Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 27

"Rin."

My eyes widened and I stiffened. Ignoring the call, I held my breath while waiting for him to go away. A figure entered my side view, indicated that my sudden wish wasn't granted. I stared at the river, trying to ignore the presence. It was almost a year since our last interaction. We both were busy with our team training and missions thus barely met anymore. A wave and simple gesture was only our interaction and obviously it wasn't sufficient for a normal chat. With this sad mood was hanging around me, I really didn't want to meet him at the moment.

"Rin."

"…" Just go away already, I want to stay alone now! I shouted silently in my mind.

"Rin."

I shrugged and grunted. "Go away Itachi…"

"No, I'm not doing that when you're still holding back."

Quickly turning to my side, facing him, I glared. "Holding back? What do you mean?"

"Rin."

Shaking my head, I grunted. "I'm not holding back anything! Just leaves me alone!" Harshly I pushed his shoulder.

Itachi stayed still. "No I'm not; you're in need for someone."

"No, I don't need anyone, just go…" Weakly pushing him away, I stared at the ground below, the wooden material of the deck. A drop of tears fell down then followed with another. Hiccupped, I sat down and sobbing. "Go away Itachi…"

"…"

"Go away…"

Next thing I knew I was sobbing pathetically in Itachi's chest. When he did grow up?

"Here," Itachi said as he gave me a warm bottle of milk. I stared at the bottle and wondered where it came from.

Nodding in gratitude, I took it and held it in my hands. "This is so embarrassing." I wiped my face using my palm and shrugged.

"I don't think so."

"Hm?"

"It feels good after you release everything, right?"

"Y-Yeah, I do feel better…" I trailed softly and stared at the water. "Um, thank you, Itachi…for staying here even though I'm pushing you away."

"It's okay, that's what a…um…lo…um…partner do."

Quickly I looked away and played with my fingers. The bottle of milk, I already placed it by my side. Licking my dry lips, I stared at the river. Slowly I peeked to my side and our eyes met. Awkwardly I looked away again and shrugged. "Thank you…you're a very reliable, dependable…um…partner…um…yeah. I'm glad having you at my side."

A hand rested on mine, I looked up and stared at Itachi calm face. I could see the trace of his baby fat on his cheeks but it wasn't visible that much anymore. Training and mission did change his appearance a lot while I also felt similar with my own body. My arms and legs definitely sturdier and my reflex was faster compared during my academy life due to taijutsu training with Iruka and Hanan…

My eyes focused at Itachi's hitai ate and I looked down at mine which was tied loosely around my neck. Slowly I touched it, trailed my fingers on Konoha symbol on metal material of it. This was a ninja world…I was the one, Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai, Itachi, Haru, Suzu, Iruka and Hanan too of course. We were going to face this kind of things from time to time and our heart must stay strong.

"Protect Konoha and people you love…promise me that?"

I closed my eyes and felt Itachi's grasp tightened on my hand. Swiftly I moved my hand and held his by tangling our fingers. Smiling, I looked at the Uchiha boy.

"Hanan made me promise him so that I'm going to protect Konoha and its people, can you promise the same to me? We're in this together?"

"Sure, Rin. We're together protecting Konoha." Itachi replied and smiled.

Feeling a warm feeling crept up to my cheeks, I quickly looked away. "Uh, my eyes must be puffy…after those crying and your shirt must be wet too!" I hastily looked at Itachi's dark shirt he wore.

"Rin."

"Yes?" I stopped from my panic moment.

"Next time, lean on me more."

"O-Okay…"

I sat silently on the same branch while watching the sleeping Naruto. Sighing, I leaned my side on the tree and enjoying the calming view.

"I hope you're never going to face this kind of hurt when you're growing up."

A gloved hand rested on my shoulder making I gasped softly and looked up. There was the same Anbu guy and he grasped my shoulder in understanding manner. His free hand was making signs.

"Heard the news, sorry for your lost," I said softly and looked at the mask. Smiling, I nodded slowly. "Thank you."

We sat silently and watched Naruto enjoyed his calm sleep.

Few days later we, team six gathered at the usual training ground. Inoichi-sensei patted our shoulders understandingly and a moment later we smiled back at him. It was weird since there were only two genins instead of three but we had managed our feelings so it didn't hinder our duty. Both Iruka and I already had some talk and recovered with our lost and Hanan was surely stayed in our memory forever. Inoichi-sensei faked a cough making us focused at him.

"Mm, how should I say this…" He trailed at the end and sighed. Slowly he pulled out three pieces of papers from his weapon pouch. "One week before our last mission, the hokage called us the jounins sensei. He asked us about the next chuunin exam and I had nominated all of you since I'm your sensei and know your ability the best and then sadly things happened with our last mission." The blond haired man passed us the nomination papers and we solemnly stared at it.

"From what I know, to enter the exam, we genin will come together in a team of three," Iruka said and shrugged. He looked at me and I nodded at our sensei, agreeing with the point.

"Of course I'm aware with it." Inoichi-sensei stared at the single paper in his hand which it would be in Hanan's hand if he was alive. He then looked at us. "Do you know any friend of you who want to take the exam but don't have any team?"

Iruka and I changed another gaze and we thought for a moment before the brunet shook his head. I stared at the ground for a while before looked at our sensei.

"I don't know anyone who is without their team members around but sensei, about this exam. Can I think about it first?" I asked and raised my hand with the paper. "I need some time before making the decision."

"Yeah, me too sensei," Iruka said and looked at the river where we always did our training together. "I still can't relate much information. It seems…like just yesterday we were training together and our sync was the best and to have another person…replacing his place…"

Inoichi-sensei nodded with a small smile. "Of course, the exam is going to be held in the next two months. There's no rush for it but don't miss any training. Hanan will be disappointed to see both of you like this. He is watching from up there, I'm sure of it."

Iruka and I changed another gaze before chuckled softly. "Of course, Inoichi-sensei, we don't want him disappointed with our slackness."

"Good, now do three laps around this field and you're going to spar on each other before I joining for the team sparring."

"Yes, sensei!"

With that, we kept our nomination paper and ran around the field. Even though Hanan wasn't here with us anymore, it did felt like he was watching us around.

I smiled warmly as my eyes focused at the sky for moment, before I ended up face first with a tree. Damn, it was hurt!

"Don't daydreaming, Rin!" Inoichi-sensei shouted.

"Yes sensei!"

I was walking alone after having some tea and dango with Itachi. He already went back to prepared his gear before going to a mission with his team. That kid was a stubborn one since he decided to act as a gentleman by escorting me back to my place before he was going home. Luckily his teammates were fast enough approaching him first thus saving my time for another awkward trip. It was already awkward when he joined me at the dango shop. How he decided to came there, I didn't want to know. It was happened so suddenly, I raised my cup for drink and he was already in front of me when I placed the cup on the table.

On my way to the apartment, I decided for some cold treat. I grinned and pulled out my money pouch. Checking the amount, I smirked. I could buy the whole freezer and that thought was really entertaining making I grinned for the whole way to the convenient store.

"You look happy."

"Hyah!" I shrieked and quickly turning around stood in defense position, facing Kakashi and who was that…girl stood silently behind him. I relaxed and looked at the girl. Her hair was the same colour as mine but hers was longer and it looked soft. Softer than mine, I bet since I could see how the strands fell from her shoulder as she moved her head. I focused at her face and shrugged as our eyes met. Her eyes were unique but somehow I felt like staring at a cat. Her hitai ate also looked weird but somehow I felt like I had seen it before. Clapping once my hands and nodded, now I remembered where, it was in the text book about Nidaime. Okay, the mystery was solved and I glared at Kakashi.

"You always love to surprising people around! I nearly got a heart attack!"

"Then you should resign from being a ninja. We don't want a sick ninja in the field."

"What? No I'm fine! That's just a metaphor." I crossed my arms and snorted, looking away of course. Sighing, I looked at the girl again. Curious, I asked the question. "So, who's that girl? Your girlfriend?"

Both of them stiffened and the girl was blushing heavily. Wow, I wasn't that direct was I?

Kakashi scratched his masked cheek and laughed awkwardly. "Um, you see Rin…"

"I'm not a girl! I'm a boy! I can show it to you…"

My eyes widened as the girl uh boy was talking and moved his hands to certain lower part. I quickly cut his speech and waved my hands. "What? No! Okay I believe you! J-Just stops it okay? This is a public area." I looked around and shrugged as there weren't too many people. Thank god.

"Uh, sure," He said and moved away his hands from his trouser. He then rolled his eyes and spoke out something. More to a whine, I suggested. "It's just this was um, the third time it happened so…"

"Wow…you really should consider about your appearance once again…um…I'm Rin, what's your name?"

The boy sent a look at Kakashi before looked at me. "I'm Tenzou and Kakashi is my senpai."

I nodded and looked at relieved Kakashi as the misunderstanding was cleared. For me it was more saving my eyes from disturbing scene. "Wow, you got a kouhai…"

"Practically you are also…"

I turned at the other boy. "Hey Tenzou, want some ice cream? My treat as an apology for mistaking you as a girl."

Tenzou starred at me indifferently. "Under this cold weather?" He looked at sky as if there was snow fallen down.

I shrugged. "We can have warm milk after that."

"Uh, sure?"

Grabbing Tenzou's hand, I quickly dragged him away from his senpai.

"So, what's your age?" I asked casually as we entered the shop.

"I'm going to be thirteen next year."

"Oh, I'm twelve next year but I have never seen you around the academy."

"…"

Seeing the reluctance from him I decided to drop the topic. "It's okay we are comrade anyway, maybe you're graduated early like Kakashi." We stopped in front of the freezer. I scanned various flavors and looked at him. "So, what's your trick? Your hair looks smooth."

"Huh?"

We were sitting on one of the benches that were scattered around Konoha and enjoying our ice cream when Kakashi arrived. He was reading a book and I could see Tenzou was averted his gaze from the reading material in his senior's hand.

Suddenly Kakashi rested his hand on my shoulder. Somehow it felt familiar but he quickly retreat his hand. I looked up. Our eyes met and he nodded slowly.

"Gai told me already, I'm sorry for your lost."

I shrugged and smiled. "Thanks, he is in better place now."

"Yeah," Kakashi said softly and looked at darkened sky. "A very good place indeed."

Minato did tell me history of his team when we were alone in his office. Kakashi was alone in this world, no one in his team was alive anymore, even his jounin sensei. Suddenly I remembered something. The surprised visit from a masked guy and until today, I never had any kind of visit anymore. It felt like a real dream while I knew it was a real deal. Should I ask Kakashi about that guy? From our conversation, that guy seemed to know Kakashi.

"Stop reading that senpai!" Tenzou irritating voice waking me up from mind wandering and I looked at Kakashi who was holding a book in his hand. An orange covered book with two…person…

"Icha…icha…tactics?" I read the book title and looked at now blushing Tenzou. "Um, what kind of book is this? The title sounded very…um…suspicious?"

"You better not knowing it, Rin," Tenzou said as he face palmed his face. Groaning, he looked at me. "Never search it in book store or you're going to taint your innocent mind."

"Now I'm curious." I looked at the book which Kakashi was so engrossed in. Well age wise, I can read it, right?

"Just no please," Tenzou said in a plea.

I smiled at him and nodded. "Don't worry; I'm not short on reading materials at home. I just want to know who the one that write this kind of book is."

Tenzou shrugged on the bench. "You aren't going to believe this," He said and paused. Looking at me, he sighed. "It's Jiraiya-sama."

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!

I frowned and looked at the book. Apparently one of the seal master who also a pervert was writing a book and it certainly a no good type of book from Tenzou's reaction towards it and Kakashi was enjoying it very much by his giggling and dreamy look in his visible eye! And he was underage too!

Looking at Tenzou, I asked the question. "How did Kakashi get that book? He's underage to read that kind of things!"

The boy looked helpless. "I don't know…and I think I want to go back now. I don't want to taint my mind more with it."

I raised my eyebrows as a silent question. Tenzou sighed and whispered. "You never know when senpai shoved that book to your face. Believe me, the graphic are just too realistic!"

I guessed I better stayed away from this too. I sighed and stood up. "I'm going back too. It's nice to meet you Tenzou." I smiled at him and looked flatly at Kakashi. "Just throw away that thing Kakashi." Forming hand signs, I transported myself to my marked apartment.

I unsealed the lunch box from my storage scroll while Iruka was washing his hands after collecting the weapons we used in our target practice. Inoichi-sensei wasn't around with us today since he had received a job via torture and interrogation department. We had gone there with Inoichi-sensei once and obviously I didn't like it very much. There was one guy known as Ibiki who was in training to become one of them.

Iruka sat down across me and picked up his lunch box. I looked at him and followed his action. We ate in silent and it was ended once Iruka popped up a question.

"How's your relationship with Itachi-kun?"

I nearly chocked on my bite size rice ball and quickly took a drink from my canteen. Glaring at the now smirked brunet, I groaned. "Can we eat in peace?"

Iruka shrugged and waved his chopstick. "Yeah, yeah but I'm bored."

"Then talk about something else."

"Well, I'm just curious, that's why I'm asking that."

Now it was my turn to shrug. Biting on my chopstick, I stared at my food inside the container. "Awkward…that's all."

Iruka laughed. "That's funny but I can see it now."

Frowning, I stared at Iruka. "Oh, entertain me, Iruka."

"Itachi-kun and Rin sitting under tree and-Ack!"

Thanks to my practice and perfect accuracy, I managed to throw my lunch box cover right on Iruka's face. Of course I threw it hard as I could with chakra aid too, when the piece of hard plastic fell from his face, Iruka hastily checked on his bloodied nose. Smirking, I resumed eating my food.

After finished healing his nose, Iruka seethed at my direction. "What's that? It hurts! I'm just entertaining you…" He sulked at the end.

Waving my hand with chopstick, I spoke. "Yeah, yeah, it's not broken right? Your nose…"

"Uh, no but still, it hurts! Damn your accuracy and chakra practice!"

"Sorry Iruka, just my reflex. Well you should dodge it when you see it coming. You're a trained ninja after all."

"Damn your stupid reflex," Iruka scoffed and resumed eating his food. I held out my hand, silently asking for my lunch box cover and the brunet slammed it harshly on my palm. I grinned and chuckled softly. The brunet still sulked about it.

Keeping away my empty food container in my scroll, I stared at the paper on my lap.

"Maybe you're right Iruka; I do slowly start seeing him as an adult…"

"Really?"

"Just a maybe," I said and kept my scroll.

"Oh…"

Taking out the small piece of paper from my weapon pouch, I looked at Iruka. He already finished with his lunch and keeping the empty container in order and placed it at one side. Looking up, he caught the paper in my hand and looked straight at my face. Our eyes clashed and I nodded once.

"I've done thinking about it," I said.

"Me too," Iruka said and pulled out his piece of paper.

We stared at the content.

We decided for a stop at the bath house after the training. When we reached the building, somehow the surrounding was too quiet and I noticed some women were glaring menacingly at the building.

"Why are they glaring at this place?" I asked Iruka.

Iruka shook his head. "I don't know. Let's hurry, I feel sticky."

Sometimes, Iruka also like a sissy too. He liked taking bath and shower. He could spend all evening by soaking under the water especially hot spring. We learned that hard way in one of our mission to one hot spring around Fire country. Surprisingly the mission was a success due to Iruka's soaking habits. Rolling my eyes, I walked to the entrance. "Uh sure."

I had just finished washing my body when I walked to the bath area. Surprisingly it was not crowded since during that time there was hardly any space around and now there were only few peoples resting their body in the big bath. I shrugged and resume my walk but my chakra sense was tingling. Instantly, I threw my hidden senbon to certain part of the high wall that separating men and women area. A loud splash of water followed making all women in the bath alarmed.

"What's that?"

"It's from men's area."

"It's that pervert again!"

"Kyaa!"

"Let's go out!"

Within a few seconds, the bath house for women was empty. I stood stiffly and shrugged. Slowly, I walked to the wall and climbed on it. Reaching the top of the wall, I sat comfortably and scanned the men's area. It was empty too. A loud squeak was heard and I focused at the voice. My eyes widened. There was Iruka with his arms covering his exposed chest, dark red cheeks and hairs down from his usual ponytail. I smirked.

"Wow, Iruka you sounded like a girl, even look like one too."

"S-Shut up, Rin! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I feel a presence and throw my senbon…" I paused and looked at Iruka who already relaxed in bath. "A loud splash of water followed; didn't you see anything suspicious around?"

Iruka hummed and shook his head. "I just entered the bath and no one was here."

"Weird," I said and looked around.

"Can you just go to your place and let me enjoy my soak relaxingly?" Iruka pointed the obvious with an irritated tone. Yeah, he was definitely a sissy about his bath.

"Fine, I'll go back once I'm convinces with everything." Gracefully I jumped from the wall and landed on the floor. Iruka sighed and sunk deeper in the bath.

Suddenly something emerged from the water in the bath.

"Kyaaaa!" Iruka shouted unmanly while I simply stared at the water which now left the figure. There stood a firmly well build middle aged man with long white hair and white towel covering his precious part. I shrugged and took a few steps back. Iruka already out from the bath and stood beside me.

"Heh, for a kid you got nice made immobilizing seal written on this senbon," The man said with a smirk while twirling the senbon with his fingers.

I looked at the senbon and shrugged. It seemed that the ink I used on it had dissolved in the water since it looked clean and sparkled too. Narrowing my gaze, I pointed a finger to him. "You're peeping!"

"I'm not peeping," The man said and grinned. "I'm just doing some research."

Iruka and I frowned instantly and we quickly walked to the entrance.

"We should report this!" Iruka said.

"Yeah, he is a dangerous creature and we can't enjoy this bath house anymore!"

"Uh, I guess it's more dangerous to you girls."

"And you really want to be labeled as pervert too? Taking a bath while letting that guy doing his stupid research?"

"Hell no!" Iruka shouted.

"Then?" I stared at Iruka amusedly.

"Let's report on him."

Iruka's hand nearly reached the door when the man stopped us.

"Hey wait you two."

"..."

"…"

"…"

"What do you want pervert?" Iruka finally asked.

The man laughed. "I'm not a pervert young man."

"Then what? Super pervert?" I pointed and laughed softly. That was stupid.

"Yeah you're right, girl! I'm a super pervert!"

"What?"

Iruka pushed the door and grabbed my hand. "Rin, let's go away from this super pervert man."

"Sure!" I nodded and followed Iruka. Quickly I pulled the door closed and ran to women changing room.

"Now I know why those women glaring at the bath house earlier," I said and slurped my ramen.

Iruka nodded while munched on his food which also ramen. We had concluded that as our dinner for the day after a very crazy event at the bath house.

"Well, we should avoid that place for a while then." I placed the empty bowl on the counter.

"I guess," Iruka said dejectedly.

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