Pairings:
- ItaNaru
- KakaObi
- ZabuHaku
- One-sided SasuNaru
- One-sided SasuSaku
Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, Kishi would be out of a job and Akatsuki would rule the world. Hahaha, but no.
Warning: I do not entirely trust some resources from Wikipedia so I will be using some of the names that Wiki has given and some of the ranks from the Naruto series to describe an angel and a demon's status. There is no bashing on Sakura. No pun intended.
You must all be confused with the ranks in this series, huh?
Introducing second half of the first.
Overview on Demon Ranks:
High Legions:
Emperor
Council
Kages
Higher Class: Jounin, Chuunin, Genin
Middle Class: Jounin, Chuunin, Genin
Lower Class: Jounin, Chuunin, Genin
Again, it's pretty simple. Now that you have a full understanding with the ranks, hopefully you won't get too confused :)
This is just a reminder: Hell is ruled by a monarchy -- or so facts state. Therefore, ranks are situated by importance, not just by strength. It's true, ranks are to arrange a class from strongest to weakest, but just like an earthly monarchy, it's ruled by importance also.
Enjoy sweethearts :D
-Chapter 10 - Veracity-
Sakura was the first to greet him at the gates when he returned. Her smile tried to assure him that everything was going to be all right, but the truth was, it wasn't.
"I'm glad you're back! It was boring without you!"
"Your optimism is annoying." His eyes were focused on the gates of gold leading in to the Room of Sanctity. This wasn't the time for jokes. Sakura had to wait.
"How rude… I was actually happy you came back." Her deep frown indicated her embarrassment for being so ecstatic.
"You shouldn't follow me. The Holy Ones don't need you right now." Itachi held the door open and waited for Sakura to leave.
"Well, I recently got appointed. I'm not in the Higher Sphere yet, but I'm getting there!"
"That has nothing to do with being in here or not." Itachi exhaled accordingly. This angel was just as arrogant as Obito. "Don't get so in over your head."
"…You are beginning to irk me."
"Then get out."
"You know what?"
Shit. That was the sign of making her mind.
"No. I'm going to stay!"
There were limits to how nosey Sakura could be. She was really pushing it.
"Have it your way then."
"I will!"
"Good."
"Yeah, it is good!"
"You can stop now."
"Okay!"
"You two are in the presence of the High Choir. I suggest you leave your comments to yourself." Kushina folded her hands in front of her chest, making the statement more of a threat than it was intended to be.
Where she came from, both angels didn't really want to know.
Four lights in the center of the room spread their wings and emitted a bright glow, which blinded the three angels in the Room of Sanctity.
"We've called for two angels only, Middle." Obviously, the only angel from the Middle Sphere would be Sakura. She didn't have enough courage to play the dumbass. "Leave or you will be forced out."
Itachi occupied himself with his silver necklace and tried to avoid eye contact with the Haruno.
'I told you so.'
She blinked slowly to try to grasp the fact that she was told to leave. "But-"
Even the Divine Being flared his wings and added to the glow of the room. Apparently, not all five were introduced to patience before. Well, Itachi could tell patience didn't relevantly like them anyway.
She took in a deep breath and made a sound in her throat that sounded like a growl and mutter of unheard words. Itachi had a feeling those words weren't as captivating as they sounded. As she turned around, she passed Itachi on her way out. "It was better talking to a wall." She whispered harshly.
Itachi's ears didn't fail him. That was a rude insult from an ignorant angel.
"Looks like I underestimated the number of your brain cells. Turns out you really know when to leave and when to be annoying, Sakura-san."
"If I wanted your opinion, I could just read your entrails."
"And if I gave a rat's ass, I'd leave you two alone to argue for the rest of your pathetic lives, but seeing as lightning could strike us at any minute because of your irrationalities, I'm forced to give a shit. Therefore, out with you," she waved a hand away, signaling no need for the pink-haired angel, "and you, Uchiha, turn around before I smack the feathers off your back."
Itachi was silent for a moment. It was best to keep quiet. Kushina wasn't just serious; she was a portable torturing device.
That was probably why the Holy Ones were so quiet. Kushina had enough ferocity to speak for them herself.
Sakura could sense the uneasiness lingering in the air. That was probably her cue to leave. "I seriously do need to talk to you, Itachi. I'll meet you later when you're done here."
The Uchiha gave her a nod of acknowledgement without even turning back to face her. Apparently, that was enough. The doors closed and melted into the standing structure. The only shadows that lingered from the open crevice had vanished and all light took over the dark parts of each area.
Kushina stepped closer to the Holy Ones with a smirk full of arrogance. Her pride practically made the council of angels dim their shining rays of light in the practicality of it all.
"This better be good."
"We've decided to withdraw you from the war," the first Holy One spoke.
Kushina beamed.
"-but that does not mean you are called here for a promotion in rank." The fourth Holy one finished.
Her smile of satisfaction turned sour.
"Do you know how long I had to endure the position of an Attribute?" She glared at the magnificent lights before her. "If this is your idea of a joke, it's not really funny. If I rip out your wings, would you laugh?"
"Do not forget your rank, Kushina," the second Holy One stated. "Your recklessness will be your downfall."
"Why did you even call me here?" She glared at the celestials that were above her in rank, status, and superiority.
"Right. To the point then," the third Holy One spoke with such ferocity, Kushina cringed at the fierce bellow of his deep voice, which caressed her ears like velvet and lingered in the air like smoke after a fire.
"We thought about the withdrawal of your presence in the war. Our decision was made just a moment ago. We've decided that you would be useful in the environmental field." The first Holy One was descriptive enough for Kushina to get the point.
"You're going to send me to Earth again?" She couldn't help but narrowed her eyes. "This whole charade isn't funny anymore."
"Six years ago, a precious jewel was stolen by demons. Because of that, a good 30 percent of the healing qualities of our angels were affected. We cannot just purify ores and gems when it takes years and years to perfect the quality of each crystal. Because the tourmaline was purified by one of us, the demons have an extremely important power source to rely on." Holy One number three certainly had a habit of describing the situation like it was the end of the precious world.
"We've made some of the Middle Sphere enlist in the war, but if this goes on and they use up the crystal's healing abilities, they will come back for more gems. Gems which we have a limited supply of." The fourth Holy One finished with a positive tone, yet the aspect of it all felt foreign when it reached the female angel's ear.
"You mean you forced them to join. Made would be a clear understatement." Apparently, Kushina made a habit of glaring at the Holy Ones. She certainly did a very good job of expressing her anger.
"Attributes are the servants of the Divine Being and are lower in rank when compared to Holy Ones. Respect is the key to keeping your rank."
"Or what? Off with my wings?" The red-haired angel scoffed.
"If that is what it will take for you to learn your place, then yes." The fourth Holy One answered.
"You act like I give a shit."
"Do you know how much it would hurt if we decided to go with the idea of tearing off your wings? As the joints of each wing are ripped from your back, you will not only feel your energy dissipate, but the sheer brutality will be enough to paralyze you and your body for life. We will see how much you don't give a shit afterwards." The four Holy Ones held powers that were miraculously strong and voices of thunder and sea. They clashed and strike fear in any angel who dare to oppose them. What Kushina had learned today was the fact that the third Holy One had some attitude she was unaware of. He was blunt enough to state the point and backed up the actual statement with such ferocity, it made her inwardly wince. The grotesque imagery was more than enough to shut her up.
"My God…" The angel was speechless. It wasn't because of the imagery; it was probably because of his proclamation.
"…What now?" The third Holy One demanded breathlessly.
"You just cursed. How dare you."
"How dare I? How dare you!" The third Holy One unconsciously configured his bright figure into a physical structure of a male body surrounded by golden light. He attempted to intimidate the angel with power. His wings of gold light flared along with his rage. "I was specifically quoting your words!"
"But you did not add emphasis. When you quote someone, you inconspicuously add emphasis even if you don't know it yourself." She clarified with a victorious smirk. Ahha, how the mighty have fallen. Hopefully number three will break a wing or two falling down the stairs of contempt.
"You little!-"
"Would you two stop it?" The first Holy One outspreaded his wings with such force, the light inside the Room of Sanctity only got brighter by each coursing second of every minute. "This quarrel of yours is not only annoying, but rather childish and imprudent. We are a hierarchy of angels for Christ's sake. Act like you have some decency."
The third Holy One withdrew his wings and allowed whatever contrast left in the room to come back. His scowl could not be seen by the golden light distorting his face. He was a physical silhouette of untouchable beauty made of gold and warmth. But this time, his magnificence and superiority had taken a huge blow from the arrogance of an Attribute. It was not only shameful; it was hilarious.
"…So, what do you want me to do?" She asked slowly, making sure every syllable was spoken as clearly as possible in the white room.
"You will be creating gems for the war. If we have enough, we could quickly wipe out the demons and end the war with a treaty." The second Holy One spoke like the third had never said anything.
"You say it like it's no big deal."
"It isn't."
"Are you guys this desperate?" Kushina raised a brow. "You could just terminate the Rebound Treaty and whatnot."
"That would lower our troops by 20 percent."
"Well yes. That's pretty obvious, isn't it? Logic is wonderful for the soul. Who cares about the decrease of people going to Heaven?"
"We do."
"Well I'm not you."
"You'd better care before we send you to purgatory." The third angel spoke with his increase of thundering ferocity.
"Oh, you're going to threaten me now? How about you force me to go? That would really make my day." Kushina glared at the marvelousness of his structure and it all. Perfection reeked of ignorant idiocy.
"Your sarcasm is less than flattering." He glared back with equal intensity. She couldn't exactly see it, but she sure could feel it.
"Sarcasm is what helps keep you from knowing what I really think about you."
"I beg to differ. Trust me, I dislike you just as much as you dislike me."
"Don't hate. You have a superiority complex which can be cured by the brute honesty of someone with a decent mind."
"And I dislike you even more because of that."
"Kushina, you are only prolonging the time of your advancement in rank. Certainly, being an Attribute for all these decades has made you think about your attitude, has it not?" The fourth Holy One stressed.
"Not really… no." She spat sourly. 'After all, you were the ones who erased my memory.'
"You are to make sure you purify those gems well. We will not be breaking any treaty that benefits us." Number one seems to have struck a nerve. The sheer ruthlessness expressed in his deep voice was like a double-edged sword.
"So I'm allowed access into the Holy Chambers?"
"That's the benefit of it all."
It was a pretty good deal for Kushina's standards. Only Holy Ones and the Divine Being were allowed in such a glorified room of crystals and ores. It was the treasure cove that made Heaven sacred. Whoever said treasures did not await beyond the gates of paradise was a complete dumbass.
The Holy Ones were awaiting the angel's reaction towards the news. They expected her on cloud nine by now. However, her indifferent expression wasn't what they had predicted.
"I'll agree to the terms on one condition."
"…There is no condition to agree to. You take what we give you and do it or we will punish you. Simple as that." The third Holy One scoffed. How ignorant of her! Of all things, they were forced to agree to whatever she had to say? How preposterous.
"I wasn't talking to you." She sneered. "I was talking to Him."
All four angels of status turned their heads to the one Kushina was referring to.
"What would you possibly want with the Divine Being?" They all spoke in union.
"You are the very knowledge of life, right? You hold all veracity within you and rarely speak because you already know what will happen before it actually does. You are not one who seeks enlightenment, you give wisdom. All of this is correct, isn't it, Kami-sama?"
It was respectful to the Divine Being to acknowledge the presence of the bright light of the emitting glow. However, her straightforward statement was compared to the commitment of seven-thousand sins.
He was silent for a moment on the golden throne. His light was the very structure of life itself. Why would the Divine Being answer to someone as significant as Kushina?
Because it isn't the significance of someone's presence. It was the importance of their question.
"Yes. All you say is correct."
She heard the voice of the Divine Being clear as a bell. It did not strike like lightning, it flowed like the waves. It did not strike fear, it eradicated all doubt from the outside perspective. His voice was so astonishing, she was left stupefied.
It took a moment for her to realize she had permission to continue with her specific 'condition' she asked of the Divine Being.
"If you know so much, then you must know of every angel, demon, and aspect of life, no?"
"Clearly, that is why I am divine. That is why I am God."
"If that is true," she said, "then why did you not tell me Uzumaki Naruto, a demon in the Middle Class, is my son? Why is he, of all beings, in Hell?"
"It was not your time to know. However, considering the circumstances, he was sent to Hell for eternity. I, myself, know the answer, but just like then, you are not ready to figure out now."
"But time does not concern me! What really does is the reason why this is happening to me!"
"Time is the very aspect of life. The words you have spoken to me are like a child's and the selfishness a young one holds when she is unaware of the word around her. Because of that, you are unprepared for the truth."
She bit the inside of her cheek. "That… that's not fair."
"It is also not fair for Uzumaki Naruto. He never deserved eternal damnation. Yet, he accepted the facts. The ultimate question is: what about you? Have you accepted him?"
"But Kami-sama! My son is not a mere obstacle or fact I have to understand!"
"He is what's bothering you. Therefore, he is the fact you must accept." His tone of voice was obvious enough to depict the end of their conversation. Apparently, that was all the Divine Being was going to tell her.
Kushina was silent for a moment. There was no fact she wanted to accept! It just didn't make sense…
"I… I accept the mission. But, there's one thing I want to ask you."
It was as if the Divine Being waited for her to continue, but then again… He never was straightforward.
"Why did you erase my memory?"
"That, I cannot say."
"Listen here," she narrowed her eyes as she took in a deep breath and began, "You made me enlist in a pathetic war that was created for no reason at all! Records state that it was just the admittance of humans! You're killing them in such a state of chaos our order is in. I'm forced to believe so much shit, you have no idea how this is stressing me out. I know for a fact that you've erased much more than just the memory of my past. You erased my son too. Whatever you're making me accept isn't just ludicrous, it's downright sick."
"Then what do you suggest you should do?"
"I… I just want my memory back. Or at least the parts where I know that isn't all a lie."
"When you purify enough crystals to heal our armies and help us win this war, then we will grant your wish. In fact, we will return all your memory back to you if you so desire it." This time, the forth Holy One answered for the Divine Being.
"The Rebound Treaty is pointless if you're just going to use it to your advantage just to win a war against Hell. There is no good against evil anymore if you all keep this up."
"You are a rank below us, Kushina. You have no right to say what is right or wrong and simply think we should change our tactics just to agree to what you've spoken out about." The third Holy One spoke with his audible voice and jeered at the angel.
"You can't just do this either. It's wrong. It's obviously sick and wrong."
"It is all for the greater good."
When the Divine Being agrees to the subject at hand, everyone else agrees. There was just no way to break the ice.
They were too blinded by how many they'll have after the war and the paradise that welcomes humans who have the ability to believe, they never took a second look at those angels who were once humans. They sacrificed themselves for another war for no reason.
It felt like a twisted version of Noah's Ark. This God was practically wiping out the old and allowing the new to be brainwashed into thinking they were fighting for paradise.
"Itachi, if you may please, we would like to speak to you now." The first Holy One spoke like nothing happened between Kushina and their argument over what was right and what was wrong.
The Uchiha stood awkwardly in the middle of Kushina, who was obviously enraged, and the Holy Ones, who obviously didn't give a shit. He was silent throughout the entire argument, but that did not mean he came to realize the truth on his own accord.
As Kushina stormed out of the Room of Sanctity, Itachi walked forward and revealed his presence underneath their significance.
"So..." They began in union.
"You've broken the rules and ran off to the human world, Higher. May I ask why?" The second Holy One spoke as if he already knew the answer.
"You didn't have any books about Earth. The library only held documents and such."
"So you ran off."
"I would be lying if I said no."
"There is punishment involved in this, Itachi. Take this seriously."
"I am." He replied with whatever sincerity he could muster.
"That is a lie." The obvious answer was stated.
"If I were to ask what my punishment would be, would you answer?"
"Enlistment in the war solves your question?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes. "And if I reject?"
"We will strip you of your status."
The Uchiha had better things to do than worry about being enlisted. There was no end to this war. These beings weren't being subtle at all.
"If you want me to die so badly, you could've just said it. I'm not as sensitive as Kushina-san."
"Very well then." The third sneered. "Our main objective for angels who do not respect our beliefs is death. Kushina was an annoying one out of many. She has broken many rules and went so far as to love the demon she was supposed to kill. That was not our deal, nor was that her mission. Apparently, cleaning out her memory was not enough. She still talks back to me even to this very day. Kushina got lucky. She only endured six months of war. And yet, she is still not dead."
"You mean with the rip of the dimension in the borderlines? So you decided to use her in a way which consists of Heaven winning?"
"Exactly. Involving her physically got us nowhere."
"Your motives are confusing." Itachi took in a long breath and exhaled accordingly. "So you want me to die. Is that it?"
"Yes. We believe that you are going to be a hindrance to us in the future. That is a good enough assumption for you to die."
'Assumption? You have God sitting in the middle with his all-knowing mind. There is no assumption. There is only right and wrong.' Itachi thought. The grimace on his face was visible to every being in the room.
"What is wrong, Itachi? Did you not say you were not sensitive unlike Kushina?" Number one decided to mock him.
"Surely you do not doubt your feelings about this, do you?" Number three was worse with the mocking.
"This isn't a game. If the Divine Being was really the true being who created all of us, even the humans who fell in Hell, why would he want to do such a thing?"
"It is time for spring cleaning, is all."
"Your description disgusts me."
"Itachi," the second Holy One began, "we do not care what you do if you refuse to be enlisted. Obviously, your reputation will be at stake, but as long as you do not pollute these angels' minds, then you can continue to live and be the disappointment you are."
"You will gain nothing out of this." Itachi clarified.
"That is for the Divine Being to decide. Not you."
The Uchiha did not risk materializing his wings to intimidate the Holy Ones. He did not want to risk anything. Itachi was tired of all this. He was fighting for evil and going against good. Why did angels have to be so complex too?
"I am not enlisting."
"You will be disgraced."
Disgraced? Was that it? There was no point anymore. The next thing Itachi wanted to do was run. He wanted to run far away and run from all this. Everything was bullshit, why did he have to face something that wasn't worth the effort to speak up about? He was only one angel out of many.
"I don't care."
"You may not, but your pride does." The third Holy One spoke.
"Well," the Uchiha began as he turned around, "I am not my pride and my pride does not control me."
Then, he walked away. It felt like walking away from the stress and the benefactor of being a Higher. When he passed the gates, he was no longer an angel with status. He was an angel who knew the truth. And because he knew the truth, he was different from the angels who were brainwashed into thinking the Divine Being was the truth.
He didn't need to take shit from anyone.
So that was what he did. He simply walked away.
That was what separated him from being an angel that strived to make a difference, to an angel who would soon make a difference.
I woke up from a three-hour nap to find out that the sun had already set! I thought it was around eight or so, but no. It was around 6:10. Thank God. Oh, and just a little heads up, I'm doing each chapter by split sections. It's similar to completing an ark of 7 to 10 chapters. I currently finished one whole ark, therefore, the updating speed will be once a week (or less. Depending on how much I finish by next week!) In all, the estimate is roughly six chapters of finished work saved on Word. I'm a very happy birdie playing Pokemon on cloud nine right now :D Good thing is, I got in two extra chapters in two days. And in total, the finished ark was done in two weeks. Good progress with the whole ending of my first semester and all.
At least some of you like Pokemon, right? I bought Diamond 5 months after Platinum so I was a little pissed. If only I had realized that Plat was going to come out. I would have waited… But at the same time, I lost interest in it until two weeks ago. Pretty late to start becoming a Pokenerd. I'd love to play with any of you on Wifi whenever I get my own near the end of next week or so :)
The addiction won't last. I promise.
To yawn since I could not reply to you because your message was anon:
Thank you for loving my story. I appreciate it very much. However, (and I quote)
"so could you PLEASE hurry up before everyone else stops reading this fiction. No matter how interesting the idea, if you can't express it properly, you should just give it up!"
I'd quote the whole thing, but that was the only line that stood out to me the most. If you think about it, the topic of angels and demons isn't just cliché. It's overdramatic. Most of the time, the idea becomes so farfetched, it's almost another Romeo X Juliet incarnated. That kind of scene in itself, is beauty in a foreign language, which we've come to love and understand without knowing. Therefore, I don't fuck with things like that. Originality isn't really the key to angels and demons either. Some want things slow, some want things fast, I want things stable. If you have issues understanding each life lesson within each chapter, I would prefer you to think a little harder or not read the chapters at all.
And if it's the sex you want, (assuming the way you worded "PLEASE hurry up") I'm sorry to disappoint. There are quick one-shots for you to drool over concerning that topic.