.: Hey Thomas. I'm glad to hear you're writing something new. What's funny is that I am planning on watching One Piece in January. You see, it was January 2020 when I watched Naruto for the first time. Greatest 6 months of my life since I binge-watched all 720 episodes and movies during the pandemic and national lockdowns. Then in January 2021, I turned around and watched Bleach, completely unaware that it was part of the Big Three with Naruto. I loved that series, too. So to follow the tradition I inadvertently set up for myself, I have to watch One Piece in January 2022. I am very excited to watch it. So maybe some time in the future, I'll read your fanfic ;) But for now, here is another chapter. I have to admit that I really do like Akuma's band of friends he's putting together. Their chemistry just works. I hope, though, that Dolia's side of the story starts picking up the pace more after Kakuzu and Hidan are taken care of since I can start going my own direction then. But I hope the antagonists are interesting to read about until then. They are definitely fun to write about. :.

The Archangel of the Hidden Leaf

Chapter 30:

At Long Last

Hearing Yume take responsibility for their current situation saddened Kyojin. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is. We just have to get her back where she belongs."

She slightly tipped her head and gave him an appreciative smile. Reaching for him, she rested a palm against his square jawline. "How I've missed your kind words," she disclosed, pulling her hand away gently. "Hopefully this means I get to stretch my wings out with you again." Reaching for the clasp of her gray garment that draped over her shoulders, she undid it and pulled it into her hands. Karin blinked in astonishment as her extra appendages unfolded and shakily extended. She never knew that such a secret was being kept from her, especially after half a year of working together. Judging from the similar clothes that the two other men were wearing, Karin could only assume that they had wings, too.

"Why wait?" Kyojin happily complied, motioning back toward the open doors that were streaming in sunlight. Without another word, she passed him and walked toward where outside was. Then it was both of them leaving together, turning into dark shadows.

Sasuke looked to Akuma and saw him staring after them with a soft smile. He had mentioned to him previously that the two of them had a history together, but he did not go into detail. But he also knew Yume could help heal his wound from the lightning strike, so why was he letting her leave before addressing that?

Before he could say anything, Akuma turned to Karin. "Thank you for your help. Yume will be back in a few weeks." Without waiting for her response, he began to follow them out, so Sasuke naturally started to do the same behind him.

Karin exhaled in disbelief. Sasuke was just going to leave? That was all she would get from this visit? "Wait," she began, trailing behind the Uchiha.

"Karin," Sasuke said lowly, slowing down so he would not be directly behind Akuma. Once she was at his side, he continued. "I'll be returning here one day."

"Really?"

He did not reply to her. He shared what he had to, and nothing more. This mission with Akuma was not what his mind was mostly focused on. He had other plans to be coordinated.

They both walked outside where the fierce sun penetrated their retinas, causing Karin to squint. She spent too much time inside the dark hideout to be used to outside anymore. But once her eyes adjusted, she saw two active figures in the sky. Yume flapped her snow-white wings to gain speed and change direction in coordination with Kyojin, who was trying to curve his glides toward the surface of the sea to touch his fingers against it. The feeling of being fast enough to keep her wings steady was one she missed. The flesh distended slightly as air pressed deeply against them, but no pain was apparent. Just the ache from keeping her wings crumpled against her back for so long was being relieved.

Sasuke passed Akuma to return to the beached boat. He was not interested in staying here for much longer just so Kyojin can rekindle a relationship. Akuma watched them for a moment before noticing the Uchiha crest growing smaller and smaller down the rocky. Although it was good to see another old friend, he had to admit that Sasuke's unhurried haste was the right way to go.

He joined Sasuke in pushing the boat back into the water. "Thanks to you, we're getting out of here with Yume much faster than I originally anticipated," he gratefully informed him.

"I had business to attend to here as well," he droned, hopping back in the boat once it was afloat. Kyojin and Yume could catch up to them when they were finished playing around. But with the storm rolling in, there was no point in waiting around for them.

Karin watched Sasuke grow smaller, as well as Yume and Kyojin when they decided to catch up to them. She was by herself once again, but if what Sasuke said was true, then perhaps it would not be for long.

"I haven't forgotten my idea, Kakashi Sensei," Naruto stated as they all settled back in the training grounds.

"Hold on," he delayed, adjusting Dolia's hood on her. "You can stay down here with us," he told her. There was no reason to isolate her from them all after having a difficult day already. Even if someone was after her, the cloak she wore was keeping her identity secret. All she needed was a mask, and then she would be mistaken as an ANBU shinobi more than anything else. "Just keep this on like you always do."

"Dolia," Yamato said behind her.

She turned around to see him holding the bag he had brought with him here. He opened it more so she could look inside. She saw something bulky but folded inside.

"Now you have a place to sleep tonight."

She tilted her head slightly in confusion, but then she remembered them all packing up in the rain yesterday, and how tightly packed their bedding was. Yamato got her some? Her cheeks grew pink. This was a nice, unnecessary gesture. "B-But why?" she stammered.

"What do you mean 'why?'" he chuckled, putting the bag against the tree. "So you don't have to sleep on the ground again, that's why."

"I don't mind…"

"But I do mind. And I'm sure Kakashi minds, too."

She looked behind her to see Kakashi had gone over to Naruto and was conversing with him. Now she was not sure whose idea it was.

The Wood-Style user passed by her to go make another circle of totems. Settling on the ground, he took a breath. It was time to resume Naruto's training, so that meant his back pains would return until this new jutsu was perfected.

The grass next to him crunched as Dolia settled as well. He was alerted to feel her close to his side. She had followed him. Where he sat – in the very center of the totems – it was safe when he had to suppress Naruto, but with another person inside, he was unsure.

"Can I sit here?" she softly asked, gazing at him with her white eyes.

Yamato thought for a second, not wanting to just shoo her away. "Yes, but duck your head when I tell you to," he instructed, seeing her nod in understanding. He then did a hand sign before holding his wrist to watch a twig sprout from his palm. When large white petals peeled out and hugged each other, he snapped the twig from his skin and offered it to her. "You don't have to ask permission for things like that."

She looked at the new flower in surprise. The stem was thicker, and the petals were stiff enough to stand up and overlap each other. Taking it to get a closer look, she saw deep red bathing in the center of the white. Its beauty captivated her. Yamato must have designed it when producing it. And his chakra was not depleted so he had the strength to put effort into it.

This man was so nice. Dolia could not find the right words to show her gratitude. First, it was the futon and now it was another flower. He made her laugh today, too, by startling Naruto. Did she have such a bad experience with Neji that he wanted her to have a better rest of the day? It took her breath away.

Since she still struggled to come up with the right words, she chose to lean over and press the side of her head against Yamato's arm. He froze upon feeling it but quickly relaxed. His kindness was probably overwhelming her by now, but at the same time, she was usually one who lacked verbal exchange. If this was her thank you, he would gladly accept it.

The sound of a shadow clone appearing caught both of their attention. When the smoke dispersed, three of Naruto were standing together. One held his own wrist to concentrate chakra in his palm. The other two worked to change the chakra motion and chakra nature separately on the same source. "This is what my idea was. I can look left and right at the same time. It just requires dividing up the responsibility," Naruto explained with encouragement in his voice.

"I see," Kakashi replied, intrigued by the plan. Naruto could not handle focusing chakra and changing its motion at the same time, so he always used a shadow clone to make the Rasengan. Adding a second shadow clone was such a simple yet innovative solution to the problems he was having. "You still need practice. What you're doing requires delicate control. If a Change in Chakra Nature overbears the change in motion, then it could backfire on you again."

"Got it. Ready, Captain Yamato?"

"Ready," he confirmed, focusing on the necklace around Naruto's neck.

Dolia watched as the three men picked up right where they left off yesterday. It was as if a whole day had not ensued at all. And now that Naruto had figured out a trick, he was closer to finishing making his jutsu than ever. All she could do was watch. At least today she could watch from Yamato's perspective.

Kyojin and Sasuke took over paddling the boat back to the Land of Waves. Yume had Akuma sitting so she could tend to the wound on his back, but she had limited knowledge to go about it. The green hue of medical ninjutsu emitted from both of her palms as she tried stimulating the cells to regenerate in the area between his wings. But the scar tissue would not cooperate with her, so every time she paused, there was a jagged scar on his skin. Annoyance filled her. "Sorry, Akuma. There's going to be a scar. I don't know if it'll fade or not," she admitted, sitting back.

"It doesn't hurt anymore so I think it's fine regardless," he assured her. "Thank you."

"Of course. So, tell me the story of what's going on with our situation."

He slipped his garment back over his shoulders before turning to face her. "Well, it was only a few weeks ago when I tried to find information on where she was transported to. When nobody knew what I was talking about, I sent someone to investigate her last known location, which was the old well. They found her, got her out, and then proceeded to lose her. I traveled to the Hidden Leaf to check if they captured her. Now they know I'm looking for her, so that's why I've been gathering the old team back together so we can get her back."

Yume brushed the hair out of her face as the wind swept it. The same wind moved Sasuke's loose clothing as he stood with his back to them all, arms moving side to side with the paddle in hand. His small Uchiha Clan symbol on his back was prominent to her eye. "We're getting Kemono, right? Or is this kid his replacement?" she asked.

"Kemono is next. Orochimaru sent Sasuke to join us. His curse mark suits our dynamic quite nicely, I must admit."

She showed interest when he mentioned the curse mark. That could only mean his inherited powers gave him the ability to fly just like they could.

"Sasuke won't slow us down," Kyojin insisted. "He's Lord Orochimaru's closest subordinate. And he's a native of the Hidden Leaf."

"Good to know," Yume commented. "Now tell me your plan. You really expect us to strut into the Hidden Leaf and demand what's rightfully ours?"

"No," Akuma said with an amused chuckle. "I think it would be best if we split up. How does going on your honeymoon to the Hidden Leaf sound?"

She immediately laughed loudly at the suggestion, throwing her head back. "Please tell me you're being serious," she pleaded. "A honeymoon is long overdue for Kyojin and me."

Kyojin stiffened in embarrassment.

Akuma laughed with Yume for a moment. "I honestly don't know how else to infiltrate the Hidden Leaf. I can't return. Neither can Sasuke–"

"Then it's settled. Kyojin and I are getting married when we hit land."

"What?!" Kyojin exclaimed, halting in his paddling and turning to them both.

Akuma touched a thumb to his bottom lip and gazed up at the sky. "That's actually not a bad idea to have that kind of paperwork at the entrance gate," he deliberated aloud.

Kyojin stood in disbelief at this addition to the plan. It was true that he and Yume used to have a relationship, but they mutually dissolved it when they were forced to go their separate ways after Project Archangel was canceled. His feelings toward her never faded. Her lack of reluctance to participate in this honeymoon idea either proved that her feelings never faded either, or she was just as determined to get the archangel back to Orochimaru.

"Is this marriage plan good with you, Kyojin?" Akuma questioned him.

"Uh…" he trailed.

"We can get an annulment when it's all over, Honey," Yume assured him. "Don't feel like it has to be a permanent contract."

Exhaling in puzzlement, he returned to paddling to help Sasuke return to a straight direction. "It's fine," he said, feeling like the sunshine was making him sweat now. "We can work out the details later."

"Aw. Do you want to stay married afterward? I'm flattered," Yume jested, standing up. She leaned over against his shoulder and kissed his cheek. "And I'm not opposed," she whispered in addition.

Kyojin visibly relaxed his tense stance, blushing. Only Yume had this effect on him, and he missed it so much. Suddenly the thought of going on a honeymoon with her seemed like a dream come true.

"There's more to this plan we need to discuss," Akuma voiced. When Yume sat back down, he continued. "There is somebody else I want to add to our group. He's got potential like Sasuke."

"The Akatsuki member, correct?" Sasuke clarified, not looking at any of them.

"Yes."

"Whoa, why Akatsuki?" Yume asked.

"I have a history with the one named Deidara," Akuma shared. "He comes in clutch when I need him. And he can fly, as well. So what's the harm?"

"But the Akatsuki are never stationary. Kemono is easy to go pick up since he's stationed in the Hidden Sound Village, but this Deidara guy is a different story."

"You're right. That's why I have a shadow clone out looking for him as we speak."

Kyojin shook his head in disbelief. Typical Akuma always thought five steps ahead. Why should he be surprised by this reveal?

"He's going to be told to meet me in the Hidden Sound Village whenever he intercepts the clone. I can't guarantee he'll accept the offer, but it's worth a try. That's all. No more secrets," he finished with an innocent smile.

"At least you're organized," Yume complimented. "One more question, though. How much of a hurry are we in?"

"No hurry. I doubt the Hidden Leaf will ship the girl off anywhere. She's probably sitting in a jail cell being poked and prodded."

"Then Kyojin and I will confirm that for you."

"Yes, please. And, it might not hurt to try making contact with a man named Danzo while you're both in there. He and Lord Orochimaru have a history together. There's a chance he'll be happy to hand the girl over if he knows it'll get her out of his village."

Sasuke could not help but agree with that scheme. There was a recent time when one of Danzo's subordinates made a connection with Orochimaru to pass a message. He did not know much about Danzo, but he knew that returning this girl would be an option he would highly consider.

"We'll keep it in mind," Yume promised.

"Will we stay in the Leaf until you send Kemono to retrieve us?" Kyojin asked.

"If you can manage it," Akuma said. "I would hate to raise any suspicion from the ANBU if your stay extends past your visa validity. But, you could possibly express an interest in living in the village forever. Buy a house. Start a business. Anything that sells your story, try it out. It could even serve as a refuge for us when we infiltrate."

"Are you gonna ask for a pregnancy next?" Yume joked.

Akuma rolled his eyes but relished in the humor. "That's none of my business."