Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 35

"I've been waiting for you, Suzuhara Rin," Sandaime said calmly while I stood in front of him dumbly.

I blinked and looked at him. He put down his hat on the desk and smiled warmly at me. I opened my mouth to spoke out something but nothing came out. This man was something, I could feel the leadership aura around him similar to Minato but far stronger. It might be due to his old age and the experiences he had. The wise look on his face and in his eyes made the aura stronger. Somehow I felt smaller in front of him.

"Ah…Um…"

"Calm down, please have a seat," He said and gestured to me an empty chair in front of his desk. Without any reply I silently followed his direction and sat down on it. After a moment I slowly relaxed and arranged some words in my mind.

"Um, Sandaime-sama…I learned from Jiraiya-sensei that you know my circumstance, am I right?" I asked and cursed under my breath. That wasn't the question I wanted to ask.

"Yes, I know about it but that isn't the point you're here aren't you?" Sandaime simply humored me.

I nodded and smiled awkwardly. "Uh yes, that's right. H-How did you know it? Uh forget it…" I shrugged and looked away, embarrassed with my awkwardness.

The man laughed and stopped it before I found any way to shrink myself in this room. After a few moments of silence, I looked up and met with serious Sandaime.

"Sandaime-sama, I want to ask you about Naruto-kun…"

"Yes and I also have been waiting to have this talk with you, Rin."

"Excuse me?" I sat up straighter and looked at our leader.

"Minato, um Yondaime have given me something before the fateful day five years ago," Sandaime said carefully and looked at my face with his deep gaze. I waited for his next speech silently. He faked a cough and pulled out a scroll from one of the drawers in his desk. After checked on the scroll he extended his hand with it to me. "Here, take it. It has your name written on it."

Slowly I took the scroll from his scarred old hand. Raising my head, I looked at the old Hokage. "What's this Sandaime-sama?" I asked and checked on the scroll. My eyes narrowed at my name on it and from the hand work there it was Minato's hand writing. There was also a seal patented on it and from what I could see it was made as if it was the right moment for me to apply my skills on it.

"Please, open and read it," He said calmly and went to a corner of the office and preparing a pot of tea.

Grasping my hands for a few times, I released a breath and slowly unsealed the scroll. Pouring my chakra onto the seal design by hovering my palm over the scroll, swiftly I made several hand signs to guide it. Jiraiya-sensei did teach me how to undo a seal that had been made by other people and his lesson was proved to be useful right now. Focusing at my chakra flow on it, slowly I opened my eyes and released the chakra and the seal dispersed into thin air.

Releasing a deep breath, I picked up the scroll from my lap and slowly unrolled it open.

I guess that you've manage to unseal my masterpiece Rin-chan. Just kidding, that was only a piece of it but I guessed that Jiraiya-sensei did teach you a lot, right?

My eyes widened at Minato's hand writing and looked at Sandaime after lowering the scroll and rested it on my lap, he simply ignored me as if giving a private moment for me to read the content inside the scroll. Gulping and focusing back on the rolled paper on my lap, I resumed my reading.

I'm sorry.

I frowned. Why did Minato said sorry at the first place? I focused at the scroll once again.

This is going to be hard for you. That's why I'm saying sorry to you, Rin-chan.

How old are you when you read this? I bet that you're fourteen or fifteen. Maybe you're even a jounin now. Time sure flies. I guess that you already grow up into a fine teenage girl with adult mind obviously.

I laughed softly, enough for my ears. You were wrong Minato-san, I'm still a chuunin and going to be a tokubetsu jounin for my skills and I'm fourteen! I said internally and stopped laughing as my eyes noticed the seriousness in the next paragraph.

I'm not going to explain everything here but I'll let you know that, the seal I put in your memories are only effective to both of you and Inoichi. I don't want to endanger both of your lives thus I take the risk and kept the knowledge away. I'm sorry for deceiving you about this but I have my own reasons.

The elders wasn't really happy with my enumeration as Yondaime Hokage especially Danzo-sama. They thought I didn't know about that but I know better. I do respected him as the elders who responsible with Konoha growth but somehow there's something wrong with him. I don't know what since I didn't interact with him much but do be careful if you happen to meet him or other ways around. Actually that's one of the reasons why I sealed your memories about this world.

I guess Jiraiya-sensei did tell you who are the one you can trust if something happen to you but I don't think you're going to find any of them soon. I believe with my work. Well I'm quite proud with it actually. That was my customized seal and it will only break with a condition that I believe you can't even find it. I'm sorry again but this is for your own good.

Call me selfish, using you or anything, I don't mind but there is one last favor I want to ask you. I believe that you're prepared enough right now to be given with it and you will do it with your own heart. I have arranged it with Sandaime-sama and talk to him. You know what else you're going to do.

I couldn't thanks to you properly since I'm no longer here when you read this. But please accept my thanks and master the jutsu I gave you before. You're going to need it.

Thank you, Suzuhara Rin.

Namikaze Minato.

The scroll fell on the floor and each content, words, letters inside it slowly disappeared and the scroll became empty like a new untouched scroll. I stared at the empty scroll and shrugged.

"Sandaime-sama…what's the task Yondaime-sama had arranged for me?" I asked softly while grasped tightly my hands.

"Rin…"

"I don't know…what I've done…I should keep silent about everything and don't feel any guilty than this…"

"But if you keep silent and let everything to yourself what you're going to do?"

"I don't know…there's too much holes in my memories about everything and I don't know what I was really going to do if I didn't say anything years ago."

"There is always fork in every road you choose and each of it has its own advantage or disadvantage. Yondaime had believed in you and your potential thus he lead you to this life."

A tear fell down from my eye. Sobbing lightly, I sniffed. "I don't mind he used me, I guess that was why I said that I was from the future at the beginning, I don't mind he sealed my memories away, which are for everyone and for my well being too, I don't mind being a ninja, I love Konoha and swear to protect it and its people, but I do mind how he used the knowledge. Why Sandaime-sama…why he couldn't avoid his death and Kushina? Leaving his son alone in this world? That's so cruel!"

Sandaime didn't say anything more and simply placed a cup of tea in front of me. After a while, I relaxed and wiped away any tears from my face and eyes.

"I'm sorry Sandaime-sama for acting like this in front of you," I said softly and lowered my head so that I didn't look at him.

The man simply hummed. "It's okay, it is hard for you to know something unpredictable like that," Sandaime said calmly and looked at the windows. "Minato…he was a wise man despite his age. I believe him."

"Still…look at his son!" I raised my voice and quickly lowered it. "Um…I mean those villagers, how they act towards him and he was living alone too. For five years old, that's too much."

"Calm down," Sarutobi Hiruzen the Sandaime Hokage had used his authority voice making me instantly aware and calm down according to his words. He faked a cough and pulled out another scroll from the same drawer I guessed. Swiftly he unsealed it and unrolled the scroll on his desk. "Yondaime had given me this. There will be a time when you're old enough physically to receive this task. Mentally you're more than capable to do it. I won't say it as a task personally but in the eyes of those villagers it is going to be like that. Honestly it is more to a responsibility. Personally I think this is a blessing."

"A blessing?" I raised my eyebrows in wonder.

"A blessing to Naruto, Minato had asked me to give his son under your care once he is old enough to enter the academy. The trigger for this task to be happen that you, Suzuhara Rin, herself come and see me directly to talk about his son well being."

"Oh…So, that's why…" I trailed and looked at Hiruzen.

He closed his eyes and slowly opened it, looking straight at my face. "Suzuhara Rin, I'm going to ask this once and only, are you going to take this task or not?"

"Yes, I'm going to do it, Sandaime-sama." Firmly and steadily I gave my only answer for the final favor of Minato.

"Good and the rules are still there even you're going to live together from now on. In the eyes of villagers, you're only his caretaker…"

"Wait!" I stopped Sandaime from continued his speech and sighed. "I understand about the rules of his status as a jinchuuriki and his family lineage but no more than that. I don't care about other people but Naruto now. Say what they want but Naruto is under my care now."

Hiruzen smiled and laughed sagely. "You're truly something and I'm glad to have you by our side, Rin. I'm pleased with your determination."

I smiled warmly. "After all now I can fulfill Kushina's wish."

"You're going to moving out from this place, Rin?" Iruka asked the question once he heard the news from my mouth. I shrugged.

"Yeah, didn't I tell you earlier about it, don't repeat it in question."

"Well it's about time anyway," Izumo said casually and relaxed after he done with his food. He turned to Iruka. "You too Iruka. You're going to move out from this building, right?"

"Yeah…since we are already a chuunin now and this place is for genin." Iruka explained and looked at me. "But I've never thought about you, Rin as if…"

"As if I'm own this place?" I chuckled softly and looked around my apartment. "Maybe, I've been living here for quite years already." I smiled at the memories.

Kotetsu entered the living room once he done washing his dishes at the kitchen. He was a neat person and always helped with cleaning unlike Izumo who was his best friend. I wondered how they became a good friends, I shrugged. Well opposite attracts, I mused silently in my mind.

Kotetsu took seat beside Izumo and looked at me. "And I heard that you're going to be that kid caretaker."

I nodded and looked at Iruka who was glaring at his empty cup. Naruto was still a sore topic for him, I noticed.

"Aren't you bothered with it, Rin?" The brunet finally asked the question after a moment of silent. "I mean…he…um…"

"No, he is just a kid," I said calmly. "I'm not bothered with his status and anything at all."

"Aren't you scared with him, Rin?" Izumo asked.

"Why should I?" I shrugged. "I've never seen him doing anything bad so far but the villagers are the one who treat him like a plague."

"Yeah, you're right." Kotetsu added. "Well, it was a tragedy that day and not everyone can easily forget that."

"That's true," I said and nodded. It was hard for everyone. I looked at Iruka and noticed that he relaxed slightly. "So, when you're going to move out Iruka?"

"This will be my last week here; I'm going to chuunin quarters. What about you, Rin?"

"I've found an apartment nearby," I said and unsealed out the agreement papers from my storage scroll. "It was a little bit pricey but since I have a lot of savings, I buy it with help of few people of course. Legally I can't buy a house even though I'm a ninja." I grinned.

Iruka smiled. "I bet Inoichi-san is one of them."

"Yeah and he asked his coworker, Ibiki-san too," I said with a satisfied smile. "And I got it at more reasonable price."

Kotetsu and Izumo laughed loudly. "Somehow, the process of buying is more to a torture and interrogation process. I feel bad to the house brokers." Izumo said between his laugh.

"Well, they were lying initially and in front of Inoichi-san too. Wrong person at the beginning." I shook my head slowly. Kotetsu and Izumo clutching their stomach while laughing more.

Iruka joined the laugh and I smiled. I guessed the mood was little bit lighter now.

Both Iruka and I left our genin apartment at the same day. Surprisingly our new places weren't that far thus we still could visit each other when we had a chance or free time together. Since Iruka had become a chuunin, his schedule gradually changed. The brunet was no longer wearing his genin outfit and had changed it to standard Konoha nin uniform complete with flak jacket. I also had changed my outfit from casual hoodie jacket and trouser to standard uniform but no flak jacket. Instead of it, I had my own sleeveless teal turquoise hoodie jacket. It was more comfortable and I decided when I reached sixteen then I would wear the standard flak jacket.

After finished with the procedure of moving out from genin apartment, we walked out from the building and stared at it. I shrugged lightly.

"I'm not going to forget everything here, thank you Iruka for being a good neighbor these years."

As usual the brunet blushed and an extra action was added into it. He scratched his facial scar lightly and looked away. I smiled at his action and simply patted his shoulder.

"You know what, that blush of yours. We couldn't even lessen its effect on you," I said.

Iruka laughed. "Too bad, and I'm trying very hard too."

"Nah, I guess that's your charm."

Iruka blushed more and averted his gaze from my eyes. "Uh…Thanks?" He muttered hesitantly.

"You're welcome?" I replied softly.

After a while we laughed and walked to our new place.

That was the first time I had met him. The guy Minato had warned me in his final message. Shimura Danzo.

Hiruzen did give some subtle hint about being civil during the meeting and didn't let any unnecessary emotion showed unlike our personal meeting few weeks ago. As fully trained ninja, I knew how cover it and simply became emotionless and calm when my name was being called into the room. Since Naruto's status as a jinchuuriki, there was a need for elder's approval for his living arrangement. Sandaime had arranged everything and I only needed to reply any questions given if necessary.

The room atmosphere was stiff when I entered into it. Every eye silently followed my movements until I reached a stop in front of them. They were sitting down on sofas in the small meeting from specially made for them. I felt a little bit disgusted with the stale air and their looks.

"Suzuhara Rin, fourteen year old, a chuunin with advanced sealing techniques." Utatane Koharu, the only woman in the room started.

I bowed respectfully to them and answered her statement calmly. "Yes, that's me. Koharu-sama."

She nodded curtly. Oh seriously, I didn't like her so mighty reaction but I remained indifferent outside.

"So you learn the fuuinjutsu with Uzumaki Kushina?" Mitokado Homura asked. At least he was better than shit face Koharu. He was calm and more relaxed compared with that woman. But his question was a real surprise. I thought he would ask about my young age instead of my knowledge.

"Yes."

"Did she teach you everything about it?" He continued.

"No."

"So who did teach you the rest of the knowledge?"

"Jiraiya-sensei."

"I see," Danzo said so suddenly and paused before continued. "He is the only sealing master we have after Uzumaki Kushina death."

"Yes," Koharu agreed with Danzo's statement. While Hiruzen and Homura nodded silently.

"And Jiraiya is your student, right Sandaime?" Danzo casually added.

Internally I frowned. What was this now?

"Yes," Hiruzen said calmly and nodded.

It wasn't really new news for me since Jiraiya-sensei did tell me his relationship with Sandaime and who were his team mates. I bet the whole village knew this little knowledge and didn't bother much with it but why Danzo suddenly said it as if it was a mistake or something wrong to have your student teaching someone else?

A quick thought came by and I silently observed the occupants in the room. I didn't bother with Koharu since there wasn't anything important I could get from her. She did have face like someone who was having a constipation issue. I laughed silently in my mind. Homura was having a serious granddad face. Now I felt pity for those kids whom were having this guy as their grandfather. Hiruzen…Nah he simply sat comfortably on the sofa. As for Danzo, with weird bandages around his head and face, I couldn't read much his expression but there was a dark feeling or aura around him. Unlike Sandaime with bright leadership aura, Danzo was opposite.

"You do have interesting relationship with the previous jinchuuriki I noticed," Danzo said after a moment of silent.

"We do having a student teacher relationship, nothing more than that," I replied calmly.

"How come you came across to each other?" Koharu asked after no one commenting on my statement. Damn that woman!

"We met at ramen shop when she saw I was practicing my writing on seal tag." I made that lie before entering the room. Be prepared was better than nothing.

"Oh…"

"It will be wise to have another seal master around," Danzo said. "She should work her skills with the barrier team while doing other missions related."

Okay, now I could see the new flow now. This Danzo guy would keep me around the village now with his reasonable suggestion. I thought we were going to talk about Naruto's guardianship, not my ninja's life.

"Yes, since Jiraiya is practically not around here anyway," Homura added.

Hiruzen nodded silently.

"This girl is good enough," Koharu said as if I wasn't in the room. If I could kick her! Internally I punched the imaginary wall.

"Yes." Homura nodded.

"Yes." Danzo also nodded curtly before he turned to Sandaime. "Hiruzen, I believe you with this."

"You can go now," Koharu said to me and I bowed to them before leaving the room.

Fresh air outside was better!

I noticed two figures on the rooftop nearby my apartment before focusing at Naruto who was excitedly checked on his new room.

"Do you like this place, Naruto-kun?"

The blond haired boy stopped jumping on his bed and looked at me with his blue eyes. His eyes reminded me about the vast blue ocean. I wondered how long since I had seen one.

"Why do you take me living with you?" He asked softly.

Slowly crouching in front of him, I patted his shoulder and rested my hand on it. "Aren't you happy with this arrangement?"

Hastily he shook his head. "No, I'm happy but curious. Why? No one really wanted me after I'm three years old…they thought I don't know about it but their eyes say otherwise. So why?"

"I don't know why but I felt it was my call when we had that short talk at the alley before." I explained and smiled. During our fateful encounter, Naruto had run away so suddenly thus I took a decision to met Sandaime to confront about it. Somehow it lead to this, it was a nice thing at the end after all, except for that elders meeting.

"Uh?" Naruto blinked innocently and I laughed softly.

"Just don't think much and let's unpack your things, okay Naruto-kun?"

"Yep! Sure!" The blond haired boy beamed and jumped from his bed before ran to one of the boxes.

While ushering Naruto to do his work instead of staring at the box content, I took brief glance at the window. Those two figures were still there and I noticed something significant on them. Anbu mask!

My eyes narrowed as I noticed the same mask I had seen these years before. "Kakashi…" I muttered and turned at Naruto when I felt he pulled my sleeve.

"Uh, can I call you Nee-chan?" He asked shyly and stared at the floor. "Or do you prefer something else?"

"Nee-chan is fine by me, Naruto-kun," I said and ruffled his spiky hair. Aw it was so soft.

"Cool!"

Thus that was our starting point of living together. I wouldn't break any more promise that I had made with Kushina and I would protect my precious people just liked I promised Hanan.

Suddenly Itachi came into my thought.

But I did wonder where Itachi was these few weeks. When was the last time I had met him? Slowly I looked at the window once again, now I could see clearly Kakashi's Anbu mask and another figure beside him with mask too but there was something else I noticed. The raven ponytail moved by wind behind the new figure. Unlike Kakashi, this Anbu didn't wear up the hood, thus I could see the hair. It was black in colour. Turning around from the glass panel and went into the larger living room, I thought of something.

"It's just a hunch…" I muttered softly.

Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review this story. Guess who is the Anbu?

I thought that I'm going to update the new chapter at the end of the month but somehow I managed to finish this faster than I thought.

Another announcement, I do write another story related with this one and the title is Rin-Perspective. This story is more one another view on each chapter thus any question about behind each action is answered there. So far there are only two chapters and I will update it more later. Please take a visit to it. (^v^)