Birds chirped in the morning joyfully.
Tsunade woke up first, yawning, stretching, feeling in contact with her own body more than ever. She felt rejuvenated, hydrated, healthy and full of energy to face the day, the week and whatever the world put in front of her... a benefit no other wife could say they had in this world.
The sun came in like showers of godly dew. The sunlight shone down onto the floor when it passed the window, but it bent upwards strangely in a display that defied physics, trying to return to its owner, the Sun itself.
Once more, she felt awed at her man's displays, even if he was unaware of what he was doing. Ray's tattoos were shining as if he was nourished in the light… like recharging batteries.
Just the sight of his countenance made her recall the vigorous night and morning they had shared. Rather than lust, it produced a sense of unprecedented satisfaction. She couldn't complain and, while unable to hold herself, leaned down and kissed his sleeping lips, moving up to his forehead where she planted an even longer and platonic kiss.
"I love you, sleep well".
Having said her words, Tsunade stood up, stretched once again, and checked the room. Azrael wasn't there, Haku was nowhere to be seen, and Ray was fiercely hugging Hannah like she was the cutest and softest pillow, which she was.
'These pets, they just milk him and go about their business...' Tsunade cursed inwardly, feeling a bit possessive and thinking if they were going to use HER MAN, they might as well play their part and spoil him every so often.
She looked for her clothes in the room and put them on; it was very late. Shizune had probably already come and knocked on the door until she got tired and left. She'd be late to the office, but couldn't give two farts.
When she reached the kitchen, Azrael was there, having already prepared breakfast and wearing her dark dress, blooming wings in full display and looking just as nourished and energetic.
Those two didn't exchange words, but a brief stare at one another produced a slight blush as they recalled their naughtiness.
Azrael put the food on the table, "Make sure to eat before you go. I'll be leaving now. There is much to do".
Sheol and the Soul Stone Ember were on her back, Tsunade noticed.
"Aren't you giving it to Ray?" She asked about the Ember, which was Galadriel's eye.
"Not yet, I'm not finished with it... once I am done, I will give it back to my lord".
Tsunade frowned. It was unusual for Azrael to act without orders, and she also didn't specify what she was going to do. She was just quietly leaving. The Hokage didn't want to pry... whatever Azrael decided to do was probably the right call.
'But I can still ask her, right? She got injured the last time due to me'.
"… you never told me in the end if you finished off the objectives I tasked you with, where are you going?", she said, trying not to sound too impolite, only to realise she had the right to ask about her whereabouts.
"Kizame Hishigaki is dead. So are the daimyo's servants you tasked… Itachi Uchiha lives" Azrael mumbled.
"Incredible, he managed to slip past you–"
"There is something I must show you".
Azrael leaned forward, placing a finger on Tsunade's forehead.
!!!
She showed Tsunade the truth; Tsunade's teacup fell, shattering on the floor as a visage of outright wrath resurfaced. Her aura spiked up, and a name came forth with killing intent.
"Danzo!"
Soon, her aura loosened, and wrath gave way to guilt and disappointment... disappointment with her village and the false truth they had been living. If anyone ever knew how important the Uchiha Clan was, it was her. Madara Uchiha and her grandfather, Hachirama Senju, had founded the village together... yet only the Senju were respected. In the past, she had never heard of one instance where her grandfather despised that clan. No, he respected and admired the Uchiha.
And yet a young Uchiha was secretly tasked by an elder of Konoha to massacre his entire clan to prevent a coup d' etat.
The Uchiha Clan had been isolated, nearly besieged within their home by filthy, corrupt politics that Danzo had implemented, forcing them to take act. And then, as if he was the goddam saviour, he ordered an Uchiha to wipe out the clan in a sign of 'patriotism'.
She stood up with a strong stomp, but Azrael put her hand on Tsunade's shoulder, shaking her head.
"Azrael!" She could hardly control the wrath she was feeling. Tsunade felt like she had to rush herself and massacre Danzo; only that way would there be a little retribution for that clan.
"Just killing him is not going to solve anything. What is done can't be taken back, we can't take them back, Tsunade... Leave this to me, I will bring justice," Azrael said with a smile, "This is the job of us Angels".
"What are you planning?" She held Azrael's hand, thinking it was not fair for an outsider to have to deal with it. Although thinking about it rationally, it was true that Danzo's death would be just a cheap sendoff that wouldn't accomplish anything.
She now understood why her fixation, why she would constantly ruminate about the story, about Sasuke. Thousands of years of wisdom told her something wasn't right.
"As an Angel, it is always my duty to bring the truth. I'll show the village the truth. This will be my last task before I go".
Tsunade's eyes faltered, "W-Where are you going?"
"Have you forgotten where my home is? It is about time for me to go back and report to the seventh heaven. I have been outside too long, and I have already accomplished my noble duty," Azrael giggled, holding her lower belly where a new life was sprouting.
Tsunade frowned and sighed in dejection. It was her friend, but she understood. She had made it very clear before that once her pregnancy was confirmed, that would be her time to go.
"Can't you just stay here with me? The heavens have myriad angels, just because one goes missing–"
"Don't say it like that. Although I appreciate your feelings, comrade~"
"We have been together for a long time, and you have helped me. I trust you, if you go…"
"Albedo will remain".
"I don't trust Albedo" Tsunade held her elbow, looking away; she knew she shouldn't say it, "Not the way I trust you, anyway".
Even though she tried to fix it, Azrael laughed and patted Tsunade's head.
"Don't treat me like a kid!"
"You are a kid~ stop your drama. I am only one door away from you," Azrael said, pointing at the gate that Ray had created to travel to the moonlight mist.
The Archangel hugged her friend tightly, then let go, ready to set off to partake in her noble duty yet again, bringing light and truth.
"Besides, I think Albedo is a good girl... we just haven't got to know her yet. Don't you remember? You and I were like oil and water when we met... and yet yesterday we were kissing".
"Don't remind me of that, idiot! Just go already! Who wants you, huh?! I have a lot of friends, I don't need you!"
Azrael giggled and flapped her wings, flying away, "My lord was right, you're a Tsun-Tsun~".
"SHUT UP!"
***
***
A man with orange mask and a single exposed eye trashed about in frustration. If there was something he hated was variables that couldn't be calculated.
Akatsuki had received a huge blow. Four members either dead or awol, not a single Jinchuriki captured.
"Those monsters, who are they!? They appeared out of nowhere!" He cursed.
"Fufufu, who knows? It seems they're allies with the Fifth Hokage, so long as we don't target Konoha, there is no reason why we should incur their wrath. I suggest we leave the Kyuubi for now".
"But eventually we will need to capture that kid. And they have ties to Kumogakure as well, if they're in the way, we won't be able to get a hold of the Nibi and Hachibi" He said to the mysterious voice, feeling lightheaded and also somewhat comfortable. He stared at a pair of beautiful slit eyed in the darkness that seemed to stare at his very soul.
If one looked closely, those beautiful eyes and his eyes seemed to be connected by a strand of pink energy.
"There is a meeting of Kages that will take place in Konoha precisely to discuss the information the Fifth Hokage has on Akatsuki. Killer B and the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi will be in one place; there won't be a better chance. But still, I suggest letting go of this chance to focus on the bigger picture, Óbito".
"What do you mean, Rin?".
The eyes left the shadows, revealing a breathtaking silhouette.
Tobi stared at this woman dreamily as if he had known her for a long time. As if they had been working together for years… as if she knew everything that there was to know about him. He loved her, he appreciated her… but he couldn't say those words out loud. Still experiencing that same fear from his childhood.
'Rin', no, Albedo smirked evily, still focusing those seductive eyes of hers into a sharingan. Displaying that there was a layer above genjutsu that the people of this world weren't aware of. But as an embodiment of lust, she had access to this layer.
"With Hidan, Kakuzu, Itachi and Kizame... we have lost too many too soon. Replenishing our numbers should be our priority, I think it is about time I join officially, don't you think?~ if we don't start making our moves we will lose momentum, and an organisation filled with criminals without a clear objective can only turn into a nest of rats".
"You are right... it doesn't make sense taking a risk in an operation with too many variables".
While deep in his thoughts, Albedo's eyes shifted to another corner of the dark room that was only lit by a few candles. There, a silhouette blacker than the very shadows crept up, unable to be perceived by mortals. But her contours were all too obvious for Albedo.
Even in all her eerie self, she couldn't help but stare at Albedo, who had already realised her presence. With what she had been seeing so far, there was only one word she could muster.
"You're a Monster~" she giggled eerily.
"Have you not looked at yourself in a mirror?" Albedo countered and ignored her, following Tobi who walked further down a path to another room of the huge underground complex located somewhere in the Land of Fire.
"What are you planning, Albedo?".
"Just watch the show in silence~"