Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 12

My days went normally after that eventful day and I was glad about it. Kakashi also didn't bug me about his opinion of my life and I really grateful about that one. While I still found him via chakra sensing, we really didn't have any contact or what so ever. I guessed that he was busy with guarding Kushina from time to time even though I really didn't know how since I never saw him around. About that red haired woman, after that day she slowly became more open from time to time. Our class was no longer stoic one which I was the one who didn't really cooperate much with her antics but now, I also had changed myself. Kushina was a nice woman who would pass as a big sister. She was caring yet very enthusiastic even with something so simple. Sometime, she would forget that she was pregnant. I nearly got a heart attack when I saw her stood on a mini ladder, reaching for a heavy pot from upper cupboard. I shrieked loudly and instantly another presence entered our circle making me shrieked more since the person was wearing an animal painted mask and a hoodie coat. The figure left as soon as Kushina safely climbed down the ladder. My days became more enjoyable from time to time with Iruka's pranks and Kushina happy endeavor and that mysterious masked shinobi. I doubted that was Kakashi since I couldn't felt anything when he was visible around. That masked guy chakra control must be perfect one. I really envied that.

Slowly I became more relax with my surrounding until one night I woke up suddenly from a nightmare which I couldn't evoke even I tried my hardest.

I stared at my lap which was covered with thick blanket. Apparently right now it was rainy season and it was pretty cold at night.

Sighing, I stepped away from my bed and walked out to the living room. Stood silently in the room for moment until I decided, a cup of tea would be nice. Slowly, I let my body did the work and a cup of warm tea done in my hands. I stared at the cup.

"I'm going to enter second year of living here and there was still no progress regarding the seal. Except that my knowledge on seal and sealing techniques was getting better." I rested my cheek on my palm. Staring at my reflection from untouched tea, I sighed and started a monologue. "Rin…do you miss your home?"

"Yes…"

I slept in the living room that night with silent tears.

Thunk, thunk, thunk!

"Good job Rin, next!" Ren-sensei jotted down on his clipboard and I walked away from target practice area. Taking a seat under shady tree, I felt someone followed my action and joined me. I turned to the person and my eyes widened slightly.

"Mizuki?" I raised my eyebrows.

"You look different today even your aim at target practice went a little bit distracted. Are you okay?"

Okay, this was freaky. Since when this mocking boy started caring on someone? I shrugged and looked at training field. "I'm fine just sleep at wrong place last night."

I felt a deep gaze from Mizuki and frowned. Looking at him, I groaned. "What?"

The silver haired boy stood up. "Nothing, just want to make sure that my rival is in good condition." Mizuki said and left, leaving me confused with his statement.

"What rival?" I snorted.

"Apparently after that mock test, he labeled you as his rival."

I quickly turned around and met Iruka. "Iruka! You scare me!"

"You're not the only one who practicing with chakra control, Rin." The brunet grinned.

"Tch…" I grinned back and looked at the bright sky. "Ice-cream after this?"

"Sure!"

Once the class finished, Iruka and I quickly left our class. During our quick walk to the academy entrance, I bumped with someone which made both of us landed on the ground. Groaning sickly, I quickly stood up and looked at the one who I bumped to. I stunned. He was just a kid with the most beautiful raven eyes I ever seen. His hair was also in black which I could saw some hint of lighter colour instead of total black. I smiled with sorry at him and offered a hand.

"Sorry, didn't see you earlier. I was in hurry."

"It's okay," He said as he accepted my offered hand. I slowly pulled him instead of nearly squealed in front of him. His voice sounded angelic! And with his innocent face too, I guessed I'll melt here.

"Rin! Hurry up!" Iruka's call made me snapped into reality. Ah not reality, fantasy? Not that one either. Fiction I guessed. Actually I didn't really know about it any more and it made me worry sometimes.

I bowed slightly at the boy. "Sorry again." I quickly left the academy ground and followed Iruka to the nearest convenience shop. My worry about what kind of world this could be think later, right now ice cream came first.

"Aw, I wonder where it gone to?" I pulled all inner of my jacket pocket and my trouser too. "Where's my money when I need it most?" I groaned and pinched my nose bridge. I could feel a headache coming.

"You can borrow mine," Iruka offered.

I shook my head slowly. "Uh, no, thanks for offering." I sighed and sat down on the bench outside shop. "I remembered I put it in my pocket before I left my apartment." My eyes widened and instantly I stood up, startling Iruka. "My keys! My keys are also in that bag too!"

"Rin, calm down!" The brunet grabbed my shoulder. "Let's think together where's the last time you held your pouch."

I frowned and stared at the ground. "Uh…I don't know."

"Rin-san?"

Both Iruka and I stiffened and turned our gaze at the soft voice. There was two boys with raven hair looked at us. One of them I met earlier while the other one looked taller and well equipped. Eyeing their appearance, I continued it from up to down. Siblings? I thought as noticing some similarity between those two.

"…"

"…"

"Are you looking for this?" The same boy I bumped earlier held out a small pouch which contained my money and my apartment keys.

I smiled widely. "Yes, yes, where did you find this?" I extended my arms and received the small bag in my hands. I held it up and smiled happily, I also did small jumps. "Thank you, thank you. You're really a god sent!"

"I found it on the ground we fell earlier."

"Oh, it must fell out from my pocket…"

"You're really nice," Iruka said.

I nodded agreeing with Iruka and crouched in front of the kid. "Are you an academy student? What's your name?"

"His name is Itachi and my name is Shishui. We're both from Uchiha clan and yes he is an academy student. Nice to meet you…"

Standing up, I patted Iruka's back, making him nearly stumbled. "This is Umino Iruka and I'm Suzuhara Rin. Um, I'm not asking you by the way…Shisui-san." I eyed another boy who was with Itachi with calculating gaze while ignoring Iruka's glare at me. This Shishui boy has slightly messy hair I noted while Itachi's more composed.

"Can't let Itachi got all of attention now." Shishui grinned.

"What're you six?" I snorted and noted the hitai ate on his forehead. "And you're a ninja too! You should act more mature."

"I can do what I want," Shishui said.

I scowled. "Really? I think a ninja look more responsible and you don't look like one."

"Yeah, really!" Shishui exclaimed and gasped slightly. "I'm responsible, look! I'm taking Itachi from the academy and we are on our ways back to his home."

"So you're his babysitter?"

"Yeah, hey no! We're friends!"

A soft chuckle sound made me and Shishui stopped. We both looked at Iruka and Itachi who laughed softly mainly the former.

"Aw, come on Iruka, whose side you're now?" I grunted.

"I'm not siding to anyone." Iruka stopped from laughing and grinned.

"Itachi?" Shishui inquired his clan member who already stopped from chuckling.

"…" The youngest among us stayed silent after the laugh while I noted his mouth curved into smile. He was enjoying this! Iruka and I changed our gaze and we both came to understanding.

I stepped forward. "Itachi-kun, thank you for bringing this back to me." I showed my pouch and placed it my jacket pocket.

"So we decided to treat you with an ice cream." Iruka added.

Shishui perked up. "Oh, I want vanilla."

"We're not buying you anything, Shishui-san. You're a ninja so you have your own money. You're paying on your own." I spoke firmly and pulled one of Itachi's hands. I smiled at the boy who smiled back shyly. Even his tiny smile looked cute! "Itachi-kun, let's choose the ice cream."

I ignored the groan behind me as I happily enjoyed my time with this angel. My, he was so cute and nice too!

Gai left us after he noted that it was lunch time and he made some appointment with his teammates. He also mentioned to us there was no training with him tomorrow since he got some business to attend. I sat down on the ground and stretched my arms and legs while Iruka simply picked up his water bottle and took a big gulp from it. After done with his drinking, he looked at me.

"Mom asks you to have dinner with us tonight."

"Oh?"

"Don't just 'oh' me. Hurry up; I need to pick up some things she asked from the market and you need to clean up first."

I slowly stood up and dusted away dust and dried grass from my trouser. "Okay, Iruka-sensei." I slowly walked at the direction of my apartment.

He groaned and pulled my hand so that I ran with him instead of taking a lazy walk. Hey, I was tired! But I couldn't really yell out loud since I was too lazy to do it now.

The dinner went well with Iruka's parents happily chatted with us about being a ninja, of course they didn't tell us about their mission. Iruka's mother was the one who told us everything we need to know while his father simply grunted and nodded at his wife. Ikkaku wasn't a chatty person. This year was our last year at the academy while I was only just starting it last year but it didn't really block my way to have the exam. My extra class with Kushina also really helped a lot even though some of her teaching materials weren't really in academy syllabus.

After done with cleaning, Iruka brought me to his room and he opened a door which led to a veranda. We sat at there, enjoying the night sky.

"You know, Rin. After we met Shishui-san and Itachi-kun, I really wonder about being a ninja."

I turned at Iruka. "What do you mean? It's been a while we met them and we do see Itachi at the academy ground from time to time."

Iruka stared at his folding legs. "I know that I'm trained to be one and my parents also shinobi but I don't know about myself."

Iruka looked sad and I knew what was bothering him. I took a deep breath and slowly released it. Staring at the starry sky, I spoke out my mind. "You don't have a goal."

"A goal?"

"Target," I said and looked at him. "Target in your life." I placed a hand on his shoulder and grasped it slightly. "It's still too early for you to determine it. But you'll know what you really want soon. Right now you better start thinking about it. Anyway, what do you think about Konoha?"

Iruka relaxed slightly. "Konoha is our village and I love it. I love everything with it. Mom and dad are few ninjas who protect us and this village…oh…"

I smiled and looked at the sky. "You'll know what you're going to determine about your goal, Iruka. Your parents protects this village and you, I bet that was their goal. You can start from there."

"Yeah, thanks Rin!"

"You're welcome, Iruka!"

"Oh by the way, Rin?"

"Yeah?"

"What's your goal?"

"Uh…"

After a hearty breakfast at Umino, I went to Minato and Kushina house. The topic of my conversation with Iruka last night, was lingering on my mind since. I couldn't sleep well. I decided I need someone to talk about it. Someone which was an adult and I was so not going to talk about this with Kakashi even he was considered as one. Since it was Sunday, I bet that hokage was at home with his lovely wife. I knocked the door politely and it was opened. Minato greeted me happily while holding a bowl of batter and ushered me into their home before closing the door. I looked around and found the red haired woman was sitting on the sofa while knitting something.

"Wow, I never thought that you can do this kind of thing Kushina-san."

"Come on Rin-chan. This is pretty easy." She beamed and focused at her work. I sat beside her and stared at her handiwork. It was a scarf.

After another hearty breakfast with Namikaze-Uzumaki spouse, I left with Minato. He decided for a visit at certain place. Kushina went for a nap. Well, she was a pregnant woman and getting tired from time to time. Remembering the two times of breakfast for the day, I sighed. Kushina insisted me to eat Minato's dish and I knew when to obey her words. I was stuffed and guessed that lunch will be late for today. Looking at the hokage who was greeting and made short chat with the villagers and ninja around, I agreed that he was a well loving leader by others.

Few moments later we reached at certain area which not crowded like the market district. I looked around and noted that this wasn't a training ground, it was cemetery. The atmosphere surrounding the place was calm and silent. There were also shady tress and bushes here and there. I noted a few persons who came for a visit. They either silently prayed something or cleaning the place. The hokage patted my shoulder and led me to certain tombstone.

"Nohara Rin," I read and looked up at Minato who was closing his eyes. I guess he was praying something to his dead student. I looked at the stone again. So, this is where you're now, Rin-san? Hope you're fine and not lonely there, I asked softly in my heart.

"Rin was a good kunoichi. She had kind heart, soft spoken while there was strong determination in it. She was also the bridge between Kakashi and Obito and their peacemaker too. A very talented medical ninja and very loyal to Konoha. Until at the end of her carrier, she was still willing to protect this village, even ending her life in her teammate hands." The hokage spoke solemly.

I simply stared at the stone and shrugged. That was pretty sad ending. "Ending her life in her teammate hands? Kakashi?"

"Yes," The hokage said softly and looked at me. "That's why Kakashi acts weird around you."

"Yes, he did say it with Gai about second chance or something, but I'm not her." I stared at the stone and looked at the blond hokage. "Why we have this talk, Yondaime-sama?"

"Call me Minato," The hokage smiled. "I want to talk this with you not as a hokage but as a friend."

I nodded. "If you say so, Minato-san but I think you're just jealous of Kushina-san since I call her by her name unlike you."

Minato laughed. "Maybe," He said and looked at his student tombstone. "Like I said before, you and Rin look similar but different."

I nodded again.

"Your determination too, I noted that when Kakashi limped at my office and I asked the whole story from him."

I laughed softly. "He deserved that, I'm not really aim that kick anyway."

"Well, it works."

"Yeah it is, for now." I shrugged. "I don't know if I'm still lucky for our next encounter."

"You're going to do fine."

"Thanks, Minato-san."

He nodded and looked at the bright blue sky. "You came this morning with something on your mind. Care to share it out?"

I stared at the ground. "I decided to be a ninja based on my sole aim which is to find my way back and knowing the investigation result isn't really helpful at the moment, my determination is wavering now," I paused and felt my cheeks wet with tears. "I miss my home, my real home but I really can't do much right now and after a talk with Iruka last night, a thought came by. I'm starting to enjoy my life here." I wiped my tears away and felt it came more. "Is this world is my place now? Am I really having a place here? Is there any place for me here? Am I belongs here?"

I was sobbing pitifully when arms gathered around my body and my face rested on someone chest, Minato chest. He rubbed my back and I cried loudly.

"I'm sorry, Rin-chan. I'm sorry."

Slowly pushing myself away, after calmed down from crying, I wiped the tears away. "It's okay, Minato-san. I'll do fine. Oh, this is so embarrassing." I trailed at the last part.

A hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up and met a calm face of Minato. "You're going to do fine and yes, you belong here in Konohagakure. You're one of us."

I grinned and wiped more tears away. "Thank you, I really need that." I chuckled softly and wiped my now wet cheeks again.

We cleaned Rin's tombstone and I placed a bunch of wild flowers in front of it. I stared at now cleaned stone and smiled.

"Got something on your mind now?" Minato asked as he stopped beside me. He went for a garbage can to throw away dried grass and now he was back.

"Rin was very loyal to Konoha, right?"

"Yes. I'm very proud as her teacher."

"I'll continue her loyalty to this village but in my own ways."

"You're not interested in medical course?"

"I'm not that focused or talented to do some delicate works." I snorted and waved my hand. "I'm not Nohara Rin and Suzuhara Rin has her own ways to do things. I believe Kushina's teaching will do something good for me."

Minato smiled and looked at me deeply. I felt a shiver came to me. "Good to hear that, you do find out what you want now, right?" He spoke.

"Yes," I said and nodded with a happy grin. "I found my goal."

Thanks for reading, enjoying, following and favorite this story. Also thanks a lot to those who review this story and I'm really grateful with it. The storyline was pretty crappy in my opinion but it'll going to better from time to time, I hope. Anyway, thanks again for reading this.