xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

REN — (蓮) "LOTUS", (恋) "LOVE"

LOTUS

"The Lotus flower basically symbolizes the clarity of heart as well as the mind. In other words the Lotus flower represents strength, good luck, long life as well as honor and respect.

This plant is also known to be associated with rebirth. This is a consequence of it supposedly retracting into the water at the night, and emerging a fresh in the Sun the next day. The Egyptians therefore associated the lotus flower with the sun which also disappeared in the night, only to re-emerge in the morning. Therefore the lotus came to symbolize the Sun and the creation.

As something that is associated with rebirth, it is no surprise that the lotus flower is also associated with death, and the famous Egyptian book of the dead is known to include spells that are able to transform a person into a lotus, thus allowing for resurrection.

In Buddhism the lotus is known to be associated with purity, spiritual awakening and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from murky waters in the morning and be perfectly clean. Therefore in common with Egyptian mythology the lotus is seen as a sign of rebirth, but additionally it is associated with purity. The breaking of the surface every morning is also suggestive of desire, this leads to it being associated with spiritual enlightenment.

Perhaps one of the strongest associations of the lotus flower with religion is that that is observed in Hinduism. In this religion the lotus flower meaning is associated with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality, and eternity.

As a lotus is able to emerge from Muddy Waters un-spoilt and pure it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person; it is representative of somebody who carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment.

It is very interesting how the open flower and the unopened Lotus bud forms are associated with human traits. The unopened bud is representative of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up to the divine truth."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

It was difficult... hiding everything that's been happening in their clan. Even more difficult when Ren is around. The boy is smart, they knew that and if they stay around the Nohara a little longer than they should have, then he would be able to tell that something's wrong; and they wouldn't be able to lie because Ren always knows when a person is lying.

They still didn't know how he can, but Ren told them that it was a talent that only he possess. If Ren told them this three years ago, then they wouldn't have had believed him. Currently, the head, Uchiha Fugaku, called for a meeting to all Chuunin and Jounin in their clan. Unwillingly, they told Eita-sen— Eita-senpai and Ren that they have something important to do, something clan related.

Of course, the two of them were very understanding, but Kanata and Shusuke couldn't forget the way Ren's eyes dulled and narrowed with suspicions. They had only been at the receiving end of Ren's unnerving stares once before so when their young teammate glanced at them with those terrifying gaze of his, they couldn't help but stiffened up and stiffly walked away.

To them, they were being jerks to Ren. To Ren, he knew what was happening in their clan; even though he doesn't know from any first hand information. More like, information that came from his past life. But they didn't know that, none of the people close to Ren did. They couldn't face their teammate properly, not when they're hiding something big from him. Something that could cause a Civil War.

Something they knew that Ren opposes.

Even if it's not obvious, Shusuke noticed that Ren doesn't like any dispute, especially between him and Kanata. So, what would happened if there's a huge transgression between the village and the clan? Shusuke is sure that the young Nohara boy would go ballistic. The arrogant fifteen year old knew Ren better, maybe even better than Kanata (who is still obsessed over their little teammate) does.

He still remembers what happened two years ago with clarity. They were thirteen - going fourteen and Ren was turning seven - that he and Kanata had this huge argument that had put Ren in danger. Kanata, despite how he is and how skilled he had been, hasn't activated the Sharingan still. Shusuke vividly remembers how Obito is the same with his teammate.

Kanata had been far more irritable that day and he kept pushing Shusuke's buttons. Being the hothead and prideful teen that he is, he wouldn't let Kanata keep talking down on him and retaliated. Ren had tried to be the peacemaker and reasoned with them — that they were Chuunin now and there was no reason to fight, especially when Eita-sensei wasn't there with them on their first B-Rank together as a Chuunin team- but efforts were in vain.

They had alerted their enemy, and none of them were on guard. With Kanata accidentally pushing Ren harshly near the bushes, they didn't realize that the enemy had gotten hold of their friend. They only noticed that something was amiss when they noticed how there was no Ren stepping in between them to stop their argument. They panicked, and didn't know what to do at first.

They blamed it on each other, resulting in another dispute. They decided to hold a truce until they get Ren back and finish the mission as soon as possible. Thankfully, Kanata had talent in sensory and found their friend in the first five minutes in their search. They followed the trail with no one talking but Shusuke just had to open his mouth and blamed it on Kanata. This, of course, lead to another dispute.

They had heard a scream, silencing them. The sound is filled with agony, pain and helplessness. And it sent shivers down their spine. It was a voice they wished they didn't hear with that tone. It was Ren. They were quick and Kanata silently, aggressively, leads the way to where Ren had been held captive by the enemy. When they reached the barren field, their breath hitched to a stop. There was a sight they wished they didn't see.

A sight they wished didn't happen, but of course, it had only been a wish. They tried to burn the image from their mind but they were in shock. And slowly, just slowly, yet, it seemed almost instant, Kanata's bloodline limit activated. Shusuke's activated as well, and there were three tomoes in place of his previous two. Kanata, however, jumped to three tomoes.

Everything ended in a flash, three bloody bodies littered the barren land as they appeared beside their friend's wounded form. Kanata, with shaky hands, asked Shusuke for a first aid kit — something that Ren had gifted him with — and slowly, with agonizing deep breaths, pulled out the sword thrusted through Ren near his bloody heart. A few more centimeters and he would have — !

He felt a hand on his shoulder, the first aid kit coming to view and with Shusuke's help, they treated Ren's wound the best they could. Kanata did all the sealing of the dead bodies while Shusuke gently carried Ren. In silence, the travelled back to Konoha as fast as they could. They stooped by the hospital first to get Ren treated and when they reported to the Hokage — with freaking Eita-senpai being there too — they received a scolding of a lifetime.

It didn't end there, however, when Kakashi gave then a cold, cold look, something like a bloody murderer would give to its victim. It took three — three bloody weeks — for Ren to wake up. And guess what he first said to them when he regained consciousness? "Next time you two argue, on a mission or not, I'll deal with you two myself. Dislocate your shoulders a couple of times would do it, wouldn't it? I could always heal you guys after every dislocation I make on your bloody shoulders anyways."

That was the first time they were on the receiving end of Ren's horrifying side and they wished — wished — that they weren't. It had been absolutely nerve-wrecking and terrifying. Still, right now, as they go to their compound, they still felt bitter about their current treatment to Ren. The young Nohara had been nothing but kind — and sometimes sadistic when needed be — to them. Right now, they're distancing themselves from him.

They didn't want Ren to be involve with what's going on. After all, Ren is someone very, very precious to them (even though Kanata still has that weird obsession with him).

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

"Yey, Ren-chan's walking me to the Academy, ttebayo!"

"Naru-chan, there's no need to shout, you know."

The blonde ignored him and instead, linked his arm with the younger boy — who's just two months younger than Naruto — and swang in back and forth. They haven't been able to hang out like usual ever since his Ren-chan became a ninja and this is one of those rare times when Ren-chan can take a break.

He missed hanging out with Ren-chan, he's been busy these past few years. "Hey, you're in the same class as Sasuke-san, right?" The blonde's face was set in horror. "HOW DO YA KNOW THAT TEME'S NAME?!" How could Ren-chan?! Was he giving his time to that teme instead of him!? He felt so betrayed by his best friend. Crocodile tears streamed down his cheeks, unlinked his arm and childishly stomped — walked — in a slightly faster pace.

"You're overreacting, Naru-chan. I just know him because one of my teammates used to babysit him when Sasuke-san was a baby. So, see?" His cerulean orbs bore into his hazel brown eyes as his beautiful sky like eyes narrowed. "Are you sure, bayo? That's it?" Ren-chan cutely smiled and nodded. "I'm sure, Naru-chan. I am, after all, your best friend and my one and only best friend!"

The two laughed and intertwined their hands, him swinging Ren-chan's arm back and forth in joy. If there's anything that scares Naruto the most, it would be to lose the people he loves. And under that category, there was Ren-chan and Kakashi. He had never really interacted with Ren-chan's teammates. To him, they were very intimidating. They were so, so tall and he was a shrimp compared to them.

Even so, Naruto out up and brave front and grinned at them.

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

After walking Naru-chan to the Academy, Ren found himself walking back to his home. There was nothing to do today, since Team Yuki is on a break. There was no team training, since Kanata and Shusuke were back at their compound — they were probably talking about the coup d' tat (?). He knew what was going to happen but this particular event is something historic, something major to this universe.

Even though he is the same age as Kakashi spiritually, he couldn't think he can handle the burden if he stopped this massacre and the new future events. BUTWHATWASHESUPPISEDTODIKANATA-KUNANDSHUSUKE-KUNAREGONNADIEBUTWHATWASHESUPPOSEDTODOKANATA-KUNANDSHUSUKE-KUNAREGONNADIEINJUSTAFEWMONTHSANDHEISNTDOINGANYTHING!?

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down as he reached for the knob. Why did it suddenly feel so cold and why couldn't he breathe properly? Was there air? Was oxygen being sucked in an a vacuum?! He took three deep breaths and counted to five and another three deep breaths. He did this cycle a few more times before he finally caught his breath.

Stay strong, Ren. Whatever happened, forget about it. Focus. Just focus right now. The massacre. Just focus on it. He turned the knob and went inside.

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

x

He visited the cenotaph, where his precious one and his own name had been carved in. He had been a resident of this village, had been an official member of the most powerful clan. He had so much good and bad memories in this place. He disappeared from his spot in front of the stone and hide in the trees.

Another person replaced his spot, it was a fifteen year old boy that he knew very well. Uchiha Shusuke. A nostalgic smile graced his lips. He grew up to be a fine young man, and he had hoped that Shusuke wouldn't be involved with what will happen in the future or rather, in a few months. Had, he thought. There was no backing out now.

And so, he wished to have his blood on his hands instead, instead of Itachi's hands.

He took one last glance at Shusuke before disappearing in a swirl. He then appeared near the home of that insufferable man. The man who killed his precious one. He looked through the living room window, making sure that his chakra is hidden well, so is his killing intent. He surveyed the room before moving on to the next window, a bedroom's window.

When he peeked through the glass, his only visible eye widened not only in anger, but also shock and disbelief. In that bedroom, the man, who killed his own comrade, — using the very jutsu he created — was cuddling an almost exact replica of her. Instead of feminine features, this one had a more masculine features.

There were a pair of lavender rectangular tattoos on his cheeks as the boy cuddles close to that man.

"Aren't you going to tell me now why you hate Itachi? It's already been three years." He heard his voice. "... nope. Figure it out yourself. I wanna go to sleep now, though." His breath hitched when he heard the boy speak. The boy looked so much like her.

And. It. Hurts.

"Have you even visited your Auntie Rin?" He felt his heart clench when he heard her name.

"No, not yet but I'm planning to in a few days after I visit Okaa-san's grave."

"Make sure that you do~"

"Hai, hai, anyways, good night, Hatake Kakashi-oyaji." He heard the silver haired bastard chuckle in amusement.

"Good night too, Nohara Ren-chan. Or rather, Hatake-Nohara Ren-chan~"

Fxck. Was he seeing, is it real? That silver haired bastard is taking care of Rin's nephew?!