The sky is so bright today.

And the clouds are in a different pattern than before. Shikamaru thought as he continued to watch the sky, averting his sight from the blinding rays of the sun and keeping a steady gaze on the moving clouds. He was on the rooftop of one of the buildings in the university with his hands dipped into his pockets and his head raised.

How does it feel like to be free and unbothered in the sky?

He closed his eyes and inhaled the fresh air up here. The wind that swept past felt like soft cushions made in the design of heaven and the silence was like the peacefulness of rushing spring water. Soothing. The scenery was calming and he wouldn't have it any other...

"There you are!"

He sighed when he heard the rooftop door open and a familiar voice called out. He opened his eyes and turned around, aware of the footsteps behind him.

The spiky blonde Beta looked relieved and annoyed at the same time. "What are you doing here?"

"Nothing." He answered nonchalantly.

Naruto looked at him skeptically. "Watching the clouds is nothing?"

"Just standing and staring without doing anything 'is' nothing."

Naruto shook his head. "So, basically you've been here the whole time."

"I heard you met your mate." He was quick to change the subject. "And you were quick to tell her about consummating?" He added, walking towards the door.

"Heard?" Naruto looked at him unbelievably as he walked with him. "I told you that, and yes I did, but I apologized to her after. My thoughts were all over the place. Basically, you were supposed to be the one doing the thinking but you were here ... cloud watching. Seriously, I'm concerned about you."

"Do you need me to be thinking for you all your life?"

"It wouldn't hurt to be honest." Naruto answered vaguely while shrugging.

Shikamaru groaned, sighing some more, before his senses caught something in the air and his nose twitched. He turned to Naruto

I know. Naruto answered through the mind link, frowning at the door infront of them.

Shikamaru stared in the same direction, watching closely. The door opened a little and a red hair popped out first, then a whole body followed.

Standing before them was a red haired woman with red eyes and glasses. She watched their facial expressions and smirked. "Didn't think you'd see me again, huh? Well, I..."

"Who are you?" A frowning Naruto asked.

The woman choked on her words, her pride destroyed. "You two also don't remember?"

"Why should we remember things we ought to forget?" Shikamaru asked, staring at her like she was a boring display of art in an art gallery.

The woman gasped, crying out after. "It's me, Karin!"

Shikamaru frowned, raising one eyebrow. Karen?

"Ohhhh" Naruto cooed. "The sea monster?"

Karin glared at him. "I am a sea goddess. A Calypso." She grinded out.

Oh, no wonder they couldn't tell the specific scent of hers. A calypso had a natural way of coating her scent and mixing it with that of the creatures they're with. Shikamaru realized.

Naruto chuckled, putting his arms behind his head. "Hey, it's been a long time. How's the poor fellow doing?"

"He's not poor..."

Naruto deadpanned. "You're keeping him hostage."

"He's my mate and he wants to flee." She said, defending herself.

"Well, if you give him some ti..."

"I am the only Calypso left, I have no time."

"I'm not talking about you, I'm talking about Sui..."

"What are you even doing here?" Shikamaru asked tiredly, wishing for some peace of mind.

She cleared her throat, straightening her spine. "I wish to join in the alliance with you. I have thousands of mermaids under my command and I can really be of help."

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at her. Why was she saying that now? And what was she doing in the human world in the first place? There are reasons for this but she just up and decided it was time to join in the war?

"It's our Alpha you'll discuss with." For that was the due process in Raikanrando.

Shikamaru watched as she let out a defeated sigh. "I... tried that already."

Naruto suddenly burst out laughing.

She looked away. "Do not mock me."

"What makes you think that if the first divisional alpha rejected you, we will be obligated to help?"

"He didn't...reject me." She said. "It wasn't... just in the heat of the moment."

Naruto laughed out some more.

"Well, you'd have to speak with him again." Shikamaru waved a dismissive hand as he brushed past her with Naruto following him.

She stood, her back to them. "Will you, at least, inform him of what I said?"

"Of course." Naruto answered, slightly recovering from his laughing stupor. "But you'll have to come for yourself. I can't guarantee anything."

She heard the door close behind her and heavily let out the breath she's been holding.

The heir chuckled. "Well, look who decided to join us in the human world."

Sasuke let out a low grunt as one of his hands transformed smoothly into a black claw with long, sharp nails.

"Woah, woah, woah." Shikai put out his hands, moving backwards, but laughing sinisterly. "Be patient c'mon."

Sasuke squinted his eyes at him, observing him closely.

"I know I'm kind of like a celebrity but don't you think you'd have to wait your turn?"

What did this little bastard just say? He heard his beast snarl and growl.

"And also, you wouldn't want these humans knowing about your existence, would you?" Shikai continued, and in a second, his cheerfulness disappeared. "If we fight here and now, it'll attract their attention and knowing you, you'd be adding more work to the reapers' schedule, which," he shrugged, "I guess, to them will be a good thing."

Sasuke knew that already. That was what was keeping him from ripping the heir's stupid face off, apart from not being aware of his abilities. The heir should be grateful.

"And also leading you to take a bed rest." Shikai paused. "Hey, that's not such a bad thing." Then he smirked. "But wouldn't it affect your mate though?"

Sasuke pulled his transformed hand into a ball and clenched it, ignoring how his long nails pierced into his skin. "Trying to use my mate against me is petty."

"Not if she's dead, that is."

Before Shikai knew it, his neck was seized into a suffocating grasp. Long, sharp nails pierced into his pale nape, encountering the veins and sputtering into the bloodstream as crimson blood eyes stared back at him.

Trails of veins popped up on the neck, forearms and hands of the Alpha as his grip tightened.

Shikai coughed and grunted in pain for a while, before a smug smile graced his lips. "Finally."

Black smoke suddenly evaded their space, surrounding their bodies and when it cleared, Sasuke was standing alone, staring at an empty spot.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his hands, transforming them back to normal. What is wrong with me?!

"Wow." Someone was suddenly beside him, his voice sounding low, tired, muffled and familiar. "That's a first. You don't ever loose your cool and calm."

Sasuke's eyes changed back to their normal darkness as he turned to his side. Beside him stood a tall man with white coloured hair, sleepy black eyes and a face mask over his nose and mouth, looking in the same direction as he was.

When the man sensed him, he turned to him and gave him a closed eye smile even though his lips were hidden. "Yo."

Sasuke frowned, eyeing the being who served directly under the Supreme Alpha.

"Kakashi."

What was the chief guard and head of the king's counsel doing here?

Kakashi's smile faded as he directed his intense gaze at Sasuke's earlier focus.

"So, mind telling me what's going on here?"