Chapter 7: A Child's Innocence

"Naruto, hold still." Rin begged as she tried her hardest to put some pants on the three year old who was trying his hardest to not be ensnared by the dreaded clothing.

"No! I don't wanna!" he yelled as he tried to slither out of Rin's grasp.

"You seem to be having fun." Rin froze for a moment as she heard the Three Tails voice echo through her mind. This was the opening Naruto was waiting for as he escaped his mother's grasp and ran out of the room. "Ah, no! Uhh. What do you want?"

"We need to talk. Though it might be better for you to not talk out loud." The turtle said with some snark in his voice.

'Oh don't give me that. I'm dealing with an overactive three year old if you haven noticed. So can we maybe talk later?" Rin suddenly heard a door open as she panicked. "No Naruto! Not outside!" She yelled.

"How did he even open the door?" The Three Tails asked.

"How should I know? I locked it last nigh…ah crap!" Rin ran out of her room and caught Naruto just before he went out into the world in nothing but some underwear. Dragging the toddler back into the apartment and now locking the door behind her. Bringing him back to her room Naruto continued to struggle as Rin started to begin to get frustrated.

"Naruto, stop squirming or we won't go to the park!" Realizing what this meant Naruto finally letting himself get dressed, though he still showed his disdain for it. Rin just ignored him as she put on the rest of his outfit.

"Hm, that's interesting." The Three Tails said.

'What is?'

"I'm just surprised he listened."

'You don't know much about kids do you?'

"No."

At that Rin now had a question for the turtle that had been on her mind for a while. 'Why are you so talkative all of the sudden? You've been like this since I got back from my mission a few days ago.'

The Three Tails didn't answer as Rin went to the kitchen and made herself and Naruto some breakfast. After they finished eating she began to help Naruto put his shoes on as she began to tell him about some important info for the day.

"OK now listen. We won't be at the park until lunch today because we're going to go eat with some of mommy's friends. So I want you to be good for me."

"Will Unca Asma and Anti Kurani be there?" He asked, a little excited.

"Yep. Along with some others. Including some new ones I've met." Naruto seemed much less happy at hearing that. Rin knew why this was. Even though he was far more sociable now then he was over a month prior he still had a problem with meeting new people.

"Hey, it's going to be ok. What have I told you?"

Naruto looked at her and thought for a moment. "You won't let anyone hurt me."

"And I'd never be around anyone who would try to." Rin finished as she gave him a hug. After a moment she got up and held out her hand. "Alright, let's go play." Naruto grabbed her hand as the two left their home.

XXX

Rin entered the park as she let Naruto go to play as she sat on a bench and watched him begin to play on the slide. Looking to her right she noticed an older woman sitting at the other end of the bench who was most likely watching her own child play. This wasn't what interested Rin though. What did was that the person was a Hyuga. Rin knew about the kidnapping attempt from a few days prior and knew the Hyuuga Compound was next to the park but she didn't expect someone to be out so soon after the incident. Realizing she was staring she focused her gaze on Naruto once again. Once she found him however she was very interested in what he was doing.

Naruto slid down the slide as he giggled loudly. Just as he was about to go again he noticed a small girl sitting on the swings all alone and in a winter coat. He found this odd as while it was a little chilly it wasn't cold enough to wear that just yet. Walking up to her he began to make conversation.

"Why are you in a coat, it isn't cold yet." The little girl gave a small eep sound as she avoided his gaze. "U-um, I-I'm just c-col-ld." She stuttered.

"Oh, ok. Hey, can I sit next to you?" Naruto asked. The girl only nodded as he sat down on the swing to her right. "Oh my name's Naruto, what's your's?"

"H-Hinata." The girl stuttered as she looked up to him.

Naruto looked at her eyes and noticed they had no pupils as he became very confused. "Hey what's wrong with your eyes? Are you blind or something?" He asked.

Hinata was a little sad to hear someone else talk about her eyes as she knew he would make fun of her like all the others. "M-my f-famil-ly ha-has them a-and I c-can still s-see."

"Cool." Hinata looked at him with surprise as she never heard anyone say that about her eyes. "W-what?"

"What. I think they look cool." He said with a smile.

Rin was amazed to see her son so sociable with someone else as she heard a small voice from her right. "Is that one your's."

Rin looked at the Hyuga woman who was now a little closer to her looking at her waiting for a reply. "Oh, uh, that one?" She asked, pointing to Naruto. The woman nodded. "Oh, y-yeah. Is that one your's?" She asked, pointing to Hinata.

"Yes. I'm surprised she's talking to anyone. She's not the most talkative one and she's gone through some troubles lately as well." The woman said with a frown.

"Mine has too." Rin admitted as she looked to the ground. "Honestly he doesn't talk to people he doesn't know. But for some reason he just walked up to her." The woman nodded as they continued to look at their children.

"What's his name?" The woman asked.

"Naruto. Your's?" Rin asked.

"Hinata. Oh sorry for being so rude. I'm Hana Hyuga." The woman introduced herself.

"Rin Nohara. Nice to meet you."

"Same to you. Could I ask you something?"

"Of course." Rin said as she looked at Hana.

"How old is he?"

"He's three. And he's also adopted." Rin added as she saw Hana's face give off a look of surprise at hearing his age.

"Ah. I thought so seeing how young you are but I didn't want to be rude."

"It's fine. I've gotten similar reactions already. So how old is yours?"

"Two. But she will be three next month." Hana stated as the two mothers fell into a silence. Soon Rin looked at her watch and noticed the time as she called to Naruto, who took the hand of the other girl as he ran with her.

"Mommy, this is Hinata, she's my new friend!" Naruto cheered as Hinata tried her best to hide from the older woman.

"That's very good. But it's time to go ok, so say goodbye." Naruto was sad to hear that he had to go but agreed as he looked to Hinata. "Bye, bye."

Hinata waved goodbye as she watched her new friend leave. "I see you made a new friend." Hana said to her daughter. Hinata only blushed as the two walked home.

XXX

Kurenai sat in her seat talking to Asuma as the other people at the table talked among themselves. She watched Kakashi sit with his book in his face as he tried his best to ignore Guy who was doing his usual youth spiel while Anko was talking to the newcomers Yūgao, Genma and Hayate. Now all that was left was the final two members who were late.

"Hey, you ok?" Asuma asked as he looked at her.

"Huh? Oh yeah. I was just thinking about where Rin and Naruto are. They're late."

"She has a kid now, Kurenai. Being late will be a part of it." Kakashi spoke up as he kept reading his book.

"Is that why you're always late?" Asuma asked sarcastically as he looked at Kakashi. Kakashi only ignored him as they all heard the voice of their friend.

"Sorry we're late, this one didn't want to leave the park." Rin called as the others waved to her.

"Don't worry about it. And how are you doing Naru?" Kurenai asked as sat next to her at the end of the booth with the boy sitting on her lap.

"Good." Naruto said softly as he tried to hide in Rins jacket, not wanting the people he didn't know to see him.

"Hey it's ok. Don't be shy. What did I tell you today?" Rin reminded him as he just kept trying to hide. The others watched his reaction to being around them with frowns as they all felt bad for how scared he was. Unfortunately one didn't seem to get that message as quickly as the others.

"OH RIN! I'm so happy to see you with such a YOUTHFUL one like him. If only he wasn't so scared. Maybe I should, OOF!" Guy's speech was cut off by Asuma who had elbowed him in the side.

"Guy, maybe now isn't the best time to do one of your youth speeches." Asuma whispered in the Green Beast of Konoha's ear as he pointed to a very terrified Naruto who was having his back rubbed by Rin. Guy nodded as he now understood that his usual ways of expressing himself wouldn't be appropriate. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle him."

"It's alright Guy. I know you didn't mean it." Rin said as she thanked Guy for understanding his usual style of talking wouldn't help the situation.

"Why is it when Guy does his usual thing he gets away scot free but when I mess up I'm yelled at." Anko whispered as she grew a little frustrated. The others heard that as they all tried to hold in their laughter. Naruto seemed to notice that Rin was trying to hold in her laughter at something as he poked his head out of her shirt. Everyone noticed this as Naruto seemed a little nervous at the attention he was getting from the "adults" around him. Looking at Guy his face scrunched up into a frown as he examined Guy for a few moments.

"Why you have caterpillars on your face?" That broke the tension as everyone burst out laughing with the exception of Guy who had waterfall tears at that comment.

"Oh that comment wounds me so. How could this get any worse?" Guy wept.

"You roll in grass cause your suit is too green?" Naruto commented as the group started to die of laughter. Guy only slumped in his seat as he looked at the menu for the most youthful food item that could take away the pain, maybe some ice cream could give him a youthful boost.

After a few minutes the group came to their senses and began to talk to each other once again.

"So are you going to introduce this one or what?" Yūgao asked as everyone around the table looked to her and Naruto who was far calmer after the laughing fit the adults had had which only confused him.

"Right, right. Everyone, this is my son Naruto. Naruto, these are mommy's friends." She introduced him to the others as he looked around at the people he didn't recognize and only gave a small wave before putting his face into Rins shirt once more.

Yūgao gave a small squeal at how cute she thought the toddler was being while Guy, Hayate and Genma gave the boy soft smiles as to show they wouldn't hurt him. Naruto looked out once more before looking at Rin to make sure they wouldn't hurt him as she nodded. Soon he turned to look at the group and gave a small smile. "Hi."

Everyone thought the boy was adorable as the waitress came to take their orders. After everyone ordered their meals the group began to talk amongst themselves with Rin talking to Kurenai. Naruto didn't really understand what any of them were talking about as he just sat on Rin's lap and colored with some crayons and paper the waitress had given him.

As Rin talked to Kurenai she heard a voice speak up from within her mind. "We need to talk."

Rin took a minute as she gave Naruto to Kurenai and said she had to go to the restroom. Leaving the table and entering the restroom, Rin began to talk to the Three Tails. 'What's up? You've been quiet since I asked you that question earlier today.'

"I know. I've been…thinking about your question. In all reality I've been, talkative as you say, because I realized something."

'What is it?'

"Being with you has been…interesting. And in most cases a Tailed beast wouldn't want to be trapped in a seal. But."

'But?'

"But I don't need you to die. You have been kind to me. Even when I told you about some things regarding the seal you weren't mad at me. Or at least not for very long. So I need to tell you that I've been checking the seal."

'And?'

"We will need to repair it soon. Or if need be, make a new one for me to inhabit so you will not die."

Rin nodded as she looked into the mirror. 'How long can we wait?'

"A month at the most. So I would suggest that you talk to the Hokage tomorrow."

'What should I say to him? He would be very suspicious if I just asked if he could repair my seal, if he even can.'

The Three Tails took a minute to think of something. Soon he came up with a plan. "I can help with that. But we can talk about it tonight. For now it might be a good idea to go back to your friends so they don't get worried." Rin nodded as she left the restroom and sat back in her seat as she saw Naruto on Asuma's lap, beating the older man in a game of tic-tac-toe. Soon the food came as the group ate, with Naruto and Anko being the messiest when it came to eating. After an hour Naruto crawled onto Rin's lap as he began to get tired. Knowing he needed to take a nap soon, Rin said goodbye to the others as she left with Naruto to her home.

XXX

Later That Night

He watched Rin and the boy begin to go to bed as the lights went out and Rin wrapped her arms around him as if to keep the boy protected from the world itself. He didn't blame her. The last time he had seen the boy he had paper bombs on the crying baby's blanket and a kunai to his throat. Really as he looked back to that day he hated himself more and more. He would have killed that baby without a second thought. All for her. And yet as he watched her keep him close to her he realized that wasn't someone she would have wanted him to do. He knew she wouldn't have forgiven him if she knew. But then again would she have really even recognized him now.

Being broken out of his thoughts he heard a sound from behind. Looking over his shoulder he saw a man with two halfs, on white and one black. The plant-like man took a moment before he spoke. "What are you doing here Tobi. Shouldn't you be looking for the Three Tails?"

"I should. But I think I've decided on something Zetsu." Tobi said as he looked back to Rin's home.

"What is that?" Zetsu asked.

"I'm done with the plan." Tobi said.

Zetsu gasped as he tried his best to keep the anger inside himself. "B-but you can't. Madara's plan has only just begun."

"I know that."

"Then what are you going to do?" Zetsu asked. Tobi only stood there watching the dark window. "Fine. I see you care about something far less important than peace." Tobi turned to face Zetsu only to see the plant man had vanished. Looking back at the apartment he knew Zetsu wasn't

pleased with his decision but at the moment he didn't care. He found that light he thought he lost, and now he would make sure it would never fade again.

END OF CHAPTER

Author's Note: Well that was fast huh? Yep guys I've decided to finish this story before I focus on any of my other ones especially since this one is nearing the end. As you can see I'm setting up for the ending with the seal and Obito but that just begs the question of what will happen. Get ready cause I want this story to end in a way all of you will like.

Alright so I now that it might not make as much sense as to why Hinata is out of the Hyuuga Compound when she'd probably stay there for a lot longer but I have a reason for it. You see I wanted Naruto and Hinata to meet soon cause I do want them to be friends in the sequel to this story if I every make it and I realized with how I'm making the story go then if I wanted to do that I'd have to put it in now or I wouldn't have another chance to do so. Honestly I'm betting if and when I make the sequel I'll find an even better point that they could have met but I also just wanted Naruto and Hinata to meet up and this chapter was the best time I could have done it.

OK Review Time:

Prewishjay13: *puts up hands in surprise* ok, ok, calm down now. Take a breath ok. Man you might be the biggest fan of this story if I'm not mistaken so thanks for that. And thank you for loving the uncle and aunt squad and the character's. As I've said my goal was Rin and Naruto's relationship along with how Naruto reacts to Rin's friends so knowing people like it tell me I'm doing my job right. And I'll try to keep the story going but if I can't I'm going to at least make this story good enough that it doesn't need one. That's honestly my biggest thing with anything I watch, that being if the story needs something else to complete it. Now I'll still love a story even if it isn't completely done but if the story has at least a point that could be an ending point and then stops at another point then I can be happy that an ending for it does exist. That might be one reason why I love Red vs Blue so much cause it has so many endings despite still going on. Although this next season will be its last which I'm really excited for. Aw crap I'm rambling. But you get the point. To me if it has an ending I'll be happy so I'll make this one's ending as good as I can so all of you at least have that to be happy for. Especially since most stories on this site never seem to get a real ending.

So yeah I hope you've enjoyed so far cause after next chapter I'm going to wrap everything up. So get ready.

Until next time.