Chapter Text
There was something wrong with her. She could feel it. A monstrous energy was flowing through her body like electricity.
Her friend and teammate, Kakashi Hatake, had been reassuring her he’d get her out of this attack no matter what, and she didn’t know if he was trying to convince her or himself more. Everything felt so wrong, and Rin had a feeling one of them wouldn’t be making it back alive this time. It almost seemed too easy to fight the enemies. They were being attacked, but it was almost like they were chasing them out towards their home village. It then all clicked for her. As if the final missing piece to a puzzle was found. They wanted them to escape so this monstrous energy running through her veins could be unleashed.
Sadness went through her. She didn’t want to die at the age of thirteen. There were so many things she wanted to do, but she didn’t want to be the reason why innocent villagers and the people she loved got hurt. If she and Kakashi went back together and she was correct in her theory, then he’d be the first victim. She understood what she had to do as they were surrounded by enemies, and Kakashi began to fight them.
There was good in her decision. She tried convincing herself that dying wasn’t scary. Her death wouldn’t be useless. Everyone would be spared from an attack on the village. Instead of hundreds of people dying, it would be one. It wouldn’t be so bad. She’d be able to reunite with her long-time friend Obito, who passed a few months earlier. Kakashi, Sensei, and the others would all be okay in the end. The only thing she had regretted was having to make Kakashi become her executioner. She couldn’t ever imagine herself having to go through the event of having to take his life with her own hand. There was no way she’d ever be able to do it. Kakashi, on the other hand, could. He was always one to follow the rules in the shinobi world. If there was anyone who knew the importance of the greater good, it was him. Still, taking the life of a comrade was no small thing, especially when one wasn’t given a choice in the matter. She could only hope he’d be able to forgive her one day and would understand why she had no other choice.
As he geared up his chidori, a decision was made. She made her way to him and jumped in front of the attack.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.
Perhaps she should have closed her eyes, but she wanted to see him if it was the last time they’d get the chance to look at one another. If she was going to die in front of him, she wanted to be brave and determined. Fear was not an option to show.
Kakashi’s eyes widened at her sudden appearance. Horror and regret flashed in his eyes. For a split moment, Rin swore she saw something change in his left eye, where the Sharingan was, but it was gone quickly.
Instant pain was what she expected, but it never came. Instead, a hand caught Kakashi’s wrist, halting the attack. She could still see and hear the blue lightning crackle from his hand. Slowly, it went away. Rin looked up to see her sensei looking between them. His complexion was pale, like that of both his students at the scene that had occurred in front of him, as both males realized what Rin had tried to do. If her sensei had been late by an extra second, it would have been over. It felt like time had stopped in that moment.
“Rin, are you alright?” her sensei asked as Rin’s body shook. She was so prepared to die. She thought she was ready, yet the fear that came over her as she thought about what would have happened if not for her sensei was too big to ignore.
“I’m not, but I can’t go back, Minato sensei. They are planning on using me to attack the village by unleashing this monstrous energy flowing through me,” Rin forced out. She swallowed back the bile threatening to come out.
Breathe just breathe.
A mist shinobi attacked her sensei as he jumped out of the heavy mist, bringing them back to the twisted moments of a cold war. Her sensei quickly fought him off before turning back to them.
“I’m going to fix this. Kakashi, stay with Rin. Wait here until I give you the signal,” Minato sensei said quietly to them before he began fighting the enemies as he jumped into the heavy mist. Rin couldn’t see anything except mist. All she could hear was the sound of kunai’s clashing and unfamiliar shinobi shouting orders. Kakashi not only stayed with her but held onto her as his arms wrapped around her tightly. She couldn’t meet his gaze, and they both said nothing as she felt his hands on her body tremble slightly around her. The sound of a large explosion coming from one direction, followed by various screams, was hard to miss. Rin flinched at the sudden attack and moved closer to the male as she gripped his shirt. His grip on her tightened as he got closer to her.
“Kakashi. Rin. Go now!”
The path was clear for them. Kakashi was on the move quickly as he held onto her and pulled her into a run through the smoky pathway that had been cleared of enemies. Rin looked back to try to catch a glimpse of their sensei in the middle of all the enemies, but she couldn’t see him. She could only hope he’d be fine as the two ran as far as they could.
The pathway their sensei cleared out wasn’t towards the leaf village nor towards the mist village. They weren’t safe yet, but they weren’t in the worst situation they could have been in. They kept running and running. For a while, they were only able to hear the sound of their feet as they sprinted. It wasn’t until they got further into the wooded area that they noticed they were still being followed by a good number of enemies.
“I need you to go and hide,” Kakashi said as he let go of her.
“Don’t you dare think of trying to sacrifice yourself again. We’ll figure something out with Minato sensei,” he said sternly.
“What about you? There are many of them after us!” Rin let out with anguish.
“Don’t worry about me. You focus on running and hiding,” Kakashi said as he threw an explosive seal towards their pursuers, making enough of a distraction for the duo.
“Go now,” he said before jumping to attack first, leaving no room for argument. Rin ran in the other direction and kept going until she found a big enough hiding space in the forest.
Don’t die, Kakashi. I’ll never forgive you if you do.
She would never be able to forgive herself if he died because of her. All she could do was sit and wait as anxiety and worry ran through her veins. Hate was a strong emotion. One which Rin never thought she’d feel, but here she was. She hated all of this, especially not knowing what was going on with her sensei and friend. Silence was her only company for a good while before a voice made her jump.
“There you are,” a strange male’s voice said, making her jump from her spot as she tried keeping a good distance away from him. Her heart rate spiked up.
“No need to look panicked, your sensei and friend are already dead,” the male said casually as Rin felt her heart drop.
“That’s not true,” Rin let out in denial.
“If it wasn’t true, then why aren’t they here?” the male asked as Rin stepped back.
“Now you have two options. You come back with us or go to the leaf village and destroy it,” the male said as he moved forward. Before he could get any closer, Kakashi jumped in front of him. Not missing the opportunity to attack first. The two fought, but more shinobi who were enemies came their way. They jumped the boy, who was already exhausted. A sudden stab in the lower stomach had him doubled over on the ground, and Rin’s heart raced even faster as she could only look at the injured and exhausted boy. He was going to die. They were trying to kill him, and if she couldn’t do something, he’d die.
He had always been protecting her, and this time it was her turn to protect him.
“Rin,” he let out as he heaved from where he lay. An enemy grabbed her. She began to cry as she looked at her friend bleeding out on the ground. She saw the change in his left eye again, this time, it stayed as she held his gaze. Exhaustion was visible all over his face and body.
Too much was happening. The boy’s eyes had fallen closed as a rush of energy and anger came out of her. She couldn’t lose another friend, especially not because of her.
She didn’t know what was happening as the energy took over her. All she could hear was the screams of terror from the enemies. She had to get to her friend, and before she knew it, she was right beside him on the ground as she held his hand in hers.
“I’m sorry,” she let out as she cried and only wished she’d been able to save him, as the energy that flowed through her body felt electrifying. Her hand reached out instinctively, catching a fast-flying kunai. Her hand bled from impact as she gripped it tightly, yet she didn’t care. She turned and glared at the enemies who’d done this.
They had all taken enough people from her. She was done.
She ran towards them for an attack as black spots entered her vision.
—
“Rin,” a distant voice kept repeating her name.
She gently opened her eyes before seeing an injured and bruised Kakashi looking over her worriedly.
“Am I dead?” she asked, looking up at the boy, whom she swore she saw die in front of her.
“You’re not,” Kakashi answered. The words sank into her quickly as she wasted no time in sitting up and hugging the boy.
“Thank goodness you’re fine. I thought you died!” she cried out as the boy slowly gave her a small but awkward hug back.
“I thought he was as well. By the time I caught up to both of you,” Minato sensei said as he reached them, and they pulled away.
“Sensei, I’m glad you’re fine,” Rin told him as she wiped at her eyes. A mix of emotions ran through her, the main one being relief.
“I’m glad you’re both safe, too,” Minato sensei responded with a soft smile.
“What happened? I just remember blacking out,” Rin asked, and the oldest of the three frowned at her words.
“You don’t remember it?” he asked.
Rin shook her head softly.
“I only remember seeing Kakashi lying on the ground after being stabbed, then a rush of energy came over me,” Rin answered honestly.
“I see,” Minato sensei let out, clearly thinking about something else. He began to speak again before Rin could ask anything.
“When I caught up, all the enemies were dead, and the three tails was close to emerging,” her sensei explained.
“I had to make sure the three tails was contained, and boy oh boy was it a tough one against you. When I managed to contain the animal, you fell unconscious from exhaustion. I took you and picked up Kakashi, who was bloody, but the wound from the stab was closed,” he explained, and Rin’s eyebrows furrowed as she analyzed the last part of what he shared in more depth.
“I thought I lost both of you, but it looks like you managed to protect one another. Rin, you healed Kakashi with the power of the three tails,” her sensei finished saying. Rin turned to look at a still beat-up Kakashi, who nodded in confirmation.
“How long have I been out?” Rin asked.
“Two days now,” Minato sensei answered.
“So I’m still the new jinchuriki for the three tails,” Rin let out as she looked down sadly before looking up at her sensei as she remembered something.
“Sensei, you have to take me out. They want to unleash the three tails on the village!” Rin let out with worry.
“No!” Kakashi said sharply with a cold glare.
“That’s right, Rin. We aren’t letting you sacrifice yourself because of this,” Minato sensei said.
“But the village,” she started.
“They’ve already been contacted and are sending additional help now. They should be here within the next day,” her sensei explained.
“We saved you already, and we’re going to make sure that seal of yours will not end up opening as the mist village planned.”
“It wasn’t right of them to make you into a jinchuuriki that would destroy the village, but it also isn’t fair for you to have to sacrifice yourself. You’re still a kid,” he finished, and Rin’s eyes watered.
“Sensei. Kakashi. Thank you for saving me.”
—
Her sensei was busy looking for dinner to cook for them all. He left a while ago to search in the forest as the two youngest were left alone.
Kakashi and Rin were alone but hadn’t talked much about what happened when she jumped in front of his chidori. Instead, the boy currently answered a few of her questions.
It was obvious they found a hiding spot further into the forest. When she asked about the enemies chasing after them, and spoke about her worries with the three tails and the containment, Kakashi reassured her that they were in the clear at the moment. She had questions and concerns about being pursued again in the future due to the Mist Village knowing she had the beast. Apparently, there was truth and lies with that topic. Yes, the mist village knew she was the jinchuuriki of their tailed beast, but they wouldn’t chase after her again if everything had gone right.
Before their sensei caught up to them, he had made it look as if Rin was one of the victims and that with her death, the three-tailed beast was gone as well. They hoped that the mist village would believe that the three tails had just perished and wouldn’t be returning over time.
Their sensei had contained the three tails within her and was certain they’d be able to adjust the seal so she could live as peacefully as possible without worrying that she’d hurt the village. The support team coming in the next day would be the last step before they could head home. Their conversation was coming to an end. The male looked ready to leave and walk out of their hideout.
“Kakashi, I’m so sorry about what I was going to do. At the time, I thought it was the only option. It wasn’t fair to do that to you,” Rin said finally as she held his gaze.
“Just promise not to do it again, Rin,” he said.
“I promise,” Rin said. He nodded softly after examining her for a moment. A wince crossed his face as the bruises were still so sore that it hurt him to do something as simple as nodding.
“Let me try and heal it a bit,” Rin said, moving closer to him.
“You don’t have to. Sensei did his best to help, and you just woke up after being out for two days. There’s going to be a medic here soon, so don’t overexert yourself,” Kakashi said as the girl shook her head softly.
“If I somehow saved you from the deep wound, then let me try to heal some of those bruises. I got enough rest,” Rin said reassuringly before Kakashi let out a quick sigh.
“Fine.”
She let the green glow begin over his one bandaged shoulder. Kakashi hissed in pain as Rin quickly pulled back with worry.
“Are you okay? I’m sorry, I don’t know what went wrong,” Rin said apologetically.
“It looks like it’s what I thought,” Minato sensei said as he joined the two students again with some fish that he was planning to cook.
“Looks like what?” Rin asked as she looked at the two. Kakashi looked away as if he didn’t want to answer her question.
“Rin, as a medical shinobi, what’s the most important thing needed?” her sensei asked.
“Precise chakra control,” Rin answered. Her face fell at the realization as Minato sensei nodded, confirming the new fact.
“It’s as I feared. Since you now host the three tails, you don’t have the same precise control over your chakra,” Minato sensei said.
“But I saved Kakashi and closed his wound. Why can’t I do it now?” Rin asked, frustrated.
“I believe that was because you were in a life-threatening situation. The three tails' power had gone out of control in that moment, so it was able to save you. By any chance, were you holding onto Kakashi when you felt the chakra get out of control?” he asked, and Rin nodded in response to his question.
“When the chakra went wild, and you were holding onto Kakashi, some of that must have been enough to heal his wound. Considering you ended up taking out the rest of the enemies, that means you didn’t hold on to long. As a result, the rest of his body didn’t receive the same healing all over,” he explained.
“Does that mean I won’t be able to be a medical shinobi ever again?” Rin asked reluctantly as the older male frowned.
“Jinchuriki’s usually don’t ever get full control over both themselves and the tailed beast inside them. People originally place tailed beasts in humans to try and control the beast, but no one’s ever been known to completely gain control of the beast inside them,” he explained. Rin looked down as the weight of his words fell against her.
A medical ninja no longer? She had never expected that to be a possibility in her life, especially when it was her dream to be one for as long as she could.
“That’s usually the case, but we don’t know how that can be with you, Rin. I don’t want to lie to you and tell you that you have a great chance, but there’s still the possibility you can gain some control. It won’t be easy to get there, but nothing ever is in this life,” he said honestly as Rin looked up at him, nodding at his words.
“Thank you for telling me the truth, sensei,” Rin said softly as he gave her a small smile.
“Rest a bit longer, you two. I’ll make some dinner and let you both know when it’s ready,” the oldest said. The two students agreed without a fight as they lay down in their spots. Rin turned her back to both of them as she tried not to shiver from the cool breeze, even under the blanket she had.
A life with a high possibility of not being able to be a medical ninja, and now as the three-tails jinchūriki.
Fear ran through her blood that night at the new nightmare of her life.