Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter One

✦𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞 𝕊𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕟✦

Sozen Ichiro was a quiet boy, he always wore an ANBU mask and a lightly armoured black outfit. If one were to look, they'd see the boy had oddly natural lilac hair which he wore in a mess of locks. His eyes were a brilliant ocean blue that could (literally) send you into a daze.

Everything about him was crafted with a careful hand from his parents until they decided to die. Not many know the truth surrounding the death of Sozen's parents or even if they were his real parents. They were horrible to the boy and while he might not remember them, the choices that lead him to where he was - made into that much more of a weapon than a shinobi.

That's all Kakashi Hatake knew of the boy when the current Jounin senseis gathered to hear the Sandaime Hokage's proposal. To unbalance a team with four Genin and one Jonin, although the transfer of sorts would be that much more like a Jounin themselves as they had ANBU training.

Kakashi hesitated for a moment as the said boy stood quietly in the middle of the room, a cat mask hiding his features. There was the unmistakable fact that this twelve-year-old had a blood-soaked story behind him and Kakashi knew all about those.

"I'll take him if that's alright?" Kakashi finally spoke up, the boy glanced at him.

With a mere look, the boy turned back to the Hokage and gave the slightest nod of his head of his acceptance. While the Jounin sensei were shocked at the fact they boy 'gave' his permission, the Hokage merely smiled.  

"Now that that's sorted, Kakashi, you might do well to see about the Ghost Shinobi. It may come in handy," the Hokage lent back in his chair, happy that Sozen wasn't upset.

Before Kakashi could respond, Sozen gave a small hum to the Hokage. As no one else understood what the boy meant, they were even more confused when the Hokage told Kakashi not to worry and that he would find out soon enough.

Sozen was dismissed after that, he slunk into the shadows of the room and vanished.

The child had returned to what he called home. A mere apartment with no personality. Not the sentimental version of a home. Sozen set his mask down before heading to his dresser, he looked much more like an ANBU agent than a Genin. He would have to change that if he stood a chance of helping his new team.

Kakashi silently observed the boy from the window, he watched as the boy tied a black headband around his neck before placing the mask back on. Kakashi then knocked on his window. With a small flick of his hand, the window slid open. It wasn't quite the invitation that Kakashi was looking for.

"Hello, Sozen," Kakashi started, a small smile beneath his mask.

Sozen just nodded at him, standing near the window.

"I was wondering if it were a problem for you to come to the team introductions this afternoon. Your fellow teammates will likely expect you to talk, is that alright?" Kakashi was wary of the boy's boundaries which Sozen respected.

Again, Sozen nodded before glancing in the mirror.

"Genin?" He questioned.

His voice was surprisingly light, he sounded calm and collected without any hint of raw emotions. Much like the indication of his light hair and eyes, despite the dark exterior, it seemed that Sozen was a pretty good kid.

"Do you look like a Genin?" Kakashi tried to interpret the boy's question.

He was met with a nod before Sozen decided to speak again.

"I want to look like a Genin, not an ANBU," Sozen was frowning under his mask, not that Kakashi could see.

"Hm, Genin tend to wear less armoured clothing. Good for fighting but not so much for protection, more so to the point that it doesn't hinder their abilities," Kakashi offered.