Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Ten

✦𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕟 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖'𝕤 ℝ𝕒𝕚𝕟✦

Sozen had lost a lot of himself in the past set of months. Training relentlessly to avoid Sasuke from killing him, playing right into Orochimaru's hand proved a hindrance. Sozen was working up quite the amount of power but Sasuke was too. The two were always trying to one-up each other to no prevail. Orochimaru's condition was worsening while Kabuto gradually became hostile towards both Sasuke and Sozen despite somewhat fearing both.

In recent times, Sasuke and Sozen had grown a little but only a mere six months had passed and Sozen was losing his mind. Between patches of memories, he relived every night the horror and lies of his childhood. The lies were perhaps the worst and Sozen wanted to hold Danzo accountable despite the two cutting ties when Sozen joined Team Seven. There were so many people Sozen needed to have words with that he slowly found himself unable to sleep due to the memories driving him insane with vengeance for those who ruined his childhood and rewrote it.

One day, when everyone could hear the raging storm above the base, Sozen decided to make his move. He knew his way around the base and he doubted he'd get must resistance from anyone stronger than him. Sozen stopped meditating, the new clothing Orochimaru had given him was little more than a simple robe so as to assess the seal on him. Due to a few circumstances, Sozen had grown at a fastened rate. No longer did he look like a young teen but someone a couple years older and it wasn't just Kabuto's drugs that made this occur. It was simply old means making an end.

Without any effort, Sozen walked to the door and pulled the chain off the wall. While he couldn't break the chakra absorbing chains themselves, he could easily break a wall. On his way to Orochimaru, Sozen stopped by Sasuke's room. Sasuke opened the door with a frown before letting him in.

"So you plan to leave, Sozen?" Sasuke questioned with a smirk.

"My business here is done, I got information on my past and Orochimaru got the monster he once saw. Just be sure to kill him for me, I mightn't be able to get rid of the seal until he dies," Sozen shrugged.

Sasuke glared up at Sozen, there was some form of a neutral alliance when it came to the two. They weren't friends and Sasuke was solely determined to become an avenger without relying on a team or friends.

"You knew Itachi, didn't you?" Sasuke asked as Sozen was leaving.

"I grew up with him and Shishi, we were a team at one point and I have to thank your brother for a few things. But, he did for whatever reason, kill your clan. He may be a Missing-Nin but he was a good man at one point," Sozen offered with a small shrug which only pissed Sasuke off.

"And will you see him again?" Sasuke sneered.

"One day. We do have unfinished business and the past to talk about now that I've regained my memories, I only hope you find your desired strength Sasuke,"

"And if you do return to Konoha..." Sasuke looked at Sozen with a challenge in his gaze.

"I won't breathe a word of our spars or this location, not that you'll be staying long once I've left," Sozen laughed.

At that, he left. Naruto would likely have a fit from what Sozen had heard - if he found out about this that is. As he walked down the hall he reached Orochimaru's room. Sozen had become rather familiar with the room for odd reasons. It seemed to Sozen that Orochimaru not only used biting as a form of giving power but taking as well - or he tried to. For the exchange of missing memories and formula to help Sozen return to how he was supposed to be, Orochimaru consumed his Fujimoto chakra for a time. It was the only situation where Sozen was allowed out of his chains and Kabuto always stood near with a glare of endless hate.