Chapter 19

Three years. That was how long it had been since the attack. That was how long it took for Sandaime to realize someone needed to watch over Naruto. THREE F*CKING YEARS. 

Now, Naruto was almost four. Almost. I stood on the by the windowsill, waiting and watching. I assigned myself to the night shift. It was easier to watch him in the open without having to avoid being seen. I wished he could see me. I knew I wasn't the only one. Kakashi wanted to too. It was to aggravating. He was so close, yet so far away. We had been forced to watch him and never interact with him for months…

"Rin," I yawned as Kakashi appeared to switch shifts with me. Now I could go home, sleep for a few hours then train. "Rin!"

"Yes?" I was about to leave. 

"Yoji has another mission this week," Kakashi told me. 

I sighed, being ANBU Captain could be so annoying sometimes. "He didn't tell me…. Sigh…. I got his shift…" 

"Okay," said Kakashi, "Bye." 

… 

I yawned and slumped in bed. So tired. A shinobi was suppose to be active. I was sleepy. Yoji's shift was before lunch time so I had about five ish hours to sleep. I yawned and closed my eyes. 

… 

I sat on the floor in a cave. I couldn't move, couldn't do anything. Kakashi and Obito ran in. They fought against the single Rock ninja, who was suppose to be much stronger than them. Yet, the two of them, with surprisingly good teamwork, knocked him to the floor. 

"Release!" 

My eyes cleared and I turned my body as Kakashi untied me. I stood up as the Rock ninja got to his feet. "I see," he said, "You two made a good team, but you're still kids." 

Obito and Kakashi turned towards him, ready to defend. "Earth Style: Rock Breaker!" He slammed his fist into the floor and the cave began to shake. "Too bad I lost a good source of information… Oh well, it can't be helped." he disappeared. 

"Run!" shouted Obito and the three of us ran for the entrance. 

The floor shook and rocks fell from above us. We were so close to the opening. Then, Kakashi tripped. "Kakashi!" I turned around and saw Obito run to him. Kakashi was too slow, he took to long to stand. 

Obito ran to him and threw him out the cave. The cave collapsed and I covered my eyes to keep the dust out. The impact knocked me to the floor. "Are you all right? Rin… Kakashi…" Obito's voice was weak and painful.

My eyes widened and I saw him. "Obito!" Kakashi ran up to him. He tried to push away the rock, but he was too weak. 

"Don't… it's okay, Kakashi." said Obito. Blood ran out out his mouth. He coughed. 

I stood there, tears streaming down my face. "Obito…!" I covered my mouth and sobbed. 

Obito lay there, his body half-crushed by the rock. "Kakashi… gasp…. Promise… promise me you'lll protect Rin… with your life…" 

The scene changed. This time, blood came out of my mouth. A hole in my chest, Kakashi's eye widening in shock. 

Then Miwako lay beneath me, drenched in blood. I desparately tried to save her. It wasn't enough. She died. 

Genma lay beneath me this time, his midsection bleding form the kunai. It was different. Why was it different? The breath left him and his eyes turned blank. I sobbed. Why was this happening? I had saved Genma so why… 

Minato-sensei had a hole. It was too big, and there was so much blood. I gasped as he opened his eyes. "Rin…" he whispered, "Why did't you save me?" then it closed and the breath left his body. 

Kaa-chan and Tou-san stood in front of me, smiling. I ran toward them. Then, they simply disappeared. Everything, gone. 

…

I woke up with a gasp and sat up with a jolt. I covered my face with my hands and gasped. I blinked it away, it was just a dream. It was just a dream. I got out of bed shakily. I wasn't dressed in my ANBU gear. I was wearing my everyday clothes. I checked the time. I was late. 

'Whatevern…' I grabbed my mask and ran out, leaving the rest of my uniform. 

"Sorry," I said to Kakashi, "Got lost in… my dreams." 

Kakashi shrugged, "See you." he left. 

Naruto was bartering with a shop owner. "Datte… datte… I have money, can't I just buy one mask? What about the fox one?" 

"Get out of here, you monster!" he shop owner grabbed a broom and swung it at Naruto who flopped bck, trying to avoid it. It hit him across his leg. 

"Ow!" he tried to stand up and failed. 

I frowned. I knew the shop owner had lost his younger sister in the kyuubi attack but still… what gave him the right to beat a little boy. All he wanted was a mask. I knew I wasn't allowed to interact. Sandaime would… ah… frick Sandaime. 

I pulled off my mask and jumped off the building. The shop keeper lifted the broom and swung. Naruto flinched and held up his hand, but the impact never came. "Hello," I said, one hand gripping the broom. 

"Ah!" said the shopkeeper, "Shinobi-san… how can I help you?" 

I looked at Naruto on the floor and released the broom. Then, I walked over to him and looked into his eyes. He looked too much like Minato-sensei. I bent down and began to heal his leg. He winced. "Which mask do you want?" I asked. 

"The fox…" he whispered. 

I smiled and turned to the shopkeeper. "One fox mask, please." I pulled out a stack of ryo. 

The shopkeeper nodded and pulled one off. "Take it, you can have it for free, free for the student of the fourth." 

I sighed and took the mask. Apparently everyone knew who I was now. Publicity technically wasn't good for a ninja unless they wanted to be Hokage, which I did not. "Come on," I motioned Naruto to follow me and handed him his mask. "I'm Rin, what's your name?" 

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto and one day I'm going to be Hokage! Dattebayo!" he had Kushina-nee's enthusiasm. 

"Alright," I smiled, "Do you want me to teach you?" Hokage-sama was going to be so mad… to bad. 

"Really?" His eyes lit up, "Are you a strong ninja? Big sis?" 

I smile, "Yep, and I'm going to teach you how to be one too!" 

He grinned, "What are we going to learn first? How to punch? What about using ninja tools? Or ninjutsu!" 

I smiled, "Actually…" I grabbed him and we teleported. 

"Wow! Big sis, you need to teach me how to do that!" exclaimed Naruto, "Where are we?" 

I laughed, "Maybe when you're older. First, you need to learn to read!"