Knitting Fate

Second installment in Canon Patchworking with Uchiha Ren series

Ninth Thread

•••

This chapter has been beta'd for you by hestia8639. Thanks a lot!

Official beta'd version posted 04.08.2017

"Happiness [is] only real when shared"
― Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

0

"I hate you all so much," Kakashi hisses under his breath after another of his ANBU-mates asks if he's really planning on starting a family, since he's so good with children. And not out of sarcasm, but actual, genuine curiosity.

"For once," Tenzō says, "this is not my fault. I kept quiet."

"I know," Kakashi growls and glances at the purple-haired woman sitting atop the lockers, practically radiating smugness.

"Is there a problem?" the woman – Yugao, if he remembers correctly, the one who found Sasuke after the Massacre – asks with an infuriatingly smug smile.

"No, not at all," Tenzō brushes off with a smile, and tugs his senior away so maybe, just maybe, their visit to Headquarters will not end in a brawl today. Even if Kakashi never starts them, Tenzō is not sure that wouldn't change today.

She awakes to the sight of Sasuke clinging to her for dear life, face nuzzled in the crook of her neck and fists gripping her oversized shirt-turned-pajama. Seeing that Sasuke himself is still deeply asleep, Ren actually sighs in relief. He's calm, which can only mean one thing: he isn't having yet another one of his nightmares.

(God damn you, Itachi.)

It's Saturday morning, so she just sighs and closes her eyes again. She's already used to getting up at six (which isn't actually that difficult), but she's free today, so she hardly thinks she will be up before ten. Getting up before ten during the weekend is inhumane, at the very least.

"Nee-san," Sasuke mutters into her collar, shifting a little, and then mumbles something completely incoherent.

"It's okay, squirt," she whispers into his hair. "Sleep, we don't have school today."

He mumbles again and nods so slightly that she only notices because a good portion of his head is touching her directly. But it's become apparent to her that even he likes to sleep in sometimes.

As for Ren… each time she closes her eyes for longer than a few seconds, she re-lives the memories of the original Uchiha girl. It has become such a constant in her life that she doesn't even bother fighting it. Why would she in the first place? Those dream-memories are her only source of information about her predecessor's life.

Spoiler: the original Uchiha Ren was a mean, uptight little shit who just knew everything better. Kind of like pre-chūnin Neji, just… mean…er. And so full of herself, she could've burst at any moment. Because she's an Uchiha, because she had awakened her Sharingan early, because she'd mastered the Grand Fireball. It's annoying, really, to Ren(ee). Also, the original didn't seem to get along with anyone. Didn't even try to. She was so assured that she was better, rarely speaking and thus appearing cool and aloof to bystanders.

Wrong.

And here she had thought she was the antisocial one. Well, it happens, and Renee can't bring herself to feel bad about replacing the girl. Not anymore. It still feels weird, wearing someone else's skin (which is a whole foot, if not more, shorter than what she's used to), though.

But then, better this way than dead.

"Sasuke, is that my shirt?"

"Mhm."

"Why are you wearing it then, if it's mine?"

"Because I like it."

"Don't you have your own clothes?"

"Hn," he just Uchihas at Ren, crossing his hands on his chest and looks at the girl in an almost daring manner, but refuses to answer whatsoever.

"Aa," she Uchihas right back, mimicking his pose and narrowing her eyes. They stay like that, staring at each other for a while, until Sasuke eventually gives up after what feels like an eternity.

"It smells like you," he admits, a soft shade of pink gracing his cheeks. "I like your scent. It makes me feel better. Like… like he isn't going to come after me any second. Or after you," he looks up at her with those big eyes, as black as the void itself. Ren just sighs, ruffling his hair affectionately.

"That's why we train, you know," she says, kneeling before him. "So when he comes, we can kick his ass. How about that?"

"I'm going to kill him," Sasuke says. His demeanor changes so suddenly from embarrassed child to revenge-driven madman that Ren almost takes a step back.

"No," she says firmly, grabbing his small hands into her not much bigger ones. "We are going to intercept the bastard. And then explain to him that what he did was so undeniably, completely idiotic- and that committing suicide through his younger brother's hands is not the way to go. Alright?"

Sasuke blinks at her, surprised, and asks; "suicide?"

"Why else would he want you to kill him?" she asks, not even having to fake the surprise in her voice. Sasuke had told her exactly what happened not even a week after they'd first met, and she's been thinking out a way of getting him out of his revenge ever since. Actually, she is the only person Sasuke opened to after the Massacre. But, well, shared blood does that to some.

"I… Uh… I don't know," boy admits solemnly, all hate fleeting from his features, much to Ren's relief. "I just… I don't know, nee-san."

"It's okay, squirt," she sighs, patting his head. "I'm here for you, remember? And your friends are, too. Naruto, Kiba, Hana-"

"Hana is your friend," he winces his nose.

"Yes, and because of that, she is also yours," Ren chuckles. "Now, how about we do some taijutsu practice? I know it's about time you start going through basic katas-"

"They're easy and boring," Sasuke sniffs.

"-and I know they're nothing. So, I'm going to teach you some more advanced stuff. How about that?"

"Okay, but breakfast first," he says, looking at Ren expectantly, and she chuckles.

"Don't worry, I'll make you your salad," she smiles.

(She lets Sasuke wear her shirt in the end. It looks like a dress on him, too long, too loose, but he doesn't mind, so she just shrugs it off.)

They catch her by absolute surprise, really, those brats. Honestly, she doesn't suspect a thing, and the execution of their plan is as flawless as it could get for a bunch of kids. It's simple, really – Sasuke and Naruto avert her attention from what is happening (though there, really, is no need, she would hardly expect it even if it hit her in the face, this kind of situation), and Hana orchestrates everything.

At first, she doesn't know what to do. Why it is happening. For her it's another day, another date, the same as every other.

Not for them, apparently.

So, when a bunch of people jump up from literally everywhere in the living room of Hokage Estate, yelling atop of their lungs 'Happy Birthday Ren', she's really, sincerely caught off-guard. Shocked, even, because, really-

It's the second of March. Her thirty-second birthday, and twelfth as well.

And Ren… Ren doesn't know what to do. It's been years since she stopped celebrating yet another year of her life passing by, and those big parties with tons of kids, and a cake, and everything? Yeah. Those she has only ever seen on television, in movies. She never even thought that they're actually real, as she's never participated in one, or even heard about someone having it. Until now.

And it's not only kids who greet her, no. There's Genma, of course, and the Hokage and his family – his daughter and Konohamaru, because Asuma is away and training – and somewhere in the corner are Kakashi and Tenzo, still clad in ANBU gear, but somehow less sneaky. And, of course, a horde of small children. Kiba, Sakura, Choji, Shikamaru. And Naruto with Sasuke, each holding one of her hands, one with a big grin and the other with a faint imitation of smile that isn't a smirk, and she's absolutely speechless.

"Holy fuck," she manages, because this is the best birthday party she has ever had in her life and it hasn't even begun. "Holy fucking fuck," because there are more people in the room than she thought was possible to have a positive relationship with.

"And there she is," Genma snorts, senbon clicking between his teeth, "our beloved, flowery-mouthed birthday girl."

Ren doesn't even bother to pretend to be offended.

"No, it's just… I've never had a birthday like this, ever," she admits honestly. "Actually, no. I never even cared at all, so- well. I kind of forgot it was my birthday today? I didn't intend to celebrate it, really. But- But I appreciate this. I really do. And damn, old man, don't you have, like, a shit ton of paperwork to do?"

"I do," Sarutobi Hiruzen smiles, "but I do believe I can spare a few minutes for your birthday. But true, I must soon depart to the tower to take care of all that… gracious… paperwork."

"Why don't you do birthdays?!" Naruto shrieks, hanging himself on her hand almost tripping her to the side if it wasn't for Sasuke latched onto the other. The boy looks at her with those wide, wide sky-blue eyes in shock, and Ren just sighs.

"I never saw the point, you know" she admits honestly. The Archers – her family, or people that she should feel were her family, but she hardly does – never made a big deal out of it. Or maybe she was just a special case, because the birthdays of all her uncles and aunts usually tended to be such a big deal.

"But you'll play with us, right?" Sakura asks, eyes wide and hopeful, and Ren really wants to say no, just because, but she can't. Because she's a kid again, and suddenly she can have all those things she never had before.

"Yeah," she agrees instead. "Yeah, I'll play with you."

And so she does. Because she's the birthday girl today, and the world seems like it hates her a little less (actually, it seems like it has ever since she'd woken up as Ren, two decades younger and with the actual possibility of a future, and no orthodox family to drag her down at each step).

She almost cries when they all wish her happy birthday and give gifts, and share cake and laugh. There's a pressure tightening her throat, hot and unyielding, and she has a hard time fighting it. But she manages, in the end – barely, but she manages.

Konohamaru and his mom give her a cookbook with various recipes. It's something that will be of use a lot later on, since Ren has already started taking over the kitchen when preparation of her and Sasuke's meals is in question.

Sakura gets her a custom made necklace, a glossy piece of metal resembling a fan, Uchiha-painted and hanging on a rather short chain. Just fine to be tucked under her turtleneck and remain there.

Shikamaru and Choji, apparently not knowing her long or good enough and unsure of what to give her, just settle in with regular sweets. Dango, Uchiha-predisposed food (much like Uzumaki and ramen) prove to be a good bet. There is more than a dozen different flavors, she notes, and they might have actually went on and bought her every single flavor.

Sarutobi gives her a scroll on basic fire techniques with a motion and aura she's always wished her grandfather would show more. But she'll take this, and the scroll, and if Sarutobi flinches at her almost-sadistic enthusiasm about burning things with ninja magic, well.

Kakashi, perhaps out of spite, perhaps because he's just a shit like that, actually gives her a wallet with a piece of paper inside. 'Start making your own and stop leeching off of me, you little piece of shit. Love, Hound.' it says, and Ren perhaps should feel offended, because it was only once- But she's just amused instead.

Tenzō gives her weights. They're not that heavy, but it's a start, and he just hit the jackpot, because Ren hasn't really thought about them up until now. But wearing those all the time? That was going to improve her strength and speed like a magical spell and she straps them on her hands and legs right on.

Kiba and Hana actually buy her a glass tank, fully equipped and all, and decorate it with something that resembles a small forest with a plaque that says 'Do not disturb the spider'. Ren is honestly amused, and Awai takes an instant liking to his new home and refuses to leave it for the remainder of the day.

Naruto gives her a plushie, and Ren has hard time fighting a snort, because it's a blue llama with a pink ribbon around its neck. But she accepts it gratefully, because she's always loved plush toys, only never truly managed to get herself to collect them like she wanted. He tells her that he bought it himself, and Ren can't help but wonder just how much that means. For the boy to go to the toy store, just to get something for her. Into the place where everyone makes it widely known that he's not wanted. And she's grateful for him for that he did, for her.

Genma gives her additional set of basic ninja tools, for which she's grateful, because one can't have too many kunai, and gloves. But not just any gloves – these are hardened at the knuckles with wire-reinforced fiber, and metal plaques on the outer sides of the palms, with the symbol of Konoha engraved in the center. And if Ren's smile grows even more sadistic as she lovingly slips them on, he doesn't comment. Genma is just so nice, that he pretends that he totally doesn't wonder about how many jaws she is going to break with those.

Sasuke brings her a katana, and not just an ordinary one. It's an heirloom, that much is obvious, and it's something Sasuke fearlessly waltzed into the compound for yesterday. She knows, because he asked Tenzō if the man could take him there to get something. And the sword itself? It's amazing, really, well-crafted and thrumming with unspoken power. A blade that has been in the family for years, pale blade, almost white, singing with every move. Black handle and cherry-colored sheath with a motif of a dragon on it.

And then she runs and plays with the other kids until nightfall, and then plays some more, and she's actually genuinely happy. It feels great, to be a kid again, to gang up on Genma and watch the tokujō allow himself to be caught and found repeatedly. To spin the kids around just for screams of pure glee.

They even manage to drag Tenzō and Kakashi – who does it very, very reluctantly – into their game of hide and seek, and, actually, Naruto is the one who somehow never fails to find the two, even if they cheat and hide around ANBU-style.

That's… an amazing feat, really.

In the end, Ren is happy. Like, ridiculously so. She's giddy and tired, but the day was really, really well-spent, and maybe, just maybe, she's going to like the idea of birthdays from now on.

But with those gifts she got? She's going to put them to damn good use on her way to becoming a one woman army, a frontline heavy-hitter that so much as the mention of whom will give enemy a second thoughts, starting yesterday.

Graduation is in two months, and she can't wait.

(She doesn't know, or even begin to realize it yet, but she's been on her way to becoming the ninja equivalent of the Boogeyman ever since she made up her mind on changing fate.)