🎐

The rest of the trip continued smoothly without any issues. Well, other than Denki getting hit with a full Chidori, of course. Kazumi didn't go back to sleep after that, but somehow, miraculously, Katsuki had slept soundly. He didn't even wake up when Kaminari let out the world's unholiest screech.

The man could sleep through the fourth shinobi war if he wanted to.

They arrived at their destination not long after. It turned about to be in the middle of nowhere, with trees stretched out for miles. The sight kind of reminded him of Konoha.

He kind of missed it. Kazumi didn't regret joining the Akatsuki, but sometimes he wondered if things would be different. Even if he wasn't backed into a corner like he was, he probably still would have joined or at least gone rogue anyway. It wasn't just the Uchiha massacre the death of Shisui and Kaoru that made him go rogue. It was the fact that the village sat idly by and did nothing. The elders did nothing. The Hokage did nothing.

And it wasn't even just them. Every single village was
like this. Kazumi knew because if the system wasn't
so fucked up, then the Akatsuki would never have been formed.

The system had failed them.

"—Wild Wild Pussycats!"

Okay. What. The. Fuck.

🎐

The students had to make it through the forest in time for dinner. Kazumi watched from a high branch as the students fought what looked like earth golems.

"Kazumi! Uh...little help down here?" Kirishima struggled as he jabbed at one of the monsters. Which actually did nothing as it only swiveled its head around, beady eyes set on him.

"No can do," He said, propping his hands under his head, getting comfortable. He watched the students fight for a little longer before he stood up and stretched.

"See you at the campsite," He waved lazily before flashing the center of the forest. Aizawa was already there, perfect.

"Aizawa. I need to talk to you."

Aizawa motioned him over to where he was sitting, on a log. He was trying to get a fire started, but his matches kept dying. Kazumi just fireball jutsu-d it, the flames caught onto the wood and a steady fire grew.

"Thanks. So what's this about?"

"It's about me...Someone from my world is here and he's with the villains," He said, drawling out the words. Kazumi knew he had to tread carefully, he couldn't break what little trust Aizawa already had in him.

"...Wh-Hu-WHAT? How do you know all that?" The pro sputtered.

"I sensed his chakra," He lied quickly. Whoever this guy was, he was damn good at concealing himself. He'd made even Kazumi think he was alone in this world.

"Do you know who it is?"

"No. But I have some clues. And neither one is...good."

Aizawa sighed, his hand threading through his hair. This wasn't good. Kazumi was strong enough, but he was at least sensible. There was no telling if this guy would cooperate like the Uchiha did.

"...Okay. We'll host an investigation when we get back, but you need to promise me you'll tell me everything. And I mean everything."

"Okay. I promise."

Sorry, Aizawa. If I told you everything, it'd be like Konoha all over again. If I told you everything...you wouldn't be able to look me in the eye, I'd just be another monster, another villain to catch.

If I told you anything would you even...believe me?

🎐

"Meet our newest member, Uchiha Kazumi."

He was fourteen when he joined the Akatsuki. By that time, Itachi had already joined. It had been a year since the massacre, a year since Shisui and Kaoru had died, a year since he'd left Konoha for good.

He always kept to himself, he was quiet and steadfast. He carried out missions easily, with every new person he killed, the less he felt. He became cut off from the world, Kazumi became known as the deranged rogue. His name in became known bingo books.

The Uchiha Kazumi, who in all those books was charged for assassination of clan, murder of family, arson, attempted assassination of the Hokage and the elders.

But in the end he was still...Kazumi. He was the same as he always was. He might be affiliated with the Akatsuki but that never changed who he was. 

So what changed?

He didn't know the answer to that question.

"Kazumi right? I'm Deidara," The blonde smiled slightly. He was new to the Akatsuki too. He'd been observing Kazumi for a while now, he only ever spoke to Itachi.

"Do you happen to...like art? Wanna see my art?"

"I...would love to see your art," That was the first time Kazumi had spoken to Deidara, but those words meant so much to both of them. That was the start to their unlikely friendship. They'd never expected it, never saw it coming. If Deidara hadn't approached him that day, he didn't think they'd ever become friends in the first place. For Deidara was the first person in the Akatsuki who he considered his family.

And Kazumi loved Dei for that.

He didn't have a perpetual partner. It was always a different person, depending on the mission. Sometimes they went out in squads of three. His favorite was always when he went on missions with Deidara and Sasori. They would always compete over who's art was better than who. Kazumi didn't have the heart to tell them he didn't have a favorite, that their art couldn't be compared to one another because they were different types.

Of course, he enjoyed being with Itachi too, but maybe not that fish he called a partner. Kisame was always jabbing at him, like an annoying older brother.

Over the course of the next few years, the Akatsuki grew, Kazumi watched some members come and go, but those whom he cared for, never left. He found himself opening up, he found himself growing closer to them instead of pushing them away.

He wasn't Kazumi, the boy who'd ruthlessly "killed" his brothers and clan. He wasn't the rogue, ex-nin of Konoha, not the traitor they claimed he was.

With the Akatsuki he was just Kazumi. Itachi's best friend, Hidan and Tobi's partner in crime, Kakuzu's gambling partner, Deidara and Sasori's muse, Konan and Pain's little brother.

"Kazumi, come. Let's go on a shopping spree."

"Kaz, lets go slaughter a village, we mustn't keep Lord Jashin waiting!"

"Tobi wants Kazu-chan to make sakura mochi and dango again!"

"Pose for me and stay still will you? I'm going to make a puppet of you."

"Kazumi, look at this new trick I learnt! Isn't my art pretty?"

"Kaz—!"

"Zumi-Zumi!"

"Kazumi!"

"Kazumi."

The faces and those who'd called his name with such contempt, such betrayal no longer plagued his mind. Replaced by it, were the warm faces of his newfound family. He's found them now, he wasn't going to let them
go again.

He'd never forget those in the village, the ones he'd hurt. The ones left behind. They'd always have a place, maybe locked in a box, somewhere deep inside his heart.

He'd said goodbye to the village of Konoha long ago. But to its inhabitants, those whom he cared for...he'd never gotten the chance to.

I should've said goodbye. I'm sorry, Naruto, Shikamaru, Neji, I know you believed in me. I should've apologized.

...for being too late to save Kaoru.

🎐

By late afternoon, the students had started emerging from the tree-line, one by one. They were all tired, grimy, and very very hungry. Kazumi stood amongst the Pussycats, Aizawa, and the grumpy kid, Kota.

He closed his eyes to yawn for one second.

One. Fucking. Second.

And a crime was committed.

When he blinked, Kazumi was met with the sight of Kota's little balled fist punching into Izuku's crotch. The Midoriya turned as white as a sheet as he doubled over, clutching his privates while whimpering incoherent words.

Katsuki cracked a smile.

"Cute kid."

"Is he yours?" Kazumi said, giving him a sidelong glance. The Todoroki beside him nodded in agreement.

"Now, now everyone! It's time to get to dinner! Of course we didn't prepare anything ourselves. We have all the ingredients, but it's your duty to cook!" Sosaki called out, Kazumi had only learnt her name from Aizawa.

Now, if Kazumi had it his way, he would've just summoned his clones and get all that done, right away. He was a decent cook, considering no one other than Itachi in the Akatsuki were capable of boiling water without setting the hideout on fire.

But he couldn't do that just yet.

He was put on vegetable chopping duty, along with Katsuki and Todoroki. Turns out, Kat was a great cook, he must've helped Mitsuki around the house.

"Uh. Shoto?"

"Yes?"

"Are you trying to make a vegetable train or something? Why are the spring onion and celery all stuck together?"

"No...I've never cute vegetables before."

So he ended up taking the Todoroki's share and cutting that up for him too. The class slowly gathered around him, they watched as he twirled the knife in his hands, sometimes even throwing it before catching it smoothly. The class watched in awe as the celery was cut all at once, each piece perfectly equal in size to the next, onions were chopped and diced into perfect little cubes.

"Kazumi's so dreamy...he's such husband material...!"

"Nah...bro's a whole lucid dream."

"Is there anything he isn't good at?"

The meal was quickly finished up, everyone ate their fill quickly, stuffing their faces and bellies full. The quiet chatter was pretty nice, Kazumi ate slowly beside Aizawa.

The peaceful evening was interrupted as soon as the idea of soaking up in the hot springs was introduced.

"Will you be joining us too, Kazumi-san?" Izuku excitedly asked, a huge blush on his face, pairing with an equally blinding smile.

"Oh, hell fucking nah."

"Please?"

"..."

🎐

How the fuck did I end up in this situation?

Kazumi stared dazedly into his reflection in the changing room mirror. Low and behold, there he was, nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. The boys had all but dragged him into the men's changing room, many nearly losing their eyes in the process.

"C'mon, Uchiha!" Kirishima bravely grabbed his hand and dragged him out to the outdoor onsen where the others were already waiting in.

"Wha- Hey!" His shouts went unheard when Kirishima pushed him into the public bath. He resurfaced, hair wet and an unamused expression on his face.

"Eijiro, I will curse you and your entire bloodline—"!

"Hey, I had some assumptions but look! Kazumi's jacked as shit!" Denki swam over, latching onto Kazumi's arm. Before he could even protest, Shoto came over and poked at his abs.

"You're right. His body is quite toned," The Todoroki said with the straightest face ever known to man.

"Oh shut up, half-and-half bastard, dunce face. So he's hot, get over it," Bakugou said from the other side of the onsen. Kazumi turned to see the boy cock his head,
tipping it back, cracking a small smirk.

Kazumi suddenly froze. Panic seized him as he felt something slip away, his face became the shade of Sasuke's favorite cherry tomatoes.

Up floated the towel that was wrapped around his waist.

That was the final straw.

"Kazumi-san, do you mind if I touch the muscles on your back—"

"CHIDORIIIIII!"

"NOT AGAIN!"

q & a time!!

(we can keep this doing these as we progress through the story ! if we get enough questions that is, lol)

q: does kazumi have any hobbies?

a: whilst he may not look like it, kazumi enjoys music a lot. he likes to play guitar and even makes his own music. another one of his pastimes is cloud-watching, as well as stargazing, something he adopted from Shikamaru during his time at the ninja academy.

q: if kazumi was in the world of BNHA, would he be a hero, a villain, policeman, or just a civilian?

a: we already know that kazumi is kind of a morally grey character. even if he wasn't isolated from the village, or even i he didn't lose his brothers, there was still a pretty high chance he'd still leave konoha. he dislikes the power system in the narutoverse. and feels the same way about the hero system in the mha world. kazumi definitely wouldn't be a hero. he'd be a villain, or at the very least a vigilante.

q: if there was a soundtrack/song that describes kazumi, what would they be?

a: i love this question so much because i wrote this story with a few songs in mind. ill list a few here:

sparks - coldplay

free now - gracie abrams

my eyes - travis scott

waiting room - phoebe bridgers

let me go - daniel caesar

hypochondriac - brakence

(excuse me i went thru a breakup these songs are kinda SAD)

q: what is kazumi and the author's favorite songs and movies?

a: kazumi would definitely love mystery movies. his favorite movie would for sure be "Anatomy of a Fall" (highly recommend if you like murder documentaries lol), he'd also like "Interstellar". i personally love ghibli movies! my favorite one is "Spirited Away" another one of my favorite movies is "La La Land". im also a huge star wars fan !!

music...we know kazumi plays guitar, he'd definitely listen to classic rock, but i think his favorite music genre would be punk and alt. rock. kazumi's favorite song would be "Pretty Vacant" by Sex Pistols and "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" by the Clash, as well as any Cigarettes After Sex song. these are all artists i really like as well, right now im listening a lot to Chappel Roan as well as Keshi. one of my all time favorite underground albums is "hypochondriac" by brakence. its hyperpop, its really my favorite of all time.

q: has kazumi ever had a crush on someone before in his life?

a: kazumi's never loved anyone, hes never had the chance to feel it deeply. but if we're talking little childhood or hallway crushes, he had a tiny one on neji and an ongoing one on itachi. (NO THEYRE NOT RLLY RELATED,ITS NOT INCESTY I SWEAR)

sorry this chap took me so long!! i had a placement test to do cuz my dumb ass failed math 💀 today is also my birthday so yay me

to be continued...