Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 38

It was an infiltration mission. I was surprised and did wondered why Gai always involved with this type of mission. It was opposite with his character but when I listened to his serious voice during our briefing; I guessed there was reason why he selected to do it.

I simply focused at the map of the underground ruin we were going to go. The piece of paper would be burned to ashes if my staring released fire. It was a very confusing one as it looked like a maze. I narrowed my eyes as I stared at the small part on the map that was marked with letter x. Slowly I raised my head and looked at Gai.

"Gai-senpai…"

"Just call me Gai now Rin. We're comrade doing mission together," Gai said and looked away. He was mumbling something under his breath which I didn't even care about.

I nodded and raised the map so that everyone could see what I was going to ask. "Look, here on this map, there's a marked spot. I bet there's the thing we aim for," I said as my finger pointed at the x mark. "And then there are too many paths to reach the place."

Gai nodded and hummed. "The map itself is really confusing and I bet that is a trap. Remember what Sandaime-sama told us earlier?"

We all nodded curtly. Mei Mei sighed. "Two teams already went there and they were back at the entrance once they reached the target place. Their mind was filled with genjutsu and it was broke once they reached here, Konoha and they didn't even remember properly what had happened inside the ruin."

"As if there's someone protecting the place," I said softly and paused. "A genjutsu…" I added silently as my eyes wandered to the youngest in our team. Uchiha clan was famous with their blood limit which was their eyes and the main point of it was genjutsu.

Gai hummed in distress. "Basically we are back to zero. Not enough information to begin with."

As far as our discussion went, Itachi was rarely spoke and simply nodded and hummed at every point we argued. I simply avoided his gaze from now and then. This was our first mission together and I really didn't know how to act around him. So avoiding his eyes was one thing but for how long? The mission was going to be about two weeks the shortest since the ruin was not in fire country but at Land of Wave. I groaned internally. Yeah, we were in a kind of relationship but we simply met, had a talk and sometimes holding hands together which only happened once or twice a month. To worked together for two weeks and more? That was something new for both of us. Silently I shrugged and sighed. Looked at him straight to his face with our eyes met before focusing at the sky, I made up my mind.

Just act naturally when you are in a mission, Rin. We are comrade after all. I said softly in my mind and smiled warmly.

Gai had relieved us from the discussion and let us back to our place for preparation. I stared at the ground and started a mental list. A good supply of foods and Naruto too. A pat on my arm, made me stopped and looked at my side. I met with calm Itachi.

"Yes? Do you need something?" I asked and stared at him like we were nothing.

The Uchiha shrugged. "Already civil with me?"

Laughing softly, I looked around. Apparently only two of us were at the field. It seemed that Mei Mei and Gai already left. Turning back to him I smiled. "Well, now we're in a mission together and you really want to see my other side that bad? That's why you are in this too?"

Itachi laughed softly. "Maybe but it was Sandaime-sama's suggestion since my clan blood limit would be helpful."

I nodded. "I'm aware of that."

"Rin."

"Yes?" I looked at Itachi and found him staring at his feet.

"Do you want to grab something on our way back?"

Ah…he asked for a date. A date! What should I answer him? I hummed to cover my nervousness and looked at the sky. It was still early and I could buy some goods too. Looking back at Itachi, I grinned. "I'm thinking of something sweet."

Itachi smiled and grabbed my hand. "Good."

"Wow a mission?" Naruto asked while we were having our dinner.

I nodded and swallowed the food. "Well, tomorrow and about two weeks shortest I'm not going to be around. Are you really fine by your own self?"

"You bet Rin nee-chan! I'll be fine, don't worry!"

I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically. "Somehow I'm more worried if you skip your veggies."

Naruto frowned. "I'm eating it," He said and raised his spoon with a piece of chopped carrot. "See!"

"Yeah, in front of me. Don't think that I don't know that you're giving your veggie part of your lunch to Sasuke and your friend Choji." I grinned.

The blond boy gasped and looked to his side mumbling something. "Teme…"

"Well I saw it accidently when I'm on my way to the mission room and yes, I checked regularly after that."

"You're stalking me?" Naruto asked loudly.

I rubbed my ear. "More to watching rather than stalking. Don't make me like a bad guy here."

"Well, it's not that bad tasting but I still don't like it," Naruto said and paused. "Besides, that teme is always asking some of those tomatoes."

"That's why I'm putting extra."

"No wonder it is so heavy!" The boy groaned.

Smiling, I looked at him. "Well, it feels good sharing with others, right?"

"Um…"

"Well, those tomatoes come from your hard work too. Isn't it satisfying?"

"Y-Yeah…I like it when I see they're enjoying it. Choji always enjoy everything but teme's satisfying look is enough for me to know it," Naruto said softly and smiled warmly.

I smiled and played with Naruto's hair. "Good to know that."

We resumed our dinner and I chocked on my water on the next question came out from the blond boy.

"So, who're other members of your mission?"

Coughing violently and felt a small hand patted my back, slowly I regained my breath. After muttering thanks to Naruto and relaxed a bit I looked at him. I met with a worry gaze from the boy and instantly felt sorry from my sudden drama.

"Hey, I'm fine here…"

"Well you're coughing and wheezing as if there's no air…"

I shrugged. "I'm just surprised…with your question."

"Why?"

"Well, Sasuke's brother is in the mission too."

A sly grin instantly formed on Naruto's face. "Oh…"

"Don't oh me, Naruto-kun…We're in a mission okay."

Naruto simply collected the empty dishes and went to the sink. We had this arrangement as I was the one who preparing the food, he would do the cleaning after we done eating. After putting everything into it, he grabbed the small stool to step on while doing the dishes. For five year old kid, Naruto was smaller than his other classmates. I wondered what kind of food he ate at the orphanage and when he was alone. I sighed softly. Whatever it was I would change his eating habits and helped him grow up in better living condition. No more any lonely atmosphere around.

"I'm glad," Naruto said suddenly made me looked at him. Apparently he had finished with the work and already sat back in front of me. I guessed my mind wandered too far since I didn't realized that he was already relaxed and enjoyed his water.

"For what?"

"That teme's brother can protect you..."

I laughed. "That's very nice thought." Honestly I was flattered. Naruto was thinking about my well being, I was happy.

The boy grinned. "And you two can do your dating thing too…"

"Naruto!"

Mei Mei and I were having a small talk when Itachi had arrived at the gate followed with Gai a few minutes later. We girls simply stared at both of them and eyed their bag at their bag especially Gai. I frowned.

"Um, are you two moving somewhere?" Mei Mei asked at both of them.

Gai grinned and ouch those sparkles! I looked away and shrugged.

"Since the mission is going to take some times, I'm preparing every important need we are going to use later." The bowl cut man explained.

"Why don't you use the storage scroll?" I suggested.

"Not everyone is capable to use it, Rin." Itachi answered calmly and I shrugged again. Wow that was very blunt.

The weapon user beside me also shrugged and sighed. "Sorry…"

"It's okay Mei-chan! Beside this is good for endurance training too!" Gai answered enthusiastically.

I blinked. "Mei-chan?"

"Just…ignore him Rin," Mei Mei sighed and followed Gai who already went to the gate guard post.

"Uh, sure." I shrugged and walked to the post.

Itachi grabbed my wrist making me halted from walking further.

"Mother approved Sasuke to have few nights at your place, are you fine with that Rin?"

Hummed as in I was in thinking, I nodded. "I'm fine with that but I hope my place would be nice and neat like usual when we are back. Knowing both of them…"

"…" Itachi frowned and glared at the ground.

I laughed and patted Itachi's shoulder. "Don't worry much about that Itachi. They're going to be fine."

"Yes…"

He is a very good brother; I mused in my mind and looked at the gate. "Let's go, it's about time."

Itachi nodded and we walked to the post together.

After travelling via tree hopping and casual walk on the ground, we reached a river and Gai decided for a stop of the day. A grumble of thunder could be heard from the sky. It was going to be rain soon. We changed our look and nodded at Gai, agreeing with his decision. He later gave me a task of securing the parameter using barrier seal and traps to avoid any uninvited guest to our spot like wild animals and other nins. Itachi and Mei Mei were given task of preparing the tent and Gai himself went for fire wood search.

I was drawing a seal on a pretty medium large stone when I heard someone had called my name.

"Rin."

Narrowing my gaze and spreading my chakra, I didn't find anything. Slowly pulling out a hand full of shurikens, hastily I threw out at every direction and stayed low on the ground.

"Ouch! You always have this crazy aim, Rin but sadly I need to go somewhere else, later."

I blinked as I listened to the voice. It had been almost two years since the last time I met him. I didn't even try to find him during these times because I simply didn't know how. He just suddenly showing up himself and then went disappeared just like that. With his weird jutsu I guessed. Remembering the weird scenery of light blue and black did increase my awareness about him. Slowly I frowned and spoke the name softly. "Obito?"

"…"

"I guess he's gone." I muttered softly and looked at the stone. It seemed that he was really not around since I couldn't find any chakra around. I shrugged and checked on my work. Focusing my chakra into the design, I felt it linked to every seal that I had made around our place.

"Rin."

Quickly turning around, I met with Itachi. "Yes?"

"Everyone is at the camp, you're late," Itachi said.

I nodded and kept away everything I used for making the seal before stood up and followed him to our spot. We walked in silent and only grumbled of thunder was heard.

"You don't talk much when in mission?" Itachi asked, breaking the ice between us.

"Yeah," I said calmly and focused on my steps. In the woods, there were many things on its ground.

"…"

"…"

"…"

While we walked in silent, I knew that Itachi was observing me by the corner of his eyes. What was in his mind, I wondered. Snorting lightly, I opened my mouth. "Are you uncomfortable with me, Itachi?"

It seemed my question did startle him a bit. "Uh? No…"

I blinked and looked at him who silently walked beside me before focusing at the ground.

"I'm just happy." Itachi spoke after a moment of silent.

"Happy?" I raised my eyebrows.

"That we're in mission together."

"Oh…"

"That I can see your other side."

I shrugged. "Well, this is just an infiltration mission…nothing much to look at," I said indifferently and we reached the camp site. I knew that my answer was very vague and it might increase his curiosity but I really didn't want Itachi to see my bad side when doing the killing…ah I shouldn't wander to that part.

"Hey you two are back," Mei Mei said with a smile. "I'm preparing a dinner now; can you help me Itachi-kun? I know you're a good cook."

I looked at the Uchiha who silently nodded and followed Mei Mei to the river. It seemed that Gai had caught a few fish from it and that would be our food for tonight. I looked at slowly darkened sky. It was pretty leisure for a mission. My gaze then wandered back at Itachi who was preparing the food with the weapon user. Somehow I felt a little bit uncomfortable seeing them working together. They chatted and laughed softly. I shrugged.

"He's very skilled one."

"Gai?" I looked at the taijutsu nin.

"Rin, I want to discuss something about the mission," Gai said in very composed tone.

I nodded. "Sure."

Gai gestured to follow him and I obeyed. We reached the small fire, which I bet that was his work too. It wasn't wise to use open fire when we were travelling but it was needed as heat source and to cook the food too.

"From the briefing with Sandaime-sama, we know that the ruin is in dark with no light around."

"Yes, I remember that."

"Can you make a personal seal that emitting light when we are down there, Rin?"

I blinked and nodded. "Sure, I was thinking the same thing too."

The taijutsu user laughed and patted my shoulder. "Good to hear that Rin!"

A sudden addition of body heat at my other side, made me turned to it. Itachi was seated himself very near to me and busy placing the fish around the fire. I raised my eyebrows. There were too many spaces around the fire and he decided to do his work here? I frowned slightly and looked at Gai.

"I'll make the seal and give it to everyone when we are going to use it," I said and nodded to the taijutsu user.

"We're depending on you about this." Gai made a thumb up and grinned. I smiled at him while narrowing my gaze.

"Sure." I said and looked at Itachi when I felt an accidental nudge on my thigh. As if he did it purposely while focusing on his work. Snorting lightly, I ignored him.

I stared at the tent wall and blinked. There were sound of rain from the outside and I pulled the blanket tighter to my chest. It was kind of cold and I was alone. Mei Mei was on her watching duty. She was the first watcher followed by Itachi, Gai and last but no least, me since I need to disarmed the barrier around us. Closing my eyes and listening to the rain drops on the tent, I hoped that she was alright outside since it was wet and cold there. I also wished that Itachi would wear something suitable when his time come and Gai, I wasn't worried much about him. Shrugging under the blanket, I let out a small laugh and end up with a yawn. Rubbing my teary eyes, I sighed.

"Better sleep now," I said and closed my eyes.

When I woke up for my duty, Mei Mei was in deep sleep beside me. Hastily and quietly preparing myself, I grabbed a few tag seal for the one Gai requested before.

It was very cold outside and I shivered slightly. Looking around and stopped at the dark sky briefly, I noticed that there wasn't any rain pouring like few hours before. Stepping out completely from the tent and closing it, I walked to the hooded figure who was sitting near the small fire camp.

"My time now…Itachi? Why're you here?" I blinked repeatedly and stared at Itachi who looked at me boringly. I hide my shock with indifferent expression. We never exchanged our gaze like that. As if he was in very bad mood.

"We exchange our turn."

"Oh…so I'm here now, you can go back and rest."

"I don't want."

"Huh?" I startled a bit and blinked some more, this Itachi was kind of grumpy and the way he spoke also different. It was full with irritation and grumpiness.

"He's snoring, I can't sleep." Itachi added quickly and sigh in grunt.

"Oh…Okay..." I trailed and shrugged. This was new thing for me. I had never seeing him like this. Slowly turning my head to the boy's tent, I sighed. Itachi was true, Gai was snoring and it was a very loud one.

Turning back to the Uchiha, I saw the tiredness around him. "Well, you just rest here, there's fire can keep your body warm. I'm going to check the perimeter now."

A curt nod was enough as answer and I quickly left the camp. Irritated Itachi was something new to me and I really didn't want to stay by his side when he was in bad mood. Even his eyes were cold and it really gave me chill at my back. Enough with cool atmosphere from our surrounding, I didn't want any extra coldness.

Once finished with securing the parameter and checking on every seal I had placed, I decided to stay on a sturdy branch of a very big tree nearby our camp so that I could work on my seal. I was on my fourth seal, when I felt an extra weight had landed on the same branch I sat on.

"Rin."

"Yes Itachi?"

"Can I sleep here?"

"Huh?" I stopped writing and looked at him.

"I still can hear the snoring from the fire and it's very disturbing," Itachi said softly and it melted me. While he was acting like a real adult when interacting with anybody which really made me embarrassed from time to time but he was still a child and do act like one of them. It made me wanted to protecting him, cuddling him and hugging him...I should stop my imagination now. I felt like a pervert now, ah this was your entire fault Jiraiya-sensei!

I stared at the boy and smiled. "Sure, just rest here. We're going to have another long journey when the sun rises."

Surely enough, the invitation was being accepted gladly and Itachi rested his head on my shoulder and a few moments later, he was in deep sleep. Okay, now he hindered my right arm and I couldn't do my work. Shrugging, I simply enjoyed the view and checked on my surrounding from time to time.

Gai and Itachi had a talk about the sleeping and watching duty arrangement when we reached our next stop. Apparently they really couldn't be sleeping under the same roof together or in this case it was Itachi alone since Gai didn't have any problem with it. I felt bad to the youngest member of our team but Itachi would do fine. Mei Mei simply shrugged and dragged me away for our womanly discussion.

"So, I have found a river near this place. Wanna take some bath?" She suggested with a smile.

I nodded. "That would be awesome. I'm not feeling so good with our hot trip today."

"Great, let's go now. Let them with their business."

I was squeezing away my clothes so that any excess water would go out from it. Mei Mei was still under the water and slowly walked to the bank. It felt refreshing after a quick dip and washing. The water felt so cool. We also brought back a pot of clean water to our camp site and found that Gai and Itachi had managed up the fire and tents. As usual, I went for parameter securing before we had our dinner and went for the rest.

It seemed that the arrangement of watching duty had been changed drastically. We were going to do it in pair this time and my partner was Gai. I really didn't mind much but somehow I could feel a little bit disappointment feeling in my heart. Mei Mei and Itachi were going to do the first watch.

We reached the ruin area after almost a week of travelling. While we could shortened our trip with our fast move ability, but Hiruzen had noted us to take this mission slow and steady. The first two groups were doing it in rush thus they didn't really prepared their mental well enough when they reached the ruin. Since it involving the genjutsu, thus we should be very calm and composed during the mission. It was one way of preventing it. Well, Kurenai did babble enough to me about it when I asked her help for breaking genjutsu practices.

"It went so well so far…I hope that we're not under a genjutsu already," I said softly.

Mei Mei smiled. "Well pinch your cheek and you'll know."

I grinned at the weapon user and playfully pinched her cheek. She squeaked and rubbed her sore cheek before glaring at my direction.

"Wow, I guess we're still fine…no genjutsu."

"Damn you Rin." Mei Mei cursed and huffed.

Gai came to us and called Itachi; we sat down on the ground facing each other and waited for him to start the final discussion before we went into the place we were aiming for.

"Rin, please." Gai nodded at my direction and nodded back. Pulling out several pieces of seal tag I had worked on few days before, I gave it to everyone. Mei Mei and Itachi stared at it before they looked at Gai who also had few pieces in his hand. The taijutsu user looked at me and I got the silent indication from him.

Clearing my throat with a few faked cough, I raised my hand with a piece of seal tag enough for everyone to see it. "Well, this is not a bomb seal or something like that. This is a chakra seal that emitting artificial light. It is depending on your chakra nature, by channeling your chakra on the seal, the fire will come out." I explained and paused. Extending my hand to the middle of our small circle, I channeled a little bit of my chakra and there was a small fire went out at the middle of the seal, bright enough for everyone to saw it. "My affinity is fire thus it'll look like this."

Mei Mei stared at her seal tag and frowned. "Wow I'm scared to try it since I have lightning affinity."

"Don't be Mei-chan, look!" Gai showed his seal tag. Everyone was focusing at Gai's tag. The fire was still like a normal one in appearance with a small size than normal but there was a hint of blue and small sparkles of electricity around it.

I was pleased with the outcome since I had Gai tried it for few times so that I could deemed it safe to be used.

I looked at Itachi and he was simply enjoyed his own tag by staring at it. I didn't know what he had in his mind but he had this pleased emotion on his face. I let him alone and looked at the taijutsu user and the weapon user. Gai was busy teaching Mei Mei and I did wonder what their relationship was. Shrugging I looked at the late evening sky and prayed that everything was going to be fine in this mission.

And I was wondered about Obito too, why he did suddenly showed up?

It has been long time since last update. Many things had happened and yeah those taking my time from writing and updating everything. I also noted about grammar review and yeah I did put the warning about it. I'm not a good writer and my grammar is far from good. Sorry if my writing style and grammar hindering the readings. With my limited time and access here, I can't do much but I will keep practicing to give my best. Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review this story.