Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 18

Visit to Yamanaka was proved to be unfruitful since Inoichi didn't really know about the seal much. The blond man placed down his cup of coffee and sighed.

"I'm sorry since I couldn't help much."

"It's okay Inoichi-san, I'm just wondering that's all."

"Why do you think so much about it?" Inoichi asked casually.

I stared at my cup. "I don't know." I answered his question softly.

"You should drop your thought about it. Minato, Yondaime-sama really knows what he did and he has his own reason which I believe reasonable."

I nodded slowly. "I guess."

"And his reason must be a good one too." The blond man added.

I looked at him apprehensively and continued staring at my cup. "I hope so."

Inoichi sighed lightly and picked up his cup. "Well, how's your progress at the academy? The graduation is around the corner now." The blond man smiled fondly.

Gai panted lightly and lowered his fighting stance. Taking a deep breath, he stretched his arms and cracked the soreness in his neck before looking at us. I was on the ground panting hardly while Iruka who was laying flat few steps far. We both had been beaten to the core by Gai. I noticed that I had improved far than I thought. I could move fast and dodged everything Gai gave while producing some attack move set to the experienced ninja. Most of my attack was successfully being blocked by Gai but I managed one and two nearly hit on his arm and side. A graze was better than nothing.

"That's all I can teach you two so far, even I'm having more experience in this field but I also need to go forward and train more in order to become a master, I believe that you two will do well without me around by now," Gai said with a grin.

I stood up slowly with Iruka followed behind and we both bowed at Gai. "Thank you so much for your teaching Gai-senpai. I will practice and train more even without you guiding us anymore."

"Yes, Gai-senpai, thank you so much for bear with us this whole time." Iruka added making I stood up and looked at him with a smirk.

"That's more you than mine. I'm a good student unlike someone…"

"Hey!" Iruka was stopping me from continued.

I smirked. "What? It's true anyway..."

"I know I was wrong back then but now I'm back!"

Gai laughed loudly and patted Iruka's shoulder. "There's nothing wrong when you went into wrong direction, you got friends around to call you back and together walk through to the right path! You're a strong and youthful boy Iruka! I believe you'll do well when you become a proper ninja!"

"Yes! With will of fire I'll do my best and protect this village!"

I looked at Iruka and Gai who was chatting loudly. I smiled.

"Will of fire, huh? It seems that you're not wavering anymore Iruka," I said softly.

My plan for the day was ruined since there was someone was waiting for me at the academy entrance. Ignoring the presence, I quickly walked away from the academy ground and went to certain place, market district. It was the most crowded place within the village as it attracted most of the village inhabitants, ninjas included. Since there were too many people around, the market districts were labeled as the best place for hide and seek.

But I wasn't doing hide and seek thing since I knew where we were going to go, so I decided while at it why not I replenished my food supply? It seemed that I was lacking some vitamin sources which were fruits and vegetables and I was craving some milk and yogurts too. Casually I stopped at fruits and vegetables vendor when I decided the milk and yogurt I would buy it later. My eyes also caught some marinated chicken breast and without any further thinking, I bought that too.

"Iruka is going to be happy tonight for our dinner," I said softly with a warm smile and paid the food.

Apparently, that brunet boy didn't have proper skills in the kitchen. The most edible food he could make was instant noodle and of course he did put his touch in it which I was quite pleased. An instant noodle with egg and chilies was pretty appetizing. Since that was the only food he could make without any burning or changing it to something else, we always had dinner together, where mostly of the food was from my handiwork. I guess the book Kakashi had bought last year really did some wonders. I should treat him something for a proper thanks later. I spread my chakra around the market, that guy was at the fish vendor.

"So, he buys something too huh?" I raise my eyebrows and quickly leaped myself onto the roof before took a sprint to at certain direction.

"It's pretty calm this time, unlike last time I nearly got heart attack from him," I said casually as I jumped and ran on the roofs on sedate pace. The calmness I felt quickly evaporated into the thin air as I instantly noticed his chakra only few steps behind. Without any doubt I quickened my pace.

Like our last cat and mouse game, we reached the training ground. I quickly turning around and faced the silver haired ninja.

"I've never thought that I lost tracking the time and now few days later you will be a genin!" Kakashi said with slight groan. "I'm sorry Rin but you must stop it now."

"Like last time we argued about this, my answer is still no. I'm not going to stop myself for being a ninja and no one else can stop me either! And that means you!" I pointed my finger at him and placed down my bag on the ground. Pulling out my own kunai, I sighed. "I know talking about this isn't going anywhere, you're going to do this anytime soon I believe."

Kakashi also placed down his grocery bag. I could smell something fishy from there. I didn't really like fish! It was smelly but for the sake of my choice of lifestyle, a proper diet needed that sea creature in it. The silver haired ninja pulled out his kunai from his weapon pouch.

"I'm not going easy on you," Kakashi said indifferently and I could feel some shiver crawled on my back.

He was serious; I noted and quickly stood in fighting stance. He followed and without any words, he ran forward at my direction.

Clank!

Our kunais clashed and without wasting any moments, I hastily palmed my hand strongly on his stomach making Kakashi quickly jumped away. I gritted my teeth and stood warily while eyeing his next action. Apparently he became careful and put quite range between us.

Jounin was the highest ranking in ninja society excluding the hokage obviously. Most ninja in this rank were having the best abilities in combat, good observation and interpretation skill, accurate analyzing capability and precise in decision making. They would never took anything lightly especially during fighting with the enemy. While I was considered as a comrade but Kakashi never saw that in that way. He simply would want me having a much peaceful life and I didn't like his choice in determining it.

Minato and Kushina both had given some light in my blurry goal of my life and I would not make him deflating it just like that. I was going to fight it until the end.

Kakashi swung fast his hand for a punch.

Skidding to my side and lowered my body, I quickly made a circular motion and preparing a hard kick while avoiding Kakashi's movement. Pushing both of my hands on the ground making it as my base, I kicked Kakashi and it hit! Direct to his left side!

"Ugh!" The silver haired ninja groaned sickly and sent a glare at my direction.

I grinned and rushed forward, preparing for another attack but Kakashi was faster he already recovered from my attack and jumped away. I smirked and within a blink, he already in front of me with his back facing my direction. We were both in the air, while I was trying my hardest from throwing away my lunch; I pushed him using my other hand. Quickly I prepared myself for a proper land on the ground.

"What the…" Kakashi managed to avoid a landing with his face first which made me a little bit disappointed and quickly stared at me with disbelieve. "That's Minato-sensei…"

"It seemed that it's a success?" I smiled lightly. I guessed I should practice with it more and practice it outside too not just in my apartment. I needed more practical approach on this technique. It was very chakra consuming too and I already tired from one teleportation. Beside that, I needed to train my body so that I wouldn't get any stomachache anymore.

"Why?" Kakashi asked and slowly shook his head. "Why do you go so far in this?" He yelled and jumped at me.

I blocked his kick and did a punch. He blocked it and thrust his hand with kunai at my direction and I blocked it again using my own kunai. Most of our attacks and defends were based on taijutsu moves. I gritted my teeth. It seemed that the jutsu I performed earlier really angered him.

Kakashi's attacks were stronger and accurate, which I was quite thankful at accurate part as I could managed some blocking and avoiding it narrowly of course. Even though, I had my practice with Gai, it was still it wasn't enough for this battle. I couldn't manage a hit on Kakashi and the only few I did was on his stomach and side but that wasn't enough. My endurance really did better from training with Gai but for how long?

Forming a hand signs, I quickly applying kawarimi not jutsu and a trunk was being replace with my real body was. In an instant Kakashi destroyed the trunk. I shuddered and jumped away so that we stood in certain range. We were both eyeing each other warily.

"Why Rin?" Kakashi asked again.

"This is my life!" I shouted and we both stood without any wary observation on each other. "This is my life; no one can decide what I'm going to do!" I ran and jumped on startled Kakashi, pressing my kunai on his throat. "No one, even you!" I shouted at his face. "I don't care if my look is similar to your dead team mate! But I'm not her! Open your eyes Kakashi and you'll see the differences! And don't treat me like her! Get it?"

"Fine…"

I stopped from my shouting and stared blankly at Kakashi. "Huh?"

"Fine, do what you want…you win this time, Suzuhara Rin," Kakashi said and let himself relaxed on the ground. He closed his eye. "Just…don't die out there..."

I relaxed and sighed. "I will…"

"You're heavy."

My eyes widened and instantly I noticed that I was sitting on his chest with both of my knees pinning his arms and my hand rested on his neck with a kunai. I quickly stood up and jumped away. "Tch! I'm not!"

"I think, I broke my ribs," Kakashi said and patted his chest.

"Don't joke about it," I spat and looked away. "I'm not that heavy." I muttered under my breath.

"It hurts…"

I threw my kunai at his direction.

"I think it's just my imagination only."

"Good."

"Genin mostly do the work inside the village…"

"What do you mean, Kakashi?"

"Stay in that level and you'll do fine."

"As if I'm going to listen anything from you, Kakapine!"

"Stop calling me that! And this isn't over yet" Kakashi said and stoop up. Picking up his grocery bag and looked away. "You're just lucky today."

I grasped my hand tightly and stared at the ground. "You'll regret saying that, Kakashi."

"…"

"…"

Raising my head, I noted that I was standing alone at the training field.

I stared at the papers in my hands and waited for the examiner approvals so that we could start answering the questions.

The graduation examination consisted of three parts. The first part was taijutsu moves and target test. We were needed to perform the movement which was given randomly and did the throwing of shurikens and kunais at target post. I managed both test very well since my training with Gai and Iruka really did some wonder there. The second test was paper test. I stared hard at the bunch of thin materials on my desk and noticed that everyone already started answering the questions.

I laughed softly and looked at my side where Iruka sat. My eyes widened at his very serious expression. I had never seen the brunet was so serious in doing something educational except for his stunt. Quickly turning my gaze away, I shuddered and picked up my pencil.

Opening the first page, followed with second, third until the end, I shrugged on my seat. Most of the questions were history and there were only few questions about weapons projectile and calculation. I guessed they really would make us remembering the history that much so that we would appreciate everything after graduated. I sighed and tapped lightly on my papers. I wished I read more on the history books instead of chakra theory.

I really hoped that I passed the paper test as I gave my answer sheet to the examiner and went out for lunch break.

I was eating my rice ball when someone approaching the tree I sat under. I looked up and smiled at the new comer.

"Hey, Hanan…"

"Rin…"

Most of the members in our class already had dropped the honorifics on each other as we always worked together here and there. I also became more comfortable with them around even though they were much younger than my original age. Hanan, for example was a mature boy even though he was only eleven and Iruka too but it might be related with the lost of his parents for the latter. I looked at the swing and noted Iruka was chatting something with Suzu. Apparently they had become better after the day I confronted the brunet.

Hanan had made himself comfortable beside me and pulled out a book. We silently enjoyed our final lunch time as academy student. Noticing something was missing, I looked at the Hyuuga boy.

"Um, where is Haru?"

"There," Hanan said and pointed the group of girls chatting under anther shady tree. He shrugged and continued his reading. "They are noisy and I don't like surrounding with girls."

"Aw, are you shy?" I joked slightly.

"I'm not." Came the curt reply.

"Okay…" I shrugged and picked up another rice ball.

"Rin, who do you think are going to be in your team?" Hanan's question really made me slightly chocking on my rice.

Gulping some water and wiped my mouth, I looked at him. he was still reading the book. "Team? I don't really think much about it since Ren-sensei did tell us how they're going to arrange the members."

Hanan nodded at my answer and continued reading. Now he made me curious. I scanned the academy ground and noticed my class members. My eyes focused at Mizuki who was sipping some fruit juice and laughed with some boys. I sighed, anyone but him. I looked at Iruka who was packing his finished lunch box. I hummed slightly, could be considered.

I didn't manage for another internally member recruiting as the bell rang, indicating that our lunch time was over. Keeping everything away in my lunch bag, I stood up. Hanan also stood up and kept away his book. We entered the building with anticipation for the next and final test before graduating from the academy.

I stared at the hitai ate in my hands before looking up at Ren-sensei.

"Sensei, I'm pass?"

"Well, that's the proof Rin," Ren-sensei said and smiled. "It's a short time but I'm really glad that you're in my class. You're a good student if I put away those pranks."

I laughed lightly at the statement and bowed gratefully at him. "Thank you for your guidance Ren-sensei."

Well, the last part of the test was ninjutsu test. We were needed to perform one of the basic ninjutsu taught to us randomly picked by the examiners. I had performed henge no jutsu as potted plant like the one I made few months ago at jounin apartment.

"Next time knock the door; don't use Gai for tricking me out. That henge of yours and your friend is pretty impressive. It looks like a real plant but a plant doesn't shaking."

Surprisingly I took Kakashi's advice and yeah, a plant didn't shaking and of course the examiners were quite pleased with it. I was glad with the turn out and shocked when I received the hitai-ate from our homeroom teacher. It was mean that I passed my paper test too!

"Well, you're welcome and come back here tomorrow for team replacement." Ren-sensei smiled and hushed me out from the room before he called the next student.

I stared the hitai ate in my hands as I swung lightly the swing. I looked at the academy entrance and saw a group of parents waiting for their children came out from the gate showing their own hitai ate. I laughed softly as I saw Mizuki was reluctantly let himself being hugged by his mother. He might look unhappy with his mother affection but I could see the proud gleam in his eyes. Oh well, that was Mizuki. Iruka exited the academy entrance and walked at my direction, on his forehead I could saw the hitai ate. He grinned and I grinned back.

"Hey, Iruka, you made it! Yours hitai ate looks perfect there." We bumped our fist.

"Yeah, you too Rin but why you don't wear yours?" Iruka stared at my lap.

"Oh," I said and shrugged. "I don't decide yet where I'm going to put it."

"Put it on your forehead?" Iruka pointed his own hitai ate.

I sighed. "Tried that already and I don't feel comfortable with it." Actually it made me look more like Rin and I didn't like it and uncomfortable part also true anyway. It had hindered my sight and my bangs too. Slowly stood away from the swing, I patted Iruka's shoulder. "Dango?"

"Sure!"

Without any thinking, I tied moderately my hitai ate around my neck, just making sure it wasn't dangling much. Iruka stared at my direction and grinned when our gaze clashed.

"You look nice with it there." Iruka spoke with a smile.

I touched my hitai with my fingers ate and smiled. "I'll keep it this way then."

As we moved to the dango shop, my mind wandered for the next day. Who'll be in my team? I asked silently in my mind.

Not the best chapter but please enjoy it. Thanks for reading, favorite, follow and review this story.