Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Three

✦𝔸𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕋𝕨𝕠✦

Sozen woke with a start, sweat dripping down his face and fresh terror plastered on his face. These weren't his feelings, his thoughts or even his memories yet he was forced to relive them and take on the emotional baggage the person felt. Sozen was tired, the dream was one of his relatives seen through the clan's heritage. Smoke and flames brought the end to the Fujimoto clan, it was brutal as no one was left alive after half of the clan's land burned to the ground. The smell of ash and sting of burns ghosted over Sozen's senses. 

It was getting worse. More memories were popping up and hindering him.

But, he had to aid his team in a C-rank mission today. He couldn't rest, even if he wanted to. Sozen did make quick work of physically getting ready, having food pills rather than a meal he was the first one at the gate, ready and waiting for the team's arrival. The team arrived quite promptly, Kakashi walking up to the gate with Tazuna who soon was sent into a fury about having children escort him. 

There were many things Sozen could put up with, but the arrogance with this man seemed to rekindle a fire of emotions within him.

"Shut up!" Sozen cut Tazuna's argument with Naruto off, the two freezing in place.

"What the hell do you want, boy? You gonna say something to the Hokage for me?" He growled.

"No, I'll kick your ungrateful arse. You paid for a team available for a C-rank mission, here we are. Take it or escort your damn self," Sozen folded his arms as he spoke. 

Kakashi sweat-dropped while Naruto cheered Sozen on. Tazuna froze up slightly, trying to look past Sozen's mask.

"What's up with the mask? Looks a little freaky," Tazuna scoffed.

Sozen made a small sound of amusement before heading out on a trail, Tazuna following him with a bitter look. A little shocked, the rest of the team followed and argued as they went. 

Eventually, Sozen sensed that they were being followed by ninja ranked higher than a Genin, most likely Chunin. Sozen didn't have to look at Kakashi to know he also sensed them, the two were on a different level but had four people to keep safe. When the Chunin launched the attack, Kakashi helped Tazuna while the other three were left to their own demise. Naruto was too shocked to move quick enough and got cut by a lingering attack, his hand starting to bleed from the wound. Meanwhile, Sasuke had taken to restraining the Chunin before teasing Naruto about being a "scaredy-cat." 

With a determined cause, Naruto stabbed himself to bleed out the poison from the attack. He swore, "never to freeze up and leave his friends to fend for themselves ever again." The heroic speech caused Sozen to smile.

"Naruto, that's a lovely vow, but you're bleeding out and could faint," Sozen teased.

Naruto paled at the realisation and the rest of the team frowned at his stupidity. Sozen rolled his eyes before shifting his mask to show half of his face - the clan marking hidden. This caught the team off guard as he approached Naruto. Sozen took Naruto's hand and held it still while green chakra flowed from his other hand.

"Medical ninjutsu?" Kakashi asked, rather shocked that he could pull it off.

"I had spare time," Sozen smirked. 

With the healing done, Sozen put the mask back down over his face and carried on as if nothing happened. Naruto was in awe that his hand had healed but the pain remained thanks to Sozen's teasing of his vow. 

"Before we carry on," Kakashi stopped the team, "Tazuna, I'd like to know the truth about this mission."

"Ah, I- I don't-" "Cut it, Tazuna," Sozen cut his stuttering off.