Ren Kurama

Ren Kurama (鞍馬 連, Kurama, Ren) is a kunoichi from Konohagakure who is known for her famed Kurama Clan's Kekkei Genkai

Background
Ren Kurama was the only child of Masaki and Haruka, a mid-status family in the Kurama Clan. From the beginning, her parents and the very few remaining members of a once strong clan, realized that she possessed the Kurama Kekkei Genkai. Unable to control the power, Ren became possessed by the alternate ego, Noboru, killing both her parents. In fear, the elders of the clan gave Danzo custody over her, where he placed her in the Root. Under his authority, Ren was kept a secret. Ren remained there until she was able to control her powers, her memories erased every time she was possessed by Noboru.

She went through grueling training during her time in the Root and quickly became a deadly weapon for the elder’s command. However, after accidentally killing Hansuke, another member of the Root who showed her kindness, Ren began to question Danzo’s authority and rules. He threatened to wipe her memories, emotions, everything that made her human, completely if she continued to defy him. Frustrated, Ren ran away, killing the two guards that were suppose to keep watch over her without thought. Word got to the Third Hokage quickly and he sent his ANBU after the young girl, ordering them to bring her to him unharmed.

During her escape, she came across Itachi Uchiha. Ren had never seen another child her age before and stopped to watch him practice his shurikenjutsu. The boy noticed her rather quickly and threw a kunai at her, which she caught and stepped out of her hiding place. The boy was impressed by her reflexes and asked who she was. Instead of answering, Ren handed his knife back to him before running off again.

Ren was captured a short time later and taken to the Hokage. She angrily told him her situation and demanded better treatment or she would destory the entire village. The old man, knowing that she was only a child, compassionatly offered her to transfer her to his branch of ANBU Black Ops, telling her that she would have a home and meals provided to her as well. Reluctantly, the young girl agreed and Ren was recruited by the ANBU where she took out most of the growing darkness of Noboru during the missions. Her path of becoming one of the most deadliest kunoichis in the land started.

Over the next year, Ren grew aquainted with Shisui Uchiha, another member of the ANBU. She asked the older ninja about Itachi and he told her she would have to find out herself. Taking this as a challange, Ren would still sit and watch while Itachi would train. He knew she was watching him but didn’t force her out of hiding like the first time, deciding that she would come out on her own time. He, of course, was right. She finally approached him and introduced herself, asking why he trained so hard. He told her that he needed to increase his skills so he could help bring peace. She told him that it was impossible but he retaliated, which made her more curious about him. Their acquaintanceship began to grow slowly but surely.

Soon, Itachi was recruited by the ANBU as well and they were placed on the same team. They spent more time together where Ren learned more about him and philosophies, beginning to question her own. She strived to be like him and grew fond of him, secretly wanting to protect him.

As the years progressed, the two acknowledged their friendship and Ren grew to admire both Itachi and the Uchiha clan. Even with the rising suspicions and tension surrounding the clan, she redused to think ill of them. However, witnessing her friend lash out on some Uchihas of the police force, Ren knew something terrible was going to happen. She questioned the Hokage but he dismissively told her Itachi was just tired and stressed over the overload of missions. Knowing arguing was no good, Ren accepted his answer and spoke nothing of it after that. The night of the of Uchiha Clan Downfall, Itachi came to Ren first and pleaded for her to take care of Sasuke. Still unaware of the situation, promised him that she would look after his younger brother. After learning the truth from a letter Itachi left her, she turned her cold once again, the only thing stopping her from taking revenge on Danzo was her promise to watch over Sasuke.

Personality
From a young age, Ren was detached and apathetic. She didn’t make very many connections with many of her peers because she never spent any time with them. Ren would've been considered intelligent but she got distracted easily. She also had a short temper, short attention span and approached everything passively. Most people see her as indimidating and stuck-up, however, Itachi considered her kind-hearted and selfless. He noted that she only acted aloof because she thought kindness was a sign of weakness. Despite her cold demeanor, she had a soft spot for younger children, such as Naruto and Sakura mostly because of Sasuke and was quite protective once she became attached.

Over time, she made a few friends, one of which was her former team captain, Kakashi. Though he never pushed their friendship, she slowly began to acknowledge him as a comrade after the downfall of the Uchiha clan. She grew to trust in him the most out of anyone even though she still had a hard time showing any affection and made him question if she secretly hated him.

Appearance
Ren is an average height, average built kunoichi. She has dark spikey hair that is usually tied up in a ponytail when she’s on duty with bands that fall across her face and the Konoha forehead protector tied around her head. Her eyes are described as "unsettling red".

During her Part I, she wore the standard ANBU uniform of dark blue turtleneck and pants with a grey flak jacket during her missions. Whenever she is not on duty, she dresses in a red track jacket with a revealing blouse underneath with black shorts and stockings over her black sandals.

In Part II, Ren wore the standard green chunnin vest over a red jumper, black gloves and forehead protector around her head.

Chakra and Physical Prowess
Like most ANBU members, Ren is physically. She shows impressive speed and reflexes, as noted by Itachi and many others. Though she doesn't have a high amount of reserve chakra, she has acute chakra control, which allows her to outlast her opponents.

Ninjutsu
Ren doesn't usually use standard ninjutsu because it requires too much chakra, unless she has absorbed extra chakra from her opponent. Her nature's include Fire, Earth,Water, Yin and Yang release.

Bukijutsu
Being a full fledged member of the ANBU, Ren is skilled with the sword. Her primary weapon is a keepsake of her late father, which also serves as a chakra blade to help her control her specialized chakra absorption technique.

Kekkei Genkai
Kurama Clan’s Kekkei Genkai was a talent in very powerful genjutsu that would cause the brain to believe anything that happened in the illusion is real and physically harm on the victim’s body. This allows Ren to potentially kill her opponents with genjutsu. However, she can’t fully control her abilities, which was why Noboru, the monster that weilded her power, existed. Through many years of training, Ren was able to suppress Noboru from taking complete control over her but whenever she wanted to use the genjutsu, she would have to lend him some of her chakra. This would often leave her weak after battles. When Ren grew older, she developed a chakra absorption technique by using her father’s keepsake katana. She would absorb her opponent’s chakra for Noboru to use instead of her own, then activate the Kurama Kekkei Genkai

Part I
Ren remained in the ANBU black ops, carrying out missions and training as she was suppose to. She helped oversee the chunnin exams, ordered to make sure things didn’t get out of hand. However, when Orochimaru’s plans on destroying the village began to become revealed, she was ordered by the Hokage, who feared Orochimaru would use her as his next vessel, to flee the village and go into hiding

Part II
After returning to the village nearly three years later, Ren learns that Sasuke had deserted Konoha and went after Orochimaru. During the Kazakage Rescue Mission, Ren was out on her own mission to find him, however before she was able to find Sasuke, she ran into Itachi and his partner, Kisame. Ren realized her old friend was an entirely different person when told her to leave Sasuke to him or he would have to kill her. Enraged, she attacked him but in the end wasn’t able to bring herself to harm Itachi, getting disarmed and thrown into a genjutsu by him. When she woke, both Itachi and Kisame were gone and Ren ended up going home defeated.

When the Kazagake Rescue Team returned, she visited Kakashi in the hospital and confessed she was considering to resign from the ANBU Black Ops. Her former captain and friend, although telling her to do what she felt was right, said she was too strong to give up so easily. Ren decided to remain in the ANBU and was placed as captain of her own squad a short time later

The Three Tail's Apperance
       Main article: Three-Tails Arc

Ren is sent to seal the Three Tails after the other Konoha Teams returned to the village. Deidara and Tobi found the ANBU team and disposed of them, leaving only Ren because Tobi had remembered Itachi's warning about harming her.

Itachi's Pursuit Mission
       Main article: Itachi Pursuit Mission

Although she was a part of the Eight Man Squad, Ren went off on her own. Having one of the best sensory type in the group, she wanted to find Itachi before Sasuke or the other teams did. Though she was prepared for a fight, when she came face-to face with Itachi, she broke down, realizing she was still unable to bring harm on her friend. However, knowing it was their last time seeing each other, Itachi regarded her kindly. He told her he was thankful for her part in his life and that she was special to him. After they said their final farewells, Ren disappeared, needing time to mourn and be alone.

Pein's Assult Arc
       Main article: Pein's Assault

When Ren returned to Konoha, it undergoing the beginning of Pein's assault. She helps the civilians evacuate and take the wounded to the hospital. During the mehaem, Ren suddenly couldn't sense Kakashi's chakra at all. Panicking, she searched for her comrade, finding just as he died from battling Deva Path. Enraged, Ren attacked Deva Path. He praised her speed and skill but also said she was still no match for him and recalled the other Pein's out of the village where he destroyed the entire village. Ren was saved by Katsuyaa and refuses to leave Kakashi's side while witnessing Naruto's fight with Pein. After watching Kasashi come back to life, she cries with joy and embraces him, much to his surprise. They went to meet Naruto as he returns to village, where Ren fondly told the boy she was proud of him.

Five Kage Summit
Ren disappeared once again to find Sasuke. She meets "Tobi", who is now calling himself Madara, who gives her Itachi's tattered robes and ring as a sick joke. He also offers to take her to Sasuke, which she agrees to. When Ren finds him just before he attacks the summit, she attempts to presuade him to change his mind. Relizing it was nearly hopeless, she told him that she would always look out for him, despite his choices because it was what she promised Itachi. She then leaves him alone and meets up with Naruto, Kakashi and Yamato. She goes with Kakashi to stop Sakura from confronting Sasuke. When they arrive, Sasuke has a vision from Itachi, revealing that Ren was in fact pregnant with his child (Itachi had planted a genjutsu in her that would activate when he tried to attack her) and the younger ninja took it upon himself to make sure the child was safe. Ren was unaware of the pregnancy until after Kabuto’s defeat where Itachi (reanimated) explained to her as well. She then accompanied Sasuke, Orochimaru, Suigetsu and Jugo to resurrect the former Hokage. Under Sasuke’s ordered, Team Taka took care of Ren, making sure she stayed safe during the war.

Epilogue
Ren gave birth to her son, Itsuki, and raised him as a single mother. For the most part, she tried her hardest to be around as much as possible but since she was still part of the ANBU, serves as the Sixth's Hokage's assitant and also helped Sasuke with his long-term mission. Itsuki understood his mother was busy and didn’t complain, usually staying with Kurenai and her daughter, Mirai whenever she was called on duty. Ren never married and had a strong bond with her son, loving him more than anyone else

Movies
Ren appears briefly in Naruto Shippuden The Movie as well as Blood Prison, Will of Fire, Road to Ninja and The Last. She also appears at the second part of the chunnin exam with her son and Sakura in the Boruto Movie.

Trivia

 * Ren can be either masculine or feminine and can mean either “lotus” or “romance/love”
 * Her hobbies include taking walks and cooking
 * Her favorite food is natto (fermented soy beans) and rice. Her least favorite is dangos
 * Ren had completed 313 official missions in total: 47 D-rank, 112 C-rank, 134 B-rank, 19 A-rank and 1 S-rank
 * Ren is unable to perform any type of medical jutsu

Reference

 * Ren's pictures
 * Ren's story
 * Screenshots taken from the Naruto animation