Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 19

Iruka and I were exiting the convenience shop when we noticed there were two people stood in front of the shop entrance. I smiled at the Uchiha duo while Iruka greeted them.

"Hi, Shishui-senpai and Itachi-kun."

"Hey, I see that both of you already become a real ninja! Congratulations both of you." Shishui pointed to his hitai ate and smiled at both of us.

I grinned while Iruka being him, he was blushing hard. The brunet was still trying his hardest so that he wouldn't blush easily here and there. I elbowed his side making the brunet groaned and I smiled gratefully at the eldest Uchiha in front of us.

"Thank you Shishui-senpai," I said before my gaze focused at quiet Itachi. "What's wrong Itachi?"

Itachi who was staring at my hitai ate at my neck silently, slowly shook his head. "Nothing's wrong." He answered my question calmly.

I shrugged and Iruka grabbed my sleeve so that we took seat at the bench outside the shop. Leaving Shishui and Itachi, we sat down on the wooden material. They went into the shop while we were silently tore our popsicles wrapper. Even with the weather was quite cold these days, but it wasn't a hindrance for us having some cold treats.

I slapped my cheeks after finished with my treat. "That's damn cold! My brain is freezing!" I puffed some cold breath from my mouth.

Iruka winced and sighed. "That's why we eat it slowly not put it one go like you. Now I can feel the cold from here."

"Well, it's more challenging this way," I said and licked on the stick and bite it. "The cold went away so fast anyway."

"I bet that you have fire chakra nature," Iruka said and enjoyed his popsicle.

I shrugged and noticing someone sat beside me. I turned at the newcomer as my hand was pulled at the direction. "Um, Itachi? What're you doing?"

"Here," Itachi placed a bottle of warm milk on my hand.

I stared at him. "Thank you, Itachi but I don't really need…"

"To keep your body warm."

"Okay…" I trailed and stared at the bottle my hand. Itachi was a nice kid. He would always be the one.

"So now you're a ninja, Rin. We're going to see less each other after this."

I nodded. For me being a ninja was an opening for my adventure in this world and a blessing too. Itachi really needed to see me less from now on. Since we were learning under the same roof, almost everyday I saw him. I really like him but I didn't think I could see him that way. He was just too young! I was like twenty one will become twenty two next year and he was just only six or seven next year. There was too much gap between our age and it made me feel like a pedophile! I wasn't going to be happy with that! Absolutely not! I shouted internally and turned to my side, staring at Itachi's innocent face. He was twisting his own bottle cap. So he bought two bottles of milk? Without letting my mind wandering too far, I quickly focused my gaze to the boy. Nah, I don't feel that heart thumping thing anymore, I mused in my mind. The last time that thing happened it might be because of my mixed emotions that time.

"Rin?"

"Oh, yes Itachi?" I startled and blinked.

"Why're you staring at my face?" Itachi asked the question and I quickly looked away.

"Uh oh, it's nothing just I'm wonder, why didn't you take the test together with us? I know you're a genius since you're always joining our classes from time to time. I bet that you're going to be a ninja by now if you take today's test."

"I'm not ready, Sasuke...I want to spend more time with him." Itachi explained and I noticed a deep look on his face.

I rested my hand on Itachi's shoulder. "You're a good brother. Sasuke is very lucky."

"Maybe I'm the lucky one for having him."

I raised my eyebrows at the statement. That was very deep.

"And I'm lucky for knowing you too, Rin." Itachi said softly and we stared at each other faces.

"Oh…" I looked away and stared at my lap. Ah, he was making it again and stops beating too hard heart! I yelled in my mind.

"Rin, it's getting late," Iruka called me and stared at my face with curiosity plastered over his face.

I quickly stood up. "Oh yeah, right!"

"Wait, Rin." Itachi caught my hand. I turned around and looked at the boy. Shishui already scooted his position and he took my place.

"Yes?"

"Come and visit us, when you're free."

"Um, okay…"

"Congratulation, Rin," Itachi said with a genuine smile.

I smiled back. "Thank you, Itachi."

Itachi slowly released my hand and I quickly followed Iruka to our apartment building.

I was slurping my noodles when Iruka was starting a conversation that night. I nearly sprayed out the broth at his face when listened to his statement. The brunet was lucky since I instantly placed my palm over my mouth.

"I think Itachi-kun like you and you like him too."

I coughed repeatedly and sent a sharp glare at the brunet. "What makes you think it like that? He's just a kid!"

Iruka placed down his chopstick and spoon. "Well, I got this hunch since the first time we met Itachi-kun and Shishui-senpai. From time to time I could see the changes in the interaction between you two and…"

"Stop it, Iruka you're kind of repeating it verbally to me while I went through everything physically and emotionally." I cut Iruka's explanation and sighed. "Honestly, I just see Itachi as a younger brother but these few days…I don't really understand it anymore. He acts weirder from time to time."

"Maybe you should give him a chance?" Iruka suggested.

I stared at the brunet disbelieved. "No, I don't want encourage him on pursuing this impossible relationship, besides that I don't really interested with having a partner so soon. Hey I'm just ten!" I sighed and poked my bowl. Hey, I was twenty one damn it and having a six year old as your crush? No way!

Iruka shrugged. "You know Rin, maybe one day you aren't going to see him as the little boy anymore."

"Tch…damn those shinobi rules…" I groaned and stood up, bringing my bowl together. "We aren't going to see him everyday anymore since we are already graduated. This will give some air for him to talk with other girls around his age."

"Aren't you going to be jealous?" Iruka asked another question making me groaned softly.

"Huh? For what?" I placed my bowl in the sink and stared at Iruka. "Why you're so insisting that we're going for each other?"

"Well, it's better than that Kakashi-san anyway." The brunet said and looked away.

"Huh? Kakashi? What're you thinking Iruka?" I frowned. Now that was something I never thought about.

Iruka drank his water and looked at me with wise look. "I don't like him and you know I got another hunch about you."

"Oh really? Entertain me," I said and crossed my arms over my chest.

"You're a genius magnet."

"Ha, very funny Iruka, that's all are just coincident." I dead panned and turned away so that I was facing the sink.

"I don't think so. Well, tomorrow will prove my hunch. I'm pretty confident with it." Iruka grinned.

"Now, you makes me worry Iruka." I sighed and opened the tap, washing the dishes.

Ren-sensei congratulated everyone in the classroom and quickly proceeded for team placement. He flipped a page from his clipboard. I scanned the class; apparently everyone was managing the final test yesterday. I was glad about it personally and shrugged in my seat. Iruka sat silently beside me as he was focusing what Ren-sensei was going to say.

"Team one…"

I stood sullenly beside Iruka while the brunet simply held in his laugh. Hanan eyed both of us with slight interest. Actually I didn't know if he was really interested with the situation. I couldn't read his eyes or his expression at all!

After the team replacement, we sat together and wait for our jounin-sensei came and fetch us. The class became empty all of sudden leaving us three inside it. I silently glared at Iruka as he was still trying his hardest not laughing in front of Hanan. Apparently he was true about me being a genius magnet, Hanan was considered as a genius in our class since he aced in every test given. Actually it was more for the team balance since I was having the lowest mark in paper test and Iruka just around the average. Basically, Iruka hunch wasn't really true but the brunet was enjoyed it so much, I let him.

"What's so funny Iruka?" Hanan finally asked. Either he was really interested or just simply annoyed with it. I bet for the latter since I was really annoyed with Iruka by now.

"Just ignore him, Hanan," I said and patted his shoulder. "Let's go for a lunch? Since our sensei isn't here yet."

"Who's saying that I'm not here?"

"Huh?"

"!" Hanan eyes widened and he scanned our surrounding. He had activated his byakugan.

"?" Iruka stopped from his chuckling and convoyed his confused gaze at mine direction. I shook my head slowly and eyed the ceiling. Iruka followed my gaze and him searching around the class.

Everyone became alarmed with the voice and we silently stood with our back were facing each other. Iruka and Hanan held out their kunai and I followed them by pulling out mine.

"Something's coming!" Hanan hissed and we stood in more prepared position.

A poof of smoke appeared and we quickly circling it. Once the smoke disappeared, there stood a man with long blond hair. I gaped and lowered my kunai. Iruka followed slowly and Hanan deactivated his eyes.

"Inoichi-san! What're you doing here?"

The blond haired man smiled and patted my head. "Inoichi-sensei, Rin-chan," He said casually and turned so that he could see Iruka and Hanan. "I'm jounin-sensei for team six! And all of you pass my test. It seemed that you three really have a good relationship and stood alarmed without any verbal direction. I'm pleased with that."

Iruka tilted his head slightly. He was confused. "Test, is there another one?"

"I heard that, the jounin-sensei will conduct his or her personal test in order to determine if we're deemed worthy or not for becoming a shinobi." Hanan explained and looked at Inoichi. "But I don't know what will happen to the teams that don't pass the test."

Inoichi smiled and gestured to us so we took a seat while he walked to the teacher desk at the front. "This's still a new system and the failed genin team will be coming back here and joining the genin corps. Surprisingly thing is that you know about it Hanan-kun."

"I'm just listened around." Hanan answered softly. I eyed the boy. Did he listen to the…Somehow I felt Haru had taught something from our kunoichi class to her brother.

"Mm, our shinobi does like having some gossip here and there." Inoichi placed a hand under his chin and wondered. His eyes focused at us and he grinned. "Well, let's do the introduction thing everyone!"

From our introduction time, I found that Hanan was really fond with his sister and he was from the branch family of Hyuuga clan. I didn't really understand about the clan's politic so I just ignoring it at the moment. He hated sea foods. His goal was even though he was from the branch family, he want to understand and able to performed their clan jutsu and brought it into another level together with his sister. It was very noble of him, I concluded.

Iruka was fond with his trickery and prank but that was a history by now since he had become a ninja. I raised my eyebrows at that. He hated being left behind and I stared at him completely as he finished explain it. I guessed he was still felt bitter about losing his parents. As for his goal, he wanted to be a ninja that could protect everyone in the village just like his parents did.

"So, Rin-chan tell us about yourself," Inoichi-sensei said and nodded.

"Um, my name is Rin, Suzuhara Rin. I like reading and enjoying my food, I hate…" I trailed and suddenly Kakashi image flashed over my eyes. I sighed. "I hate being mistaken as someone else and my goal of being ninja is I want to master everything related with seal and sealing techniques."

"So, your aim is directed into that area huh, Rin-chan?"

"Yes," I replied and nodded firmly. "I'm going to master it." Just like what Kushina wants and if I'm lucky I'll do something more than that, I added in my mind.

Inoichi-sensei let us three free after the introduction session finished with him. I had learned that he was a father now and he was proud with his daughter. Most of his explanations about himself were related with this young Ino. We three shrugged ourselves as Inoichi-sensei mumbled about how cute and pretty his daughter was. Once he was done talking about his daughter, the blond man told us to wait him at the hokage tower tomorrow for our first mission.

Now that was something.

Hanan left after saying good bye and Iruka also said he had something to do so I was left alone. I walked out from the academy ground and looked at the entrance.

"Short time but too many experiences…thank you everyone," I said and smiled before let my legs moved to what ever place it would be.

I crouched silently on a sturdy tree branch as my gaze focused at one of the windows of the orphanage. I could see Naruto was sleeping after being fed with a bottle of milk. Remembering how Inoichi-sensei praised his daughter, I closed my eyes, imagined how Minato and Kushina would act. I bite my lower lips as I held my tears.

A silent approaching from my back making me nearly fell down from the tree since I was startled with it. The animal masked man with hooded jacket showed himself. An Anbu! A silent gasp left my mouth. An arm circling my abdomen so that I wasn't moved at all and once my foot steps were stable, the masked man released me. I shrugged.

"T-Thank you Anbu-san, at least say something when you're around," I said softly.

The masked man didn't move or replied my comment, so I resumed my activity, watching for Naruto. I didn't really get it why this man was here. I knew he was around when Kushina had difficulties but now?

I didn't really get it but it calmed me a bit. At least there was someone else cared for Naruto.

Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review the story. For the next update I will take more time unlike previously since I really need to do something with my grammar thing. Yeah English isn't my first language but I'm going to do my best for the future. Please do comment and critique about it, I don't mind, since this is for the better thing later on.