A year before his graduation, Kaza found himself traversing his family's vast lands, determined to locate something—a temple, anything—that might hold the key to removing the mysterious ring from his finger. Despite his hard work, he had grown taller, but he remained unremarkable and unnoticed. Walking through the expanse of his family's property, he eventually arrived at the old temple area, the shrine at its center being the last structure standing. He entered the building and meticulously examined the statues, diligently maintaining the area's cleanliness as best as an 11-year-old could.
While he sat there, the sounds of movement and activity in the vicinity reached his ears—wheels turning, wagons creaking, and footsteps echoing. Kaza's curiosity was piqued, and he swiftly moved to investigate. Having spent years training and exploring his land, he knew every vantage point for observing unfamiliar individuals. Upon reaching a vantage point, he spotted a wagon with people being pulled behind it, but the individuals in charge were not from the Leaf Village; they were bandits, and they were leading a group of captured kids, women, and children.
Realizing that confronting them directly would likely result in his demise, Kaza counted five guards watching over the ten or so captives. He knew that seeking help from the village was not a viable option, as they were far from his family's land. With a glance at the path the bandits were following, he mentally calculated the full length of the road. Moving swiftly and silently, like a deer navigating through the underbrush, Kaza advanced ahead of the group, setting up a concealed trap along their path. He felt compelled to rescue these innocent people, to do what was right. Although uncertain of his chances of success, he couldn't stand idly by. Given the remote location of his land, he couldn't rely on assistance from the village.
Kaza gathered rocks and retrieved explosive tags from his bag, strategically placing them on trees. He employed every trick he had learned from his readings at school, acutely aware of the need for caution and precision. A single mistake could jeopardize not only his own life but also the lives of those held captive by the bandits. With only ten minutes to prepare, he wasted no time, swiftly moving about and carefully selecting his hiding spot in the woods above the road.
As the wagon approached, an explosion reverberated through the land, causing trees to crash across the road and forcing the vehicle to come to a halt. The bandits scanned their surroundings, bewildered by the unexpected turn of events. Suddenly, explosive kunai struck the middle of the group, detonating before the bandits could react. A series of smoke bombs further disoriented those who had not been incapacitated by the initial explosion. Amidst the chaos, Kaza moved swiftly, launching attacks that drained every ounce of his energy. He showed no mercy to the bandits, hurling rocks that exploded into shrapnel, injuring those still standing.
Descending upon the scene, Kaza stood amidst the lifeless bandits, all felled by his ambush. He glanced toward the cart, where the captives sat in stunned silence, their faces reflecting astonishment at the sight of a youth who had just dispatched a group of adults.
Kaza approached the cart and searched for the keys to unlock the captives' chains. With a quick and deft motion, he released them. The captives, filled with gratitude but understandably anxious, wasted no time in fleeing the scene. They left without expressing their thanks, their primary concern being their own safety, as they feared the unpredictable actions of the young hero who had just saved them. Nevertheless, they cast one final appreciative glance in his direction before disappearing, likely heading back to their own village, wherever it may be.
Kaza located a shovel and took it upon himself to walk to a clearing where he began to dig a grave for those who had perished in the confrontation. They may have been bandits, but Kaza believed that no one deserved an undignified burial. He was determined not to show disrespect to the fallen, regardless of their past actions. As he dug, he noticed the presence of a masked man, presumably a fellow ninja from Konoha. Kaza's hands trembled as he continued to dig, his nerves still ablaze from the harrowing experience and the weight of his choices pressing down on him. With time to reflect, he felt an overwhelming urge to vomit. He had acted to save lives, but in doing so, he had taken lives as well.
"So, you'll have to live with that, kid," a gruff voice broke the silence, and the masked ninja descended from a nearby tree, observing Kaza as he continued to dig the grave. "But you can also live with the fact that you did good, you saved those people, kid."
Kaza's hands continued to shake as he dug, his focus on this task serving as a lifeline to prevent him from losing his composure. "It had to be done," he replied softly, his voice carrying an unwavering determination. "Those bandits would have escaped if I did nothing."
With his quick and steady digging, the earth opened up to form a proper grave, thanks to an Earth Jutsu. Kaza then turned his attention to the bodies, moving them to their final resting place, ensuring they received a respectful burial.
The Anbu ninja watched the boy intently, taking stock of his actions. He was impressed by Kaza's unwavering determination and effort, even in the face of death. It was unusual to see such dedication from a child, especially one from the academy, as indicated by his uniform. He allowed the boy to complete the somber task, recognizing the need for closure to help him cope with this significant event in his life. After the bandits had been laid to rest, the masked ninja took his leave, sensing that words were unnecessary between them.
Kaza returned home, putting the recent events out of his mind. It had happened, but he didn't feel the need to boast or dwell on it. It was what it was, nothing more and nothing less. He had dinner and spent time with his mother, Tia, before retiring to bed. The following day was uneventful, with Kaza attending class, taking a seat at the back, and making mostly average choices. Once again, he went unnoticed among the more outspoken and vibrant personalities in the classroom.
During that day's class, a man bearing scars on his face entered to deliver a speech about the importance of security and keeping certain matters undisclosed. The man, Ibiki, had a formidable presence, and as he spoke, Kaza realized that he had encountered this ninja in the forest the day before. However, Kaza wasn't concerned enough about that encounter to brag or make mention of it, a fact that didn't escape Ibiki's notice. He was partly there to confirm the boy's identity as a Togusa, given that it was their land where the incident had occurred. It made sense for him to be familiar with the terrain and able to set up a trap like the one he had.
It struck Ibiki as odd that a boy who had performed such heroic deeds, saving lives and defeating bandits, showed no inclination to brag or draw attention to himself in class. Most kids would use such feats as a means to boost their reputation, but this boy seemed indifferent for some reason. He was clearly a unique individual. Ibiki collected the necessary information and decided to meet with the Hokage to discuss the matter further. The boy displayed immense potential, and Ibiki had witnessed his capabilities firsthand. His academic scores aligned with his behavior—a low overall performance in all areas except intelligence, which was above average. Ibiki surmised that the boy had no motivation to excel in the classroom and simply drifted through, underutilizing his talents. Yet, his actions in digging graves and handling the bandits spoke volumes about his work ethic.
Iruka was taken aback by the shocking revelation of what had transpired. He had been completely unaware that the boy had confronted bandits on his own, ultimately saving the lives of people. Iruka blinked in surprise upon hearing this news and realizing that Kaza was the one who had accomplished such a heroic feat.
"Iruka, please don't take offense, but you already have your hands full with someone like Naruto. But we can't afford to let this boy go unnoticed. He might already be a hero," Ibiki spoke up, advocating for the boy, a rare gesture from a ninja.
"In a year, when the boy graduates from the academy, let's have a team ready for him," Ibiki proposed. However, there was a moment of silence, as it became evident that there wasn't a preexisting team that would suit him. "I understand, he might be the odd one out. Very well, I'll find a suitable team for him, and if necessary, I'll even take on the role of their instructor."
Hiruzen waved off the idea of Ibiki becoming an instructor, noting that Ibiki was needed elsewhere and couldn't be spared from his duties. Nevertheless, the challenge was undeniable, and they couldn't ignore it any longer. They would have to create a team for this talented young man. The details of who would lead the team and who would be on it remained uncertain, as capable teachers for young ninja weren't readily available.
All of this unfolded without Kaza's knowledge as he continued to spend the rest of the year largely invisible to his own class. Iruka made efforts to engage him in conversations, but the boy seemed content to fade into the background. Unlike Naruto, he didn't seek attention; he was a silent presence, quietly navigating the currents of life.
A/N- I hope you enjoyed this chapter, the purpose of this chapter was to create a moment of change for Kaza and give him support behind the scenes as his true self is seen for the first time. I will be honest I really thought about just making Ibiki the captain of a team, but he is way too important to be allowed to logically lead a team.