Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Chapter Eighteen

✦𝕊𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕥 𝕆𝕦𝕥✦

After the oddity that was the mission report with Sakura and Kakashi finding out about Sozen's liking of men, Sakura didn't seem to let the topic go.

While she didn't intend to impose, even Kakashi tried to fend her off Sozen's back as she tried to get him to talk about cute boys with her. Although at one point it just leads her to be upset about Sasuke's leaving.

Though Sozen did use the opportunity to tease Kakashi and Sakura by telling woes of handsome men and how hard it was working with such attractive men running around. It was all teasing as the team ate their dinner. Kakashi was quick to pick up on the underlying tones in Sozen's voice whereas it took a small kick from Kakashi that caused Sozen to laugh before Sakura caught on.

Sozen really didn't hold any importance of romantic or sexual values in his life right now, not to mention that he had yet to get over his childhood trauma. It never became apparent in his life until that point. Sure Naruto had tried getting him to talk about girls on one occasion as trivial chatter but Sozen was useless to come up with an answer.

The night came to a quiet close, Sozen returning to his apartment and finding the sweet that Itachi had left as well as his wrapped mask lying in the bathroom counter. An ache went through Sozen's chest as he looked at the sweet. For each memory he remembered out of nowhere, the more he missed Itachi and realised how much he valued the boy in his younger life. He was far too young for love for the times he had with Itachi but now it seemed that if Itachi weren't Rogue... perhaps something would be there, maybe even an inkling of love. But fate wasn't in Sozen's favour so he quickly snuffed out the idea and went to unwrap the mask.

After the last bandage fell off the mask Sozen felt a headache from the pain this mask brought. It was the first mask he wore as an ANBU member. After his misadventures in the Root section of the ANBU which memories were altered for reasons now known only to Danzo and Lord Hiruzen.

The mask Sozen was first given mask was that of a cat, the markings differing from the typical few lines being much thicker and prominent in the porcelain. Sozen sighed at the memory, Lord Hiruzen had given it to him.

With another sigh, Sozen let the mask clatter onto the counter. This was too chaotic, these unresolved emotions and silly games people put him through. Tsu had promised that once he accepted her off he would no longer have to care about Orochimaru's seals but Sozen had half a mind to waltz over to his location and demand he remove it no matter the cost. Then there was the odd thing with the snake on his thigh that he neglected to tell Tsunade.

No doubt Kakashi would tell her soon enough and she would come over and check him out. Hopefully, it was nothing but a trauma-related vision his mind came up with. Though that was partly wishful thinking knowing Sozen's luck thus far.

Sozen sunk to the ground, two more days and Tsu would decide if he saw enough value in life and death to be named the next Izanagi. It was so crazy it didn't seem real, yet as the big white fox appeared beside Sozen he was reminded it was real.

"You're not going to want to sleep on the ground tonight, I don't know if I'll be enough to give a good nights rest again," Tsu commented from her spot.

"What do you mean?" Sozen quietly asked.

"That snake coming out of your leg wasn't a Genjutsu you fool, do you not remember Orochimaru's snake biting you before you killed it that day?" Tsu huffed.

"That snake? It merely bit me though and no poison was found in me," Sozen trailed off.

"Yet another seal, this one in your benefit," Tsu encouraged Sozen to go to his bed, "Orochimaru, like few others, know the curse of the Fujimoto men better than you may think. Knowing you'd be of age when Hana's seal was removed, Orochimaru saved you from the predicament of the curse... until that pig of a man went and broke it. Now, we have yet to figure out how it affects you."