I do not own Naruto (i am not that smart).
"Talking" will be done with the normal font.
'Thoughts' will be done by Italic.
Chapter 8- My New Life.
"So what was he result of the mission?"
"Well Lady Tsunade it-"
"I'll handle this Kakashi." Kazumu stepped forward to explain the situation to the Hokage. He breathed in and began to talk. "Lady Hokage, I have spoken to Itachi. He informed me I am no longer a member of the Akatsuki, he then attacked me." Kazumu and the others had created a false story to make sure the Leaf Village would know that Kazumu's ties with the Akatsuki had been completely cut.
"Go on." Tsunade was anxious to hear the rest of the report.
"As it stands I know you might not want a former Akatsuki member around the Leaf, but even so." Tsunade raised her eyebrow. "I wish to become a resident of the Leaf Village! I'll do anything! Please!" Tsunade got out of her seat and walked over to Kazumu then turned to look at the others behind him.
"What do you make of this Kakashi?"
"He's serious Lady Tsunade." She heard this and turned back to Kazumu, who was still bowing. She placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Welcome to the Leaf Village Kazumu." She smiled at him while Naruto was screaming in celebration, then suddenly Tsunade's grip tightened on his shoulder. "One more thing." She looked at him with a demonic stare. "Don't ever do what you did in that hospital again." This was said very slowly, it was terrifying.
"Of course Lady Tsunade." Kazumu struggled to say this because he was still very weak from the night before, not that Tsunade knew or anything. She then let go and sat back down.
"There is a few thing we will need to go through before we can let you relax here, I know it's a trial but I need all your information on the Akatsuki."
"That's easy, besides they're names, their general means of attack and the number of tailed-beasts they currently have I don't know anything."
"And he has already relayed that information to me Lady Tsunade so I will take care of that." Kakashi stepped forward.
"Well it looks like that's already been taken care of then. What do you suppose is the first step in his new settlement here Kakashi?"
"I think you already know that." Tsunade smiled and went into her desk and grabbed something from it.
"Here Kazumu." She gave it to Kazumu to reveal it was a headband with a metal plate on it. It was engraved with the Leaf Village symbol. "This officially makes you a shinobi of the Leaf."
"Thank you." He was at a loss for words. 'For them to accept me like this, this easily. It's unreal! I was a member of the Akatsuki a short while ago but they don't seem to care. In a way I'm glad, I can carry out the promise I made to Itachi. Hmm, maybe now I understand why Shikamaru was so set on keeping his promise to Naruto. If it felt like this then I completely understand, but that other promise I made, what did he mean by that.'
"Kazumu?" Naruto was tapping him on the shoulder.
"Damn it! I'm sorry!" Kazumu bowed once again. " I have to quit getting lost in thought like that."
"It's fine! Although you did miss some big news." Naruto couldn't stop smiling.
"What news?" Kazumu was still dazed from the daydream.
"Starting from today you are an official member of Team Kakashi!" Naruto jumped around the room, he was pretty happy.
"Wow, really? That's great!" Kazumu seemed just as happy as Naruto, looking down at the headband in his hand and smiling.
"Although you won't be on missions with us for a while. We need to get you up to the right status in this village." Kakashi stated.
"Yeah you don't want to be like Naruto, staying a Genin forever do you?" Sakura was as always the first to pick on poor Naruto.
"Give me a break Sakura." Naruto pouted.
"Also you'll be beginning training while waiting for the Chunin exams to start again." Kakashi said. "But it won't be with us. You'll be training with a group that's better suited to your needs."
"My needs?" Kazumu wasn't aware he needed anything.
"Well you told Naruto that you didn't have a clue how to use the Byakugan and you said your Taijutsu was sloppy correct?" Kazumu didn't like where Kakashi was going with this.
"There's really a team that can help me in both areas at once?"
"Indeed there is, Team Guy." Kakashi sounded like he was giving bad news not good.
"Team Guy huh? Well I look forward to meeting them." Kazumu said, Ignoring Kakashi's tone of voice.
"Well you'll be meeting them tomorrow, until then we need to sort out your living arrangements." Kakashi sounded a bit worried when he said this.
"You mean that wasn't sorted out by Tsunade?"
"Nope. You might just have to ask around the Leaf with Naruto to find someone who will let you stay with them for a while. Just until we get you a room like Naruto, but I have stuff to organise for the new team so..." Kakashi then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Does he always do that?" Kazumu was a little mad at him for ditching again.
"Yeah, he never seems to be around when you need him." Naruto said, sounding just as mad. "Sakura are you going to help us?"
"I better just in case Kazumu still feels too weak to walk." She had a high level of worry in her voice.
"I'll be fine now, I've just never had an injury like that before, but if you want to come anyway that would be nice."
"I guess it's settled then, lets go find you a temporary home." Naruto said as he started walking out of the room, Kazumu and Sakura slowly following close behind.
"I guess you two are out of the question or you would've already offered right?" Kazumu asked the two of them.
"Yeah my place is way too small for two people."
"And my parents would kill me if I asked for a boy to live at ours for even a night." Sakura wasn't joking at all when she said this.
"That's alright then, just making sure." Kazumu was moving really slowly, his injury was still having a pretty bad effect on him.
"Are you sure you're ok? You don't seem to be standing very well." Kazumu then started to fall over, Sakura catching him before he hit the ground. "I knew you were too weakened or this." She sat him down. "Naruto you go on ahead, I'm going to make sure he's ok." Naruto nodded and ran off, disappearing around a corner. "The wound isn't actually there anymore, you just need rest."
"Yeah I figured as much." Kazumu was panting, he seemed out of breath just from walking that short distance. "But there is no way I'm going to the hospital at the moment."
"Yeah, I heard you left it in a pretty bad state." Sakura giggled.
"It wasn't really that funny."
"Well you seemed down so I was just trying to cheer you up."
"Thanks I guess." They remained silent for a while. It was definitely awkward between them.
"Hey guys I found the perfect place for Kazumu to stay!" Naruto saved them from the moment. He was dragging someone along with him as well.
"Naruto, I said he might be able to stay and you pulling me along like this is going a bit far!" Whoever he got wasn't happy with Naruto.
"Kazumu. Meet your Byakugan teacher Neji!" Neji had long brown hair tied in a low pony-tail, a loose fitting but somehow traditional looking white shirt and somewhat familiar white eyes.
"I'm Neji Hyuga." He bowed respectfully. "As Naruto pointed out I'm your teacher for the use of the Byakugan."
"Hyuga? And white eyes? So you're related to Hinata then?" Kazumu pieced it together.
"You know Lady Hinata? Well that's good, you will be living on the same estate after all."
'Lady Hinata huh?' "Well at least I know my team for training is going to be normal enough." Kazumu smiled.
"Prepare to be disappointed." Neji sighed. "Anyway enough about that. If you want I can take you to where you will be staying for the time being?"
"Are you two alright carrying me again? I doubt I can walk still." Kazumu frowned.
"Of course Kazumu!" Naruto picked him off the seat and put his arm over his shoulder. Sakura then did the same with his arm.
"It's no trouble, really."
"Thank you guys." Everyone stayed silent on the way. 'So the Hyuga clan are the holders of the Byakugan then, I guess that explains a few things but that doesn't explain why I have it. Well as far as I can tell it's not stolen, or else I wouldn't have my other Dojustu and I'd have white eyes like Hinata and Neji. So if it's mine then-'
"Ok Kazumu we're here." Naruto snapping him out of his delirium once again.
"Sorry." He laughed nervously. They entered the estate to see that Hinata and an older man were waiting for them.
"Welcome to the home of the Hyuga Clan." The man stepped forward and bowed with his greeting. "I am Hiashi Hyuga, I am the head of the clan."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Kazumu."
"So I've heard. Even though Neji will handle most of your training, Myself and Lady Hinata will also assist on days when Neji isn't available." Hinata was hiding behind Hiashi at this point. "Anyway your living arrangements will be taken care of here and you will be staying in the same room as Neji."
"Oh, that's fine I guess." Kazumu was expecting his own room it seems.
"We mean no disrespect, it's just this clan has customs and they must be followed. As it stands we are often targeted by surrounding villages because of the Kekkei Genkai we all possess." Hiashi then bowed by way of an apology.
"That's fine, I understand." Kazumu got out of Naruto and Sakura's arms. "I should be fine from here guys. I'll see you around."
"Sure thing! We will come up when you're better so we can give you a tour of the village." Naruto said as he waved goodbye.
"We'll see you soon Kazumu!" Sakura yelled from the distance as they walked away. Once they left Hinata came out from behind Hiashi.
"Come inside Kazumu, you seem like you need the rest." Hiashi lead him inside. The place was pretty big, looking very traditional like everyone in the clan. Him and Hinata showed Kazumu to his room and Neji helped him lay down.
"Just try and rest now. We will begin your training once you are better." Neji then left the room with Kazumu in bed.
'I guess this is where I'll be staying for now. It seems pretty nice here. At least I already know Hinata so I'm not completely in the dark. I'll get used to it in time I hope. All I can think about right now is what Team Guy is going to be like. Taijutsu-based training will be a bit of a trial for me I think. Oh well, I'll be pretty keen for revising the Taijutsu Itachi taught me. He is insanely powerful with it after all.' While Kazumu was thinking of all this he fell asleep.
"..."
'Please not another one of these right now.'
"Another one of what?" Kazumu looked up to see he was in a weird looking world where everything was somehow inverted. Also to find the source of the voice was none other than Itachi.
"What!? Itachi! Where are we?" Kazumu was cautious but he couldn't help being happy.
"I've got you in my Tsukuyomi. I needed to tell you something."
"What is it? If it's about my promise don't worry. I'm living in the Hidden Leaf now."
"No that's not it. I'm just letting you know that because of you defecting from the Akatsuki you've made Pein nervous. He's delaying the actions of the Akatsuki for now."
"What? I made that much of an impact."
"Well the only thing he fears is his own power, and you learnt almost everything off him."
"Yeah, almost. I wish he taught me the Rinne Rebirth before I left. I could use that again someday."
"That's another thing. Please don't use that anymore. You got lucky the first time but next time you might not be so lucky."
"...ok Itachi. I will restrict myself use of the Rinne Rebirth."
"Good. Now it's about time I left."
"Itachi!?"
"..."
"What did you mean by 'don't do anything to stop it'?"
"..."
"You aren't planning on doing anything rash are you?"
"...just trust me Kazumu." After saying this the world started to deteriorate right before Kazumu and he suddenly woke up. He was breathing heavily and was sweating.
"Even though he wasn't using it in an offensive manner it was still terrifying." The door to the room then opened and Hinata stepped in with a tray of food.
"Umm..." She still wasn't very comfortable talking to Kazumu after their last encounter.
"Did you bring that it for me." Hinata nodded. "Wait, did you make this for me?" She nodded again.
"It's just-" She breathed in. "You missed dinner so I made some for you." She laid the tray next to Kazumu. "I hope you like it!" She then bolted out of the room.
'Poor girl she's probably still embarrassed from out meeting at the hospital.' Kazumu put the tray on his lap and started eating the food. 'Wow this is amazing! I've never had food like this before.' He quickly finished it off and put the tray back next to his bed. 'I'll have to thank her later for that.' Kazumu then fell back asleep.
For once Kazumu had a night of undisturbed sleep and woke up the next morning completely refreshed. "Wow. I don't know what Hinata put in that food but I feel great!" He got out of bed and jumped around a bit to test his strength. "I'm almost back at one hundred percent. This is incredible!" Kazumu walked out of the room and ran into Neji.
"Morning Kazumu, did you sleep well here?" He looked like he had been up for hours.
"Yeah, it was the best night of sleep I've had in a long time." Kazumu stretched out from his long rest. "I feel good enough to go on that tour with Naruto and Sakura today." Neji smiled. He seemed relieved to hear this.
"That's great, I'll organize for all of us to meet up a little later today. Then afterward I'll introduce you to the team you'll be training under." Neji walked down the hallway with Kazumu. "Just be prepared to deal with Guy-sensei."
"Is he strict?" Kazumu sounded a bit worried.
"More, intense than strict. Guy is a freak of nature when it comes to the amount of training he can endure." Neji sighed. " But he helped me get to this stage so I can't complain too much." They walked into the next room and Hinata and Hiashi were sitting down at a table having tea. Also with them was a younger girl with long brown hair and the usual Hyuga's white eyes.
"Ahh, good morning Kazumu." Hiashi stood up. "How are you feeling?"
"A lot better thank you." Kazumu bowed to him, he thought since they did it a lot he'd give it a try.
"That's good to hear. This here is my younger daughter Hanabi."
"Nice to meet you." She nodded in agreement.
"Lord Hiashi, we'll be out today showing Kazumu around and introducing him to my team, he'll be training with us until the next Chunin Exam." Kazumu was surprised to hear Neji call him Lord.
"Yes I'm aware Neji, thank you." He then left the room.
"Well we should get going Kazumu. We have a lot to do today." They started heading out the door as Kazumu suddenly stopped and turned back around.
"Oh and thank you for dinner last night Hinata, it was amazing." He smiled at her and her face went red. "See you later!" Kazumu got ready and headed out with Neji to find Naruto and Sakura. "Why do you call Hiashi 'Lord' Neji?"
"I'll explain it later." From the sounds of Neji's response, he was just avoiding it.
"Kazumu!" Naruto came charging in from out of nowhere. "You must be feeling much better now that you're out and about."
"Yeah I was looking forward to getting that tour from you and Sakura today if that's ok?" Naruto's face went sour.
"I'm sorry Kazumu, but Lady Tsunade wants me and Sakura to give her a personal report for our mission, and then she wants us to be checked in at the hospital to make sure we're ok."
"Don't worry Naruto that's alright. I'll just meet Team Guy for today. We'll do it another time right?"
"Definitely!" Naruto smiled at Kazumu. "I gotta go, I escaped Sakura to go grab some ramen so she's gonna kill me!" Naruto then jumped over a few of the buildings making a quick retreat.
"Ok then, with that out of the way, lets go meet the others at the training field." Neji gestured Kazumu to follow him as they headed for the usual training spot for Team Guy. Just before they got there Neji stopped Kazumu. "Just watch out for Guy. I don't know what he'll be like around you."
"I'll be fine, don't worry Neji." Neji then had a look in his eyes saying 'don't say I didn't tell you so'. Kazumu approached the training area and he started to see people over there in the distance. He could barely hear anything coming from them but as he got closer he started to hear a voice.
"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety five, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety six, nine thousand nine hundred and ninety seven." Kazumu looked to see it was two guys in matching green jumpsuits and orange striped leg warmers. They both also wore the same jacket as Shikamaru. They were doing one finger push-ups with their bodies in the air!
'This is crazy! These two can't have done that many!" Kazumu couldn't believe his eyes or ears.
"Ten thousand!" The older ninja then flipped off his finger and landed perfectly. The other then tried to do the same but fell over onto his back. "Lee!"
"Yes Guy-sensei!" Up close even their hair styles and eyebrows which were really thick looked exactly the same.
"You have to try harder to do something as dazzling as that after doing so many push-ups!"
"Yes of course Guy-sensei! I will try harder next time!" Kazumu couldn't help but stare at the two of them.
'I can now see why Neji warned me, this is completely insane!'
"Well Lee, as punishment you must-" Guy stopped when he saw Kazumu and Neji. He slowly walked over to him.
"Neji, is this him?" He looked ridiculous, but it's hard to ignore the feat of strength he just endured.
"Yes Guy-sensei. This is Kazumu." He remained silent for a bit.
"Lee!" The one on the ground sprang up and stood next to Guy doing a salute.
"Yes Guy-sensei!" He had unwavering dedication to that salute.
"Introduce yourself." Guy then stepped away and Lee approached Kazumu.
"I am Rock Lee! I am a ninja with no talents for Ninjutsu or Genjustu so I focus solely on Taijutsu!" He was still doing the same salute.
"Hi... I'm Kazumu." He was a bit overwhelmed from his introduction. 'He can't be serious right? Only having Taijutsu at your disposal, you could never be a powerful ninja with a crutch like that.'
"Now Lee!" Guy yelled out as suddenly Rock Lee's eyes focused in and he sprinted up to Kazumu, swinging a kick at his midsection.
'Too fast! I need to use the Rinnegan or I'm toast!' Kazumu just had enough time for the Rinnegan to activate. "Deva Path! Almighty Push!" The kick was millimetres from connecting when Lee was sent flying back by Kazumu. "That was way too close."
"Kazumu!" He looked over to see Guy called him. "No eye jutsu!" Kazumu's face filled with horror at the thought of taking Rock Lee on without Dojutsu. He then regretfully retracted the Rinnegan and faced Lee, taking the stance Itachi taught him.
"Here I come!" Rock Lee came at him again as his kick was this time returned by Kazumu. "Amazing. I was told you weren't up to par with Taijutsu. You managed to meet my kick with equal strength."
"Tell that to my leg, it feels like it was hit by a house!" Kazumu then shook Lee off. 'What is happening here! That kick was filled with inhuman power! I can't last long against this with just Taijutsu. He's way too powerful!' Before Kazumu could think about it anymore, Lee was back for more. "Not again." They both started trading blows. Kazumu taking more than he was giving, getting hit with massive amounts of force each hit. 'This pain is unreal. I can't go through much more of this.'
"Enough Lee!" Right before Kazumu's eyes Lee vanished. He then turned to see that Rock Lee was standing right beside Guy.
'What the... How did he do that? If he can only use Taijutsu then... No, that's impossible! There is no way he just did that from pure physical speed alone!' You could see the amount of pain and shock on Kazumu's face from what just happened. He then fell back, sitting on the ground.
"You might not want to believe this Kazumu." Guy walked up to him. "But that was done with nothing but Taijutsu and physical strength."
"What!?" Kazumu was breathing heavily from pain. 'I feel like such a fool! Sure with my Rinnegan it would have been a decent fight but now that I think about it, it feels like I'm cheating, doing something that he's incapable of doing. If we fight on equal ground I'm a terrible excuse for a ninja compared to him.'
"Kazumu!" He looked up to Guy. "This is why you'll be training with us. Along with Neji to improve your chakra control and learn the Hyuga's Taijutsu style, the Gentle Fist. You'll be more than ready to face anything that comes your way at the Chunin exams." Kazumu shook himself off and got up off the ground.
"Lee?" Kazumu got his attention and he walked over. "I'm sorry, I instantly didn't see you as a threat knowing you had only Taijutsu. After being beaten like that I realize I have a lot to learn."
"No problem! Making mistakes is the only sure fire way of learning from them!" He put his thumb up and smiled. At one point you could almost see a twinkle come off his teeth.
"Well the Chunin exams just passed so you'll be waiting a while before you get the chance to test what you learn with us. Are you ready to start your Byakugan and Taijutsu training?"
"Yes! Lets resume my training!"
End of Chapter 8
As you can see I'll be delaying the Akatsuki's actions for a while, to be more precise, about a year. Yep to give Kazumu time to settle into the Leaf Village he will spend a year there training and becoming a Chunin and eventually a Jonin. I am actually going to do another timeskip next chapter, to the start of the chunin exams. This point on most of my story is original and no longer follows the plot of shippuden. Pein's delay makes sense. If Nagato knows how powerful Kazumu is he isn't going to act rash right after he left. I will be showing a few moments in the one year timeskip through flashbacks like last time but not as much. About two for his training with Neji and Guy respectively. and I was thinking about getting some little bits with some love interests. Just to make things interesting. Anyway the Chunin exams will be taking place at the Hidden Sand. (Yay Gaara haha) For a reunions sake and we already had one at the leaf. This does also mean all the characters Kazumu will face will be originals, I really hope i can pull that off. If you have any other suggestions like always give me a message.
Anyway thank you for reading and see you next chapter.