SIDE CHAPTER 1 (On Arts and Crafts)

Chapter Summary: Rin becomes enthralled with Hiroshi's artistic side. With portrait and rose origami in hand, he talks with Obito about Hiroshi. Obito becomes irritated but Rin assures him. Obito falls harder. Obito then slumps.

"Oh, I drew that so you could have it. I think it came out pretty good.", Hiroshi offered as I saw the portrait he made of me.

I thanked him with all my heart and continued to examine the sketch.

It was the most beautiful thing I've seen so far. The lines were intricate and the curves were well done. It was mesmerizing how simple strokes and marks created a whole, well-thought-out sketch of a person.

While looking at it, I felt that it was exaggerated. I think the drawing was unrealistic, to say the least, that my face was this attractive. I mean if it did, I would have probably snagged Kakashi.

I snorted at the thought. As if he could be attracted by a beauty. He was such a stickler for rules that I think he would end up with a girl exactly the same as him.

I tried recalling my reflection on the water of the river, making me conclude that it was really impossible for me to be this pretty.

There was this nagging feeling at the back of my head, though. I know it was ridiculous but, at the same time and oddly enough, it felt right. No matter how idealistic my image was on the paper, it seemed like it was made just like that. Like it was the shape it was meant to be in.

I paused. The shape meant to be in? Was it made to reflect something, perhaps?

I could hear Kakashi talk about creating jutsu and Hiroshi agreeing but I could only flip the pages of the sketchbook. And I saw that I wasn't the only one that he drew.

He drew everyone in Team Minato, actually. Even the Hokage was here.

All of the drawings were too nice-looking as well. I looked at my teammates to see if it actually coincided with their actual faces and weirdly enough, it was the same as mine; impossibly attractive faces that still fit with our actual appearance.

Details of each of our faces were too emphasized for Hiroshi to claim that it was just a drawing created from a passing glance. No. Not even his memory could be this detailed.

He observed us thoroughly.

I realize that what I was seeing wasn't our actual image. It was how Hiroshi saw us.

I glanced up at Hiroshi to ask him why he drew us like the way he did only to see that he was starting to fold paper. I watched him to prove my hypothesis and see what kind of art he would produce, both done with clear anticipation and expectation.

After folding the paper a couple of times, he presented me a rose. I could only mumble a simple 'thank you' as his actions just made me think I was right.

Not only was he a genius, he was also artistic.

But what really caught my attention was the underlying meaning of his actions which seemed like an unconscious act on his part.

I could only marvel at Hiroshi.

We were done with training for the day. Minato-sensei dismissed us and Obito offered to walk me home.

Like any other day.

I glanced at my friend. He seemed to be having a small tantrum judging by his posture and the very obvious pout that his mouth sported right now.I silently giggled to myself. He's very cute when he's like this.

Being tempted to tease him, I asked him what was going on with him to act as such.

"What's so good about a drawing? And paper? They're not even worth it since I could just burn them with my Great Fireball.", he mumbled like a kid.

I chuckled lightly at his childish antics.

I always knew that Obito saw me as someone more than a friend. But with the war going on, it was imperative to postpone any pursuit of romantic relationships for the sake of serving the village as a ninja. Although emotions empower those who wield it right, it's also the easiest outlet for corruption to take root in a person. For barely teenagers like us, emotions at this point would only be detrimental to our bond as a team.

Plus, Obito still acts like a kid. I mean, if he could act like Kakashi then who knows? I might start seeing him in a way that he would want.

"Stop acting like someone stole your candy, Obito. I'm not sure what you're thinking right now but if you actually looked at Hiroshi's drawings then you would understand why I hold them in high regard."

Obito was still acting like a child as he continued to be grumpy.

"Just what is so special about his art, anyway? Sure, he could draw and create paper figures that fly but anyone could do that if they put their mind to it."

I could only sigh.

"It's not about what could be done. It's about what he did; what he actually created."

At my words, Obito was confused and could only ask to clarify.

"What do you mean? There was actually something special?"

I nodded.

"His drawings weren't only of me but of the whole team. He also had a drawing of Hokage-sama on his sketchbook. They were unrealistically beautiful. Others would probably just conclude that it was his way of art but I felt something else from them. Like they were us but not through our eyes, or anyone's at that. They were also too detailed, meaning he observed us thoroughly. He didn't draw us just for the sake of doing so. He drew us to show others how beautiful we are in his eyes."

Finally, I saw Obito widen his eyes in realization at what I said. I continued speaking.

"By the time he gave me the paper rose that he made, I was sure that he created a rose in consideration of what girls would usually like. Being able to be thoughtful in such an impulsive act just solidifies my hypothesis, Obito. He cares about us. So much that it's impossible with the fact that we only have been close to him for a short time. It's kind of unsettling yet reassuring."

At the near end of my words, Obito reverted back to his childish state.

"What do you mean he cares?! He cares about you?! Does he like you?!"

I could only sigh at his rather inconvenient selective hearing.

Because of how he is, I chose to tease him this time around to eliminate the serious atmosphere I was drowning in.

I turned to face him and raised my palm to his cheek.

"No, he doesn't like me. And I wouldn't like him, either. At best, he would be just like a brother to me. Plus, there's someone else that I like already."

To seal the tease, I smiled brightly at him which made his cheeks redden like tomatoes.

I put down my hand, turned away from him to face the front, and I held a fist up to my chest.

"Kakashi seems to be someone that I could marry. I should probably get close to him, right?"

Obito slumped and slipped back to his childish tantrums.

I laughed at his actions and thought back to Hiroshi. I remembered his eyes as he observed us, Team Minato, during one of our training sessions. Eyes that seemed like to have vowed to protect something to the best of their ability.

He cares. But there's a question I'm afraid to know the answer of. How far will he go for any of us?