Finally, we arrived at grumpy drunk's house!

Hmm.

I didn't expect a grumpy drunk's house to look like this though, it's so... Clean.

We all got Kakashi inside since he got injured after his fight with Zabuza.

They were all greeted at the door by some woman who I'm guessing is tazuna's relative or whatever.

While everyone was busy trying to help Kakashi I slipped out of there.

I mean it's not like they'd notice me if I left but naruto would so, I wouldn't want him to worry.

I think I just needed some time to myself. I do this a lot back in the village, go on my own for a while.

I guess just to deal with myself.

Sort out all my fucked up issues, you know.

Once I had finally made it to a small clearing in the woods I sat down.

"My name is Ketei. I don't know my last name so yeah..... I'm fourteen, I think. Could be eighty for all I care. Age is just a number. My best friend is naruto. Okay, now memory recollection. I've gotten a lot recently but before that I had a memory of a boy who helps me out in the rain, me sick, being trapped, a girl named Yoari, and some other stuff. I'm dead. Deceased. Kicked the bucket. "

I sighed.

"I hate this. I laugh and joke around in front of naruto to make him happier but on the inside I'm rotting. I grow to hate myself more and more every day and I can't stop it. I want to know, why am I here? Do I have any purpose at all? Or am I just gods mess up like the bunnies...I just wish I had someone to turn to but I'm all alone except for naruto and sometimes Kakashi. But there will always be this stupid barrier, called life and death! I'll always remain the same old me until who knows how long and they will all grow old and die while I watch? What's the use of living, well, being dead forever if you can't spend it with anyone? What's the use of watching everyone I.... Like , die? Just like me, except they don't have to stay forever, they can leave. I feel useless and I've been fighting it. This feeling of nothingness. This feeling of nonexistence. This feeling that says I'm just a.... ghost...." I said.

There. I said it. I told the truth.

But did I tell it to anyone?

Do the trees hear me? Like they'd help. They've got enough problems like being chopped down....

"I know how you feel. " I heard.

Who said that!

Was it a tree?

I slapped myself.

It's not a tree you idiot.

I stood up and looked around me.

"Who's there! " I shouted.

A person stepped out from the shadows. "My names Itachi. " the person said.

"Itchy? " I asked.

He groaned.

"Itachi. " he said firmly.

"You can see me, huh? So, tell me how. " I demanded.

"Well, I'm not really here right now. I'm transporting myself in my sleep, using an old projection jutsu. Thought it might help me see you. Try to punch me. " he said.

Oh Yay!

I ran full speed ahead towards him and started punching and kicking.

They went straight through.

"I'm technically not here right now, you see. I hope that proved it. " he said.

"Not really. That's how it is with everyone. " I said.

He just stared.

I sighed.

"Why are you here then? And why were you spying on me? Are you with the bunnies? Huh, did they put you up to this!" I shouted.

He chuckled.

"I'm glad to see you haven't changed. " he said smiling.

"Wait, what? " I said.

"I've been searching for you for a long time Ketei. "

"Umm... Rewind? How do you know me? " I asked.

"We used to know each other, when you were alive. "

"This is confusing... How did you find me? "

"I was watching over my brother today, or as you call him, duck-but. " he said.

I blushed and grinned.

"Suits him, don't you think? " I said.

He ignored that and continued on.

"I heard a boy named naruto shout your name and well, wasn't I surprised... Then Zabuza confirmed your identity while talking to Kakashi and I finally realized that it worked. "

"What worked?"

"The trials."

For some reason, that name rings a werid annoyingly loud bell.

"Trials? " I asked.

"Experiments designed to enhance ordinary jutsus, to amplify them. One of the strangest cases was you. "

"Of course. The usual suspect. Me. "

"The justu that they were making you amplify was a forbidden one. It would bring the dead back to life if used properly but kill the user. "

"Let me guess, it worked. " I said sarcastically while pointing to myself.

"It worked. But not in the way anyone thought it would. You ending up killing yourself and bringing yourself back to life at the same time. Which, made you... "

He pointed to me.

"Like this. "

"A ghost. I'm alive and dead. That's a paradox right there. " I said.

"I'm just glad I found you. " itchy said.

"Why? "

"Well, let's just say... Someone will be very happy when they find this out. "

"Who's the somebody! " I said.

"I'm not allowed to tell. Well, truly I just want to watch you find out on your own. " he said smirking.

I bit my lip and growled at him.

"That was just as tasteless as your brother's insulting. " I said.

"I'm glad we have something in common, then. " he said.

I noticed him starting to fade away.

"Wait a second, I have one last question! " I shouted.

"Say it quick. "

"You know what it feels like, that's what you said. Was it a lie? " I said.

"To feel like there is a barrier between you and everyone you love.... Yes. " he said and faded all the way away.

Itchy... What happened to you?

And who put me in those trials?

Who stole my life away....