Chapter 4: A Calming Breeze

Rin awoke as she held Naruto in her arms, the young boy seemed the most peaceful he ever looked while with her and she was happy he could be happy while they were together. Rin carefully got her arms away from him as she went to the bathroom to get ready for the day. Once she had finished up she came back to the bedroom and picked up her son as she carried him to the living room and sat in her lounge chair near the window as she looked out to the village. Naruto seemed contempt with this as she thought about her conversation with the Third on the day she met the boy.

Flashback

Rin sat across the hospital bed as she thought of everything the Third had told her so far, many things not making sense to her.

"Lord Third, I need to ask about some things if you don't mind."

"Of course." He said as he nodded for her to continue.

"Well for starters, how did I never find out about Naruto. The people attacked him and if he had been hurt like this before then word of him would have gotten out by now right?" She asked.

Hiruzen nodded as he knew this would probably be her first question. "You see, that's because word only just got out about this. I don't know who did it as of yet but whoever they were had decided to use the second anniversary of the Nine Tails attack to tell many of the villagers about the one who had it inside of them. This unfortunately led to many wanting to attack him out of some sort of vengeance. This is at least what I have gathered from those I have asked to investigate this matter. Before today Naruto was actually treated fairly by those who knew him. Although from what he's told me the orphanage hasn't been his favorite place to be though I feel that would be the case for any who lived there. And as for his other injuries, those were due to him getting himself into trouble like falling out of a tree when he was two. Still don't know how he even ended up there in the first place." Hiruzen laughed at the memory, a time when Naruto had nothing to fear or truly be anything more than a small, innocent, and a little dim witted at times, child.

Rin nodded to his answer, feeling a little better at the explanation. However she had some more questions. "Then why didn't you at least give him to me. If he's a Jinchuriki then the best person to take care of one would be another, right?"

Hiruzen pondered this for a moment before deciding to answer. "That is a little more complicated to truly explain, I'm afraid. You see I am not a sealing master and so they are not my forte, but one of my students is and he explained to me that it could be that when multiple Jinchuuriki are around one another their tailed beasts can communicate, for say, with one another in their seals. This could lead to many unknowns that I didn't want to risk for either of you. And even then I understand you were only 15 at the time. Quiet young to be a mother, let alone a single one at that. And as I said before, if one of Minato's enemies put the pieces together then you both would be in grave danger. I hope that will be enough of a reason for you to at least understand."

Rin nodded as she looked out the hospital window, letting everything sink in.

Present

Rin continued to think about that memory as she knew she would have to tell the Sandaime about the events of the previous night before hearing a yawn and looking to see Naruto begin to wake up. Rin smiled down at her son as he looked to her with a tired look but smiled when he saw her smiling.

"Morning mommy." He said, snuggling into her.

"Good morning sweetie. Are you ready for today?" She asked.

Naruto shook his head. "No."

Rin chuckled at his response as she gave him a kiss on the forehead and got up to get him ready for the day.

XXX

Rin and Naruto ate breakfast in silence, Rin going through her list of daily activities and realizing she needed Naruto to get used to people and felt that she should start with Kurenai seeing as she was the one who volunteered. Just as she thought about her friend she heard a knock at the door. Wondering who it was she walked up to it and opened it, only to see none other than the person she was just thinking of.

"Hey, how's your morning been?" Kurenai asked with a smile.

'Am I psychic or something.' "Um, good. What are you doing here?" Rin asked, a bit of confusion for seeing Kurenai this early.

"Well, I said I would help out my nephew so here I am. Auntie Kurenai at your service." Kurenai said with a cheeky smile and a bow that she only used when she was around Rin when she wanted to mess with her.

'My God I am psychic!' Rin thought, not even noticing her friend's attempt to playfully get on her nerves. Blinking after noticing Kurenai looking at her due to the uncomfortable silence Rin rubbed the back of her head and let Kurenai come inside.

Naruto looked to see who it was and while he stiffened a bit he didn't go to Rin for comfort. Kurenai smiled at seeing how the boy wasn't as afraid as he had been the last couple of times they met. Waving to him with a smile, she was pleasantly surprised to see him return the favor with a little smile of his own.

"Well looks like someone's doing a lot better, huh? How have you been since we last talked?" She asked him.

"Good, how have you been, Miss Kurenai?" He asked.

"Good." She answered back, happy they could have even a little bit of a conversation with one another. "How has your mom been treating you, good I hope?" She looked to Rin who gave her an annoyed look.

"Mommy's been great, she got me ramen yesterday and it's the best food ever! I want to have it again but she said I need to eat other food." He gave a pout to this as Kurenai chuckled while loving how adorable he looked.

"Wow mom you, how could you not give him more ramen with a little face like that." Kurenai said im a joking manner, noticing Naruto didn't seem to notice she said that as a joke as he looked to Rin with hope in his eyes.

Rin gave Kurenai a death stare before sighing. "No, he's a growing boy. If all he eats is ramen he'll never get big and strong. Right, auntie Kurenai?" She said the last part with a death glare towards Kurenai who immediately stiffened and nodded. "Y-YEP, definitely. Listen to your mother, she knows what's best."

"Good." Rin said with a smile as she looked to Naruto, "Now then, I was planning on us going to the park today. How do you feel about that?" Naruto's face lit up at that as he ran to the door, dragging Rin with him as he got his shoes on. Kurenai smiled at seeing the boy being so cute before looking at Rin. "Can I come too or is this only for you two?"

"No you can come. Honestly I was hoping to find you today anyway so you coming to us is even better. OK, OK I'm coming." She said as Naruto grabbed her arm and pulled her out the door. Kurenai grabbed the keys and locked the door for Rin as she followed her and the little ball of energy.

XXX

The two women and the small boy walked through the streets, Naruto holding Rins hand and staying as close to her as possible while many glared at the three of them. Kurenai saw the people around them glaring and decided to glare back, many backing down when she looked at them. Rin walked with Naruto, keeping him and trying not to glare herself.

Kurenai looked at Naruto and, noticing his distress, decided to try something. Coming up to Rin, she whispered something into her ear.

Rin looked at her friend with a little bit of confusion showing on her face. "You think that will work?" She asked.

"Worth a shot." Kurenai said, shrugging her shoulders. Rin looked at Naruto and spoke up. "Naruto, do you want to try something fun?" Naruto looked to Rin a little confused but nodded as Kurenai came to his left and grabbed his hand as Rin spoke again.

"OK, on three I want you to lift your feet up." Naruto was now curious to what they were planning as he nodded.

Rin and Kurenai smiled as they both got ready. "On three. One. Two. Three!"

Once she had finished counting Naruto lifted his feet into the air as the two women swung him into the air. Naruto giggled with joy evident on his face as he landed and asked to go again.

Both women agreed as they swung him in the air several more times, Naruto became even happier each time they did so. Once they put him down Naruto let go of their hands and began to run, both running after him.

Naruto ran through the streets as he had his mother and aunt chase him. Laughing, Naruto wasn't paying attention to his surroundings as he bumped into someone. Falling to the ground, Naruto rubbed his head as he heard someone speak to him.

"Hey sorry about that. Are you… Naruto?"

Naruto recognized that voice as he looked up to the man and smiled. "Unca Asma!" He yelled, jumping into the arms of the man.

"Asuma!" Asuma heard his name being called as he saw Rin and Kurenai running up to him.

"Hey, what's happening." Asuma called to them as they came up to him.

"I could ask you the same thing. How do you know Naruto?" Rin asked, noting that Naruto seemed to recognize Asume and was still clinging to him.

"Wait, how do you know about Naruto?" Asuma asked, looking to Rin with a confused expression.

Rin was about to speak up until Naruto did so for her. "Unca Asma, she's my new mommy!" Naruto said, beaming to the man.

All were shocked at Naruto's response, Asuma being so due to him not know that Rin had adopted Naruto and the women being due to what Naruto had called Asuma.

"Unca?" Rin asked.

"Yeah, he's called me that ever since I met him. But wait what he just said. Are you actually his?" Asuma looked to Rin as he placed Naruto on the ground, Rin bringing him to her.

"Yep, I adopted him yesterday." Rin smiled at Naruto as she said this.

"Hm, you don't say. How'd that happen?" Asuma asked, noticing Rin and Kurenai both stiffened a little when he asked this.

"Well, we're taking him to the park so if you want I can tell you there." Rin said as she looked at Asuma.

"Meh, why not. Not like I have anything going on today anyway." Asuma said with a shrug, following the other three to the park.

XXX

Once they entered the park Rin had Kurenai take Naruto to play on the playground while her and Asuma went to sit on a bench and watch the boy have fun. Waiting a moment, Rin decided to tell Asuma of all the events that had happened during the last couple of days. Asuma stayed silent as he smoked his cigarette, listening intently to the story. Once Rin had finished she looked to him, reading his expressions and noting that he seemed much less pleased with what had happened to the boy.

"So. How do you know about Naruto anyway?" She asked, looking at him. Asuma took a moment to speak as he was still thinking about what happened to the boy.

"I found out about him through my father. I know we don't have the best relationship, but that doesn't mean I won't talk to him every once and a while. Well one day he told me about this little boy he goes to see every once in a while and I decided to go meet him. Turns out that boy was Naruto. When I met him he was all happy and hyper and honestly, when I went there to see him I was a little jealous towards him since he seemed to get more attention then my dad so a little part of me wanted to hate him. But when I actually talked to him I realized I couldn't hate the kid. He's just that kind of person, you know. Well anyway I decided to see him whenever I had some free time and I guess he saw me as an uncle and well, I kind of liked that. I've known him for almost a year now actually." Asuma smiled as he went through some of his memories with the boy and how happy he had been.

Rin looked at her friend before she decided to speak up. "Why didn't you tell me about him?"

Asuma gave her a look of confusion before answering. "Well for starters, I didn't know he was related to you or Kakashi in any way. If I had I would have said something. But the other reason is how weird would it be if I told any of you guys I had been hanging out with a kid for the last couple of months. Look I know your all my friends and all but even I know you would have been very worried for that kid if I suddenly had that come out of the blue." Rin thought about this and realized he was right. While they were friends if Asuma came out with news like that then they all would have become very worried and would have started asking many questions.

Rubbing the back of her head she noticed Naruto running up to her asking her to come play with him. Getting up she looked to Asuma. "Well I'm happy he has more people out there who care for him. Thank you." Asuma smiled at her as he got up from the bench, rubbing Naruto's head as he left.

"Of course. Need anything and I'll be there." All of them waved goodbye as they went their separate ways.

XXX

Unknown location

Jumping through the forest he thought about his actions up until this point. The meeting with the man that called himself Madara and his conversation about the world and its cruelty. Watching his best friend kill the women he loved and then proceeding to kill all those who surrounded him in a blind rage. His attack on the village he used to love and being the reason his own sensei was dead. Thinking about the child he nearly killed so his plans could be done. Taking out the

monster from the very women that believed in him most. And now, he was searching for the beast that was in his beloved Rin so long ago. But where could it have gone? It should have reformed by now and at the very least should be in another Jinchuriki but he hasn't found any evidence of it even existing. How was this even possible?

Looking at his surroundings he noticed that the trees around him looked very familiar as he stopped and saw the very village he had been born in off in the distance. Taking a moment he looked at how it seemed to have been rebuilt in a rather short time. Anger came to him as he clenched his fist. No, not right now. He had a job to do and the clues lead to here. Though he was a little confused on how all his evidence came back to this place. What would he find and what would it lead to? He didn't know but right now wasn't the time to think about that. Jumping once more he began his treck to his old home. Not knowing what was about to happen next would change everything.

End of chapter

Author's Note: ah yes my most beloved story has another chapter out. Hope you guys love it cause I'm doing this for y'all.

Anyway I'd like to talk about something that was brought to me by another review. So ValentineSokol first of thank you for you review as it honestly helped me alot with telling me about certain things that I honestly didn't know and now that I do I can do better on the rest of my stories. OK for starters thank you for loving the relationship between Rin and Naruto. Obviously this stories main thing is their relationship with one another so the fact that that's the best part of it in your opinion tells me I've done my job as a writer. Also yes that's honestly one of my favorite scenes I've written for any of my stories and it is the scene that makes me shed a tear the most when I reread this story. Now with the style, thank you. Honestly I feel like I don't put enough details into stuff when I write and it seems you agree so now I know where I can improve. However I will say that when I write I becomes hard for me to put detail into things as I can never find the exact words I want for a scene until after I've finished the story and have already published it and at that point it's already too late. But that doesn't mean I should use that as an excuse and I'm gonna keep pushing to do better.

Ok now for your next point. I've only been on this sight since the start of this year so I didn't know that the "Fox Hunt" trope as you put it, which honestly I kind of love that as a name for it but anyway, I didn't know it was less popular nowadays due to not being on for very long and now that I do know that I can see why a lot of the stories that use that trope are from years ago. Now as for him being traumatized from extreme loneliness, I mean yeah I can see it but we do know what Naruto's like in the main story and so when I first came up with the idea for this story I realized that I needed a catalyst for why Naruto wouldn't just act like how he normally would at this point in his life, and while we don't know exactly what he was like during this point in his life due to us getting basically nothing from the anime or Manga, we do know that his identity as the

Jinchuriki was revealed when he was four. So I can honestly see Naruto begin much happier before then, obviously he wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows as he's an orphan and that would bring down the mood for anyone, but he also wasn't hated by the people at this point in his life so he wouldn't feel as sad and wanting as much attention as he did canon.

Now for your last two points I hope the beginning cleared those up for you. Obviously it won't fix everything but I hope this at least answers your questions on that. And this should also tell you guys something else. I don't have any of my stories finished. Honestly I wouldn't be able to make a chapter and then keep going without posting it cause I want to give you guys something entertaining and I don't have enough self control to wait but eh. Anyway if you have questions on any of my stories then please say something and if possible I'll explain it in the story itself instead of on these notes at the bottom. I read every review I'm given cause I love to hear what you think or even want to criticize. So please keep going. Anyway imma gonna go work on TSM before I start back up on Shining Leaf so just know I won't be posting this story for a bit.

And if you didn't already see I have a fourth story out now so go see that. And with that I'm of to bed.

GOODNIGHT EVERYBODY!