Ren sat back in the room he and his group were staying in while on their mission. He'd gotten a frantic letter from both his mother, his father, Nanadaime, AND Aunt Temari. Someone had tried to take his sister from them. But he couldn't seek justice. He was still on his mission. A stupid mission, but a mission nonetheless. Someone had tainted the water of a village a few days away from Konoha and since he was a prodigy at poisons and antidotes like his mother, he was sent to investigate and deal with the issue. Well, he'd investigated. And now he was working on purifying the supply of water. He knew Sarada would be coming by the village as soon as she came back from her diplomatic mission to the Cloud lands. And then they'd all go back together. He'd sent a letter to Sarada about Nikko, but had yet to receive one back. Perhaps she was too close to his camp for it to be worthwhile sending a letter.
His musing was cut short when he heard a disturbance in the street near the building he had made camp in. With a frown, he got up and went to check it out. Almost instantly, he was aware of six men canvassing the village, looking for someone. The more he stayed concealed the more he learned from their whispers. His eyes narrowed. "So. . .They're trying for me this time?" He mumbled to himself. There was no need to notify anyone, six was plenty for him to deal with on his own. He was his father's son after all, how could he not be able to take down six rogue ninja?
Ren activated his Sharingan, two tomoe in each eye. He analysed his would be captors and smirked. Children. He struck out silently. The first three went down without a sound. But he startled a cat on his attempts at the fourth which alerted them to his position. At least he'd managed to halve the odds even more. His eyes watched and matched their movements. He dodged and struck out able to keep up and take down two more, but the last was more effort. And he didn't want the village to be collateral so he lured the final one out toward the river. He was a bit slack with his taijutsu, he knew this, and it seemed the final rogue knew it too, preferring to stick to the taijutsu rather than try to get him on ninjutsu. They fought for what seemed like hours, neither one getting the upper hand, when he sensed a shuriken and dodged back.
"Stop playing with your food, brother." Sarada's voice cooed from behind him. "It's annoying."
"Sarada." Ren narrowed his eyes, not taking his eyes off his opponent for a moment. "Weren't you another two days away?" He didn't stop to hear her answer as he dived back into the fight, now wanting to play dirty to show off in front of his big sister. He didn't like genjutsu much, he felt it was cheap and too easy. Like Sarada said, he liked to play with his enemy. He pulled out a special kunai. He had to be careful. He only needed one opening and he'd win. The poison that coated the kunai would be all he needed to finish the opponent off. After blocking a left hook and a right knee he found it, he lashed out at the rogue's exposed underarm and sliced it hard cutting deep into the skin before he jumped back.
"When Papa sent me the message about Nikko I ended the talks to make sure you were okay." Sarada began, smirking as the enemy choked on their own saliva. "But I can see you don't need it." She laughed a little. "Come here I'll heal up some of your injuries."
Ren shook his head. "Yeah, yeah," He laughed as he went to his older sister. "Did you get mum's letter?" He asked as Sarada's hands glowed green.
"Yeah, apparently Papa went a little over the top when he rescued Nikko." Sarada giggled healing up a deep bruise on her brother's side. "Mama was scared he'd go dark."
"At least Narutoji-san calmed the situation well enough." Ren replied. "Ow!" He snarled, as she pushed on a cut.
"Nana-daime." Sarada growled. "Is trying to work things out between whoever hired these thugs to kidnap you or the twins. Gosh Mama would be freaking out, she's going to be super clingy when we get back."
"From her letter?" Ren asked, eyebrows raised. "It'll be papa who will be the clingy one." He laughed. "Low key though, he has to keep his street cred."
"What street cred?" Sarada raised a brow. "You know how the village talks! It's amazing Nikko and Kawauso haven't gotten pulled in and upset over it all."
"Why do you think I kept getting into trouble at the academy?" Ren replied, bitterly. "And outside of school. Do you know how many people I beat up for upsetting our younger siblings?" He asked, indignant.
"More than our parents know, that's for sure." Sarada replied. "They don't even know about your eyes, do they?"
Ren shook his head. "No, and we have to keep it that way, like you promised." He glared at his sister. He didn't want his mother misunderstanding his eyes. He loved them together. And the last thing he wanted was to hurt his Mama. She was precious to him. And he didn't want her thinking that his papa had betrayed her.
"Hey, hey, I get it, we talked about this ages ago. Our secret." Sarada replied her hands up in a defensive position. "Take me to where you've made camp, we'll rest there then head back home at first light." She suggested. Sarada had found out by accident during a mission they were on together. Out of the five people in the mission she was the only one who saw, so she was the only one he made swear on Boruto's life that she wouldn't tell. Well. . .He made her vow on everyone's lives. Even her own. But he'd only wanted it to back up her words. He didn't mean to make her doubt how much she loved him and their family. But he was terrified he would be the cause of the family falling apart. He'd lost one. He couldn't lose the other.
Ren huffed a little. "Yeah, okay." He replied standing up. "Let's go." He shook his head. "You nag as much as mama does." He laughed leading her back into the village and to the place he had bought for a few nights to stay in.
"Hey!" Sarada snapped. "We nag for a good reason you know!"
"Yeah, yeah just don't hit me!" Ren replied. "You take the bed, I'll take the couch." He added, taking a pillow from the bed and placed it on the couch. They hadn't shared a bed since the first time he'd experienced a thunderstorm, and that was when he was about five. Both parents were away, Sasuke on a mission and Sakura working an overnight shift. The first clap of lightning had him out of bed and into his sisters' room. She was still up studying for an exam. She held him and studied while the storm raged.
Ren smiled, it was a good memory for him to go to sleep by.
Ren. . . Ren. . . I'm coming soon. . . The sickness is coming! REN!
Ren jolted awake suddenly, with a gasp. Ugh. That woman again! Sickness? He shook his head. What sickness? Someone was after him or the twins and the lady who seemed to invade his dreams was talking about a sickness? Why couldn't he see her face? Why didn't she tell him who she was? How was she even talking to him this way? Was she using a Jutsu? Was she from his biological clan? Who was she?
No. He couldn't get those answers. It would hurt his mama and papa if he explored the past before his adopted family. He couldn't bring that hurt upon them. He had to keep it a secret. Even the truth behind his own Sharingan was something he couldn't explore. He was adopted. His papa was the last Uchiha, but somehow Ren had his adopted father's Doujutsu! How was that possible? Why? What could it-
"Ren? Are you okay?" Sarada asked her tone sleepy.
"Yeah sis, go back to sleep." Ren replied. Ever since he was young, it seemed the minute Ren began to get too deep into his own head, his sister always managed to pull him back.
"Nightmare again?" Sarada asked, pulling her sleeping bag over to his bed more.
"No, that weird lady again." Ren shook his head. "I feel like I know her from somewhere but I can't put my finger on where."
Sarada hummed softly. "Don't think about it then. Go back to sleep." She settled her sleeping bag next to his bed.
Ren nodded and settled back into bed. "I guess I'm too old to cuddle with my onee-chan at night, hey?" He teased.
Sarada gave a giggle. "Go to sleep Ren." She giggled back.
"Yeah." Ren replied to her half command. So many questions. But his fear kept him from seeking the answers.