Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 28

I stared at the piece of paper in my hand before sighing and kept it inside my weapon pouch. While Iruka and I did some thinking but we weren't really shared our piece of mind about it. Picking up my scrolls, kunais, senbons and shurikens from my stash, I sat down and laid out everything on the floor. I scanned my weaponries and shrugged. My eyes focused at the scrolls and unrolled one labeled as weapons. Unsealing everything, I stared at the messy floor.

"Ah, there are so many of it and it will take all days to finish it." I groaned and grabbed a small box containing few of sharpening stones, a bottle of wax and grease, and clothes. Checking on the time, I huffed and rolled up my sleeves. It was just only seven in the morning and it was our days off, that was why I decided to checked on my arsenal and did some cleaning. "Starts soon finish soon," I said and sat down cross legged in front of a small mountain of kunais.

I was checking on chakra wires when a yawn escaped my mouth for nth times already. A grumbled sound of empty stomach suddenly echoed in my living room making me shuddered and placing down the wires at its designated place. Scanning my floor, I released a satisfied hum as my eyes caught every cleaned and sharpened weapons perfectly arranged on the floor. I looked at the clock and frowned lightly.

"Aw, it's already past noon? No wonder I'm hungry and sleepy too." Slowly standing up, I walked into my kitchen and checked on my refrigerator.

Closing its door, I quickly went into my room and picked up my hitai ate and hoodie jacket. My mind was making a mental note about where the shop and what I was going to have as my late lunch and dinner too while I was wearing and straightened my jacket. The hitai ate already hanged on my neck like usual. During the day off usually I kept it inside one of my jacket pocket but since there was a need to the weapon store, I needed to wear it as a proof that I was an active ninja. Straightening my hair using my fingers, I smiled at my reflection once satisfied with everything. Hastily equipped my weapon pouches, I wore my sandals and exited my apartment. Closing my door and locking it, I looked at Iruka's place. Surprisingly he stood near the opened area of our hallway and was dusting his cushions.

"Hey Iruka!" I called while remained still at my place. Didn't want those dust around me actually.

Iruka turned around. There was a handkerchief covering half of his face. I laughed lightly as I remembered Kakashi and his masked face. Suddenly a bright idea came; Kakashi would be the best for cleaning duty like this. I grinned.

"Uh Rin? You're scaring me first you laugh and now you grin like you're plotting something evil in your mind." Iruka spoke and stared at my face. "Am I in danger?"

I smiled at the brunet and waved my hand. "Nothing, a funny thought came by and I'm simply amused with it."

Iruka grabbed his cushions and walked to his opened door. "If I'm out of danger then it's fine, so why you're calling me?"

"Do you have your lunch?"

Iruka nodded. "Yeah, I had it with Gai-senpai. We met at the market. Wait a moment…" He went into his apartment and walked out after a few seconds. "You're going out Rin? Can I ask you for something?"

"Sure, what's it?"

Passing a folded paper to me, Iruka shrugged. "Take this for me, I kind of forgot about it."

"Okay," I said and kept the paper in my pocket. Looking up, I saw Iruka tightened his make shift mask. "Anything else?"

Shaking his head, Iruka mumbled thanks before resuming his cleaning activities. After ensuring the traps and my locked door, I left the building.

I was enjoying my ramen when someone entered the shop and took the next seat beside me. Rolling my eyes so I could see who without any need of moving my head, I met with a surprise.

"Pervert man!" I quickly turned to my side and faced the white haired man.

He scratched his head and stared at his finger. "Geez, younglings these days really don't know any manners with their elder."

"Tch…a man who peeking the woman bath house isn't really considered as an elder," I said and resumed eating. Better I finish this than staying here any longer, I groaned silently. "You're a pervert!"

"I'm not a pervert aren't we clear before?"

"Ah super pervert!" I said and continued eating.

The man nodded sagely while crossing his arms over his chest. "Well that's true, but I'm not here talking with you about my research." Surprisingly calm he spoke and pulled out something from his clothes.

My hands stopped working and focused at the thing he placed on the counter. I blinked and looked at him. "Uh, a senbon?" I asked innocently.

"This is the senbon that stuck on my head few days ago, remember Suzuhara Rin?"

My eyes narrowed instantly. "How do you know my full name? If I recalls correctly, Iruka only called my first name in front of you."

The man laughed. "You don't know who I'm?"

"How I'm going suppose to know someone like you? I'm not a pervert."

"Yes, yes but sure Minato and Kushina do tell about me to you, right?"

I stared at the man and remembered the Yondaime and his wife. "They are never told me about some pervert let alone a super pervert."

Face palming, the man simply made shooing motion with his hand. "Just finish your food; we're going to do some explanation after this."

Frowning, I ignored him and picked up my chopstick and spoon. A memory went by so suddenly, making I frown some more.

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.

Remembering Kushina's letter, I gaped and looked at the man once again. He was sipping a warm tea while writing something on some papers. There also a book together the papers and I stared at it. It was an orange book similar with the one Kakashi had read few days ago.

"Do you write some books?"

"Hm?" The man looked at me and grinned. Placing down his pen, he picked up the orange book and beamed at me. "You sure have a pair of sharp eyes, yes I'm a writer and a proud one no less and this book is my masterpiece! It's composed of my years of research and vast knowledge about love and lies as well as encounters moment in various situations-"

"Okay enough!" Quickly pulling out money, I placed it on the counter. "Thank you, Teuchi-san!" I smiled at the Ichiraku's owner and quickly left the shop. I walked around the shopping district in denial as my mind kept planted the new information.

"The seal master of Konoha is a super pervert!" I mumbled and found that I reached the training ground. Staring at the grass, I sighed. "Man, I don't believe this…"

"Well you're going to believe it now."

Quickly plucking up my hidden senbon, I threw at the voice. Surprisingly he caught it by using his fingers and waved his hand casually. "Same trick won't work on me twice."

I shuddered and looked at him. "So, you're Jiraiya-sama, Minato-san's jounin sensei, a pervert and a seal master here, that's the only thing Kushina-san told me about you." I stared at the ground.

Jiraiya hummed and looked at the sky. "I can see the resemblance. Minato told me everything about you."

Raising up my head up and looked at him, I eyed his face carefully. "Everything?"

The white haired man nodded. "Right now there are three people in this village who know about you, first Inoichi, then me and the third one is Sandaime."

"Sandaime? He knows about me?"

"Yes."

"That's very surprising," I said softly and remembered several moments at the mission room. His eyes and gaze, it was very deep and full of mystery. Now I knew why.

Jiraiya sat down on the ground cross legged and gestured at me to do the same. I followed and sat in front of him in the same manner. I looked at him carefully, from his outfit until his face. He was a very well build man with sturdy shoulders and back. His face looked serious but there was a hint of mischief and fun around, ah that might came from his perverted side. I sighed. His clothes were a mixture of traditional outfit and ninja outfit since I could see the chainmail under his layered clothes and somehow his choice of colour perfectly matched his personality. There was also a forehead protector with kanji word of Myoboku, I frowned at it.

"Well, I'm a sage of Mount Myoboku if that's you're wondering." Jiraiya supplied the information.

"Wow a pervert sage…I feel sad for the place." I sighed.

"Don't make it sounded very rude! I'm hurt!" The man grabbed his clothes at his chest dramatically.

"But it's very true! You are a super pervert and sage so adding those two together here we got a pervert sage! Or should I say a super pervert sage?"

"Okay enough, just…just keep the title away, let's get to the main point."

"Fine, so Jiraiya-sama you know everything about me, and that's including the seal that Minato-san placed on my memories about this world?"

"Yes and I understand his reasoning. Seeing you around the village for a while-"

"You stalk me?"

"No, not stalking well I'm just observing you and having some talks with Inoichi as well as Sandaime."

"Now I feel like a lab rat." I sulked and rolled my eyes.

He narrowed his gaze. "That's something Orochimaru do, don't group us with him."

"Orochimaru? Who's that?" I asked innocently. Well the named sounded very weird in my ears.

Jiraiya frowned a bit and calmed down. "Now I see how Minato's seal works."

"Huh?"

"Never mind about it. Well three of us know about you and if anything do happen with your seal, come and see us immediately."

I nodded. "I do study about seal but the one Minato-san placed on me it was something different. I don't really want to unseal it but somehow, I'm just curious!"

The white haired man shook his head. "It's better you let it like that. Minato is one of my very talented students. He was a fast learner and had a very wide perspective. He loved his precious people around and this village; he could do anything in order to protect this place."

"Yeah," I said softly and stared at the ground, remembering the fateful night. "Indeed, he was a very caring person too."

"Yes, and you're one of his previous people, that's why he placed the seal on your memories so that you can grow up here normally safe from any dangers. He cared about you."

I nodded and wiped my tears. "But…" Slowly shaking my head I let the question went away. Minato might have reason why he did that even though he knew that he was going to die that day. I shrugged and looked at Jiraiya. "Okay, now I know that there're three people know about myself and will go to one of you if something went wrong with my seal."

"Yes," Jiraiya said and pulled out my senbons. Now there were two in his hand.

I stared at the small, long needles. "So, what's about it?"

"You learned about seals and sealing techniques with Kushina, right?"

"Yeah," I answered.

Jiraiya nodded and gave me back the senbons. "I see that's a very fine seal you imprinted on that senbons of yours. Very detailed and worked well too even it is very small. Thank god that it was a water based material if not I'm going to be a spirit already." He laughed while I simply shuddered.

"Uh, sorry for the seal, I should use the one with poison." I pulled out my senbon kit and kept the two I had received back.

"You aren't sounded very sorry!" Jiraiya pouted.

"Well you're peeking! Super pervert sage!" I shouted back.

Jiraiya faked a cough and sighed. "Well, I'm going to stay here for a moment and you're going to learn more about seals with me, so call me Jiraiya-sensei."

I looked up and blinked. "It's okay? Aren't you busy with your own work?"

Jiraiya frowned and placed a hand under his chin deep in thought. "I do need to do more research on some hot spring and bath houses around Konoha so my time was pretty limited…" He trailed and I groaned.

With a smile, I looked at him seriously. "Don't worry Jiraiya-sensei, I'm going to be the best student ever so you're only focusing on my skill and your knowledge about seal. So forget about your perverted research."

"What?"

"So are we going to start it now? Of course sooner is better right?" I clapped once and nodded eagerly.

"Hey, hey…we are still discussing about it, not doing it now!"

Ignoring his statement, I rolled out one of my elemental sealing scroll. "So Jiraiya-sensei, look at this! What do you think about this water barrier seal, while I was activating it the water…." I spoke out everything without giving him any chance. Smirking internally, I smiled innocently at him while still explaining about my seals. No more hot spring and bath house Jiraiya-sensei!

He face palmed and groaned.

I pulled out the paper Iruka gave me earlier and unfolded it. I stared at the receipt in my hand and hummed in wonder.

"Iruka buy something from cake house?" I looked up and searched for the place.

"What're you searching around Rin?"

Quickly turning around, I faced with slightly worn out Itachi. Staring at him, I shrugged. "Why're you here? You look tired. You should go back and rest."

Without any reply, Itachi grabbed the receipt from my hand and walked forward. Groaning softly, I quickly followed the raven haired boy.

"Hey, wait for me!"

Itachi walked out from the shop with a cake box in his hands. It wasn't a big box but small enough for a whole smallest size cake. That would be a six inch or eight inch of it. I bought some red bean buns from the shop as for tomorrow breakfast. Now for dinner, I scanned several shops and noted several shops at the market that still opened. Quickly I walked to the vegetable stand and looked at the goods. Itachi stopped beside me and stared at the tomatoes. I looked at him.

"Itachi? Why are you staring at those tomatoes?"

Without moving his gaze, he answered my question. "Sasuke, somehow he didn't eat any vegetables other than this. I wonder why?"

"Have you asked him?"

"He says it's tasty but I don't really like its taste and now Mother always cooks something with it."

That was funny, seeing Itachi frowned at innocent tomatoes even though it wasn't that showed. His frown was minimal and he looked like kid in his aged. I chuckled softly and patted his shoulder. He was getting taller, I noted.

"Well, we're gang now, I don't really like tomato too. Once a while is still fine by me but everyday? I don't think so," I said with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that, Rin," Itachi said and smiled.

Hastily, I grasped his shoulder and picked up some vegetables to avoid any awkward moments. After paying the goods, we went to several shops before went back to my apartment building.

"Haru!" I stared at the Hyuuga girl and smiled at her as she was the one who opened Iruka's door. It was surprising to see her around after few weeks. We weren't really seen each other much after the funeral and to saw she was getting back on her track now really eased my heart a bit. Haru was a strong girl after all.

The girl smiled at me and Itachi before the raven haired boy quickly went into Iruka's place hurriedly. I trailed my eyes at Itachi but focused at Haru as she pulled my sleeve.

"Aw, a date?" She smirked and covered it with her hand in mocking style. I narrowed my gaze at her.

"What? No it's not!" I shouted and walked to my door. Unlocking it and unsealed my traps, I walked inside with Haru following behind me.

The Hyuuga girl stopped at my living room and scanned my floor. Blushing, I pulled her hand so that she followed me into the kitchen.

"I was cleaning this morning and let those things to dry, sorry for the mess."

"Nah, it's okay I understand. Well, I'm a ninja too, right?"

Laughing awkwardly, I nodded. "Yeah," I said and kept my groceries inside the refrigerator.

"So, how's your date with Itachi-kun?"

An egg broke suddenly in my hand. "Uh…"

"Mm, I can see it was fun, huh?"

"Ah…"

"He is getting taller from time to time, right?"

"Y-Yeah," I said and walked to the sink so I could wash my hand.

"So did he kiss you yet?"

Accidently I opened the tap to the maximum thus water came sprayed to my face and my clothes. "Haru!" I gasped while frantically trying to close the tap.

"Sorry, Rin!" Haru quickly helped me and laughed. "You should change your clothes."

Spurted out some water from my mouth into the sink, I glared at her. "Yeah, thanks for the obvious suggestion," I said and walked to my bedroom after washing the egg mess from my hand. Smelling at it, I groaned. "Ergh, egg smell."

"It would be much better if you take a shower," Haru said.

I nodded.

I feel refreshed after taking a quick shower and changed my wet clothes. Haru was sitting in my living room while casually reading a scroll. I walked into the kitchen and checked on the floor, surprisingly it was dry.

"Haru, did you wipe the floor and clean the mess in here?"

"Huh? Yeah, it's dangerous to leave it like that."

"Wow, thank you Haru." I resumed keeping away my groceries.

Haru had entered the kitchen as I could strongly felt her chakra nearby. "You're welcome. Well, it's my partial fault too for startling you like that," She said and giggled. "It's funny."

"It's not…" I sulked and closed the refrigerator.

The Hyuuga girl stopped from giggling more and slowly relaxed. She looked straight at my face and our gaze clashed. "Rin, thank you."

Raising my eyebrows, I stared at the girl. "For what?"

Haru smiled. "For being a good friend with my brother, for being like an older sister to him."

"Wait, what?" I questioned.

"Hanan and I always shared everything, he told me that he really enjoyed team training and the mission with you guys so much. He really looked up to you and looked out for you two since you're the youngest among us while Iruka needs some attention especially during a fight," Haru said and paused. She looked at the floor. "Sometimes, I jealous with you guys but when he explained it to me, I understand and feel the same. Iruka really like a younger brother, Inoichi-san like a father we had lost while you're wiser than any other girls he knew and he felt that you're like an older sister. With me and mother together he felt like he was having a complete family. Thank you for giving him that feeling." Haru smiled gratefully and closed her eyes. "I'm going to miss him now and then but I know he was happy and at better place now, I'm glad."

"Yes, he was happy," I said softly and pulled Haru into a tight hug which she returned back eagerly.

I stared dumbly at the small cake in front of me before looking up at Iruka, Itachi and Haru.

"Anybody can tell me what the occasion today is?"

Iruka groaned. "Can you read what's written on that cake already? It's your name on it!"

I looked at the cake once again and blinked. "Oh, happy birthday Rin…today is my birthday?"

Haru rested her forehead on Iruka's shoulder and sighed deeply.

"You forgot your own birthday?" She asked with disbelieve.

"Uh…kind of?" I shrugged and stared at the cake. Honestly, I wasn't really a party type of person, well I enjoyed in other's party but not mine. Even at my real world, I didn't really celebrate my birthday after the lost of my parents. I did remember celebrating it with a cake during my childhood but no more after that. During my birthday Ao made me remembered my birthday by buying some cupcakes and we simply ate it during midnight and prayed silently. I did remember the office ninja did asked about my personal information when I had enrolled in the academy and during ninja registration too but celebrating it? I never thought about it. There wasn't any suitable moment for celebrating a birthday like this in this ninja life, I had thought before but now I was wrong.

Here was every precious person in my life, sitting in small circle celebrating my important day.

My eyes still staring at the cake and I shrugged. It was very nice of them; my friends at the real world would never do this except for Ao. When was the last time I did the celebration like this? Mom, dad…I muttered softly in my mind and shed away some tears from corner of my eyes using my fingers. I smiled sincerely and looked at them.

"Thank you everyone. I'll cherish this moment forever."

Haru smiled and waved her hand with candles. "Now let's celebrate it!"

We simply enjoyed the night by eating the cake and dinner from Iruka and Itachi. I never thought that Itachi could cook and Iruka was…well Iruka. At least he helped in preparing the materials and providing the venue. No wonder he was cleaning his place earlier. Anyway, the food was good and pleasantly eatable. We were laughing and talking saved for Itachi who just simply smiled and nodded at the things we talked. It was a very nice night of gathering and sharing moments.

Haru went back to Hyuuga compound after we done cleaning. After saying thanks to Iruka, I walked to my place with Itachi tagged not too far behind me. We entered my apartment and I went into the kitchen to keep the left over cake in the refrigerator.

As I entered the living room, I shrugged when saw Itachi stared with interest at my messy floor.

"Ah sorry for the mess, I was cleaning my weapons this morning," I said and laughed.

"I also did the same when cleaning my weapons too."

Remembering Haru's answer I nodded. It seemed that this was a usual routine for us ninjas. I checked on the time from my clock. It said nine thirty in the evening and I looked at Itachi who was now staring at my face.

"Why're you staring at my face?" I asked.

"Nothing," Itachi said and looked away.

I looked at the window and noted the darkened sky. "Let's go for a walk."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Uh, no…just isn't it kind of late now?"

"Not anymore since I'm a shinobi," Itachi said and looked at the window. "Shishui isn't around so I'm free tonight."

I laughed softly and walked to my door. "I'm not getting rid of you but there isn't any place for a seat I can offer to you. It made me feel bad as home owner." Pausing, I put on my sandals. "Let's go out and get some supper!"

Itachi nodded and followed me.

We ended at the same deck where I cried after Hanan's memorial service. I was eating a cup of orange sorbet while Itachi was having a few sticks of dango. It wasn't that dark since there were few street lamps nearby and the moon also bright tonight. I could see the reflection on the river.

"You always have those kind of cold treats like that," Itachi said suddenly making I focused at him.

"And you always with those dango," I replied casually and ate a spoonful of my treat. "Mm…so cold, so nice." I moaned enjoying the sensation.

"I like it." He ate one stick with swift motion as if he was trained to eat the food.

I stared at his face as he munched the dango. It was fascinating to saw he enjoyed the food very much. Noticing my action, Itachi looked at me.

We were staring on each other face when Itachi suddenly whispered at my ear. "Happy birthday Rin."

It was happened very fast, I felt his soft lips on my right cheek and he was gone after smiling at my surprised face.

"So did he kiss you yet?"

Touching my warm cheek where Itachi had kissed earlier, I stared at my lap. "That's so forward…" I mumbled softly.

A flare of chakra appeared behind me and I turned around. There stood Jiraiya with a small notebook in his hand and he was writing excitedly something into it.

"That's a good material for my next book. Age gap and slow steps towards love," He grinned and kept his notebook under his clothes.

Without any hesitation, I threw my empty cup of sorbet at his direction.

"Stop stalking me!"

"Hey keep the village clean please!"

Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review this story. After a while I noted that the romance part in this story. I haven't deciding the true pairing since Rin is too young physically right now but there is something going together with the storyline. I'll let it flow naturally for now. So please enjoy it and wait for the plot thickened. (^v^)