Author's Note
Momoi Raze: Oooooh, thaaaaaank youuuuuuu for the support! I loooooooveeeeee youuuuuuuuuu! Ah, I also want Kakashi and Ren to suffer an awkward relationship. Well, it's not a secret but I do want to keep Obito's and Ren's relationship.
summerinyoureyes: Thank you and I'm glad you like Ren-chan. Well, since Ren's five years old, then Kakashi's eighteen. I'm making an effort to make Kakashi colder and make their relationship more awkward since Kakashi doesn't really know how to handle children.
CallmeCrazylol: Love your username! And yes, he will have them after a few more chapters.
sarahgri99: Thank you! And I hope you'll like this chapter.
If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. AND THIS AIN'T BL ANYMORE. That's all.
This kind of afterlife wasn't what he really expected. Like he had mentioned before, he expected coldness and be engulfed in complete darkness. He expected nothingness. He expected loneliness; not to be reborn in a world that was once fictional.
"Ren, it's time for school."
The Nohara perked up from his stool. Every day he spent with this man made him realize how unique... and broken Kakashi was. In his past life, he had never really recalled times he delved deep into a character's personality.
Now that he was here, living with the man he idolized before, he had seen things the anime didn't show the viewers. The famed Copycat... actually talked in his sleep. And they weren't normal sleep talks either.
He would say things that he would never say when he was awake. From what Ren could remember in his past life, Kakashi had been a pervert, tardy in almost everything except for emergency cases and had lost a lot of precious people.
Over the past few weeks, Ren gained some weight that was now appropriate for his age. He had been a little underweight back at the orphanage since the caretakers there usually monopolized the food for themselves.
For the most part, the awkward atmosphere between them was gradually disappearing over the course of spending some time with each other. Ren didn't mind. Kakashi was still a shinobi who had lost so many so Ren wasn't so surprised to know that Kakashi couldn't talk to a kid about normal things.
"I'm going on ahead. I might be out for a few days so be careful while I'm gone, Ren." The Nohara bit his lip and restrained himself from latching onto Kakashi's sleeve and ask him about where he was going. The boy knew not to ask, but he couldn't help himself.
"Where are you going, Hatake-san?"
"... it's confidential."
Kakashi's answer was short and straight to the point. After hearing that, Ren deduced that it might have been a mission. He was never really the type to pry into someone else's business but for his guardian to leave him alone for a few days? He already expected the things he has to go through once he accepted Kakashi's adoption.
For whatever unknown reason, however, the orphanage had readily agreed to Kakashi's request to adopt him. Kakashi was but a mere teen who didn't even have a single knowledge about how to take care of a child. Sure, Ren wasn't a normal child but it was the principle that counts.
Back to the initial topic, Ren thought to himself. Just what the heck is going through that guy's head? What sane person would leave a five-year-old child alone, who wasn't even familiar in this part of the village? If he could, Ren would have already lectured the silver-haired teen about his wrong decisions.
He must never leave a child alone for a long period of time without someone looking after them. Although, the Nohara thought with a sigh, at least I'm not a normal five-year-old. Ren watched with half-lidded eyes as the eighteen-year-old shinobi left. I pity any normal five-year-olds who has to deal with Hatake-san.
Ren was going to attend the Academy a year earlier than the usual age range. However, he was not pleased with Kakashi's way of taking care of him. The eighteen-year-old teen was turning nineteen this year, and yet, he wasn't capable of cleaning up after himself.
As Ren looked around the kitchen, he couldn't help but frown at the mess littering the sink and near the stove. He knew Kakashi was far too busy but couldn't he clean up after himself once and a while? Ren had been cleaning the apartment for Kakashi in the few days he had been here.
Since Ren was mentally a year younger than Kakashi, the former couldn't help but think how Kakashi's mind works. Ren quickly went to work and after doing a quick clean-up of Kakashi's mess, the Nohara left the apartment and sprinted to the Academy.
The curly-haired boy noticed the faces carved on the side of the mountain. It wasn't really noticeable before but the faces were really detailed down to the stress lines of some former village leader. When Ren reached the Academy, he quickly found his homeroom.
Before he entered, though, he glanced at the oaken door with a frown plastered on his face. It seemed to tower over him, mocking his height. Frankly, he was a bit too small for a kid his age. So, it didn't really surprise him that the door looked bigger than it should be in his perspective.
The first thing he hoped for was that not all of his classmates would be bratty. Although, he was glad to be placed in a class with quite a few decent students when he saw a few clan children; however, it didn't escape his eyes how the Uchihas were crowded on one side.
It was as if they were being cast aside in this room. "Ah, you must be the person Hatake-san recommended. Come in and introduce yourself." The teacher seemed relatively nice. Her voice had this soothing effect when she speaks, and the boy couldn't detect any ill intent from her.
Silence met him when he entered and he almost drowned in his thoughts because of it. There were a handful of civilians in the class and Ren thanked his guardian mentally for placing him in a class where it was a mix.
"Nohara Ren; it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope we get along well for the few years we'll be together." The Nohara knew he received quite a few odd looks from his new classmates, and especially from his teacher.
"I'm Osamu Yura," his sensei spoke up with clarity. "But you can call me Yura-sensei, Nohara-kun." Her statement was acknowledged by a simple nod from the boy. This might bore him; considering that he was surrounded by kids [as if he wasn't a kid himself].
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Osamu Yura had already been wary even before Ren's arrival, especially when that kid was recommended by that Hatake. Hatake Kakashi had once been in her class and she definitely disliked him. Sure, he was a prodigy and positively adorable but...
He was too mature. He was too cold-hearted and distant. There was just something wrong about that particular shinobi. She admitted that he made a perfect example of what a shinobi should be but he just won't make an effort to make at least one single friend when he had been in her class.
Yes, there was something wrong with him and Yura knew that the Hatake still had problems with his social life. Upon Nohara Ren's arrival, she instantly noticed his guarded posture.
She noticed his near, yet distant expression. When she noticed these things, she thought, Oh great, it's another Hatake. She definitely didn't want to deal with another him. She already had enough teaching one once but another one again? Give her a break!
Once he introduced himself, she was honestly surprised by his words. No, it wasn't because of his mature speech nor was it the way he held himself in front of the class. It was because he said it was a pleasure to meet them.
The Hatake had been cold and direct when he had introduced himself all those years ago but Nohara Ren; he looked absolutely excited, ecstatic. She watched him roam his gaze around the room. Was he going to make friends?
"I'm Osamu Yura but you can call me Yura-sensei, Nohara-kun."
Yura was surprised when Ren acknowledged her whereas Hatake had simply ignored her when she had introduced himself. She quirked an amused eyebrow and if one would look closely, Yura was smiling. Maybe he wasn't alike with the Hatake, after all.
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Class was... normal.
Ren had thought it would be boring at first but he was wrong. Despite learning the fundamentals all over again, the way Yura-sensei taught was quite fascinating. There was never a dull moment when Yura-sensei made everything enjoyable.
He might actually like going to class from now on.
Now, remember that he was never a social butterfly in his past life, but he was actually befriended by a Hyuuga, his seatmate. But it would be more appropriate to say that his seatmate just became someone who he would like to bully.
It was Hyuga Neji.
Even though Nohara Ren was a year younger and that Hyuga Neji was quite a stuck-up person, Ren didn't care in the least. The boy found it amusing how Neji would glare at him with everything he does.
With a glare that scares all of their classmates, it was only Ren who was unaffected. Well, he had seen a scarier glare and that was absolutely terrifying. He could still remember the way those eyes narrowed in anger, the shivers running down his spine and the way his sister chased after him for making her drop her ice cream.
Yeah, it wasn't a pleasant memory. Ren chuckled half-heartedly in his head. The Academy wasn't so bad; now that he spent a few weeks attending classes. Ren found out that this new body of his was capable of learning new things with just one look. It was an ability he never had in his past life.
It made taijutsu class easier than it should be and it never crossed Ren's mind how displaying his newfound ability could garner the attention of quite a few people. "Oi," a voice snapped him out of his train of thoughts. "It's time for lunch."
With a silly smile, Ren picked up his stuff and followed Neji out to the courtyard. The latter had had enough of him so the Hyuga just decided to let Ren be in his company. The Nohara didn't even feel guilty for causing a ruckus around the girly-boy.
"Neji-san," the Nohara called out as they both sit under a tree. "Can you – "
"No."
"But I haven't – "
"I said no."
"You didn't let me – "
"No."
Ren dropped his shoulders in dismay with a dark cloud hovering over his head. I'm trying to be sociable here! "I'm just going to the bathroom, Neji-san." The Hyuga briefly glanced at him before returning his attention to his lunch.
"Don't come back."
The dark cloud hovering above the Nohara intensified as he walked away. Why is he so mean to me?! Ren sulked. He was completely unaware of the figures following him. The Nohara quickly did his business in the bathroom and when he exited, he found two of his classmates standing in front of him.
They were trying to look intimidating but in actuality, they looked funny. They were trying too hard to look scary that they looked hilarious instead. Ren inwardly snorted. They remind me of someone in my past life.
"You think you can just barge in our class and take all the attention away, huh?!" Ah, then again, they were at least a head taller than him. Their height alone intimidated Ren but the way they carried themselves was a minus to their intimidating factor. Ah, Ren warily thought as he noticed one tiny detail, their hands can cover my whole face.
The both of them took a step forward and Ren took this sign to bolt out of there. However, his effort was futile and meaningless when they just grabbed onto his arms and stopped him from running away.
Ren inwardly cursed. He blamed his small figure and still-a-bit-thin limbs. The Nohara yelped when the taller of the two, Daichi, carried him over his shoulders. "H... Hey! Where are you taking me?" The Nohara panicked as he struggled in his hold but alas, Daichi's hold on him wouldn't even budge.
"Since you're a hot topic right now, why don't you cool down?"
And suddenly, Ren couldn't breathe.
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"Hey, Ed..."
"Yeah, what is it, Sis?" Edward glanced up from his phone to glance at his sister.
"Will mom and dad come back for our birthday?" She was looking out the window, taking in the summer season outside. School just ended and the Scott siblings just decided to stay home and spend their summer in their house.
A sour look showed itself on Edward's face, making his sister giggle at his cute expression. "Dunno, dun care. Just stay with me sis, and I'll make sure our birthday will be a blast."
"Even if you're against socializing?"
"Even if I'm against socializing."
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Hatake Kakashi was a broken man. He had lost a lot of precious people in the past and even now, he still couldn't move on from the heartache. The wounds in his heart were still fresh... painful...
So when he was informed that Nohara Ren was sent to the hospital, he bolted out of their home and shunshined to the hospital in a blink of an eye. He had startled a lot of staff and patients but that didn't matter.
Why was Ren here?!
Images of Rin flashed in his mind; he could hear his heart pounding so loud in his ears. "Hatake Kakashi-san?" The nurse in front of him calmly called him; managing to calm him down even for a tiny bit.
"Nohara Ren-kun is at room 142. His condition is stable now but because he drowned-" Kakashi blanched at this information. "- he needs to stay at the hospital for a few more days to monitor his health. Additionally, do not let him submerge in water for too long."
The copycat calmed his erratic heartbeat down as he calmly asked, "What do you mean?" When the nurse answered, Kakashi felt his stomach be filled with dread. "He has aquaphobia."