Sozen the Ghost Shinobi

Epilogue Two

✦𝔻𝕒𝕟𝕫𝕠 𝕊𝕙𝕚𝕞𝕦𝕣𝕒✦

After seeing Itachi, Sozen decided to return to his Shinobi duties part-time. It was as he was strolling around the village that an ANBU member approached him requesting a meeting on Danzo's behalf. Though tremors at the torture the man subjected him and Itachi to in the past tried to show their appearance, Sozen didn't quiver. Following the ANBU down the familiar paths towards where Danzo kept base... it wasn't hard to guess that this was going to be some form of karma for getting Tsunade involved with his shinobi rank and past. 

The dark pathways were easy for the new Izanagi to see through, sensing chakra shifting every now and then as they passed training rooms and members on standby. In his training robes, Sozen stood out - white against dark as he'd long since started to grow from the control Danzo once held over him.

Then, they reached the end of the path. Upon seeing Danzo again, Sozen offered the man a bitter smile which wasn't returned.

"Thank you, Usagi," Danzo dismissed the member before allowing all hidden members in the room to scatter to leave the two in private.

"Not fond of company overhearing?" Sozen calmly asked.

"You should know if you regained your past memories," Danzo gruffly responded, "But I believe your past should stay just that - your past. Don't you agree?"

"While I'm all for forgetting the murder of my parents," Sozen took a step forward to circle around Danzo, "I have new commitments outside of my Jounin work."

"You shall add to your list," Danzo smirked, "I want you back working for me."

"Come again?" Sozen scowled, not at all fond of the look that was being cast at him.

"What are your goals from here Sozen? We are entering an era with rouge groups starting  to pop up, the encounter with Itachi Uchiha prooves that the Akatsuki are up to something."

"You have no right," Sozen's tone remained passive but the budding Sharingan in his eyes told a different story, "You have no right to say his name."

"No right?" Danzo mused, taking a step forward, "I think I do. It was a willing mission, there was nothing- Ah!" 

The man cried out in pain as the two tomoe Sharingan burned its brilliant blue in the teen's eyes. The pain for Danzo, however, was located in his bandaged arm - there was no way for the teen to know was there?

"Don't fool yourself, Danzo," Sozen's tone darkened, "I've been able to speak to ghosts since I was a boy - your past is bare to me. Shisui did not commit suicide and Itachi has not committed single treason other than breaking his heart. I have enough evidence on you that Inoichi would cry with one look into my head."

 The Izanagi sighed, frowning as Danzo started to amass chakra in signs of a fight.

"I have no intention to fight with you right now, besides, I thought you were here to bribe me into working for you again. Don't even think about wasting the Izanagi you've worked so hard to gain on me either," Sozen sneered as his Senjutsu chakra pulsed in a warning. 

"How-? The rumours are true then?" Danzo took a deep breath, his nerves apparent, "You're what's called the Izanagi." 

"Unlike your version which is a Jutsu, I'm perfectly able to connect my Fujimoto Kekkei Genkai with the Uchiha's Izanagi use perfectly without harm. However," Sozen folded his arms, "I'm not in a position to be boasting nor wasting my 'gift' on personal matters. I am an effect of the world now, thus not held by the typical bonds one might consider. After knowing this, Danzo Shimura, do you wish to make an official mission for me?"

"You're still willing?" Danzo grunted in confusion.

"I want to see the Akatsuki myself, they are very curious to me."

"Then-" Sozen cut Danzo off, "A formal mission with Lady Hokage's approval."

"... Very well."

Sozen body flickered away from the scene, more than happy to leave his years of trauma as an ANBU and being abused by those who knew of his Fujimoto gains. 

...

It was that evening that Danzo and Tsunade had run though logistics with the teen and come to an agreement. Short-term mission in a year's time - no drawbacks and Sozen's identity to be hidden. The Izanagi had persuaded them that it would be no problem for him to join without actively seeking to prove his alliance. 

It wasn't until at least ten months later that Sozen left to seek information - but in those months there were several things that Sozen grew on as he became even more of a matured shinobi in the eyes of Konoha. 

While training as both a shinobi and the Izanagi, the violet-haired teen was able to make more bonds than he thought. 

He learnt that Team Ten was better company than he had thought. The more he spent with the team and Kakashi, the more he learnt about everyone. Sharing a passion for serenity with Shikamaru, enjoying Choji's love of food and Ino's knowledge of flowers. Asuma had grown a friendly bond with Sozen as the pair trained with wind blades together, the teen often trying new methods and suggesting battle techniques that were useful.

Sakura had come to much kinder terms with Sozen as she started to mature, something that Sozen found far more tolerable than her childish personality. Sometimes Sozen would even join in her Medical Ninjutsu training to learn a few tips on helping where he could on the field with his strong Senjutsu chakra. Tsunade was even willing to send the pair on duo missions or partnered them with Teams Ten or Eight. 

Whenever Sozen was around Kakashi, it seemed that Guy had managed to find his way into befriending the teen, therefore, dragging both Kakashi and Sozen to train with Team Nine which Neji wasn't too overly fond of in the beginning. 

Everything was starting to go well, the Fujimoto name was being tossed around in the village and Tsunade decided to reward Sozen by decreeing them an official clan again with Sozen as the head. There was a small compound made for Sozen though it was no bigger than an oversized house in the utmost traditional style, Sozen was able to learn through his past of what the Fujimoto clan had strived for and heavily tried to meet with the spirit of his grandfather Okuna who was a bit annoyed the Fujimoto blade had broken but even more annoyed at the news Hibiki (Sozen's uncle) had been reanimated and not said anything. Needless to say... Clan affairs were going but until Sozen reached more stability with his Izanagi training he couldn't stay long enough to get the information he desired. 

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AN: Hey! So, I'm gonna clean up some of the earlier chapters and work my way forward while writing towards Shippuden (Probably gonna spam updates sorry~) - these Epilougues might seem a bit pointless but I fully intend to use them as what happens in the time gap because I'm not gonna lie my timeline is gonna get ripped a new one and I felt like laying out these basics and relationship developments~ 04.05.2020 

(The final two Epilogues may be longer depending on how things go. Fingers crossed.)