July 27th, 64 AE
"Get up."
"Let me sleep..." Sakura begged, her body still aching from all the physical training and lovemaking from last night.
"Up."
She pouted at the order and begrudgingly sat up and stretched her arms.
When she glanced at the clock, it was not even 6 am, and seeing him standing there naked, she blushed.
"What do you want to do?" She shyly asked and yelped when he suddenly flipped her over and grabbed her ass.
Her hands clenched the sheets tightly as he entered her from behind, soon filling her up, and she moaned when he started moving and soon ravaging her.
He came inside of her twice before he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom, where he helped her wash.
Afterwards, he left her in the bathtub and returned to his room to get ready.
At 7 am, he came to her room, where she was busy dressing up.
He walked over and planted a kiss on the Seal of Senjutsu that was placed on her spine, between her scapulae, and she sweetly smiled at his affection.
The two then prepared their breakfast together and ate it, and then they walked towards the arena in silence.
For almost the last three months, she had been training under him, and she had been living with him inside this Central Tower just like a married couple.
Which was the reason she did not mind any pain that she had to suffer and he inflicted on her. It was all worth it at the end of the days when she would sleep in his arms.
Since she did not have any classes nowadays, having already been cleared by Shizune-sensei, her daily routine in his absence only involved Physical Strength exercises.
In the evenings, she would prepare a meal for him, and wait for his return, and nowadays, after their supper, he would help her go through Elemental Clone Meditation, which in her case were her Earth Shadow Clones.
She had a primary affinity for it and a secondary affinity for Water Release.
"I am not going to return tonight," he told her, and her mood instantly deflated. "Eat on time, and you will be practising your Genjutsu Seal tonight."
Sakura smiled when he poked the lotus seal right in the middle of her brows, which he had given to her.
This Seal helped her tremendously in casting a Genjutsu, which was far stronger than a normal Genjutsu, and the reason for it was that she had a natural affinity for Yin Release other than her Earth and Water Nature Transformations. She was actually very talented with it, and Enma told her that it would be a waste if she did not use this talent to use some Genjutsus.
Even though it was not part of the training the Tsunade-sama wanted her to do, she was more than happy to learn more from him, and truthfully, she quite enjoyed it a lot.
"Okay." She promised him that she looked down exactly what he had ordered, and sweetly closed her eyes when he leaned in and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Enma then stepped back and used the Lightning Body Flicker to disappear, and Sakura quickly started her morning exercises.
The Uzumaki arrived at Hokage Tower a short while later, and as soon as he entered the Office through the window, he frowned when he sensed the grim atmosphere.
The three Advisors were already present there, and Shizune, who had returned to her duties as the Hokage's Assistant, was also standing behind Tsunade, looking very nervous just like everyone.
As for the Hokage, she looked mad, very mad.
"Hokage-sama." He bowed to her and curiously caught the scroll she threw his way.
Under Shibi and Shikaku's curious eyes, he slid away his blindfold and opened his eyes to read through it.
They had never seen him with his eyes open before, and unsurprisingly, his eyes were the same as that of the Uzumaki Matriarch, indicating their Pureblood Uzumaki Heritage.
"Tsuchikage sent Alliance proposals to Kiri and Suna as well. Iwa would agree to a Truce of two decades with our three Villages if we hand you over to them. All past grievances will be written off. Your death for the Truce and Alliance," Hazuki coldly smiled as she gave him more details.
"Wow... he did not take kindly to your Bingo Book war, Hokage-sama." He chuckled, and despite herself, Tsunade smirked.
"Onoki has gone senile. There's no doubt about it. He is even offering a truce and alliance to Kiri." She shook her head and leaned back in her chair.
"Has Terumi Mei given him an answer?"
"Yes, she rejected his offer. Suna Council has rejected the offer as well."
"So, why do you all look so grim?" He frowned.
"Tsunade-sama has... declared War on Iwa..." Shizune nervously said, and the Uzumaki Heir was stunned.
He then furrowed his brows and lost himself to his thoughts.
"That's not all is it?" He asked the raven-haired girl, and Shikaku surprisedly looked at him.
"No. She has given them a month to take their ridiculous demand back and enter the truce unconditionally for the next ten years. If they don't, we will move against them." The Hokage's Assistant nervously said.
"I see. How's the Raikage doing?"
"Still recovering," the Head of the Nara Clan answered him.
"And their movements?"
"They are staying in their country."
Enma smiled at the words.
"A risky gamble, but worth taking." He said to Tsunade and watched her smile at him.
"And if that senile old man does declare war against us?"
"Easy. We kill him, and Iwa loses their leader and spirit."
"He's a tricky old man."
"But not Immortal." He meaningfully said. "I am more concerned about Orochimaru joining hands with Iwa than Kumo entering the War against us."
Tsunade shook her head.
"Orochimaru will not move against Konoha again." She lightly said and sank back in the seat, surprising everyone. "Those who he had issues with are all gone, and he achieved what he wanted. There's no reason for him to target Konoha again. Unless he wishes to take over Sasuke's body or maybe Anko's body."
Enma narrowed his eyes at those words. And Tsunade glanced around the room and stood up.
"He's... tired of seeing deaths and his only fear is death. His goal is immorality, and the reason why my old Teammate wants immorality is because he wants to learn everything the world has to offer. That has always been his obsession. And he desires a perfect body."
"So, he's like Hiruko?"
"No. He is just as twisted, now even more than ever, but he has no desire for conquest and domination. Knowledge and Immorality are all he seeks." She said and then opened the drawer and threw him another scroll.
Seeing the seal of Otogakure on it, they were all very surprised.
"Orochimaru has offered us all the intelligence he has on Akatsuki in return for helping him heal one of his subjects."
Enma read the letter and furrowed his brows, especially at how much Orochimaru stressed that they must not underestimate Akatsuki and that they needed to know everything he knew if they wanted to have a chance of protecting Uzumaki Naruto and Konoha.
"Interesting." He smiled.
"What do you think we should do? I am not going to bring this matter to the table in front of the council. It's not appropriate, but I want to hear what my Advisors have to say about this."
"Can his words be trusted?" Hazuki frowned, clenching her fist.
She wanted to know the identity of that Masked Man who had slaughtered her Clan with Itachi.
"He won't fool around with me." Tsunade lightly said. "He has already sent the same message to Jiraiya, and has invited us both to meet him."
"It's not wise for you for you to personally go there, Hokage-sama. It could be a trap."
"I won't be going to see him alone. I will take Kushina and Akaisen with me."
Enma surprisedly looked at her and then nodded his head.
"Where?"
"Valley of the End."
"When?"
"We have until tomorrow."
"That's sudden."
"That person is dying, so he wants to rush it." She lightly said and waited to hear what the three Advisors had to say.
"I think we need that information if it is legit." Shikaku frowned, and Shibi nodded his head.
"Yes," Tsunade nodded her head and stood up. "Jiraiya has the same opinion, but he can not make it there. So, I am heading there today. Enma, gather Akaisen and meet me at the Gate in an hour."
"Yes!" He acknowledged her command, and soon a thunderclap was heard in the sky outside.
She curiously looked at him and smiled at the signal he had created.
"That's quite flashy."
"Thanks." He chuckled.
After Tsunade left Shikaku in charge of the Village in her absence, she Flickered away with Enma, using the same Lightning Body Technique.
The moment they arrived at the gate, Kushina was already present there, and she smiled at her nephew.
"Looks like you don't want to kill your old friend, Hokage-sama," She commented, and Tsunade frowned.
"What tells you that?"
"You are bringing him and Akaisen along. He won't act against us and give no excuse to kill him. That's boring."
The Senju smiled at her words and stayed silent.
Twenty minutes later, all the seven members of Akaisen, who were in the village, had arrived at the Gate.
"Yugao and Shin?" Sasuke asked when he found the two absent.
"They are out on a misison." Enma lightly said.
"Alright, gather up. I am not in the mood to travel all the way there and waste hours." Kushina lightly said, and they all instinctively followed her command.
The Uzumaki Matriarch then created a Space & Time Seal under them, and they all vanished from their spots, leaving the two Chunins at the gate stunned.
However, no one was more shocked than the members of Akaisen when they found themselves standing in the Valley of the End, on top of the head of the statue of Senju Hashirama.
"Wow..." Hana was amazed by the teleportation technique, and even Tsunade was stunned.
However, pretty soon, their expressions turned very serious as they saw figures starting to appear on the head of Uchiha Madara.
And finally, Orochimaru showed up, wearing the hat of the Otokage.
"Tsunade." He smiled and the curiously looked at the Uzumaki Matriarch and her nephew, and then at Izumi and Sasuke.
"Yours arms seen fine now." The Hokage narrowed her eyes, and her old friend grinned.
"All thanks to Enma-kun. It was indeed very simple, but I nearly died." He said, his eyes now glinting in mischief.
"I am surprised you survived, but I am glad you lived up to your reputation."
The Otokage let out his sinister chuckles, and then nodded his head before looking at his old friend.
"Are you here to kill me, Tsunade? Or for the deal I have offered you?" He straightforwardly asked.
"The deal."
"Why did you bring Kushina-san here then?" He asked, looking right into her eyes.
"For assurances. After all, you did kill the last Hokage with your tricks."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at her, and then nodded his head.
"You will hold your end of the deal first."
"That's fine by me." She shrugged. "Where's the patient..."
"Where did you find the survivor of the Kaguya Clan? One that has awakened the Kekkei Genkai?" Kushina cut her words and asked, making everyone around her frown, and catching Orochimaru by surprise.