I thank December Silentvale for helping me.
Once everyone had settled down, everyone turned back to the proctor as they waited.
"Here we go again. Moving on to the next match, everyone." Hayate called out to everyone.
Once again the screen flashed as it did it's job, those still lingering were waiting once again for the names for the next match up to appear.
Once the characters had settled, the two names appeared before them as 'Misumi Tsurugi VS Kankuro'.
Naruto gasping as the second name. Easily recognizing it as he looked across the room to the Sand ninja who was smirking.
'Heh. Finally, my turn.' Kankuro thought.
Watching him, Ren thought he looked overconfident and smug as well. 'Why is everyone here egotistical?' She thought with a roll of her eyes.
Behind his students, Baki's eyes narrowed as he looked at the war-painted boy. 'Careful, Kankuro. You'll underestimate your opponent one time too many.' He warned in his head, but said nothing to his student.
Gaara glanced at his brother from the corner of his eye, filled with nothing but contempt and annoyance. 'Hmf. Idiot.'
After watching this, Ren looked around the room to see what the other Shinobi thought about the match.
The Sound ninja with the remaining Sound triplets and their sensei all had different expressions. The mummy ninja and the girl beside him were finally done rubbing it in about Rei's defeat and watched interested in the next match. Suzu and Flute looked miserable ever since their sister was carried away. Their sensei hugging them tightly and consoling them.
Releasing the girls, their sensei told them to stay while she went to go check on Rei. Telling them to watch the match closely and left her know what happened afterward. Then addressing the mummy and the girl beside him, told them she would go look for their sensei while she was out. Finally disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Ren then looked across the room at the others.
As for Hinata and her team, they were still slightly unsettled from the last match. They all watched with serious expressions as another foreign ninja was about to fight. Kiba frowned as he leaned against the rail with Akumaru's head poking out of his jacket. Hinata clutched the rail before her, having calmed down, but was still nervous about the fight. Shino's glasses and coat revealed nothing about his personal feelings towards the match and their sensei looked grim.
Team Guy wore the same expressions as they sized up the two ninja. Wondering who would win in this round. Guy being the most serious of the four with his arms crossed. Lee stood beside him with a similar expression. Like Hinata, Tenten held onto the railing, but not in nervousness. Neji simply watched. As if the match was beneath him.
As for Naruto and his sensei and teammate, Kakashi looked interested from what little she could see of his face. Sakura was interested and Naruto looked slightly agitated.
'This guy!' Naruto angerly, recalling he was one of the ninja he had wanted to fight personally. Watching the ninja walk up to stand before the proctor.
Stepping forward, Misumi's appearance was greatly concealed by the mask he wore around his mouth that hung to around his neck and forehead protector which he wore like a bandanna. He wore what appeared to be the standard attire of his team consisting of a high-collared, sleeveless, purple shirt with a short-sleeved, white one underneath, a simple obi around his waist, purple pants, blue sandals and purple fingerless gloves, along with a pair of round framed glasses similar to the ones Kabuto had worn.
"I'm not like Yoroi. I don't get careless, not even against kids." Misumi warned Kankuro, the Leaf ninja being older than most of the genin in the room.
"Heh." Kankuro huffed confidently.
"A piece of advice. Once I go into my jutsu, give up quick. If you do, I promise to make it short and painless." Misumi promised.
"Funny, I was about to say the same thing." Kankuro spoke as he took off his left shoulder strap holding the mummy like object with hair poking out on him back fall to the ground with a 'thunk' beside him. The wrapping slightly becoming lose. "Though I can't promise it will be painless."
Misumi said nothing as he stared down at the sand ninja, Kankuro smirking as he stared back
Sakuya sighed at the overconfidence of the two. "Chunin exams? Please, this it the exam of arrogance and ego."
"All right, then. If you're ready, let the fourth match begin." Hayate announced.
"Let me do you a favor and end this battle quickly." Kankuro sneered.
"You can't end it if I end it first." Misumi countered, just as confident as his opponent as he charged forward.
"First strike, assure victory!" Misumi yelled as he moved to punch Kankuro in the jaw to which the cat-eared ninja blocked as their arms strained to hold off the opposing strength of the other.
Watching, Shachi slightly agreed to the leaf ninja's thoughts. "The first strike certainly helps you gain the upper hand on your foes, but that alone doesn't assure victory."
"To win any battle, one needs plans to follow up the first strike." Sakuya added. "Hey, Ren? Who do you think is going to win? Leaf or cat-boy?"
"As much as I hate to admit it, my money's on make-up dude. Leaf dude seems too overconfident because he's older, has more experience, and is more familiar with the exam." Shachi said with a sigh.
"Both are overconfident. In the end, the match will be decided on which one can actually back it up. I would have to concur with Shachi though, as to who I think will win the match." Ren answered, not bothering explain her reasons as to why as her eyes trained on the wrapped bundle Kankuro had placed beside him.
She had been wondering about it since the second exam. The mysterious object having disappeared at the time and the odd interactions the elder Sand sibling had with one of the sentinels. Something just wasn't adding up and it all had to do with the object Kankuro carried with him everywhere. Whatever it was, Ren was sure it was Kankuro's secret weapon.
Watching the fight ensue, what happened next surprised Kankuro and others who watched the match. "Huh?" Kankuro asked as Misumi's hand. No, his entire arm wrapped around his own. Misumi's legs following suit as the ninja positioned himself behind Kankuro. His other arm wrapping around Kankuro's head.
"Nnngghh!" The make-up wearing cat boy of the Sand grunted as he tried to struggle, the wrapped bundle falling uselessly to the ground beside them.
"Amazing." Sakuya muttered before smirking to her teammates. "From the looks of things, your predictions might be wrong."
"The match has only begun, Sakuya. We will see. Though, his is in a bit of a tight spot." Ao-sensei said.
Across the room, Naruto was also amazed as he leaned over the rail like a excited child seeing a contortionist at a circus. "Woah!" Naruto exclaimed. "What's up with that guy's body? That's freaky! I wish I could do that!"
Ren glanced across the room at the blonde knuckle-head. 'No, you don't.' She thought as she looked back down at the fight and slightly shivered at the sight. Misumi's movements reminding her of a cobra as it coiled around it's prey. Squeezing it to death before swallowing whatever poor creature it managed to capture.
Below, Misumi was explaining how he was able to do this to the struggling Kankuro. "I dislocate every one of my joints, softening my body. Then with my chakra, I can control it perfectly."
"Just with his chakra? Whoa." Sakura said as she too leaned in beside Naruto.
Meanwhile, the combatants stared down the other as Kankuro continued to struggle though it did little to help the situation.
"The more you struggle, the tighter I'll squeeze. I don't know what you're carrying in there, but as long as I have a hold of you, it makes no difference." Misumi stated. "I could break your neck right now if I wanted to. And I will, unless you give up."
Even though the situation looked dire for him, Kankuro smiled and let out a slight laugh. "Heh. You wanna bet?"
"You wanna die?" Misumi asked angerly as he tighten his hold on Kankuro.
"You fool, you're the one who's gonna die here." Kankuro assured him, infuriating Misumi as blood veins showed through his skin.
"Huh?" Misumi asked angerly.
Hayate's eyes widen as the sound of a loud snap rebounded off the walls and into everyone's ears. Kankuro's head lolling to the side and forward. Hinata looked horrified, and the green hue she had from the previous match was beginning to return. Kiba shared Hinata's expression, though he did not look like he was about to be sick. Even with his eyes and mouth covered, Shino's eyebrows showed he too was shocked by this development. Lee, from where he stood near Naruto and his team watched shock. Neji wasn't shocked like his teammate, though he did look serious. Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino were over come in shock. Sakura and Naruto wore the same expressions of many of the other rookie nine.
Temari looked serious, but didn't openly grieve or show remorse for the supposed loss of her brother. Ren glanced over at Gaara, only to find the boy was looking down on the scene with nothing but contempt. As if his brother dying was a tedious matter and he would rather be doing anything else.
Ren was slightly surprised at Gaara's reaction, yet at the same time she wasn't. Gaara himself admitted he didn't see Kankuro as a brother and would kill him if he got in his way. At this point in the exams, Gaara didn't need Kankuro. What shocked her was Temari's reaction. Why wasn't she upset? She seemed to have cared for her brothers before. What changed?
Kankuro had seemed so confident, had he been bluffing? To Ren, she was simply confused.
Both of the Sound teams looked pleased to see someone die. The two remaining triplets giving small smiles despite what happened to their sister and being upset about it even now.
Shachi was shocked as well, he had been expecting more of a fight than that.
Sakuya emitted a low whistle. "Unless he can mend his neck, looks like Leaf boy has won. Too bad about your predictions."
Kankuro's head continued to loll as Misumi continued to hold the supposed dead weight up. Ren couldn't tell what the boy's expression was due to the mask.
"I think he broke his neck." Rock Lee muttered.
"Huh?" Naruto asked as he turned to face his fellow leaf ninja in horror. The boy looking as if he was about to wet himself. Sakura was also horrified.
"What's the big deal?" Gaara asked, honestly confused why everyone was freaking out and making such a big deal out of it. As if a person dying before them was the most natural thing in the world. Which sadly, it was.
However, the way he stated his question piqued Ren's interest as she turned to him. There was more to the situation than the rest knew. "Do you know something?"
Below, Hayate sighed in relief. Making Ren even more suspicious.
Misumi looked at Kankuro and tsked. 'What a fool. Too bad he didn't surrender. Oh, well.' He thought, not really caring he just killed someone as he began to loosen his hold on Kankuro.
When he did so, there was a distinct crackling noise as what looked like pieces of Kankuro's skin had flaked off.
"Huh?" Misumi asked as he jumped at the sudden movement. More pieces falling to the ground as Kankuro's head move up and turned like an owls with a slight cranking noise to stare at Misumi. Making the ninja gasp. The face cracked, his teeth like cogs of a gear, and a odd eye with lines about it. The texture underneath the fake skin appearing to be wood by the color.
"Now it's my turn, so say goodbye." This fake 'Kankuro' said cheerfully.
Tearing through the black baggy clothing Kankuro always wore, four wooden hands and arms sprung forth to wrap around Misumi's torso. The sections divided and connected by ball-joints. These joints making crinkling noises as the tightened around the boy that once held this fake Kankuro. Ren watched amazed as the diguise of Kankuro fell away to be replaced with something else. The hat, and the false face falling away.
Grunting with effort, Misumi tied to free himself as his foe raised it's head, allowing Ren to get a good look at it. It was humanoid with four arms and jagged teeth as she had observed prior to this, but now she saw it had three eyes, along with spiky brown hairstyle protruding from the top of its head and framing the sides. It seemed to be made of wood or something similar in coloration. It was then she realized it was a giant puppet.
'Is this...the Crow...?' Ren wondered, recalling when Kankuro had attempted to use it back when her team first arrived in Konoha and Temari had called it that. 'He must have switch places with it at will using the Body Replacement Technique. Either that or he prepared all of that ahead of time and was hiding in there for who knows how long. No wonder he's good with make-up, he needs to so he can trick his enemies with it.'
"So...that's why...you weren't worried... when his head... snapped." Ren said as she addressed Temari, shocking the blonde haired girl. Not having expected the normally quiet girl to talk to her. Temari nodded and both turned back to the fight.
It's mouth was wide open with something deep inside, only for the mouth to close as its head moved back and it's eyes slightly rolling around in its head. Ren noticed there was a kanji for something on its chin, but couldn't make out what it was. Over on the ground, the mummy-like object 'Kankuro' had dropped moved. She watched as a hand appeared holding on to the bandage wrapped around its body. With a sharp tug, the bandage unwound itself, revealing Kankuro, unharmed as he kneeled on the ground and the bandage fell around him in a circle. His back to Misumi and the Crow.
"You were saying, Sakuya?" Shachi asked as he shot his teammate a cocky smirk. Happy being right. Sakuya saying nothing as she watched amazed.
Misumi's eyes widened at the sight as he realized what happened with a sharp intake of breath. 'This is just a puppet, and the real ninja was in there controlling it! He's a puppet master!' He realized.
'So that's what happened during the exam. That sentinel was the puppet in disguise. When he went to the bathroom, he must have been getting the answers.' Ren thought.
Down below, Kankuro's hand glowed as thin lines of charka connected to the puppet as it moved. Noticing this, Sakura shared with with the others. "He controls it with chakra from his hand."
The Crow, meanwhile, was continuing to tighten its arms around Misumi as all he could do was emit strangled cries. Going tighter and tighter until nearly breaking bones.
"Enough. I give! Aaaahh!" Misumi cried as the puppet really did begin to break bones.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who's a little sadistic." Shachi mumble as he watched.
Sakuya nodded until a thought stuck her and she shared it with the others. "He plays with oversized dolls." Sakuya joked as both she and Shachi laughed.
"Not only does he wear make-up, he plays with dolls!" Shachi guffawed. Finding it hilarious and unable to take the Sand Shinobi seriously anymore as he lost it, despite how big of a threat Kankuro could be in the near future.
"But if your bones are all crushed, just think how much more flexible you'll be." Kankuro said, sounding as if he was trying to be helpful.
Ren glanced at the proctor at this, wondering why he didn't stop the match. Misumi had surrendered already. Kankuro had won. Why prolong it? They still had other matches to go through.
Hayate said nothing as he continued to watch, coughing into his hand but not to bring attention to himself and interrupt the match yet. 'That was close. I almost stopped the match in the middle. But it's a good thing I didn't.' The proctor thought.
Soon, it was too much for Misumi. Kankuro disconnected the strings holding both the puppet and Misumi up as he fell over with a grunt and passed out. "Unnh!"
Hayate didn't miss a beat as he addressed the crowd "Because his opponent is unable to continue, the winner is Kankuro." He said as his pointed his arm towards said ninja.
Naruto then turned to his sensei in confusion. "Two against one is hitting below the belt, isn't it? I mean, is that thing even fair, Kakashi-sensei?" He asked as he pointed down at Kankuro and his puppet.
"It's not really two against one." Kakashi informed his student. "It's a puppet, not another ninja."
"Yeah, it's just a Puppet Master jutsu." Sakura informed the blond knucklehead, the pink-haired girl being the smart-alecky, bookworm student of the group, showing off her knowledge. "He's controlling the puppet with chakra. It's a ninja tool, like a shuriken." She explained as she turned back to watch the medic ninja carry yet another ninja to the infirmary. As they left, Erhu returned as she walked into the room, eying the unfortunate ninja as she made her way to her daughters.
'Everyone here wields their chakra perfectly. And I though my chakra abilities would give me an edge over the others. So much for that idea.' Sakura thought slightly disappointed in herself.
"Alright everyone. We will be having a short intermission. Use this opportunity to get some fresh air or bathroom break." Hayate addressed everyone as he dismissed them and headed to speak with the other proctors and the Hokage.
Choji grumbled about being hungry again and Shachi sighed as he headed over. Jumping from across the room as he landed on the rail, making the Leaf ninja in front of him jump as Shachi gave them his shark tooth grin and pulled out something from his pack, making the ninja weary until he pulled out a wrapped dried fish.
"It's not much, but I can't take much more of your whining for food. Take it and stop for at least a little while." Shachi said slightly annoyed.
Choji looked hesitant to take it from the boy who was terrifying in his match, his stomach growling in protest. Seeing this, or rather hearing this, Shachi sighed.
"I'm not trying to poison you, if that's what your thinking. I prefer to rip my foes to shreds than poison them. We're here to represent our villages and promote friendship between our villages. Just take the stupid fish before I eat it right in front of you!" Shachi threatened. No sooner had he said the words did Choji snatch it out of his hand and eat it.
"Thanks!" Choji said through his open mouth, making Ino grimace.
"Don't talk with your mouth full! Eat first!" She scolded him.
Shachi smirked and without another word jumped back to his team.
Ren sighed and decided to take advantage of the situation Hayate presented them and headed to the bathroom.
She wasn't the only one with the same idea as she saw Sakura leaving the bathroom. She was still scuffed up, but she seemed to have gotten a little bit of the dirt that was one her previously. The pink haired girl wore a serious and determined look on her face, Ren assumed she was ready to fight. Though, based on what Ren had seen before when she defeated Sakura by merely tripping her, Ren wasn't expecting much from Sakura in terms of combat. Ren was honestly surprised the girl had lasted through the Forest of Death. Seeing the other contestants, Ren figured Sakura won't last long if her enemy did decide to out right kill her, instead of making her unable to battle.
Recalling Kankuro breaking Misumi's bones even after he had forfeited the match.
Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, Ren decided she wanted to talk to Sakura. As the two walked past each other, Ren whispered to the other girl. "Why did you lie to Naruto?"
The question startling Sakura as she whirled around to look at Ren as she kept walking a little and once a few feet away turned to the Leaf kunoichi. Raising her brow, waiting for Sakura to answer her.
"W-What ever do you mean? Lying to Naruto? About what? I wouldn't lie to him." Sakura asked trying to play it off as nothing.
Ren frowned and narrowed her eyes at Sakura. "The fact you've gotten so defensive about not lying says otherwise."
Sakura said nothing, stubborn and not wishing to share anything with this strange girl that already showed an interest in her blond haired teammate. Both stood in silence, Ren waiting for Sakura to crack and say something. Most people didn't like long silences and would eventually say something to fill it. Being normally the quiet type, Ren could go for ages. Ren figured Sakura would break eventually.
"E-Even if I did... What does it matter to you!? You're not a part of our village! You barely know Naruto! Mind you own business!" Sakura yelled.
"I know more about him than you probably do. You loath spending time with him and are too absorbed with your 'precious' Sasuke to care to learn about your teammate or bother yourself with training. It's amazing you got this far, Deadweight." Ren scolded her, making Sakura gasp at Ren's audacity. "You've seen the other ninja here. They are above you combat skill level. If you end up going against any of the Sound, I highly doubt they would let you walk out of there. If they don't rip them off, of course."
The suggestion shaking Sakura's new found determination as she pictured it.
"Even if you give up the match, there's no guarantee you opponent will stop. Just ask Misumi when he wakes up after what Kankuro did to him. Gaara may be the most dangerous in here. You should pray you don't fight him. I saw him fight in the forest myself and have seen his skill. He has no qualms about killing those he deems annoying. Temari, the girl with them, might take it a little easier on you. But who knows." Ren added. Informing Sakura what Temari's name was since the girl didn't know it.
"Sakuya won't hold back. As for myself, you may be Naruto's teammate, and you may have done something in the past I am grateful for. However, I won't hesitate you show you the difference in our skills. Up until this point, you've been nothing but a sheltered little girl, you can't even cherish the blessing you have and are insensitive to the feelings of others. I believe I would enjoy tearing you part."
The total nonchalance of her voice and the matter-of-fact tone made Sakura shiver at the girl before her.
Continuing on, Ren explained what she was talking about. "However, I'm getting off topic. As to what you lied to Naruto about, allow me to help you recall. It was about what happened to Sasuke during his battle Yoroi. Even a blind person can tell something wasn't right with him during the fight. We all saw it. You're lucky Naruto can be a knucklehead, otherwise he wouldn't have bought it. Now, answer me." Ren said with a glare.
"Why did you lie to Naruto? Why didn't you tell him about it? The Curse mark."
Sakura once again gasped at the Mist kunoichi's knowledge before answering and looking around to make sure no one else was around listening to their conversation. "I-I- I promised Sasuke I wouldn't tell anyone about it. Naruto would only get worked up about it. It's not like he could do anything about it. It would be a waste of time, effort, and make Naruto worry needlessly when it isn't necessary. How do you know about it?"
Ren didn't ease up on her glare, it only hardened. "Secrets between team members can cause unnecessary friction. He will find out eventually. Naruto seems like the type to be upset finding out about something like that. He might take it as you not trusting him. While it is wise to not spread the knowledge of the curse mark, Naruto has just as much the right to know as you do. As for how I know about what's ailing Sasuke, I've seen a lot of bad things. I recognize the work of that man. The man who created the curse mark your teammate now bears. You should all be careful from now on. That man has eyes everywhere and now that the Uchiha has been branded, that man will come after him or the Uchiha will go after him."
With that, Ren turned around and headed to the bathroom.
"W-Wait a second!" Sakura yelled as she tried to reach for Ren. Wanting to know more and possibly find out if there was a way to help Sasuke. Grabbing her hand, Ren flipped Sakura over her shoulder and made the girl land on her back. Crouching down, Ren spoke again. "You're useless. There's nothing you or I can do to help him. Now, if you will exuse me, I'm going to the bathroom. Good day."
Leaving Sakura on the ground, walked away.
As she walked away, Ren stopped and added something. "You're named after a beautiful flower. Sakura petals are always admired, but they fade quickly. Their beauty is fleeting and they are easily trampled upon. You're still a bud, but buds are fragile. Will you even get the chance to bloom? Maybe you've already bloomed, but like a Camilla flower, you have no scent. You will only fall to the ground with the others, a messy heap of rot and decay. You have chosen a poor fertilizer to help you grow. The Uchiha is poisonous. The flames he produces will burn your tender leaves. Reducing any potential the bud had to ashes and will never grow. Who does the flower truly bloom for? Why does it bloom? Figure it out."
Thus, Ren left Sakura alone in the hallway. While Sakura lied on the ground, Ren's words echoed in her mind. Reminding her of the bullies of her childhood. Reminding her of the conversations she had when she was just a little girl still in the academy. When she had still gotten along with Ino.
The feelings of helplessness, anger, and despair boiling within Sakura as rolled over and slammed her fist into the floor. Muttering to herself. "Why am I always useless..."
Entering the bathroom, Ren was minding her own business until she noticed a silently fuming Ino standing in front of the mirrors at the sinks. Making disturbing face as she muttered to herself. Ren managing to catch the words 'billboard brow' or 'stupid' and a few 'Sasuke's' in the mix.
Ren sighed as she ignored the girl at first and did what she actually came there to do. Once she was done, she moved towards the sinks to wash her hands. Moving closer and attracting the attention Ino as the platinum blonde just stared at Ren. Ino recalling what Ren's teammate did to the unfortunate Sound girl. Slightly wary of the girl after seeing what her teammate could do. Both were silent as Ren said nothing and Ino watched the Mist Kunoichi.
Not only had the previous battles she watched rile Ren up, but dealing with useless and plain annoying girls was gridding on her nerves. Ren needed to cool off a bit. Before she had seen Sakura and decided to question the girls actions towards Naruto, she honestly just wanted to go to the bathroom to help calm herself down a little. Cupping her hands together, Ren looked down into her reflection before splashing the water on her face. The shock of the cool water was refreshing. Taking a few deep breaths as the tension seeped out of her body. Repeating the action a few more times, Ren dried her face. Having yet to acknowledge the Leaf kunoichi that continued to stare at her.
Ren let her thoughts wander back to the redhead. Back during Sasuke's fight, he seemed to have gotten worked up as well, though he seemed to have calmed down a little after that. Then again, he did seem to get antsy again when Shachi fought Rei.
Ren wondered why Gaara was so hostile towards his family. When Kankuro had been chosen to fight, Gaara had looked at his brother from the corner of his eye. His eyes filled with nothing but contempt and annoyance. But why? Sure Kankuro could be annoying at times, but what made Gaara the way he was that he would kill his own family if they got in his way? Why didn't he care if his brother lived or died?
If it had been Haku had supposedly died in front of her, Ren would have been devastated. It had been bad enough knowing Haku had died far away from her and she didn't know until she searched for him. She wished she could have saved Haku and his master. Haku was the sweetest and gentlest person she had ever known. Zabuza had been a good man deep down. He had wanted to change the Hidden Mist Village.
Gaara wasn't shaking from fear, Ren knew that. He didn't even flinch under Shachi's bloodlust. That was yet another thing interesting about Gaara. He inspired fear into his own siblings. Ren had never once seen him shaking in fear.
But...Gaara...He did shake...once...But...When?...And why...?
Ren's hands stilled as she felt the beginning of a headache as her eyes glazed over and slowly but surely, something she recognized, yet didn't at the same time, flashed before her eyes. She was standing along a road. It was dusty and sand everywhere unlike the paths of The Hidden Leaf Village or the streets of The Hidden Mist Village. The Leaf being dirt but more compact. The Mist were mostly stone.
There were buildings around her. The buildings seemed to have been made of clay or stucco, which would help to keep the buildings cool. Some seemed round and uneven columns supported small porches. It appeared to be close to sunset.
Ren was confused as to why she was seeing this. She thought this was a memory, but she didn't recall ever visiting a place like this. Yet this was proven wrong due to the nostalgic feeling she had as she looked around. IT all seemed familiar to her. Having no control of the memory, through the eyes of presumably a younger version of herself, Ren continued on walking along as she looked around at her surroundings.
From the way she was looking around so much, Ren assumed this was her first time wandering alone in this village or town or whatever it was. Passing by a glass window of a home, Ren looked to see her reflection looking back at her. She was surprised to see her six-year-old self.
Looking at her, there wasn't much difference between Ren of the past and the Ren of the present. Ren had matured a little of course. But her hair and style hadn't changed much. Little six-year-old Ren wore black ninja sandals, blue-jay leg warmers, blue pants, and a turquoise short sleeved shirt with a clod shoulder style. One thing that stood out as different her older self was the lack of her round light blue earrings. Was this before she got them? But Ren didn't have time to contemplate this as her younger self looked away and continued on her way.
Little Ren walked around and Ren noticed other people walking around. Some wore blue, black, or various shades of beige to better blend with their natural environment. Some wore headpieces consisting of a head-wrap and cloth neck-covers to protect against the harsh weather. Ren had yet to see any ninja wearing bands that could tell her the exact location and name of the place she was. Most people ignored little Ren as she walked.
There was a split in the road as little Ren looked both ways trying to decide which way to go. She even glanced back as if wondering if she should head back. Looking up at the sky, Ren saw it was getting late. She moved to head back the way she came when she heard a noise. It was the sound of someone crying. Stopping, little Ren followed the sound down one of the paths, the wails getting louder.
Ren gasped when she recognized the place the sound was coming from. It was the same playground from her drawing. Looking around for the source of the noise, Ren saw a hunched over figure sitting at one of the swings. The one there was shaking as sobs racked their body. Little Ren walked towards them, the shadows of the canyon like walls around the playground making it hard to see them.
When little Ren finally came close enough, she saw a little bit... of red hair...
Soon the memory faded and Ren was back in the bathroom, Ino still beside her as she looked concerned for the girl who had been silent and still for so long. Ren splashed her face with water once last time as she cleared her head.
Once Ren finished, she pulled out her water gourd and poured out the water within it. Shachi had been in it and both had their feet in it as well. Thus it was hardly suitable for drinking purposes as it was at the moment.
"You're even more useless than Sakura." Ren stated, shocking Ino as the light blue haired girl continued to rinse out her gourd.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?" Ino shouted. Forgetting her preiviuos reluctance to talk to the girl.
"You. Are. Useless." Ren repeated, but not in an angry tone. There was not malice, merely Ren stating what she believe to be fact. It was as if she was a mother explaining pathently to her child something and saying it over and over until her child understood. "You're even more useless than Sakura."
Looking up, Ren stared at the girl before looking back at her gourd and deemed it clean. Filling it once again with clean water and placing the cork in it.
"Why do you walk the path of a ninja?" Ren asked without looking at Ino.
Ren's question catching Ino off guard.
"You seem to make it pretty obvious that you don't really want to be a Kunoichi in the first place. You could be doing literally anything else. The life of a ninja is often unpleasant. Death surrounds you and is not for the faint of hearts." Ren said as she finally looked at her.
"Do you do it because you're the daughter of the head of your clan and he has no other children, much less a son to pass things on to? Or is it romantic interest that motivate you? If it's because of the Uchiha, then you're wasting your time." Ren said as she walked away stopping just at the door.
"You and Sakura only like the Uchiha because of his looks and skills, not for who he is. I'll warn you now since this might be the only one you'll get. I sense a horrible darkness in him. One day, it may be tomorrow, the next day, or a few months to a year. Just know that this darkness will swallow him whole and turn him into nothing more than a monster."
Glancing back, Ren asked one last question. "Why follow a man that doesn't care about you? There are better men that will truly cherish you if you let them. Who will make you happy. Something tells me you'll never find this happiness if you continue to cling to Sasuke. One day, the flames of his hate will burn even you. If you're truly serious about being a kunoichi, then you and Sakura should get your acts together." With that Ren left the other useless girl to stew in her own thoughts.
Walking down the hall, Sakura had already left. Making her way back to the chamber with the others, Ren felt no remorse for the words she had spoke to either girl. They needed to hear it if no one else would say it. She hated people who halfway did things. If they were committed to being ninja, then they should do it and not let something as stupid as a crush be their only motivation.
Feelings...were one of the most fleeting things in the world. Under certain situations feelings could be used against you and make you feel the worst of things. Feelings of happiness, forgiveness, and hope being the most fickle. Love was tricky. It had a tendency to linger, but troublesome none the less. Darker feelings such as hate remained. A weed that was nearly impossible to root out. Traveling throughout generations. The massacre of Shinobi with Kekkei Genkai within the Mist village was proof enough of that. Even an innocent child, who never harmed a soul, was not exempt. Even if you love someone, they could turn on you. Haku and his parents were prime examples of both cases.
But, Ren did know there was good things about emotions. She was happy with her team and her mother. She had shared happiness with Haku when he was still alive, but now her happiness was replaced with sorrow. Happiness was fleeting. It had to be earned and protected.
Sighing and shaking her thoughts away, Ren wondered why she was so pessimistic at times. Even though she didn't think about it much, she hoped one day, she would find love just as her parents did. Ren wished things could be different. She wished that the life of ninja and her own ninja village wasn't so brutal. Sighing, doubting things would ever change, but like may before her, Ren continued to cling to the fickle feeling of hope for the future.
Maybe it was hope that made the two useless girls continue on the path of the ninja they had chosen for themselves.
Her point was, a silly childhood crush had no place as motivation for becoming a ninja. Feeling were fleeting and situational. One day, if they were smart, they would forget Sasuke and fall in love with someone else. However, by then, they might wonder to themselves why they had been wasting all that time on the Uchiha. Perhaps even thinking it wasn't the path they truly wanted, thus regretting the lost time and maybe even quitting being kunoichi.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Ren concluded she had done her part already and there was nothing more she could do for them. Therefore, would not linger on it much longer.
