Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Eleven

✦𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕜𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕄𝕚𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟✦

Naruto, at one point, had arrived and was still unaware of Sozen's appearance. The child who had awoken held a weapon was now recognizable as a Genin. Sozen smirked and got her to hide with him and watch the battle. Gaara regains control of himself and wins the battle.

"Matsuri, are you okay?" Gaara called.

"Gaara-Sensei!" The girl cried, leaping from Sozen's grasp.

"Sozen, was it?" Gaara asked as Sozen lifted his head and nodded.

"SOZEN?!" Naruto yelled, surprising the nearing Konoha Shinobi.

"Yes, I'm here," Sozen sighed.

Naruto lifted Sozen into a hug before realising he was chained.

"What happened to you?" Naruto asked.

"Long story, I just... at least I found people I know," Sozen sighed again.

Sakura ran over to Sozen and was horrified at the state he was in. While Sakura was checking over the boy, the other Sand and Fire teams were getting ready to part ways when Gaara walked over to Sozen.

"Sozen Ichiro, was it?" Garra asked.

"Sozen Fujimoto at this point," Sozen sighed and pushed himself up despite Sakura's complains.

"How did you do that?"

"It's part of my Kekkei Genkai, I'll tell you some day," Sozen muttered before nodding at Gaara.

As the two parted, the Suan Shinobi took their leave. The Konoha team decided to leave in two groups. One to support Sozen while the other went on ahead to report to Lady Tsunade. Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru and Neji stayed with Sozen while Hinata, Shino, Ino and Kiba went ahead. While the walk was relatively quiet, Sozen finally decided to ask his questions.

"So, what have I missed these months?" Sozen grimaced.

"Well, after that battle, Grandma Tsunade became the Hokage," Naruto started, "and Sasuke..."

"Did you see Sasuke?" Sakura cut in with a gasp.

"No, why? Did Orochimaru capture him too?" Sozen asked.

Sozen caught the sharp look Neji and Shikamaru gave him. They could tell he was lying? Sozen must have lost his touch.

"Sasuke went to Orochimaru willingly," Neji informed.

Sozen didn't answer but he did look at the chains that bound him.

"Do you want the chains off? We might be able to get home quicker that way," Neji went to attack the cuffs but Sozen pulled away.

"I haven't had chakra in several months, I don't believe in my current state removing these chakra chains will be a good idea," Sozen mused as he kept walking.

"So how'd you get involved with that fight?" Shikamaru asked.

"The guy carrying the girl ran into me and fell over, then I intervened in the fight for some reason," Sozen shrugged.

"With no chakra or weapons?" Shikamaru raised a brow.

"I'll quote 'for some reason,'" Sozen mused.

Naruto looked between Sakura and Sozen.

"You've changed," Naruto stated.

"I wonder why," Sozen muttered before sighing.

Sozen refused to talk for the rest of the trip which took most of the day. When the Konoha gates came into sight, Sozen sensed a few ANBU members sitting in the treelines. When the group reached the gate, Tsunade stood there with a rather shocked look as Sozen came into view.