Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 16

I was arranging my potted plant beside my door when I saw someone stopped beside me. I looked up from my crouching position, so I could see who. My eyes widened when I noticed the person that I almost missed nearly two weeks. Hastily patting away soils from my hand, I slowly stood up and looked at the figure.

"Iruka!" I called his name.

"Rin." Iruka nodded.

After the ceremony, we went separated at our own direction. Since then I never saw Iruka around and we also didn't have any class at academy due to the Kyuubi attack. The classes were cancelled for two weeks. Gai also cancelled the training since he was busy with the village cleaning and missions too. I was worried about Iruka as he lost both of his parents in the attack. While Kakashi had lost his teacher, Iruka lost his family members.

Without anything else, I pulled Iruka into a tight hug. He hugged me back.

"Hey, I'm worried like crazy you know. I went searching for you these days and you weren't around."

Iruka chuckled softly. "And when I arrived here, you were plotting some plant."

"What else I can do? I became fidgety when doing nothing and don't know where else I could find you. So I stick to the plant then." I huffed.

"Sorry, I was a little bit busy…"

I quickly interrupted him. "No, I'm sorry for not being there Iruka."

Iruka rested his forehead on my shoulder. We didn't really have much difference in our height. Iruka was short by few centimeters from me. I rested my chin on his shoulder. "Rin…thanks, that means a lot." Iruka whispered.

I nodded and patted his back.

"I miss them," Iruka mumbled softly and his body trembled.

I tightened my hold. "Me too Iruka, me too. They're just like my own parents." I muttered and shrugged. "Please don't wet my shirt? Others are still not dry. Today is my laundry day."

"Tch, Rin…" Iruka laughed lightly.

"What?" I placed down my mug of warm tea. "You're going to live here? As if, I mean like here? In this building?"

Iruka nodded. "Apparently my house nearly destroyed during the attack, mostly burned by flame. Remember that part?"

"Yeah…" I nodded slowly as remembered the fire around his house.

"The hokage gave this idea and I agreed to it." Iruka sipped the tea.

Now, that was something new. Since Minato was no longer alive, so someone might replace his place. "The hokage? Who's our hokage now?"

"You don't know?" The brunet raised his eyebrows.

"Ah, I forgot to ask Kakashi about it," I said honestly. Kakashi left after dinner and since then I never met him around. Probably same as Gai, busy with mission or cleaning.

"Exactly what is your relationship?" Iruka frowned. "Last time you tell me he is just someone you know. I don't think someone you just know could have first name basis that is so casual and now without honorific too."

I shrugged. "When you put it like that, now I wonder what our relationship is." I stared at my cup. Were we friends? Enemy? Nah we were in the same village so, rival? No way, that was Gai's part.

"You don't know?" Iruka frowned more.

I sighed. "That's why I say he is someone I know."

"Now that's really confusing and troublesome," He said as he crossing his arms over his chest.

"Don't act like Shizu!"

"But it's true anyway!"

I rolled my eyes and rested my cheek on my palm while the rest of my arm rested on the table. "Fine…so you're going to live here? When you're moving?"

Iruka eyed me critically and sighed. "The class is going to start next two days and I already had key for new place. I just need to do some cleaning at my old house and moving it here."

"Oh, so what's yours apartment number?"

"What's yours?"

"Two zero three. Mm, now you make me mention it, I know there is an empty unit on this floor…" I trailed at the last part as Iruka slowly grinned.

I slammed both of my hands on small table. "You're my neighbour!"

Iruka waved his key and I read the number on its customary keychain. "Two zero two…crap! Should I sleep with my eyes open now?"

Gai insisted on helping us when we crossed our path with him. Apparently the green spandex wearer had just finished rebuild some shops and at the moment we met him, he was free. Gai grinned and patted hardly on Iruka's back making the poor brunet stumbled slightly while he simply nodded at me with knowing gaze. I nodded back and looked at Iruka who now expressing his annoying feeling to Gai. I smiled. Gai really did everything physically, even his condolence too.

We reached Umino's ground after a few moments of walk and chatting. I stared at the building and shrugged. The front part of the house was totally burned down. The bright paint on the wall was now replaced with dark black soot from fire. I could see burned bricks from peeled off paint. There were also cracks on it. The windows glass panel broken and the door wasn't there instead of the door it was replaced with some tapes. The small lawn also destroyed into dry hard ground. Someone patted my shoulder and I looked at my side.

"Iruka-kun is really strong for being able to come back here," Gai said softly.

I looked at the door and sighed softly. Iruka already entered his house. No, Iruka was still fragile with this. If not, he would never ask for my aid and agreed with Gai's help. I closed my eyes and patted Gai's hand which still on my shoulder. I smiled. "Let's go in, we're here to help him, right?"

"Sure, Rin-chan!" Gai grinned.

I pinched my nose bridge. "Drop the chan, Gai-senpai!"

We were on our way to my apartment building with boxes when we met Itachi and Shishui. Shisui without any word quickly picked a quite heavy box from Iruka as he was holding two while Itachi grabbed the one in my hands. I startled at sudden action from the younger boy.

"Um, thanks Shishui-san," Iruka said softly. He looked at Itachi. "And Itachi-kun too."

"Ah, Itachi-kun…I think that box is quite heavy and big for you." I tried grabbing the box but the raven haired boy simply dodged my hands and walked away. I gritted my teeth. "Hey!" I shouted.

Gai laughed loudly. "That's very youthful for a kid like him!"

I shrugged. "It's more to headache than youthful, Gai-senpai." I pulled the paper bags out from my arms and held it using my hands instead of letting it hanging there.

"Oh, you can call me Shishui-senpai too since I'm already graduated like Gai," Shishui said happily.

"Er…if you say so?" I muttered softly and looked at Iruka who simply nodded once. I shrugged. "Okay, Shishui-senpai."

"Cool," Shishui said.

Gai and Shisui chatted about something related with taijutsu while, Iruka, Itachi and I walked in silent. I left Iruka with his mixed feelings as when at his house, Gai and I noted that Iruka cried silently when he entered certain room. He needed to settle down his personal emotion by his own self. I knew it was hard. I had felt that when I lost both of my parents in an accident but I couldn't be sad and missed them all of the times. I was still living and living person must go forward. We stopped once we reached in front of Iruka's new place. The brunet placed down the box in his hands and unlocked the door. Holding the door open, he gestured at us to come in.

Once entering the apartment, I scanned the place and snorted slightly. "It has similar design and arrangement just like my place," I said and checked the single room and other places. "And it's fully furnished too."

"Oh, well this building originally was a genin apartment but since most of the genin still live together with their parents, so there are many empty unit left here," Shishui explained.

"I see, that does explain it why it's in good condition." I added and felt someone pulled my sleeve. I looked at my side and met with Itachi. "Um, yes Itachi-kun?"

"You say that this place is similar to yours so you also live here too?"

"Uh…yeah…" I looked away and shrugged. If anything I would like to avoid was this, Itachi was acting weird again.

"Oh, she's my neighbour! Rin's place is next to mine," Iruka happily answered Itachi while I immediately face palmed myself.

"Thank you Iruka, that's very informative." I groaned.

"That's a good thing, Rin can you prepare us something like tea while we help Iruka-kun setting up his things. There're more boxes we need to pick up." Gai raised his thumb up at me.

I shrugged and smiled. "Okay, Gai-senpai."

I was pouring the hot water in a pot when I heard a knock sound came from the door. Placing down the kettle, I walked to the door and opened it.

"Yes? Oh, Itachi-kun. You guys finished with moving already?" I let the boy entered my apartment and closed the door before resumed everything in the kitchen.

"Yes."

"Oh wait a moment."

"Can I help?" Itachi stood silently in front of me. There was kitchen table top separated us.

"Aren't you tired? Those boxes were pretty heavy."

"They didn't let me bring any box. Saying that I'm too small and young for heavy lifting. I'm carrying Sasuke here and there at home anyway and he is heavier from day to day. Shishui knows that."

I laughed softly. "It's true and I know you're strong." Picking up some plastic cups, I smiled. "They just have sense of protecting someone younger or just showing off their power."

"I think it's more on that last part." Itachi mumbled softly.

I raised my eyebrows. Was that sulk in that tone? Passing the plastic cup to him, I placed my hand on the warm pot, preparing for a short trip to Iruka's place.

"Um…are you okay?"

I stared at the kid and looked away once our gaze met. "…"

"Mother cried when she knew the news, are you okay, Rin?" Itachi asked softly.

I slowly shook my head. "No, I'm not really okay but from time to time, I'll become better. They might not with us anymore but they are still lives in our hearts." I placed a hand on my chest.

"Good then…I'm worried."

"Thank you for caring about me, and don't worry much Itachi-kun. I'm going to do fine." I smiled and looked at the pot again.

"Um…"

I turned at Itachi. "What's wrong? Is the cup okay? Nothing broken?"

"No, I just…"

"…"

"…"

"Just speak it out; the tea is getting colder now." I was getting annoyed by now and placed my hands on my waist.

"Can I call you Rin?"

"Huh?"

"You can call me Itachi too. See you next door Rin," Itachi said and left.

I stared blankly at the empty spot he stood earlier. What had just happened? Now, were we in the same level of human interaction? He was younger, right? Damn! I was playing right into his hand now!

I groaned with frustrate on the floor with both my hands on my head.

I was collecting the cups when Iruka took a seat in front of me, stared blankly at my direction. Only me and him inside his apartment since everyone already went back to their home.

"Just say what in your mind now," I said flatly and looked at the brunet boringly.

"You know what I heard today?" Iruka spoke out.

"What?"

"Itachi-kun called you Rin without any honorifics. I thought he is a proper kid but now it changed. Oh, he changes it on you only. He still calls me Iruka-san." Iruka wondered at the end.

I looked away and sulked. "That kid is something, I should be more careful around him."

Iruka stared at me confusedly. I ignored him, picking up everything, I walked to the door. "Come to my place for dinner."

"Okay," Iruka replied and grinned. "I know I wasn't making a mistake when I agreed with Sandaime-sama."

I stopped and looked at Iruka. "Sandaime-sama?"

"He is our hokage now since there is no one capable in taking our Yondaime place, he is returning back from his retirement." Iruka explained.

I nodded and shrugged. Oh, someone was already replacing Minato place or not really. This was about responsibilities.

Iruka went to his place once we were done with dinner and dishes cleaning. I stared at certain box in my bedroom. The box which was pretty big and heavy was from Kushina, which I didn't even open it even after almost two weeks from their lost. I stopped in front of it and crouched down. Placing a hand on the top of it, I shed away some tears.

"Tch…stop crying, Rin."

Slowly pulling up the lid, my eyes followed the content of the box and widened. There were too many scrolls inside it which few of it I knew the content. The size of scrolls also varied from small to big and even the thickness also different each scrolls.

"What's this?" I asked softly and my eyes caught something was written with my name. Picking up the envelope, I felt my hands were shaking. Slowly I opened the envelope and found a letter inside. I opened the piece of paper.

Rin-chan,

When you read this later, it means that I'm no longer here in this world. I got the feeling that I'm not able to come back here alive and Minato gave too many hints. He didn't say much but knowing him, I know he knows something. I don't blame him or anyone about it; I'm ready with any outcomes, really.

Actually it was his suggestion for me teaching you about the sealing art and knowledge. Honestly I never had any thought about it until he mentioned about a girl with similar appearance as his deceased student. Minato is a very secretive person. He rarely talks about his work and it was weird suddenly one day he talked about you so I decided for a walk and tried my luck. I was lucky when I found you instantly at Ichiraku's. Have you ever tried salt ramen there? It was wonderful; you must try it once in your life!

Anyway, I teach you everything I know. As I mentioned before, my clan, Uzumaki clan was specialized in sealing art and as sole Uzumaki member in this village, I trained hard and known as seal master in Konohagakure along with Minato's jounin sensei which is Jiraiya-sama. You'll meet him soon but be careful with him. He is a pervert! Watch out when you go to the hot spring. While I was teaching you everything, our time together was limited. I couldn't do much but drill every basic into you and some intermediate sealing techniques.

During our time together, I know you're talented with this as if you were born with it. You're going to surpass me soon and I knew it. Here in this box I put everything, the whole life knowledge you needed in order to claim my title. Knowing Minato, I bet he put something too inside this box. You better check on it. I believe you Rin-chan. You're my successor, Suzuhara Rin.

"Kushina-san…this is too much. I'm not that talented. I have my own personal target that's why I tried my hardest on it," I sobbed and flipped another piece of her letter.

So, I know I mentioned this before. You're going to babysit Naruto but you're just too young for it and taking care of a baby isn't an easy task. I guess that is on hold then. But, I have a request; please take a look at him from time to time? That's all I can ask as his mother.

I also said that you could come to me anytime if you had something in your mind. Sorry about that Rin-chan, I'm no longer around but look around you. There are many people you can lean on to. Even that Kakashi too, he was a little bit hardheaded and emotionally retarded but I know deep in his heart, he is a good kid. But, if you need to kick his ass, I'm totally cheering for you.

I know you have a hard life for having similar appearance with Minato's student but believe me, you're totally different. Go forward with your life and ignore whatever anyone talks about you. You're Suzuhara Rin, my successor and my child protector. Thank you for every moment we shared together and I'm going to miss you Rin-chan.

Uzumaki Kushina

Releasing the letter, I wiped away tears on my cheeks. I stared at the box.

"Our next lesson is going to be a longer one and I want you to be ready. I already gave Minato the materials. Meet him and collect it from him. It's too heavy for me anyway."

I traced my hand on the scrolls inside the box.

"This is truly a long time lesson. I'll master it for you Kushina-san. I've decided about it before."

"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."

"Good to hear that, you do find out what you want now, right?"

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

I gripped the letter in my hands.