Nohara Rin's Tears

"Rin, you understand what I mean, don't you?"

Shimizu lowered his hand, then placed it back on Rin's shoulders, breathing in her sweet scent.

"..."

Only now did Rin realize in shock that Shimizu was a demon wearing human skin!

He had spent two whole years gaining her trust, all for the sake of a plan.

And now, at last, he was ready to show his true colors!

The goodwill Rin had built up toward Shimizu plummeted.

"You're a demon!"

Rin could no longer keep her composure. She struggled wildly to stop Shimizu from touching her, and, unable to control herself, punched him.

Smack.

Shimizu casually blocked Rin's delicate fist.

"You... aren't you afraid I'll drag you down with me and call for help?"

"Of course not. Kakashi is important to you, isn't he? His father, the White Fang of the Leaf, killed himself because he couldn't bear his teammates' gossip. Do you think Kakashi might do the same?"

"Maybe this tragedy will happen because you, Rin, didn't learn Medical Ninjutsu properly and weren't assigned to the same team as Kakashi. That would leave him with no one to talk to, greatly increasing the chances of such a tragedy!"

"Rin, you're the real culprit!"

Shimizu spoke with righteous conviction.

He wasn't worried that Rin would act against his wishes, lose control, and make enough noise for the Uchiha to hear.

He had set up Sealing Jutsu around the room and courtyard to muffle the sound. People outside would hear voices, but they wouldn't be able to make out what was being said.

Shimizu had been so good to Rin these past two years.

It had never been to deepen Rin's trust in him.

It was to deepen the trust that Shimizu was a good person and that he and Rin were close!

Even if any noise came from the room now, others wouldn't think much of it. They'd just assume the two were play-fighting.

As for silencing Rin, that was even simpler. Did she think the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was just for show? He could give her the same Transcription Seal treatment he'd given Kurenai Yuhi.

"I... I..."

Rin shuddered at his words.

Kindhearted as she was, she really did follow Shimizu's twisted line of reasoning and imagine what might happen.

If she really couldn't help Kakashi, and he just happened to be that little bit of help short, leading him down the same path as the White Fang of the Leaf...

How guilty would she feel?

Would she be the last straw that broke Kakashi?

Under the immense pressure, Rin couldn't help breaking out in a faint sweat.

There was no helping it. The White Fang of the Leaf's suicide was a real example, and with that precedent, the idea that Kakashi might kill himself seemed all the more plausible.

"Come on, Rin. I'll help you learn the Medical Ninjutsu you're missing so you can be on the same team as Kakashi. You know how grateful Kakashi would be to have someone there for him when he's feeling down."

Shimizu's hands climbed onto Rin's soft, fragrant shoulders again, drawing her into his arms.

"No, let go..."

Rin struggled, but the difference in strength made it all futile for the moment.

Smack!

Shimizu slapped Rin across the face.

Rin stared at him in disbelief. Hurt and fear flowed through her like a spring.

"Don't push your luck."

Shimizu had finally shed his refined, gentle facade.

Trembling, Rin covered the stinging spot. She stared at Shimizu, and after all the other emotions, one rose above them all: anger!

Rin wanted to curse him out.

But when she met Shimizu's icy gaze, the words caught in her throat. She couldn't force them out.

She was afraid.

Afraid of angering Shimizu and suffering some consequence she couldn't foresee.

The Uchiha Clan was Konoha's greatest clan, while she was only the daughter of commoners. Her father was a retired shinobi with a disability, and her mother was an ordinary person.

Even if she didn't think of herself, she had to think of her family.

"That's better. Be good, and we'll all be happy—you, me, and Kakashi."

Shimizu started getting handsy.

All Rin could do was let clear tears fall. She silently shifted her stance to let Shimizu hold her.

Turning her face away, she squeezed her eyes shut and told herself she was dreaming.

The sensations on her body were just bugs crawling around beneath the blanket.

"Study."

Shimizu tossed her a book. It contained some key sections—the knowledge he had kept hidden away and never taught Rin.

This was only part of it. Good things were best doled out over time. He still intended to keep Rin in his grasp for a while, and would give her everything only when he felt it was necessary.

Rin's eyes seemed to have lost their light. The book fell beside her, but she seemed not to notice.

"What, you don't want it?"

Shimizu raised an eyebrow.

He had only touched her and taken a little advantage. He hadn't done anything more.

Was Rin really that fragile?

Only then did a little color return to Rin's lifeless eyes.

As if it were a precious treasure, she picked up the book carefully and began reading it eagerly.

Soon, she had finished reading it all.

The contents weren't complete.

Rin realized this. Even though she loathed Shimizu with all her heart, she still asked him, "What about the rest?"

"The rest will come with the time we have left."

Shimizu smiled, laughing cruelly like a demon.

Rin lowered her head. Now that she had seen Shimizu for who he was, she no longer expected anything from him.

"Why... me?"

She merely murmured to herself.

She wanted to understand why she had to suffer like this.

"Blame Obito."

Shimizu's words were loaded with meaning.

After all, Obito had also taken part in wiping out the Uchiha Clan.

He was only doing this to protect himself.

To give himself a slightly better chance of surviving in the future.

Obito wanted to destroy the Uchiha Clan, destroy Konoha, and even take all of humanity down with him—all to satisfy his own selfish desires.

That put him in direct conflict with Shimizu by nature.

Shimizu didn't dare do anything to Obito now, either. He couldn't hide his current strength after killing a clansman, unless he wanted to be finished in Konoha.

Once he grew stronger, Obito might have Kamui, too.

That was why he had to keep Rin as a card in his hand.

Rin had done nothing wrong. Her only mistake was having Obito as a devoted lapdog.

"Obito?"

Rin's voice was hoarse as she tried to guess what Shimizu meant by those strange words.

Why would Shimizu say he was treating her this way because of Obito?

Was it because Obito had offended Shimizu in the past, and because she often paid attention to Obito, Shimizu had come to resent her?

Without meaning to, Rin began to feel a little more resentment and blame toward Obito.

If it weren't for Obito, would Shimizu have treated her this way?

"Study hard. Take your time with this material. It'll help you grow stronger."

After delivering a blow, Shimizu naturally didn't forget to offer a sweetener to keep her hanging on.