True Self, New Self

Finally, today's last update!!


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True Self, New Self.


Chapter 17: The First Team Arrives, Who Are Them?


Only ten days to the Chuunin exams. Since this morning I sensed a change in the atmosphere in Konoha, it is more tense but calm at the same time, everyone notice that but act as they didn't, continuing with their daily routines. Somehow, I can't help but think that it is like the calm before a storm, a storm called Chuunin exams. Maybe the people of the village are still wary of them, even when it has been five years since the Sound attack, they lost a Hokage that day, and that is not easy forgiven or forgotten. Clear example is the festival they held each year to remember my father.

I can't help but to hate that festival, when it came I had to hide and barricade my apartment to defend myself from drunken villagers. If in any other day they used to beat me hard, they were brutal that day. I learned to not go out the hard way when I was three, if it wasn't for Kyuubi's healing abilities I wouldn't have survived that beating. It was a miracle I managed to escape, thankfully, drunken villagers are stronger and more ruthless, but they are easier to ditch.

I feel my mood drop a few degrees when I remember that. I wonder why I keep doing this to myself, I should just forget about everything. But even when I moved on, I can't help but keep remembering those days when things weren't as bright as they are today. And I can't help but to be grateful to the villagers and to those days, because thanks to them I'm able to understand pain better than many, and by understanding that, I can also understand Gaara and Sasuke, and I'm able to help them.

You can't help anyone with their problems if you don't truly understand their situation. I couldn't have help Gaara overcome his hate for his village, if I didn't know how is it like to grow up being hated by it. And I won't be able to help Sasuke overcome the pain of the loneliness that swallowed him after his entire family died, if I didn't know deeply well the white pain of being completely alone since I was born.


But enough of dwell in the past, I have to pay attention to the present and build things for the future. But the present decided that I had to focus on him right now and sent my new found fan club to make sure I did. Even if they are extremely annoying, their intelligence network is vaster than I first thought, so they probed worthy of my attention. After all, information is a very powerful weapon. I started to talk to them the day after Yuki started attending the academy. It is amusing looking at them, even if I'm not friendly with them, just the necessary nice, and my attitude towards them is generally cold, they don't seem to care and it seems to excite them even more. A strange phenomenon that I only saw once before, when Sasuke was still in Konoha.


"Good afternoon Kaji-san!!" Came the chorused greeting of the girls, the boys that are usually around no where to be seen.

"Good afternoon girls. How was your day?"

They all launched into a detailed explanation of what they did since they woke up, I got used to block the ramblings that don't have any kind of useful information, my brain filtering the ones that can prove important, that's how something between their blabbering caught my attention.

"Anyway, I was walking near the Main Gate, and I saw a group of Grass nins enter. It looks like the teams from other countries are starting to arrive!"

"Really, and how where they?"

"They were three genins, really cute looking, they are 14 or 15. And their jounin teacher, who was really hot! He has this long black hair tied in a braid and these beautiful deep blue eyes. And he had this really cool looking sword hanging on his side!"

My mind start processing the new information, I met the team that was coming to the Chuunin exams while I was in Grass, they were two girls and their jounin teacher was a female. Sure, there is always the possibilities they changed the team, but I really don't think so. The wind suddenly picked up, bringing to me a scent I know too well. Really that bastard, at least they could have disguised as ninjas from another village, but Grass again?!

"Excuse the interruption Maya-chan, but you know where they are staying?"

"Well I heard that they were going to stay in this house at the far end of the village, the one that is away from all the rest and has a training arena."

"Thank you. I'll see you later girls, I just remembered I have something else to do."

"What?"

"I need to find some snake bait."

"Snake bait?" Is the last thing I hear before I take off through the roofs, heading to the house were the supposed Grass nins are staying, masking my chakra on the way.

I arrive to my destination on matter of seconds and decide to sit on a high branch of a tree that hovers over the training arena. I can feel their chakra moving around the house, setting traps and security jutsus around it. I pity the soul of the poor being that dares to try to get in without being invited, and ANBU will spent hours trying to get in, hell, even I will have a headache by the time I manage to slip through all of them. Not that I can't do it quicker than an ANBU...

Finally, Sasuke himself comes to secure the area around the training arena, while his students start to settle in. I know he will find me if I don't move, I'm not hiding anyway, even a genin can spot me if they try. Besides, to tell the truth, I want him to find me.

"You on the tree, I know you're there so come down right now."

"And what if I don't want to?" I say amused.

"You will come down anyway, corpses aren't good holding on to branches." He says taking out some kunais.

"Really Uchiha-san, you could have said please." I say laughing when he tensed up and I jumped down, landing without efforts.

"Kaji, what are you doing here?," he says before spotting the headband tied around my waist,"So, you're a Konoha shinobi."

"I recently joined this village yes, not five days away from now actually. I came to a point that I had to join a village, so I decided to join the strongest one. It is the best, but of course you will differ. After all, you were the one that defected it in order to join Orochimaru in your quest for power to get your revenge."

"He offered me power, and I took it."

"If you're going to embark in a journey for revenge, dig two graves, my friend."

"And now you're quoting Confucius, you're very literate after all. Anyway, if you are a Konoha ninja and you know who I am, you shouldn't be trying to capture me? I'm a missing-nin of this village after all."

"And where will be the fun in that? No, I won't say anything. So, the snake is planning another attack to Konoha, because that's the reason you're here right?"

"How did you found me anyway?"

"You reek to snake. You could have changed you appearance and you chakra signature Uchiha-san, but your smell remains the same. I recommend you to go to an onsen to get rid of that smell, because there is always the possibility of the Inuzuka's to spot it too. After all these years with Orochimaru, your smell is almost the same."

"Really?"

"Yes, and you dress almost the same. I'm glad to see you in normal clothes. Don't let the snake chose your wardrobe again. He's probably getting your body used to fight and move in that clothes for when he takes your body, but it isn't time yet for it. Besides, his sense of fashion is nule."

"Hn." He responds, but I can see a small smirk in his lips.

"So for what name are you going now?"

"Ryuji-sensei!!" Came three voices from the door that leads to the training arena.

"What?"

"We finished unpacking Ryuji-sensei. And who is this person?" One of them say, while the other two eye me suspiciously.

"Aren't you going to introduce me Ryuji-sensei."

"This is Kaji-san, he was sent here to make sure we felt comfortable. Kaji, this are Mako, Sako and Sora" He says pointing at each of them.

'Good lie Sasuke!'

"Pleased to meet you. Ok guys, right now, I'm taking you to an onsen, so you can relax after your long trip. The Grass village is far away and you must be tired."

They thought about it for a moment before they went inside to grab a fresh change of clothes.

"You should go to Ryuji-sensei," I say in an almost mocking tone,"I will be waiting at the front." I say before poofing away.

Two minutes later, Sasuke was joining me outside.

"Where are your team of brats?"

"Deciding what to wear."

"They are one group of cocky little brats with airs of greatness. Their head are so filled with it that they are about to start floating. Sorry but it is the truth."

"I agree, maybe someone will pop their little bubble at the Chuunin exams."

"You can count with that."

Ten minutes later, the bunch of brats join us outside and I lead them to the nearest onsen. The four of them are in serious need to get that smell off them.

' ' Why are you helping them kit? If you informed the old woman about that, they can force the Uchiha boy to stay and all of this nonsense will be over. ' '

'No it won't, if I go to Tsunade now and force him to stay, he will run away again. He will continue to run away in seek of power, no matter how many times I bring him back, because he still wants to get his revenge against his brother. He won't stop until he realizes that all of this is stupid, and that if he kills his brother, he will be just like him.'

' ' Then why you don't tell him what we saw? That will stop him for sure. ' '

'He won't believe me, hell I wouldn't believe me if I was him. He needs to see it for himself, he has to hear it from his brother not from me.'

' ' You have a point there kit. I was afraid that you were returning to that stupid self of yours since you told your friends everything. I'm glad to see that you are still the same. ' '

'It seems that I'm subconsciously activating that defense mechanism. It will take a while to convince myself that it is safe to be me inside the village.'

While I talked with Kyuubi, my body was in autopilot. For some reason, time outside seems to fly faster than inside my mind, because by the time I came back to reality, I was sitting inside one of the onsen's pools at Sasuke's side. Thankfully, no one seems to notice that I spaced out for so long, maybe they thought that I'm the silent type? I take a sniff around, the snake smell is completely gone, funny, I thought it will take longer than that to get rid of it. No, scratch that, my fingers are starting to look like raisins so that means that I've been here for a long while now.

I start to look around, taking in all the details I can about my environment. The brats are at the other side of the pool, fooling around like academy kids, no Sound nins, or Grass nins for that matter. Suddenly, the door burst open, sending all the presents into an alert state, from the open door... came Kiba. I release the breath I didn't notice I was holding, that idiot almost gave me a heart attack. He looks around and spot me and my companions.

"Yo Kaji! I was looking all over for you man! And who are your friends?"

"They are the team from Grass that came for the exams." I say calmly, Sasuke is eying me, maybe he thought I will betray him, I just give him a reassuring look. He really should calm down.

"Really? Teams are arriving already? Wow, each year they come earlier!"

"Why were you looking for me Kiba?"

"Oh right, I almost forgot! We're going to the karaoke tonight, I won the prize of a game and I have to spent it! Your friends from Grass can come too, they won't refuse an invitation from the hosts of the exams right?"

"We will love to!" Sasuke glare at his students and I smile at them. Now Sasuke will be stuck for hours with almost all his ex-friends, I can't wait to see how he deals with that and I will take the chance to mess a little bit with his mind while at it.

"We will be there Kiba, I will pick the Grass and take them there. What hour?"

"20:00, don't be late of Choji will eat all the food!"

"We won't. Now go before your boyfriend comes looking for you." He blushes and goes away, mumbling curses under his breath.

"Great, now we will get to know the enemy better." Sora commented and his teammates agreed, completely ignoring the fact that I was still there.

"Ok everyone, I will be picking you up at 19:30, so be ready by then, because I won't wait you for too long!"

"Ok."

"Ryuji-sensei, I take it that you can go back to your residing quarters on your own? I'm afraid that I won't be able to escort you back, I have to go pick Yuki-chan at the academy." I say smiling, the muscles on Sasuke's face twitching, I know he wants to frown, but he's playing the emotionless ninja, even if that doesn't work with me. I stand up and go to the dressing room, get dressed and leave three happy genins and one pissed Sasuke at the onsen.

[Sasuke's POV. 19:30]

I will make these brats pay from putting me in this situation, I knew that sooner or later I will see those that used to be my comrades, but I never thought I will see myself stuck into a karaoke of all places for who knows how long, thanks to the brats. I don't know why they are so excited about going to a stupid karaoke, they spent hours getting ready to go. I glare at all of them, if I had to have a genin team, it could be at least a competent one.

Like Kaji said he was in front of us at 19:30:00, why will someone take the trouble of being so on time to something as trivial like picking up someone is a mystery for me. After a quick greeting, he guided us to the karaoke in complete silence, only broken by the chatting of the brats. He never talks more than the necessary, and that's good. I can't stand people that don't stop talking like the dobe... the dobe, I can't believe he's really dead.

We arrive at the karaoke and I nod to the presents, acknowledging them. I sit down and shut myself into my mind, trying to keep as distant from this situation as I can. I don't know for how long I kept my mind in blank, but something drew me out, and that something was that it was Kaji's turn to sing.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, for tonight's last artist, we have Kaji with the theme Ichirin no Hana" Kiba half yells and the rest of the presents start clapping with enthusiasm, even the brats.

Kaji smiles, takes the microphone and open his mouth. I'm stroked into silence by the voice that comes out from his parted lips, his voice is usually beautiful, but this...

"You are the only "you" There is no such thing as your replacement

Don't wilt away, single flower

You are like a flower

That bloomed in a dark shadow

Even though you're in a place you didn't wish to be,

You can't move because of your roots

Just spit out your closed-up feelings

I'll accept all of your pain and suffering

So please don't cry

Please smile, single flower

I wanted to see your innocent figure

That looked as if it were about to wilt, one more time

I want to become your strength

Even if there comes a time

When the whole world becomes our enemy

I'll protect you

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT TIME

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER YOU

SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT...

TIME NOTICE THAT YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT

NOTICE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER

You are the only "you"

Till now and from now on

Even if there comes a time

When the whole world becomes our enemy

I'll protect you

So don't give up, single flower

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT TIME

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO OTHER

YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT THERE IS NO NEXT...

TIME NOTICE THAT YOU SHOULD NOTICE THAT

NOTICE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER"

Who is this guy? Why I think that he sang this song for me? He kept his eyes locked with mine most of the time while he sang. Who really is he? I don't know many things about him, I only met him some months ago, but I always have this nagging feeling that I know him for longer, that I'm forgetting something, not seeing the obvious. We know each other for so little, but he seems to know everything about me, even what is going on inside my mind. Who are you? I swear I will find the answer to that question.

[Otokagure. Orochimaru's office, Orochimaru's POV.]

"Orochimaru-sama?"

"What is it Kabuto."

"I have the information you asked for."

"Then lets hear it."

"Fumetsu Kaji. Age: Unknown. Birth place: Unknown. Alliances: He recently joined Konoha, before that, non. Family: He has no blood bonds known. He lived with a sannin from Iwagakure and his son until recently. The sannin died when some bandits attacked him. After that he met Jiraiya-sama and he have been traveling with him with Fumetsu Yuki, the sannin son who he considers his little brother. Skills: Excellent hearing and sense of smell, monstrous amounts of a very weird but powerful chakra and stamina. We recently gathered some un-verified information, that says that he's immune to the Mangekyo Sharigan, but that remains unclear."

"Hmmm... it looks like Sasuke-kun made a very interesting friend. Kabuto, go to Konoha and gather all the information about this Kaji that you can and then come back. It seems like I found another interesting vessel candidate."

"Yes Orochimaru-sama."


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Hi there pwnd this was your (VERY late) birthday present!

Anyway, the song isn't mine, it is Ichirin no Hana, by High and Mighty Color

yura: *takes out a megaphone* Ok guys gather up! Cast meeting!

Naruto: Hey yura! Why the meeting?

Yuki: Yes yura-neechan why?

yura: You know why! *sees Orochimaru and Kabuto walking her way* Not you, you snake and snake toy!

Kabuto: How dare you to speak like that to Orochimaru-sama.

Orochimaru: I won't take orders from a prissy little bitch.

yura: Why you.... *takes out two machine guns and start firing them at the pair* now who is a prissy little bitch huh *laugh maniacally*

Itachi: Wow, she's scary.

Deidara: We should ask her to join the Akatsuki un!

Itachi: No, she's too evil for the Akatsuki.

Kisame: Looks who's talking of being evil.

Itachi: Shut it shark-face.

Kisame: Make me weasel-boy!

Deidara: Come on guys calm down un!

Sasuke: I can understand my brother being here, but what are you two doing here? You're not in the story yet.

Sakura: Wow Sasuke-kun is not trying to kill his brother!

Sasuke: She doesn't let me. *points at yura who had run out of ammo and pulled out a bazooka instead.*

Lee: The eternal youth of the authoress!

Ino: No, her scariness.

Shikamaru: Going against her will is too troublesome.

Shino: *nods*

Kiba: Look, she pulled out a dragon fire!

Temari: Isn't that from Constantine?

Kankuro: Yeah, what is it doing here?

Gaara: Does it really matters?

Sasuke's students: She's burning Orochimaru-sama and Kabuto-senpai!

Tsunade: If you three don't shut up you will be joining them.

Jiraiya: If I knew before that Orochimaru could be defeated by her I would have throw her to them earlier.

Neji: She didn't even use chakra.

Hinata: Yes, that's true.

Iruka: Maybe I'll ask her to borrow me some of that weapons...

Kakashi: *mentally prays she doesn't*

yura: *stepping over the remaining ashes of Kabuto and Orochimaru* Now I'm feeling better.

Naruto: Won't that mess up the storyline?

yura: Don't worry, I can always bring them back later.

Sasuke: So are we going to do it or not?

yura: Ohh right!! At the count of three. One, two, three!

Everyone: HAPPY BIRTHDAY PWND-CHAN!!