It could be said that they were not a couple that people would normally think of as being together. Rin was one of the popular girls in her class, and there were even some senpais who were asking about her. Gai had been one of them, being her brother's long time rival, it was odd to have him trying to win her favor.
"Gai, I don't mean to be rude, but I really don't want to date you," Rin told him rather frankly. "Besides, I'm Kakashi's sister. Why would you want to date me?"
"Well, since I'm dating you and not Kakashi, what has Kakashi got to do with any of it?" Gai said, Rin had went through this conversation with him so many times, that she had lost count. So, she had found that one of the best things to do, was to ignore him and walk away, which was what she did, at that moment. She had already become a Chunin, and she was still assigned to one sensei together with the rest of her team. Rin hadn't been someone who had liked the idea of going for exams, but then again, she felt that she couldn't let any of her friends down, so she went. She had been on and off missions with the rest of her team for about 7 years, and at times, she found herself going nowhere.
"So you're going to transfer us to the Anbu assassination squad division 5?" Mayumi asked their sensei. "But why?"
"Because, it is about time you guys specialized in something, and I dare say, that you are the best, when it comes to this. Which is why I have already spoken to the head of that squad, and she has agreed to take you in." Their Jounin sensei told them. That was the end of that. Their sensei, unfortunately, wasn't someone who liked the idea of people second-guessing him, so they reluctantly agreed. It was only a couple of months later, when Mayumi was transferred to the Academy as a teacher for the Academy undergrads. Haruto was transferred to another section of the Anbu team that specifically hunted down missing nin.
To Rin, that was a really troubling period for her. Although she had found other Chunins that she could talk to, she was still a little sad to see her friends go, but she knew that they weren't happy in the assassination team, so she was also kind of glad that they had left. It was at about this time that the Torture and Interrogation squad gained a new leader. His predecessor had retired and had actually hand picked and trained him for the position. He had also just made the rank of Specialized Jounin. Morino Ibiki was someone many had come to know as a sadist; a man of few words, and a hardened heart. He was feared everywhere he went. Of course, the only people that didn't really fear him, was his former teammates and classmates, which was three years ahead of Rin, so she didn't know any of them that well.
One thing about being in the Anbu that many nins don't like, was probably the idea of not being able to go out on missions regularly like the other shinobi. Rin had always been one who had performed better at night duties, so she was put almost permanently on the night shift. The main office of the Anbu was at times a little crowded, but it was cozy. Her division was sectioned off into 3 shifts. Each with a Chunin in charge, and the Jounin in charge of the entire division, is usually here on and off. She had only seen her only once or twice, but there were always regular meetings on the second day of every month.
"Rin, will you be okay with this arrangement?" her Jounin leader asked her.
"Yes, that's fine." Rin answered. It was regarding her new assignment. She was going to be on permanent night shift from now on. The Hokage suspects a spy among the Anbu, and her squad was in charge of discovering who it is. She had wondered why it had to be her squad to do it, since the Hokage had other internal policing squads, but then again, if he had suspected one of them of being a spy, then it would explain quite a lot.
"Ok, we start tonight, I want a report at the end of every shift. Dismissed." Fukada Toko was one of the specialized Jounin among the Anbu. She was said to have been on over 5 thousand assassination missions, and was given this position 8 years ago, when the squad leader died during a mission. She was someone who had a lot of talent in this area, and was very strict in the codes of conduct and also particular about how certain things should be carried out. Other than that, she was really a fun loving gal that could really surprise you.
Rin returned that very night to start her duty. Information gathering techniques actually hadn't been her best skill, but she had learnt to get better over the years, and this was going to be one of those missions that was going to test that to the limit.
"Hi! Rin!" Toko greeted as she stepped into the office.
"Argh!" It was so unexpected that Rin practically had a heart attack! "Toko, you really shouldn't do something like that! I almost died!" Her leader gave her one of her best smiles.
"You know Rin, sometimes you are really out of it," Toko commented then stretched and yawned. "Oh well, I should be going! See you tomorrow!" With that she left, leaving Rin alone with another member of the squad. Her first night was pretty slow, and she remembered she hadn't gathered much information. 2 weeks passed and she still hadn't gotten much information. The only thing she was familiar with, was the time that each squad section came to take the place of the previous shift. That was practically the first time that she had seen Ibiki, who it seemed, was almost permanently on night shift as well.
"Come in," Rin responded to a knock on her door. It was almost 3 am, and she had no idea who would still be around at this time. Most squads had worked on a 24:7 call, rather than actually work time, but Toko had always thought that having some members at the office ensured a greater response time, so she stuck to it.
"Sorry to bother you, but I need some information," came the unfamiliar voice at the door, and Rin turned to look.
"What kind of information, Morino san?" Rin asked him as formally and calmly as possible.
"I need the details that you have on a particular ninja." He replied, all the while maintaining eye contact with her.
"Name?" Rin asked, and 'Kibame Arazu' was the prompt reply. "Please, come in," Rin invited him to take a seat while she searched for the file that he requested. She wasn't someone who was that good at database searches, but she wasn't the worst either. Even though she had tried her best to get the information as fast as possible, she could still feel his eyes on her. It was unnerving. It was like as if he was sizing her up for something, and Rin was almost unable to continue with the search.
"Are you new here?" he asked her, and she turned to look at him. Was he trying to make conversation, or was she just imagining things?
"Kind of," Rin replied. "I've only been here about 5 months. Why?"
"No, it's just that I haven't seen you around before," Ibiki told her. "Night shift?"
"Yup," Rin answered, as the database found what she was searching for, and the printer went off. "There you go. I hope it helps."
"Thanks," Ibiki took the pages from her, and started to leave. "Oh, yes, don't call me Morino san. Just call me Ibiki." He turned and told her smiling. Rin almost stopped breathing. "What's your name?"
"Rin. Hatake Rin," she replied almost instantly to his question.
"Ja na, Rin san." Was all he said, and left, politely closing the door behind him.
'He smiled…?' Rin started thinking. 'The sadist actually smiled?! Oh my god!' It was amazing to her, but she had soon come to know him as well. He had taken the night shift because there were just too many other things that needed his attention during the day. The office of the Torture and Interrogation squad was actually down the hall, and one would have to pass by it on the way in or out. She had always wondered why their office was the first one, maybe it was just to intimidate others and to keep them in line. Then again, who knows?
"Ibiki? Don't you ever sleep?" she remembered asking him one day.
"Of course I do, it's just that you don't see it, that's all. Why?" Ibiki wasn't expecting such a weird question.
"Because you look really tired sometimes…" Rin started to say. "Wanna get some breakfast?"
"Huh?" Ibiki had never been asked out for any meal, and not by anyone from another department anyway.
"Breakfast. The first meal of the day? You know, that work is still going to be there even after you come back from breakfast…" Rin told him.
"Ok, fine, I hardly say this, but you win. Let's go." That was one of the first few times that Rin had ever manage to spend with him outside the office. So the days turn to weeks and the weeks to months and before she knew it, she had been in the division for almost a year. She had also gotten to know more of the Specialized Jounin that work here. Some of them, she'd never even heard of, but it was always fun to know more, I guess.