"Sorry, I had this brute running after me," As Ren helped Itachi to get up from the floor, looking in those eyes of his.
Calm, serene and the stress line forming around. Already thinking too much? Ren supposed.
Itachi allowed the help and was piercing with his gaze through Ren, like he was not here. His mind out in another galaxy. First thing he said was, "Shisui for all his cheer has a working brain," a glint in those coals for eyes..
"Politics while not his strongest forte, he does have a blazing optimism, something sorely lacking in the clan," as Itachi took a cup of tea.
"Optimism has its place. Though it must be tempered with the reality. Everyone being in peace and feed could go against something else. When you are the ruler you must decide what to give, what to sacrifice, and if it's worth it," Ren also took a cup of tea while waiting for Itachi's answer.
"Why we must look at the world through the lenses of a ruler? We are children, shinobi, and in my case future clan leader, yet I would not hold the weight of deciding. That's for hokage to do so," gently rising his cup to lips and blessing the world with a tiny smile.
To be content was impossible in this world, if you are, the others would not allow it, "Because while you may hold this idea, the others do not. While you want to serve, you will be made to command. While you abscond the leading role, the others will make you do it," Ren taking a slice of cake.
"We all have our stone to bear, we all have duty, responsibilities and the crimes of being born," Itachi sighed, turning his gaze at Shisui and Izumi, then back at Ren, "If that means to lead or to sacrifice. We must do so."
Fatalistic. This kid was born this way, or made it that way, he thinks his fate was determined at birth and he can only endure the waves of fate. Annoying, close-minded, "Who decided we need to bear our stones? We decide with our mind if there's a stone or not. Duties, responsibilities and—"
Taking a bite of a cookie, removing the crumbs from his clothes, "the crime of being born is a simple creation of the mind called social bonds."
Izumi slapped his head, "Are you calling be a crime? What's this creation of the mind? Social bonds? Speak normal," turning to itachi, "And you? This bugger wouldn't stop talking about this and that, and" her nose crinkled, "Itachi you should know your former classmate. Ren never shuts up when talking about ideals of the mind and word."
Rolling her eyes and her fingers rapping on the table.
Ren coughed, a crumble of cookie went on the wrong way. He got slapped on the back by Izumi as they laughed their asses off.
Itachi waited for the commotion to die down and said, "It may be a creation of the mind, yet we as humans seek connection, seek those bonds and creations and ideals. Abandoning them means leaving what makes you, you."
But what remains of you when those stones are no longer there? Going and forming other stones to stabilize your identity based on what you must sacrifice. On what you must leave behind or endure?
Ren said nothing in retort, nothing concrete, "When those stones will shatter, you will remain with bare skin," Giving a stink eye to Izumi who was ready to jump back in, "How's shinobi life treating you?"
Itachi was perplexed. Ren noticed that, he didn't expect such a question and a total jump from their conversation. Alas, Ren was not anymore in the mood to talk, so let's be boring adults.
"Missions, training with my mentor. More missions. Though all is for the good of Konoha, yet, the mindless D missions area chore and a waste of time."
Stretching his body and yawning. Who loved to do chores? No one, laughing internally at Itachi's torture, "All for the good of Konoha. Their an important source of money and bringing stability and working hands."
A flicker passed through Itachi's eyes. Becoming red. Burning red, then passed again on the cold black, "You are baiting me. All this talk and you played around the topic, baiting me to talk about concepts of mind."
Itachi chuckled, a sweet, ghostly laughter that disappeared as soon as it appeared, "I didn't notice this mind in the class, Ren. Where was it when I was in your class? Hiding, why?"
Hiding from you. Would Ren have said if he had the stones to say it, "Why jump headfirst in battle, when I can enjoy being in academy with Izumi? I see no point in chasing power, the title of being prodigy, of being in the same class as Itachi or Kakashi," shrugging while forcing himself to not make any moves that would betray the lie.
A scoff, both from Itachi and Izumi, "You are playing around the true reason," Itachi said and continued, "While I don't doubt Izumi is a dear friend of yours, I don't think you would put sticks onto your path towards success. There's another reason, no?"
A quirked eyebrow. Ren stayed silent. Don't give them too much. Don't give to vipers and crows the ability to gleam. A twitch of body and his beautiful lie would crumble.
"You are hiding. That's for sure, from what?" Itachi mumbled, then said, "You are a coward Ren. An intelligent, talented coward."
Coward? He could be called many things— A coward he was not. He trained, he learned and prepared. Tried and even now, in a misguided attempt to nudge these people from their doom.
He was not a coward. Glaring at Itachi, "Hiding is not cowardliness, it's preparing for a future. It's making rational decisions based on the information you have."
Huffing, not like a child, "I live as I want, and wouldn't be judged by you, Itachi."
"You judge everyone. Me, Shisui, Izumi, the Uchiha clan, the village and shinobi. Your eyes even now judge me for daring to say what you refuse," sighing, "I mean no harm. Ren, you are a good person, that doesn't mean you can use your brain to burrow it in sand."
His stress lines became pronounced, light shining on Itachi, "You have your duty, and shouldn't run from what life handed to you."
Duty? Your duty would lead you on a path of murder. Itachi. Damn you Itachi. You are a mule. Taking a deep breath, Ren said, "If I am the one doing the duty, then I should be allowed to refuse. We have free will."
Itachi looked disappointed, putting the empty tea cup down on the table, "As you say. Free will, but that ends when your free will can lead to others suffering."