Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Twelve

✦𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕒✦

After sharing such stories with Kakashi, Sozen could sense the bond between them grow. Something that was well overdue. As the approached Suna, Sozen reflected.

"Kakashi, do you remember when we were fighting Zabuza, you told me something when you were healing," Sozen commented.

"Ah, that seems like a long time ago now," Kakashi mused.

"You told me to chose between growing and becoming human or remaining as I was, I guess I ended up choosing - don't you agree?" Sozen smirked. 

"Heh, I'm happy to see you returning to yourself despite the bad memories that came with your past, there seems to have been some good ones."

"There were, some really fond memories I'm surprised vanished came back to me."

Sozen gave a small smile before Kakashi and he met the Suna guards. Sozen observed the desert climate and village that looked made out of stone and sand. It looked like a very different type of village to Konoha. There was a different type of peace here, it wasn't children playing in the cool shade of lush green trees but it was still a communal place. To Sozen that made everything look peaceful, there was a sense of community and that was immensely important. 

When Kakashi and Sozen entered the Kazekage's office, Gaara met them with a small smile. It seemed this was, in political terms, where Konoha and Suna could strengthen their alliance. Not many Konoha Shinobi got to stay for prolonged amounts of time in Suna. 

"I'm glad to see you came, Sozen," Gaara nodded as Kakashi handed him the scroll.

"The invitation was a bit surprising but I'm happy to be here," Sozen answered with a small smile.

After a bit of planning, the idea was for Sozen to stay for three weeks before getting an escort back to Konoha. The main idea would be socialising and getting Sozen to know his way around the village. For whatever reason, the Suna higher-ups decided Sozen would make for a good ally. Then there was the matter of Shukaku, whom Gaara quietly mentioned wished to speak with Sozen again as Kankuro lead the group to where Sozen would be staying and where Kakashi could room for the night. 

The room was in a building, not a minutes walk away from the Kazekage's office. Kankuro told Sozen that he lived in the same complex if he ever needed anything before leaving Sozen and Kakashi in the room. Gaara stood at the door.

"I'll leave you two to rest and look around, after seeing Kakashi off tomorrow Sozen, please come to my office," Gaara requested.

"Of course, see you then," Sozen answered with a polite nod. 

Sozen took his time to look around the room. It wasn't anything like he had stayed in before, while there was the very standard apartment layout the structure itself seemed to be made of hard rock in a sandy colour, a trend Sozen had to assume went with most of the village at least certainly it's exterior. 

"Are you going to be alright, alone for three weeks here?" Kakashi asked a small look of worry conveyed on his face.

"If anything bad happens to me, I'll inform Gaara but all of my personal issues aside... I don't think there's any reason for worry. I'm nothing but a mere foreigner, somewhat odd but not unusual," Sozen gave a tiny shrug.

"What if Orochimaru comes after you?" Kakashi asked as he sat on a chair in the kitchen side of the room.

"Then the village will protect me I imagine, not that I believe he'll come after me while he has... you know," Sozen trailed off awkwardly.