While Hidden in the Trees

It had rained all that day, and the ground was still damp from the dew. After Rin had seen Neji and Hinata off to bed she had taken her tea outside, enjoying the smell of the air after the rain. So it was strange for her, when later that evening while drinking tea Hiashi had approached Rin, and sat on the bench beside her.
Since the death of her father, Rin’s Uncle Hiashi had paid special attention to his newly orphaned niece and nephew. He was still stoic and distant, but for some reason made a point to single out the siblings as special even among the Branch. Unlike her own father, Hiashi was incapable of showing too much emotion and any type of contact between his brother’s children was strained. Neji had come to completely reject any type of connection with his Uncle, only acknowledging his existence when forced to by tradition and blood. And while Rin had uncomfortably come to accept her Uncle’s attention she had also maintained a safe distance.

“You have always been so good with the children, Rin chan.” Hiashi said. Rin nodded, unsure of what to say.

“I hear them calling Neji kun a genius among his classmates.” Rin tensed up. “You watch over his training. Is he as skilled as I hear?”

It was the question Rin dreaded. She held her calm composure, a trait she had picked up from her father.

That afternoon, even in the rain, Neji had insisted on going to the training grounds when Rin had returned home. They walked with Tenzo’s green umbrella. When Rin saw what it was that Neji was so proud to show, she had dropped it to the ground. She wasn’t sure why she was so surprised. Neji, after all, was a genius. But to actually see her baby brother perform the jutsu, the jutsu of the Main Branch, was a shock.

Rin had taught herself the same jutsu, around his age. When the Main House became aware of it she swore an oath to the Clan that she would not teach Neji. Now she realized that their worries were all for not. Neji had learned on his own.

And as she watched him perform the Heavenly Spin she knew that it was only a matter of time before he would learn the other Jutsus of the Main House.

“The Hyuuga blood runs thickest in his veins.” Rin simply said, sipping on her tea.

Hiashi nodded. He looked down on his lap. “Neji kun continues to blame the Main family…”

“He is too young to understand the truth of the sacrifice Father made.”

“Sacrifice..” Hiashi raised his head, and looked up at the sky. The stars were shining particularly bright after the day’s rain. “Fate cast Hizashi and I a tricky hand.”

Rin set her cup down between herself and Hiashi. Before she could speak Hiashi continued: “My brother had two children, both of them with powers the Hyuuga Clan has not witnessed in generations. I have two children. One too young to tell what her potential is and the other…. the other….” Rin saw Hiashi hands that were settled on his lap curl up into fists. He suddenly turned his gaze to Rin, who jumped. The look in his pale eyes was hard, jaded. “The other is of no use to the Clan.”

Rin turned sharply. “Uncle!”

“Yes, Rin chan, fate has cast you and your brother a strange hand as well.” Hiashi unclenched his fists, and turned his gaze away from his niece, back up to the stars. “This is the destiny of the Clan. To protect our own, and the secrets of the Byakugan. Your fate in life, Rin chan has been decided. The Main Family is yours to protect, not to lead. The secrets of your Kekkai Genkai is all that matters. Your life is destined to be laid for one who is not worthy of your skills…. And for an ability that is an honor to our family alone.” Hiashi stood, looking straight ahead. “Maybe someday… Neji kun will see that as well…”

Rin stared at her hands. Her mind drifted back to the last day she had seen her father alive. They were standing outside of the Branch Family complex, Hizashi, her and Neji. Rin was eleven, and had just passed the Chunin exams. It was suppose to be a happy time for her. But as it was she sat on her legs beside Neji, softly weeping. Neji was oblivious to the events surrounding the somber circumstances, and curious as to why exactly his older sister was crying.

Rin, you must be strong for them... her father had said. Before anyone else in the Clan, you must promise to protect Neji kun and Hinata sama.

H-hai, Rin had responded between sobs.

Hizashi turned to Neji. Neji, you must also promise to protect Hinata sama...

HAI! Neji had responded with enthusiasm. Neji once possessed a proud, happy demeanor, one that Rin use to marvel at. But that trait had disappeared out of Neji's eyes the day he learned of Hizashi's sacrifice.

“There is not a day that goes by that he is not in my mind.” Hiashi suddenly said, sadly. Even with the chirping of crickets and secadas the silence that followed those words was deafening.


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Rin had turned the corner, and was returning to the Branch Family complex when she first saw the flicker. In the blink of an eye Itachi appeared. “I heard you were reinstated to ANBU. I wanted to congratulate you.” Itachi said as he walked towards her.
Without thinking she took steps towards Itachi as well. She was unsure of what happened next, whether it was him or her, but before she knew it they had fallen into an embrace. He held her tightly against his chest, and pulled her into a kiss, that started out soft and became more fierce.

“I missed you, Itachi,” Rin found herself saying between their lips. She was beyond control. Rin's conversation she had with her Uncle had left her confused and emotional. Itachi's sudden appearance did not help matters. She knew she was breaking one of the basic rules of being a Shinobi by letting emotions overrule her. But as the last few weeks had gone by Rin became even more keenly aware of Itachi. And when he passed her in the rain with barely a glance she had felt lost. And now that he was there, it was like a door had opened, unleashing all that she had felt and all that she had denied.

Itachi responded by kissing her roughly. He turned and slammed her against the brick wall that surrounded the Hyuuga complex. They explored each other without reservation. Rin had pulled the tie out of Itachi’s hair and was running her fingers through it. Itachi had completely undone the front of Rin’s kimono, running his hands up her bare legs, up her stomach and around her bandaged breasts. He tugged at them, swiftly unwrapping and letting the bandages fall to the ground.

Rin blushed, and instinctively drew her arms away and covered her chest.

“No, no,” Itachi said quietly, gently moving her arms and wrapping them around his neck. He lowered his head, laying soft kisses around one breast while his hand kneaded the other one. Rin moaned, feeling blood rushing to her head. The sensations were exhilarating, having never experienced anything like it before. She felt blind, lustful, dizzy, and had a desire for Itachi to do something to her that she had never dreamed of.

Itachi kissed his way up Rin’s chest, to her neck until he was facing her again. He raised his hand that was on her breast and grabbed her by her jaw. His grip was firm as he forced her to look up into his eyes.

Rin’s eyes grew wide. She felt her breath get caught in her chest. For some reason he had his Sharingan activated, and they burned bright red. The lights from the stars as well as the distant street lamps allowed Rin to see Itachi quite well.

Her heart, which had been beating out of her chest suddenly froze. She felt a fear within her that she had not felt before when she was around him. It took all she had to keep herself from activating her Byakugan and plowing her hand into his heart.

His features were somewhere between a boy and a man. But his red eyes were sinister. They showed a carnal hidden desire. They were cold and aloof. Even so, Rin found herself mesmerized. She was drawn to them; she would have been unable to look away even if Itachi had not been holding her face so firmly.

“Rin, You are mine.” He whispered. “You will always be mine.” He released his hand, letting it fall to her waist.

Rin touched her hand to his cheek. How can I feel this way? How can he make me want him? “Itachi…” Rin embraced him harder, burying her face into his chest.

“Not here, Rin.” Itachi cautiously moved her back, releasing her hold on him. "We should stop before it gets out of hand." He bent down, and picked up her bandages. He kissed each breast, and then slowly rewrapped them. Carefully he ran his hand down her kimono, straightening it, before tying it around her waist.

He brushed his hair back behind his ear, and leaning down kissed her softly. “One day, soon,” he said quietly, as he stroked her cheek. “We will finish what we started. But in the meantime you must promise… if anything were to happen, Rin… you must forgive me.” Rin looked up at Itachi.

It was strange, the way the light played with shadows. Where Itachi stood she could see his face fairly well, but a single shadow, probably from a branch, ran across his headband, crossing out the leaf emblem.

Rin nodded, slowly. “I trust you, Itachi.”

Itachi's hand paused in stroking her cheek, and then let his hand fall to his side. He leaned down and kissed her, softly but deep. Stepping back he did a series of hand signs and leaves danced up around him. And then he was gone.

Rin stood in her place, dumbfounded, wondering if what happened really did just happen. She leaned against the wall, replaying the event over and over again. And through it all the one thing that continuously crept into her mind, was the way the shadow fell upon Itachi’s emblem.