This was a really fun chapter.
I really enjoyed writing it, Like a whole hell of a lot.
The Dream started, miserably enough, with Kagami looking at himself, young and sad in an ally, watching others playing. "I remember this day... " Naruto was chasing after others but he was alone, realizing in that moment, at age five, that this was going to be his life. There was no point in chasing others that hated you.
"I was so alone..." Kagami heard himself say, pained and crying, looking at those others. "They hated me for nothing... they hated us both. Naruto rushed to them, begging for love but we were always alone..."
Kagami shivered, nodding. "I remember that the emptiness..." he kneeled to this younger self.
"Always chasing after Naruto, caring for Naruto, making sacrifices for Naruto, who wasted our money, our time. Everyone lumped us together, his pranks and his stupidity with us. The Old man put us in the reserves even though Naruto failed the test. He has all the luck,... he had a team, a sensei and the Old Man's love. We had none of that. We were alone."
The words piece like an icicle to the heart, he could not deny them.
The younger him continued. "He has more power, he has the shadow clones which make him a one man army. He never even tried to pass, he stole the Secret Scroll and gets promoted! No consequences, nothing. Just like painting the mountain or skipping classes or no doing homework, or doing nothing on the first part of the Chunin exams! He just gets away with everything, all the time. It's disgusting, and you know it!
Why we even at the Leaf still? It is a shithole, that has been treating us like dogshit for years. Yeah Yugao and Shibi and Shino are great, but the rest suck... we would be so much better elsewhere. Somewhere our talents are appreciated... somewhere we can thrive. You know I am right!"
The smaller him looked up and he saw Orochimaru's face looking at him.
"Orochimaru, what pleasure do I have to speak to you in my mind?"
"I knew you would not listen to just your younger self... I thought I would make my offer here. When Sasuke is taken from the Leaf, join him, fill up my ranks with your remarkable power... you have taken so many ninja from me, three to be accurate. Prove your worth and be more. You know I will teach you more than the Leaf ever will. "
The words echoed in Kagami's heart... "And my parents, do you know their names? Besides Kushina?" He had not yet had time to ask the Fox about his parents, he had been too busy training with Naruto, hell had almost forgot the Fox knew!
"I knew your father well... for he was the Fourth Hokage."
Kagami cringed, eyes wide and filled with hate. "My father... he..."
"He's the one to curse you, to burden you so deeply. He is the reason you were so alone."
The air around him seemed to shatter and Kagami felt something in his chest burst out, raging and hateful and filled with anger. A growl erupted from his throat. "My father.. doomed me to suffer for the Leaf?"
"I am afraid so... "
"That... I know you are not lying..give me some time to consider your offer."
Orochimaru laughed before his image was torn apart by the power of the Fox, knocking Kagami into darkness once more.
""
A hard hug from Naruto fully woke the oddly well rested Kagami. "I thought you were going to die."
"So did I..." he turned to see his room was filled with everyone else. "So, are you going to be the Hokage?" He asked Tsunade.
She nodded. "Yes, I am, so heal up, and ready yourself for that spar. One hit, remember, and you get to be trained in Seals."
"I am perfectly alright, let's go outside." The lady nodded and minutes later they were outside, both ready to fight. Kagami flashed through a set of handsigns and the woman laughed, breaking the genjutsu as easily as he cast it.
"That is the best you can-" She gaped as he was in her face, sword drawn, slicing down at her. She easily dodged, but as she turned, he kicked her shin like an errant child.
"There, I win." He grinned at her.
She gaped. "You... that... shouldn't count you little shit!"
He just shrugged. "I only had to hit you once, you expected perfect form or something from me. Not whiny child, still a hit is a hit. I win."
She sighed. "I... fine... you win... let's go home."
And like that, they returned to the Leaf. One day, once they were rather close to the Leaf, about five miles away, Tsunade turned to him. "Killing Kabuto will likely get you ut in the Bingo Book, just a warning."
He sighed. "I figured as much... but I should be fine. You saw me fight and kill Kabuto, you know I am borderline Low Jonin, with Kyuubi at my back I am easily stronger than many jonin."
She nodded. "Fair, but that does not mean a lack of caution."
"Not at all... Lady Hokage, that is why you are going to teach me Sealing."
"Yes, it is... but for now, let's get settled. Go home, get yourself at peace, Come to my office in three days. Expect a few training sessions with me before you go out on a mission."
"Sounds fantastic."
"Oh and finding me was an A Rank mission for you and Naruto, killing Kabuto will count like an A ranked bounty. So expect a large payday."
That just made Kagami grin, even as he walked to the Aburame compound where he had been staying for the last twoish months. He had a lot to consider, from Orochimaru's offer to his own thoughts on the Leaf...
What to do... what to do...
He was so busy, in fact, thinking of these dark thoughts, he barely noticed the sharp prick at his throat or the darkness taking him once more.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write. Short but really, really fun.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.