slowly rested my head on the cool wooden floor, I groaned in embarrassment.

"And I fall to that guy too! Damn anbu guy! Damn Kakashi! You're the same person! Argh!"

Once I overcome the knowledge or mental breakdown I guessed, slowly I stood up.

"Tch, no wonder he knows about me entering the exam, I was the one who told him. Exceptional my ass…" Sighing I left the kitchen and entered the small living room but paused in the middle of trip. Slowly face palming, I groaned. "And I acted stupid in front of him too! Shit!"

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