Knitting Fate
Second installment in Canon Patchworking with Uchiha Ren series
Thirty-Fourth Thread
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This chapter has been beta'd for you by hestia8693.
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"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."
― Shel Silverstein
0
"Two clan heirs! Two! And one of the last Uzumaki alive, not to mention our only Jinchuuriki!" Tsume hollers so loud that even Ren, as used to people yelling as she is, winces from where she's sat at the woman's left. "And they're all not even seven years old, for crying out loud! Most of you have kids around that age! And every single one of them could've been with Naruto at the time!"
The Inuzuka's fiery diatribe is currently directed at the circle of grim faced ninja seated around a conference table. As she pauses in her tirade to let that sink in, Ren takes the chance to glance around the room again. While she'd expected to be at a clan head meeting sooner or later, due to her being the oldest surviving Uchiha in Konoha at the moment, it's still a bit strange to be here, at a meeting to decide what stance the clans will present to the Council. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio is there, as well as Tsume, Shibi, and Hiashi. To her surprise, even if he isn't present at the moment, there actually is a seat for the Hatake Clan Head. There are also some minor clans Ren doesn't really know, like Hōki, which apparently immigrated from Suna, Kurama - who Ren is pretty sure also got massacred at some point? – and a seat for the Sarutobi clan head which is currently occupied by Hiruzen's daughter, although Ren is pretty sure the old man is the Clan Head. Apparently he couldn't come.
But it's a Clan matter. Not even the Hokage comes to these.
So why the fuck has Danzō invited himself here?
There is no Shimura seat. Ren checked. Either they aren't recognized as a clan, or their time of greatness has passed. Although there is an empty Senju seat, it is most likely there to honor one of the clans who made the very existence of the village possible.
"Then they should stop being around the vessel, simple as that," Danzō retorts, and Ren feels an unstoppable wave of cold fury ripple through her body. She's been more-or-less fine ignoring the man before he spoke but this-
"Shut up, Shimura!" Tsume is apparently on a roll, as she barks sharply at the elder, not caring who he is. Ren loves Inuzukas so much. "This is a clan matter! What the fuck are you even doing here, old coot, eh?"
Danzō clenches his fists underneath the table, the old fool. Ren idly wonders if he's already implemented stolen sharingans all over his arm.
"When it concerns the vessel-"
"His name is Naruto, and you either use that name or get the fuck out," Ren cuts in, her voice just barely above a growl, and dripping with unfiltered hatred so thick he actually stops and blinks at her. If there's one person Ren hates more than anything at the moment, it's this old meddler. "We are here to discuss the matter of Uzumaki Naruto as a person who's been assaulted by a mob of civilians – to discuss what punishment will befall those who decide it's a good idea to attack a harmless child who will be turning seven tomorrow. Not the Kyuubi vessel. A boy and his friends who were brutally attacked by a mob of mindless sheep."
There's something that changes in the atmosphere, Ren realizes. Everybody is looking at her now, a child among the adults – even if, mentally speaking, she's actually older than most of the clan heads sitting at the table – speaking of matters they would probably rather ignore. Because it's easier to see Naruto as a vessel of the demon, a weapon, rather than a child that his parents – their friends – gave their lives to protect.
"You have assaulted civilians yourself," Danzō says calmly.
"Maybe. But I did so with only one aim – to protect the children those civilians would undoubtedly harm, beyond treatment, perhaps," she says, and takes a deep breath.
She realizes that talking back to Danzō will only make him her enemy, but he's been one from the beginning. And if, let's say, an 'accident' were to happen to Ren, she is already surrounded by a great many people who would be very insistent in learning everything that happened, and there's no telling what they would find. Danzō knows that, too, and Ren can see just how much of a thorn in his side it is. He would love to get rid of her, but she has become essentially untouchable to him.
"Kiba had to have his jaw operated on for crying out loud!" Tsume raves. "And I want the bastard who broke it to pay every single yen that's on the bill!"
"They must learn that such accidents won't be brushed under the rug," Shibi says, and honestly, Ren loves that man. She didn't expect him to back her, not really, but here he is. "The repercussions must be severe – this is, indeed, a clan matter. Two clan heirs were harmed in the incident, and one of this village's greatest assets to be. And, if I'm to be a judge, a very prodigious civilian child. But, above all, it's a matter for all of us who are parents. Nearly all clan heirs are, one way or another, close to Naruto, and if civilians are left to think that they can attack Naruto and get away with it, we are essentially putting all our children – all our heirs – in danger."
"I say we stop arguing over the matter," Shikaku cuts in lazily. "And just vote and get on with it. I propose monetary punishment and imprisonment up to half a year depending on the level of involvement for every civilian who played an active role in the incident."
Sometimes, though, Ren forgets that Shibi isn't the only amazing clan head. In the end, there is an overwhelming amount of votes in favor of Shikaku's proposition.
It's the tenth of October, the anniversary of the Kyuubi's attack on Konoha, and Naruto's birthday, a day after the clan meeting that Danzō invited himself into and was promptly shut up by furious clan heads after a while of his blabbering – it was beautiful, honestly; by the end of the meeting even Inoichi – who had the least to do with their circle of mutual adoration as Ino isn't a part of it – was glaring at the old coot.
But past meetings in the past, currently Ren is leading what would hopefully form Team 7 in six years towards the Inzuka Compound. The civilian festival celebrating the death of the Kyuubi (Ren has to work hard to not laugh at that) is under preparation to start by the evening, and Ren and Kakashi have to physically flank Naruto in case of stray flying rocks. And while Ren could miss which faceless nobody throws it, Kakashi wouldn't. Apparently, since he realized he could, he has become rather fiercely (over)protective of Naruto.
Ren isn't going to judge that, not really. Civvies, on the other hand, still felt blameless, perhaps even entitled to hurting Naruto. They have the gall to demand the imprisoned civilians released, for crying out loud, since they 'did nothing wrong'. They think the criminals were actually trying to do a service to the community.
There are times where it is impossibly hard to keep her bloodlust at bay.
"I don't like it," Naruto murmurs finally, one fist clenched at the back of Sasuke's shirt, and the other holding onto Sakura's wrist. Ren marvels at how easy and fast they've gotten together once they got past the initial dislike. "Why couldn't we have just stayed at your place?"
Sakura and Sasuke exchange knowing glances above the blond's head.
"But Kiba asked us to come, didn't he?" Sasuke huffs, rolling his eyes, and Sakura nods. It is beginning to be a common occurrence, for one kid to invite the others to their place – save for Sakura, whose civilian parents would be simply overwhelmed by the amount of shinobi children, and Hinata because, frankly, at this point in time and for many years to come Hyūgas are just dicks.
"Couldn't he do it any other day? Like, tomorrow?" Naruto whines, turning away from a glaring civilian.
"But he said he hates the festival," Sakura sighs. "And that he wants to have fun with us, didn't he?"
"I hate the festival, too," Naruto murmurs, and Ren sighs, pulling Sumire out and balancing the barren blade by the guard on her index finger, shooting daring looks at the people they pass. It works, if only because Ren's temperament and low tolerance for the sheeple of Konoha is a known thing by now.
And if they are steadily growing more and more afraid and resentful of her, well. She doesn't care about the opinions of people who can barely think for themselves.
"Everybody hates something," Ren says, maybe a bit harshly, but she's currently glaring at one civilian with a stone in hand, daring him to throw it. The man wisely backs down and Ren offers him a sour, mocking grin before turning back to the kids. "But we gotta suck it up, you know? The world isn't going to baby you at all. Not ours."
"Okay," Naruto says, nodding, and continues walking. They can already see the compound, too.
The compound is oddly empty, devoid of the usual barking and random Inuzukas mulling around, but Ren leads the group to the main building, where clan head lives, nonetheless. The building itself appears empty, as well, but since neither Kakashi nor Ren appear fazed in the slightest, Naruto remains calm, too. They lead the children to where he knows is the living room – it's dark, and appears completely empty.
Just before Naruto opens his mouth, Kakashi brings his hand to his face. There's a short, half-whispered 'release', and the sudden sharp crack of a failing genjutsu, and-
Suddenly the room is bright, and colorful, and loud. There are remnants of the future Rookie Nine, and Torune and Neji. There are Tsume, Shibi, Shikaku, and Choza, too. Genma is there of course and even Gai, who has yet to part with the tacky orange tube scarf Ren presented him with few days back. There's even Hibiki, sour but smiling, and Iruka, Naruto's Academy teacher who's slowly growing on him.
And everybody is either screaming or speaking loudly just one sentence:
"Happy Birthday Naruto!"
And Naruto just stands there, eyes wide and slowly glossing over.
And then he just throws himself at the nearest person, who happens to be Sakura, and starts wailing. Sakura just pats him on the back with a sigh, and Sasuke places a hand on the blond's shoulder.
"Hey, moron, it's your birthday, not time to cry," he huffs, rolling his eyes, and Naruto looks at him, sniffling.
"You really made me a birthday party?" he whines heartbreakingly, and Ren, while happy, smiles a tad murderously, clenching her fists so hard that her short trimmed nails dig into her palm rather painfully. For Naruto to be unable to believe that this is his party, even during it… Yes. Heads are going to roll, someday.
(Maybe even literally. She definitely could make it happen.)
"Yes we really did," Kakashi says from Ren's right, and while he wears his bullshit eye-smile, it's much more genuine and also a tad murderous, too. "We want you to be happy, Naruto."
Kakashi has about two seconds to regret his words, because it's all it takes for Naruto to let go of Sakura and latch onto the man's waist with another wave of wailing. Ren only chuckles at the sight of a clearly distressed Kakashi in contact with the small child who he's okay guarding but otherwise fails at taking care of.
It's nearing a late hour and the sky is already rapidly darkening when the festival noises start being really noticeable and annoying, but that might also be because the children have worn themselves out and are not making much noise anymore. Naruto has already opened his presents, and they are mostly ready to head out.
Sasuke got him a blinding orange shirt with the Narutomaki symbol on the front and Uchiha fan on the back, although for the latter he got a rather funny look in return. Sakura went on and gave him a customized necklace she most likely made herself, with a Narutomaki clay pendant. From Choji and Shikamaru he received a jacket and matching pants, mostly black and brown but with blinding orange accents and an additional spiral to the back and shoulders, while the Aburame cousins gave him some more tools for his sealing kit, as they know that he is really getting into the art, and Hinata, along with a reluctant Neji, gave him some high-quality sealing paper. Kiba and Hana opted to give him some more scrolls on the basics of sealing he had not yet acquired, and Kakashi gave him a dog plushie that kinda resembled Pakkun, and a book on Ramen, along with recipes, from Genma.
Others gave gifts, too, but since they don't know Naruto as well as the kids, it's all mostly sweets.
That leaves Ren as the only person who hasn't given him a gift.
"Hey, Naruto," she said softly, kneeling beside the boy and interrupting his intense spectating of the shogi match that Shikamru had somehow managed to rope Genma into. "Can we talk for a moment?"
Naruto blinks at her, his black-orange shirt draped over his shoulders, and nods slowly, as if uncertainly. Ren gets to her feet, and he follows as they head towards the kitchen, where they would be alone for a moment.
"Is something wrong, Onee-chan?" Naruto asks finally, as Ren closes the door behind her and sighs deeply. She looks at him and smiles, a bit tiredly.
"No, not really," she says wearily. "You know, after the civilian attack, in the hospital- I had an argument with the Hokage."
"With Old Man?" Naruto asks, shocked. "Why?"
"Because I really hate how the civilians are treating you," she huffs at the obvious information. "And because I hate your living alone. It's not right," she basically growls kneeling by her bag, which she at some point left in the kitchen during the party, and digging around in it.
"Onee-chan?" Naruto asks again, walking towards her.
"Hey, Naruto," she starts, and then takes a deep breath, turning to face the boy fully, gripping a folder of papers in one hand. "Would you like to live with us?"
"Huh?"
"Well, wrong wording," she snorts at herself, at a loss for words for the first time. Towards a fucking six- Well, now seven-year-old. "I just, I really like you, and Sasuke does, too, and you're alone, so I thought- Fuck. Just, I… I wanna adopt you. If that's okay with you? Well, it's technically just guardianship since I'm not old en-"
Her monologue gets cut off by a wailing Naruto leaping at her and burrowing his face in her shoulder, while wrapped around her torso like a monkey, wailing perhaps even louder than when presented with the party.
"Hey, hey, isn't that enough waterworks for today?" Ren snorts, but wraps her arms around the tiny blond anyway. Naruto mutters something into her shoulder, gripping her shirt a bit tighter, and raises his head.
"You really wanna adopt me?" he asks, and those blue eyes are so heartbreakingly trusting and yet fearful that Ren almost just goes, then and there, off to murder Danzō and most of the council.
"Yeah," she says, burying her face in his hair. "If you want to live with us, yeah."
"I want to!" Naruto wails. "I will be the best adopted brother ever!"
"Tell that to Sasuke," Ren snorts, and Naruto laughs, still broken by his uncontrollable sobs and a bit too high-pitched, but happy nonetheless.
Ren will never regret this decision.