Timeskip ;D and SPOILER'S FOR NONE MANGA READERS (sort of)
Disclaimer: Like I own Naruto =___=; no one in Akatsuki would have died if I did.
At the end of the whole Chunin Exam, the only person who became Chunin was Shikamaru. Kazuaki had lost the match in the elimination rounds, same with Choji and Ino. But to everyone's surprise Konoha was attacked by Orochimaru. The Third Hokage did everything he could to stop Orochimaru. Taking Orochimaru's arms with him in his death was the result, and Orochimaru fled with his subordinates, there was nothing more here to do.
Kazuaki was ready to give up being a ninja, he wasn't fit for it. He was a born artist not a battle machine. In Konoha's recovery period, he resigned. The Third's funeral was held, Kazuaki was asked to play a respectful solute for the Hokage along with some other musicians. Asuma said he understood perfectly his reason for leaving the team, but it was a shame to waste a good ninja. Ino was pissed, Choji understood and was supportive, Shikamaru didn't say much.
Two weeks after the funeral, Kazuaki met with a manager. The manager said he had a band that was missing a guitarist and recommended Kazuaki to show up on the audition. Kazuaki talked with Asuma, who was happy to hear this, and they discussed the matter. It was a great opportunity for the young boy, although it was a bit early for him to become a public icon. Asuma stated that Kazuaki always had a place to come back to whenever he wanted to.
Kazuaki took the risk and played one of his songs for the band called House of Cards. The members were three years older than Kazuaki. House of Cards had a beautiful front figure; the vocalist was a curly blond girl, with the most enchanting brown eyes. The down side about her was that she used her looks to get everything she wanted. The rest of the band members were boys, the atmosphere around them were heavy. Respect. They usually played rock and bended it to be metal sometimes. But to have the stunning voice to match, they had to work and perfect themselves to reach her tones.
The band's reaction surprised Kazuaki. They were amazed and shocked that a 13 year old boy could play better than the previous guitarist. But they weren't sure he could take the PR pressure, since the paparazzi's would stalk him everywhere after the public announcement. Kazuaki managed to convince them he could take it, so they let him join. Now the band, with its 5 members, left Konoha on touring. Along the way they made two records, Kazuaki saved them some money by designing the covers by himself. A Live DVD was released along with the same tracks on a CD. The fans were happy and screamed their lounges dry on every concert. But in all of that luxury, Kazuaki felt he missed something, he wasn't happy.
Five years had passed, Kazuaki had just turned 18. The band had been through a lot, and sticked together in thick and thin. They had become like a family and knew a lot about Kazuaki's previous life. Kazuaki had learned to control his wolf problem, if he wanted to turn he just did, his body had learned how to hug women which was a huge relief.
After being on different tours along with new bands, forming good relationships with people in the same business, House of Cards felt they needed a break. Taking the summer off to be with loved ones, they meant they deserved this. The press were notified, the manager had strictly told them to stay away if they didn't they would be sued.
Kazuaki was unsure of where to go; he hadn't seen any of his previous friends in Konoha for so long. His feelings for Shikamaru had just become harder to live with; it was painful to be away from his present. He hoped Asuma still had the same address.
Standing outside of the gates of Konoha felt strange, it made him anxious that he hadn't heard from anyone that lived inside. He took a deep breath and took one foot forward at the time. In the five years, Konoha seemed to have changed. 'What have I missed?' Kazuaki asked himself. The guitar he always took with him hung around his shoulder. He took the normal route to Asuma's house. The house had changed too. It had a different color and had more flowers surrounding it. Knock, knock. Light steps got closer. The door opened. Kazuaki was surprised to see a dark haired woman and not Asuma. The woman's red eyes and her matching red lips, smiled to him.
"Who might you be?" She asked sweetly.
"Kazuaki Akiro. Does Asuma Sarutobi still live here?" Kazuaki said.
"Asuma..." The woman repeated hurt. "No, he passed away some time ago."
A little boy came running towards his mom; he was around 2 years Kazuaki guessed. The kid looked awfully a lot like Asuma.
"He is dead?" Kazuaki asked in disbelief. "Why didn't anyone tell me?" Kazuaki teared up.
"Hey... Kazuaki-kun do you want to come inside. Eeh?!" The woman seemed to have remembered something. "Could it be that you are the Kazuaki boy he always worried about?"
She took his hand and guided him into the living room, placing him on the couch.
"I will make you some tea." She said in a friendly tone and ruffled his hair.
The little boy looked puzzled by this sudden guest.
The woman introduced herself as Kurenai Yuhi, she was Asuma's lover before he died and had his child. Asuma died before he was born. She continued to update him with all that had happened in Konoha. Pein's invasion that nearly destroyed everything and that Konoha were almost finished rebuilding itself. She agreed on showing Kazuaki Asuma's grave later and give him his previous teammate's new addresses. All of them had moved out of their family homes and were living individual lives in the ninja society. Kazuaki noticed the house had many of his paintings hanging on the walls. It made him sort of happy, they weren't wasted.
"Beautiful aren't they. I have never seen such paintings before. Asuma always said they were made by someone special. Since they aren't signed I have no idea of who made them." Kurenai said when she noticed where he was looking. Kazuaki just smiled.
Asuma's grave where surrounded by flowers. Kazuaki guessed they were from Ino's family's flower shop. The light gray stone in front of him had Asuma's name engraved in it. It was difficult to stand there, looking down at his sensei's grave. Kazuaki gave his respects before he turned to leave.
Later that day, Kazuaki found himself in a bar, drinking. He wanted to calm his nerves before he went to visit Shikamaru. Now he was sure his love was one-sided, Kurenai had told him Shikamaru was dating a girl from the Chunin exam, Temari from Suna, sister of the Kazakage.
"Oy, are you a guitarist?" The bar owner asked.
Kazuaki nodded and placed his glass on the table.
"Can you sing too?" The bar owner grinned, it was an open night so anyone who wanted to perform was welcome to do so.
Kazuaki shook his head, he never sung for anyone. He hated using his voice as an instrument. The bar owner didn't take his words and literally pushed Kazuaki on the stage. Kazuaki glared at the fat, bald owner.
Of course he preformed, but he didn't feel like having lyrics so it was more a calm instrumental song. The effect of playing it cool got the bar more customers – mostly girls. They wanted more. Kazuaki didn't want to attract so much attention on his first day in Konoha. The women crowed themselves around the stage and begged for more. A boy with good looks and playing guitar was like a dream come true for them. He gave in and played another song, but this one had lyrics. His deep, rough voice made the women shiver with delight. More customers came in, lured by the music. The owner's grin had become wider; he made a good profit of having Kazuaki on his stage.
Three familiar faces entered the bar, wondering what was going on. Ino's blonde hair had grown longer, her face had become prettier. Choji was still fat and looked more like a teddybear than a ninja. Shikamaru's face had become more adult like, but it was still gorgeous, round his right arm a parasite hung. Temari. The blond bitch. His love-rival. Kazuaki held his focus on the music, making it stronger. He even flirted with the crowd. A couple of women in the front fainted; Kazuaki guessed they had a too light blood pressure.
Ino's eyes expanded in disbelief, she pulled Choji's shirt and said something to him. He immediately smiled his warm smile and passed Ino's words to Shikamaru. Shikamaru glanced surprised in Kazuaki's direction. Something made his heart skip a beat.