Far in the sky above the Village of Konoha, the atmosphere was terrifying with dark clouds taking over the firmament, and lightning sparks indicated an incoming disaster. The villagers took over their homes, the kids didn't play, and the Shinobi stood around wryly, feeling as if something was going on.
No one could shake the feeling of heaviness on their shoulders. Little did they know, in those very dark skies, a goddess lay down, watching the spectacle from above.
'It seems tonight is not going to be simple. Even master came to have fun~'.
She could detect dozens of lifeforms rushing into the outskirts of the village in desperate aid of Danzo. But rather than try to stop them... she let them go.
'Are you going to fight, master?'
'If necessary, but probably not, they're more than enough. I only want to watch how he ends, how this all ends... it feels like the conclusion of a long story'
'Did you suddenly get interested in this village?'
'A wicked being that has done evil and had his way for dozens of years... don't you think watching the end of that person is rather entertaining, Haku?'
'Of course, that's why I am here~ but I do not plan to make a move. Didn't you say it yourself? Us Gods shouldn't meddle in the matters of mortals... but I will at least make sure no damage befalls this village... Tsunade would be sad otherwise'.
'She wouldn't be sad... she'd be pissed. I will leave it to you'.
'Master, as for the kid...'
'Let him. We are here... I won't allow anything to happen to him'.
'Kids nowadays are so stubborn. They used to be so obedient and delicious back in the days– oops~'.
'...'
'Please forget what I said, master~'.
'Haku, you don't change...'
'If I changed, you wouldn't love me as much~'
**
**
Danzo Shimura looked pitiful. A big strategist and veteran Shinobi had no choice but to retreat at the might of the unknown. He jumped from tree to tree, his guard up and his expression hideous. He left his torn and shattered home, wondering about the fate of his family but without caring too much.
After all, that's who he was. He could have another wife, he could have more kids... so long as he survived.
'I can't fight her without a strategy; otherwise, I will run out of eyes in vain' Danzo groaned and jumped just in time. He released the wraps around his right arm, releasing his shackles, aware that in order to defeat this monster, he had to give it his all.
*CHAA!!*
A light spear impacted against the three he was standing and exploded, no warning... no sound.
*BOOOMM!*
A never-ending rain of light spears was falling in the forest. Whatever they touched would be either destroyed or melted. Danzo didn't even know what element that was. I wasn't earth, water, wind or lightning.
'She's using those things without even using hand signs, nonstop. What kind of monster did you bring to this world, Tsunade?!'
He thought he had evaded just in time, but jumping from tree to tree, the world suddenly turned slow, and he saw the scythe come flying, unable to dodge.
As if those light attacks weren't enough, her scythe seemed to have a life of its own, sharper than anything he had ever seen and with overwhelming destructive damage. Being mid-air, Danzo clenched his teeth and realised he'd have to use the forbidden technique once more.
*CLAANG!*
A mysterious individual with a dog-shaped mask managed to strike the scythe mid-air, diverting its course, but they didn't do so unscathed. The kunai split, slicing their neck, releasing torrents of blood that coated the forest.
Azrael caught the scythe mid-air and landed with squinted brows. Danzo realised his support had already reached and thought it was time to start his counterattack. Dozens of shadows loomed and flickered in the windy forest around Azrael.
Root had arrived to protect their leader.
Danzo used his hand signs and blew literal bullets of wind that he shot at Azrael's landing form. The woman frowned, readied her scythe and struck them one by one, creating light sparks in the darkness. Sheol had no trouble whatsoever dealing with the man's jutsu. Although the bullets couldn't be seen, they could be perceived.
He became a bit more confident as two members of the root landed at either side, with at least a dozen more watching the surroundings. Azrael looked around with her side eye. She cracked her neck, and two more wings flapped out of her back, making it into four.
"You monster... I hope you don't think you will be able to come out of this alive. Of all people, you dared to come for me. I will bring your skull to Tsunade and ask for an explanation"
In front of his outraged rant, the Death Angel had no reaction. She didn't even seem to put those members of root in her eyes. To her, he was still just a dead rat struggling.
"I do not care about Konoha, Danzo... I just want your filthy soul... and everyone who has supported you, they're coming with you straight to the Sheol" She pointed her scythe at him again, and even though the odds now 'looked' like they were on his side, he couldn't help but feel apprehension.
He performed some hand signs.
The runes spread across the wood, and an explosion of smoke took over. The growls of a beast followed, so loud that they reached the village. It was a creature resembling a lion but with an elephant's face and a trunk.
'I need to contact Tsunade. Her pet has gone out of control. There is no reason why she should be hunting me'.
Danzo and his two root jumped on top of the creature. As for the rest of them concealed in the shadows, Azrael felt all of them doing their own hand signs, preparing for battle.
"Contact the fifth Hokage–" He began to his right aide.
"Do not waste your time, Danzo. Tsunade knows about this. I was sent here to hunt you... you won't be seeing her face again".
"What...?".
Danzo was confused. Why would the fifth Hokage send to hunt him? He even remembered having conversed with her no less than a week ago in an amicable form, advising her in regards to the influence of Akatsuki in the region and the possibilities they had to plan an ambush.
Azrael played with her scythe, making it spin...
"Enough talking, let's–"
*WHOSH!*
Azrael frowned. A shadow landed in front of her on the tree branch, and even Danzo was surprised. Whoever just came was not affiliated with him. Soon, he inspected the newcomer, and when his long hair settled down, he managed to see the individual who had arrived.
And he managed to put all the pieces together. With his fist clenched, the creature growled as if mirroring his feelings.
"Uchiha... Itachi".
The man in question settled down in the branch, suppressing his newfound feelings... the wrath, the confusion. His eyes stared at Danzo's arm, the Sharingans belonging to his clan, shaking, tickling, perhaps even wondering what was going on... how did they arrive there?
The feeling of disgust welled up inside. With Danzo... with himself. He knew where those eyes came from. And he knew he had contributed. Directly or indirectly, it didn't matter.
Azrael didn't say a word. She had sent him to Tsunade to get healed, hoping he'd be unconscious for a long time, and by the time he woke up, everything would be finished. But as it would be expected of Tsunade, she managed to heal him in a heartbeat from a potentially life-threatening injury.
"What are you doing here?" She asked subtly, unaware of what he may be feeling.
But she realised the next second... when the young man turned around with his sharingan bleeding. His eyes bled until the blood dripped onto the ground.
For her, it was perhaps one of the most despairing expressions she had seen in her long life as an Angel.
The sight of a broken man was never pleasing. But what was worse... was the sight of a broken innocent soul.
"Show me the truth", he begged her.
At this point, he didn't know who he could believe. Who had the real story, who was worth his truth... because from the start, he had just been a plaything, manipulated to believe and execute someone else's will.
He who always believed the pain of his betrayal was worth it... he who believed he had sinned for a noble cause. After seeing Danzo's arm, he realised.
He had been devastatingly wrong.
"Please... show me the truth", He begged again.
"You shouldn't be here–" She said, being cut off.
"It has to be me. I have to end this... but before I do, please show me the truth".
"Itachi–" the elder had a few questions, but another Itachi appeared behind Danzo like a ghost, seemingly out of nowhere, entangling him with a kunai around his throat. Even root was caught off guard.
'When?!'.
Which one was the genjutsu, which one was real... they weren't willing to bet. Danzo frowned. Being caught in this situation, he decided to think about what his next plan was going to be. Dealing with Azrael was one thing, but if Itachi joined the fray...
In the midst of their scene, their moment... none seemed to notice how a small shadow started taking over the moon, little by little.
...
Seeing that he wasn't going to give up until he knew the truth. Azrael knew the truth could make you free... but it could also destroy you. Nevertheless, Itachi Uchiha deserved that much.
She looked to the ground in resignation, then tapped Itachi's forehead.
And the truth finally surged in his mind.
And the truth made him free.
And the truth... it shattered him.