Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Seventeen

✦𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕪 ℍ𝕠𝕞𝕖✦

Sozen sat with his arm brushing against Kakashi's. The unspoken support went a long way for Sozen but it did stir old memories from Haruto's own rape punishments and how Itachi became the one that would offer him silent comfort. As if he could sense the change in Sozen's mood, Kakashi spoke up. 

"What are you thinking about?" 

"You know since my age change, I knew Itachi Uchiha a long time ago. My fa- f- Haruto, he used to do these things to punish me... Itachi would just be there for me with no words, no questions about what had happened..." Sozen let out a sob he didn't know he was holding and looked away.

Sozen assumed Kakashi got what he was talking about from the pity and pain in his eye that seemed to burn with thought. Sozen tried to block the emotions he was feeling, he had to or he might find himself in the presence of Tsu quicker than he thought. Perhaps that's what he needed to do when he got back, train.

"The mission was only to assassinate Lord Touma, not infiltrate," Kakashi made the soft comment.

"If Natsume took my place... I wouldn't forgive myself. Even if it is her job, it's not supposed to that cruel," Sozen winced.

"I see... your sense of compassion has grown, you might want to be careful with it."

"How do I even have emotions after all of this mess?" Sozen laughed. 

"Because you want them," Kakashi shrugged before standing up.

"You need some rest since we have to travel back in the morning without you being recognized," Kakashi offered Sozen a hand to which he took. 

Sozen winced when he stood up, his rear hurt to the point he stumbled. Kakashi was quick to steady Sozen who was somewhere between red with anger and embarrassment. Kakashi hesitantly looked at Sozen, despite the fact they walked here Sozen looked to be a lot more tired and broken now. 

"Is it okay if I carry you? I don't want you pushing yourself after that," Kakashi waited for Sozen's small nod.

Sozen wasn't happy as Kakashi carried him but he was thankful that it allowed his sore body to rest. As soon as the two reached the room they'd be sharing, Sozen went to have a shower so he could feel clean and wear his ninja clothes again.

While Sozen was having his shower, he noticed something he found to be odd. On his inner thigh on his left leg were two puncture wounds. They were dark purple and seemed to ooze a bit of blood when he pushed around the area. There was an odd throbbing sensation but nothing major until something moved under the skin of Sozen's leg. Between yelling, falling over and almost knocking himself out... Sozen saw a snake rip out of his leg from the bite wounds. 

The yelling and falling over alerted Kakashi that something was amiss but he had his reservations on walking in on Sozen. So he opened the door without looking in.

"Are you alright, Sozen?" Kakashi quickly asked.

"I- There's- Is there a Genjutsu on me?!" Sozen yelped and threw a towel over his private part. 

Kakashi glanced at Sozen, who didn't seem to be under a Genjutsu but was freaking out none the less.

"What are you seeing?" Kakashi tried to figure out the situation.

"A snake ripped out of my leg from two puncture wounds," Sozen rambled and he made an effort to sit up and look at his thigh.

The only trace that anything might have happened was a big dark purple blotch on Sozen's thigh. While Kakashi wasn't found of looking so high up on the boy, he knew it was necessary to see if Sozen was alright.