Knitting Fate
Second installment in Canon Patchworking with Uchiha Ren series
Thirty-First Thread
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I dedicate this one to PlunnyBreeder who refused to have spoilers in favor of screaming after reading full thing. Enjoy!
Also, warning, because this chapter is intense, features OOC-ness and some things you might not agree with this. But everybody has their opinion, that's why it's called such and this is mine. No intention of changing it.
This chapter has been beta'd for you by hestia8639. Thanks a lot!
My tumblr and deviantart name is KillerGirlFuria, in case any of you wants to spam by askbox. I'm pretty open person, and if anyone would like to discuss CPwUR, or anything else, really, you're very welcome.
"The intelligence of that creature known as a crowd is the square root of the number of people in it."
― Terry Pratchett, Jingo
0
Ren has been back in the village for a grand total of ten minutes.
She's going to murder somebody.
Preferably a dozen nameless civilian nobodies.
There is Kiba, lip split, Akamaru snarling from his position on top of his head, as much as a puppy can snarl, anyway. There's Sakura, on her knees with arms spread as she leans over Naruto, lying on the ground and completely motionless, trying to shield him from the stones being hurled at them. There is also Sasuke, sitting on the chest of one of the civilians, his tiny hands gripping the struggling man's neck. His eyes are red, like he's a demon from hell.
Coincidentally, red is the only thing Ren can see right about now. Her heartbeat is deafening in her ears, the adrenaline making her heart beat louder and faster. Had she not been this mad, she would perhaps worry about the pace alone reopening her healed wound.
But, she doesn't. They should worry.
She charges forward before anyone can make a move to intercept her, a blur of black, red, and green, with a splash of white from the white-red fan stitched onto one sleeve. She reaches the mob before they can blink, and launches herself at them without a word. Some might argue that they are defenseless civilians. That she shouldn't do it.
Frankly, for Ren, a ninja attacking a mob of civilians is very much equal to said mob attacking a group of children. All of whom she holds dear to her.
She leaps, a mess of claws and teeth, punches and kicks. Her goal: to cause as much pain as possible. Her strikes break bone. Chakra-hardened nails split skin. Her breath, transformed into fire, sears faces.
Absentmindedly, she notes that Hana is right next to her, for once in sync with her in her fury. The murderous look on her friend's face is enough to stop a lesser man. And they're all lesser men.
One tries to grab Ren's shoulder. She grips his hand instead, so hard she's certain she crushes his wrist, if the scream is anything to go by, and throws him over her shoulder, slamming the body into the ground. She's already at the next vermin by the time he hits the ground.
There are screams and cries, but she doesn't care. She doesn't even know for how long she's at it, until she blinks and suddenly she's kneeling in front of Sasuke, gently coaxing him out of murdering his victim. Sasuke looks at her, face unreadable, but when she smashes her heel onto the man's arm, eliciting an anguished scream, he seems content.
She doesn't care when ninja arrive, horrified by the sight before them. She swats away the hand someone tries to place on her arm, just now noticing Gai's shocked, paper-white face as he stares into her eyes, red and glowing and bleeding. She doesn't speak. She doesn't know if she can. She wants to murder those people, put their heads on the palisade around her house as a warning to all of Konoha's so-called civilians.
She doesn't. Somehow. But, for that short, little second, the shinobi gathered get glimpses of massacre, carnage, and blood. For a second there, they don't see Ren. They see a demon. A second coming of Itachi.
But that is dispersed instantly when she kneels by the tiny blond, taking his unmoving form into her arms as gently as one would a newborn. When she allows Sasuke to climb onto her back and whispers sweet nothings at him, maybe to soothe herself more than him. When she places an arm on Hana's shoulder, motions towards the general direction of the hospital, and helps Kiba onto his sister's back as she cradles the half-conscious Sakura to her chest.
Nobody stops them when they depart.
Hana doesn't comment on the ugly tears of rage rolling down Ren's cheeks. Her own throat is tightening, her hands trembling with such fury that she fears she might drop Sakura.
(What the two don't see is Genma and Kakashi, just back from a mission and still in ANBU attire, drawn to the site of the commotion before even getting to Headquarters to report. They don't see the cold rage burning in Kakashi's eyes, or the horrified, half-haunted expression on Genma's face.
One man nods at the other and they instantly change course for the hospital.
The report can wait.)
Aburame Shibi sighs heavily, turns, and resumes his walk towards Hokage Tower, although now with double the speed. Ren's advancement in rank is the only information he carries now.
"Ren…"
"Do be quiet, old man," Ren growls from between Hana and Genma with Sasuke on her lap. Kakashi is pacing along the entirety of the hallway. Kiba has latched onto his sister, the ugly bruise around his now mended lip standing out with its starkly purple hue. Somewhere down the hallway Mebuki is screeching one of the nurses into submission, Sakura hanging off her skirt like her life depended on it.
Hiruzen sighs heavily. He's too old for this, he decides, looking at them. They're sitting right next to the door to the operatin room that Genma is watching like a hawk. Inside the room, a surgeon is helping the Kyuubi's chakra save Naruto's life and making sure his bones mend correctly.
"I just wanted to-"
"I don't give half a shit what you want, old man," Ren growls, glaring at him. He can see the anger there, on her haunted face; desperation, fear, determination, sadness, and even more anger. "I had to threaten the fucking doctor to work on him. He said 'the demon would heal himself anyway'; except the internal bleeding would've fucking killed him before that could've happened!" she snaps, pushing Sasuke, surprisingly gently, onto Genma's lap. The boy only sighs and snuggles into the tokujō's ANBU vest that he had no time to change out of. Ren herself stands up and starts pacing.
"I'm sorry," Hiruzen sighs sadly, rubbing the side of his head. This- this should not have happened. Not before, not now, not ever.
"Tell me old man," Ren says suddenly, gaze distant and unfocused as if she's looking at something nobody else can see. Her voice is calm. Eerily calm. But Hiruzen can't shake off the feeling of bitterness in it. "Tell me, how do you expect Naruto to care for this village if this keeps up? How do you expect him to fight for you, fight for this village – the village that hates him. That nearly killed him. How is he supposed to fight for people who hate him for no real reason, and have shown themselves capable of attacking his hard-won friends, too, if they side with him?"
Hiruzen doesn't say a word, but hearing Ren's stricken words, seeing her face warped in pain, her dazed eyes overflowing with tears she has no intention of stopping. Seeing this girl, who hardly reacted to having her entire world breaking down on her head, now cry so freely for this boy she has known for mere months-
"Sakura has bruises all over her from protecting him with her own body. Her ribs are broken, along with three of her fingers. Her left hipbone is severely bruised and the stone that hit her there was sharp and left a rather large wound," she starts counting on her fingers. "Kiba took a hit meant for Naruto. His lip is split, his jaw is broken, and he'll be getting surgery for that later today. Sasuke- for crying out loud, the Sharingan awakens under extreme stress and straining trauma! He awakened two tomoe's in one of his eyes!" she hisses, pulling at her hair. Her gaze turns to the door of the operating room.
"I'm truly sorry," Sarutobi Hiruzen, God of Shinobi and one of the mightiest shinobi of the Leaf looks down and closes his eyes, holding back the tears threatening to fall. He knows he has failed Naruto. Severely so.
"Don't apologize to me," Ren snaps sharply, eyes firmly locked on the door of the operating room. "Broken ribs, broken jaw, crushed wrist, dislocated hipbone, severe internal bleeding, punctured lung, nearly completely destroyed eye-"
Ren's breathing hitches as her hand comes up to cover her mouth and she shuts her eyes.
"If it weren't for the fox, he would have been dead," she growls. "Is this truly how the last Uzumaki is to live? How the son of your beloved Fourth is supposed to be treated?"
Hiruzen flinches. He hadn't expected her to know that. But then, two and two aren't that hard to put together if one decides to do so, and Ren is smart enough to connect the dots.
"He almost died," Genma says hoarsely. Hiruzen notices that he, too, looks haunted. He looked up to Minato like nobody else. Minato saved him, in a way, and after his death, Genma had nearly broken down. Being unable to care for the man's child had been another hard blow – especially as he watched all the neglect befalling the boy. Genma takes a deep breath, and says, "those responsible need to be punished."
"I believe Ren has already done so sufficiently-" Hiruzen tries, but Kakashi cut him off.
"Either you do it, or we do. And we won't be nice about it," the Hatake growls, pacing angrily back and forth in the hallway. "This has gone on for long enough, don't you think? What would Minato-sensei say if he'd seen how his son is treated? Kushina-san would have already murdered most of Konoha's civilian population by now!"
That Hiruzen can't argue with. He had been convinced it was for the better, keeping Naruto's heritage from the people. That it would protect the boy from his parents' enemies. Instead, it brought upon him an even worse fate.
"I'm adopting him." He is startled out of his thoughts by the firmness of Ren's voice as she speaks up. She looks at the old man, as if daring him to continue. "I'll have the paperwork ready within a week, in the meanwhile I'll be transferring Naruto's things into my apartment. I trust it's done by now?"
"Sasuke and Naruto both were overseeing the renewal and furnishing process themselves," Genma says with a smile. It's still slightly bitter and crooked, but it's better, somehow.
"You realize that the council-"
"Can shut the fuck up and comply," Ren hisses angrily. "I will not have a band of old farts tell me what's best, when they clearly have no idea what the right thing to do is! The only thing they care for is their own personal gain – look at the fucking War Hawk, Shimura Danzo! That man doesn't care for the village! He cares only for his pride and power!"
"Ren, enough!" Hiruzen nearly shouts, but that only earns him a glare as the girl remains unmoved by the interruption.
"I'm royally pissed off right now, old man," she growls, nearly choking on the intensity of the words. "And yet I'm still thinking clearer than you. Naruto needs a home. Someone to care for him. Yes, I'm not even thirteen – but I am a shinobi, a chūnin already! I became adult as per the law of the country upon graduation, thus I'm well within my right to apply for guardianship over a minor! Which is exactly what I'm going to do!"
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi says, his voice on the verge of breaking, "hasn't Naruto suffered enough? Even if neither of us," he motions at himself and Genma, "can take him in, Ren had no relation with his parents and no law is preventing her from sharing her home with someone who should have been given one years ago. Please."
This isn't a battle Hiruzen can win. Nor is it one he wants to win. He has failed Naruto, but Ren hasn't. And she won't.
"Okay," he sighs, nodding. With newfound resolve, he looks up, feeling older than he already is, so suddenly reminded that he should not be here; that this is the place of someone so much younger than he. "Okay. You will be Naruto's legal guardian by the end of the week."
The Hokage leaves. But somehow, his heart feels lighter.
"I've heard," Sakura says a while later as she wobbles to where they sit, her leg visibly painful, wrapped tightly with bandages. Her hand is already in plaster, to keep her broken fingers in place. She eases herself down on one of the plastic chairs and looks at Mebuki, now arguing with one of the doctors. "They were saying that it will be the anniversary of the Kyuubi attack soon. And that they should finally rid themselves of his spawn. Is Naruto really that demon's spawn?" she whines, and Ren clenches her hand on the metal armrest of the chair so hard she bends it.
"No," she says. "But they are. They are the worst kind of monster possible."
Sakura nods. Then, after a moment: "I'm going to become a medic-nin, like Hana-san," her eyes shine with determination, "so that if something like this ever happens, I can help more."
"Medic-nin can do more than heal," Hana chimes in off-handedly, smiling gently at the girl. "They can also severely damage tissue if they choose to reverse the process."
"Every medicine is a poison if you use the wrong amount," Ren adds, standing up. Before Sakura can answer, the doors to the operating room open and the surgeon strides out. Ren looks at him for a while, and then says, "Once they are named, charge the bill for all their surgeries from the accounts of the attackers. And add a twenty percent bonus."
"I have no right to do so," the surgeon scoffs, and Ren rolls her eyes.
"No, but I, as the main victim's guardian, demand satisfaction in the form of full coverage of all healthcare costs and monetary satisfaction," she scoffs, nose up high. "It may impoverish them for all I care – they should have thought of that before attacking defenseless children."
The surgeon looks away under the gaze of the ninja in the hallway, and sighs. "He should be waking soon. Due to his… condition, I don't expect any post-surgical issues. Now let me see what can be done with the young Inuzuka's jaw."
"Kiba said Mom will be back tomorrow," Hana says, squeezing Ren's palm as she follows her brother into another room. "I'll make sure she sides with you in ripping those lowlives apart."
"Thanks, you're the best," Ren smiles, if only barely, and turns to Genma, still holding a sleeping Sasuke. "Naruto should be okay enough to get him home, and I really don't trust the hospital staff, so let's do that, okay?"
"Yeah," Genma sighs, standing up. "Look, I'm sorry-"
"You were away," Ren cuts in. "You couldn't have known they would attack while you were gone. Now come on, we need to get Naruto somewhere safe, okay?"
"Yeah."
"I'll wait for Haruno-san to be done and escort them home," Kakashi says. "Then… I'll meet you there?"
"Sure, Kacchan. Stay safe."
Ren hates civilians. She might not believe in any type of deity, but she sure prays they burn in hell. They can get the same cauldron as she will, for all she cares.
•
Yuki Suou - well, they both fought for promotion, so I guess.
Audrie-13 - get enough sleep or you'll end up a caffeine-deprived zombie. And going to sleep in the middle of a day can't be healthy. You might be waking up early because of going to sleep during the day. Don't do that, and you should be able to sleep during the night.
Guest (chapter 41 . Jun 27) - I have a beta already, but I'l see about that. Writing in your secondary language isn't easy if you can't do it properly in your first.
snowleopard314 - I guess that makes you the only one. The buildup was happening for last 10 chapters or so, and at this point pretty much everyone expected it. And her new friendships won't come into a real play until much later, to be honest.
Savage Kill - kids? Not much. Civvies however are in deep shit. And yes, belt is default for Ren's forehead protector. It's either belt or not at all.
pudine - don't I know the feeling.
WestOfTheGlass - cultural or not, Ren isn't going to pass an opportunity to grab you by a ponytail and bash your head into nearest hard surface.
Kilgrave - now that literally everything has been cut of the compound, she basically doesn't pay taxes and has Uchiha fortune at her disposal.
sukondis - how many times am I supposed to say that I'm unable to update the corrected text into the old chapters because I don't have them in Doc Manager anymore, and copying the text is impossible on ?
Sweet-Strawberry-09 - I live for long reviews. And Gaara will happen, but not until he canonically appears sadly.