"Hmm… little girl, who are you?' Tsunade suspiciously stares at Ayaka.
'Tsunade Nee-san doesn't recognize me?! Am I in someone else's illusory reality or she has yet to regain her sealed memories?' Ayaka questions herself.
'You are in right illusory reality.' Sin informs her.
'Which means Tsunade Nee-san has yet to regain her sealed memories?'
Ayaka hands over the In-Yō token to Tsunade and introduces herself.
"I am Ayaka, sister of the Izuna Uchiha."
"AH!" Tsunade inspects the token.
"This token is real. But did you say you are the sister of my husband?" Tsunade is shocked to hear Ayaka's identity.
"What?" Now it's Ayaka's turn to get shocked.
"You are my brother's wife? How could this be? My brother is married to Mei Nee-san." Ayaka gasps at Tsunade's remark.
"Mei Nee-san?! Was Izuna cheating on me? And who is this Mei Nee-san?" Tsunade glares at Ayaka with her sharp eyes.
"Mei Nee-san is Mei Terumi from the Kirigakure. She is my brother's only wife." Ayaka nods at Tsunade.
'What's going on? How is Tsunade Nee-san's wife? Wasn't this illusion supposed to be based on reality? Then how come everything is different in Tsunade Nee-san's illusory reality?' Ayaka asks herself.
'It's not impossible. This technique was supposed to create an ideal world for the victim based on his memories. The stronger the desire of the victim, the more will it be similar to their ideal world and the more it will influence their mind.' Sin explains to her.
'So, does this mean… Tsunade Nee-san, she?' Ayaka stares at Tsunade's face.
'Has she been hiding her feelings for Izuna Nee-san all this time? If that's the case, what should I do? How am I supposed to free her?'
'The illusory reality has heavily influenced her thoughts. If you disclose something that heavily stresses her emotions, then it might negatively affect her spirit.' Sin warns her.
"The Mizukage?!" Kakashi and the rest turn to Ayaka.
"But that… that's not possible. Argh…" Tsunade clutches her forehead. Her jumbled memories slowly surface.
"Tsunade-sama!" Sakura hurriedly supports her.
"Are you impersonating Izuna-san's sister to create a rift between Konoha and Kiri before the Kage Summit?" Kakashi points his kunai towards Ayaka.
"This girl has ill intentions towards the Hokage-sama. Detain her!" Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi surround her.
Ayaka takes a combat stance as she warily stares at the group.
'They aren't the real Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi Nii-san. But still…'
Swish…
Sasuke makes his first move. He throws a shuriken toward Ayaka.
"Shadow Shuriken clone Jutsu,"
Sasuke makes some hand signs and releases multiple shurikens toward Ayaka.
Hmm…
Ayaka takes out her blade and deflects the kunais with it.
Swoosh…
She ducks down and dodges a roundhouse kick from her blind spot.
Haah…
Naruto rotates his body in mid-air and aims his kick at Ayaka's head.
Bang…
Ayaka blocks the kick with her arm and jumps back.
"Got you!"
Whoosh…
Kakashi suddenly appears behind her and grabs her wrist. A seal forms on his hand to restrict Ayaka's movements.
Poof…
Ayaka turns into a wooden log and disappears from her place. She reappears a few meters away from the group.
Tch…
Naruto and Sasuke click their tongue.
'What should I do, Sin? I don't want to waste my time here.' Ayaka urgently asks Sin for a solution.
'I have a method to free her from the influence of this illusory reality, but if her will is weak; then she might not awaken even after escaping from here.' Sin warns her.
'Do it! I believe in Tsunade Nee-san.' Ayaka grits her teeth.
'Get ready! I will prepare the seal to free her. She will lose consciousness as a side effect.'
Fwish…
A seal appears on Ayaka's hand. She ignores Naruto and Sasuke's pursuit and dashes toward Tsunade.
"This is not good! This girl has harmful intentions toward the Hokage-sama. Stop her at all costs!" Kakashi notices the seal on Ayaka's hand. He immediately warns Naruto and Sasuke.
"What?" Naruto and Sasuke's expressions turn grim.
Shiing…
Sasuke's eyes turn into Mangekyo Sharingan. Purple Lightning flicker around him as he forms a Chidori in his hands.
Fwoosh…
Nine-Tails chakra cloak appears around Naruto. He creates a Rasengan in his hand and turns towards Ayaka.
In the next instance,
Swoosh…
Both Naruto and Sasuke disappear from their position and reappear beside Ayaka. They have killing intent in their eyes as they aim their powerful techniques toward Ayaka to deal a killing blow.
"I won't let you stop me."
Shiing…
Ayaka's eyes turn to Sharingan. Suddenly, a sharp burst of chakra discharges from her body.
Whoosh…
Ayaka dodges Sasuke's and Naruto's attacks and reappears in front of Tsunade.
'Such speed! There was no memory of that.' Both of them mutter simultaneously.
'Swift Release: Blink Glimpse,'
Ayaka places her hand on Tsunade's forehead. The seal on her hand activates and covers Tsunade's eyes.
"WHAT?"
Kakashi's sneak attack pauses a hair's breadth from Ayaka's head.
Crack… crack…
Multiple cracks spread across the dimension and the space slowly crumbles apart.
"How is this possible?" Kakashi mumbles.
"Hmm… I was right. You were a creation of this illusion to trap Tsunade Nee-san in this fake world." Ayaka glares into Kakashi's eyes, who have a twisted expression on his face.
"Now, disappear!"
Bang…
The illusory reality shatters and Ayaka returns to space with a red waning moon with Tsunade in her arms. She places Tsunade's unconscious body beside Mei.
"Mei Nee-san… did you… did you see her dream?" Ayaka asks with slight hesitation.
"I did!" Mei nods.
"I saw everything!"
"Then… does…"
"Don't worry Ayaka! I am not a fickle woman. I saw love and care in Tsunade-san's eyes. I noticed her feelings way before this incident. But since she wasn't honest with herself, I let them be. However, if she makes up her mind and gets the courage to express them; I will leave the final decision to Izuna. Because it's that bastard's fault to hurt everyone's feelings." Mei grits her teeth. She places her hand on Tsunade's forehead.
"Go! We have to save others, too." Mei reminds Ayaka.
"Alright!"
Ayaka chooses another illusory reality and jumps into it.
'I hope it won't be as troublesome as Tsunade Nee-san's illusion.'
--------------------
"Haah…"
Mei slightly chuckles at herself.
"I am a fickle woman, indeed. Since the day I came to Konoha, I have noticed Tsunade-san's feelings for Izuna. Back then, they shared a bond far stronger than my bond with Izuna. Izuna was a prized disciple of Tsunade who would help her in every sticky situation.
Back then, I was envious of such a relationship. 'If only we could have such a relationship?' This was what I thought at that time. However, Tsunade-san never expressed her feelings, and this gave me an opportunity. I accepted his proposal, and we got married. I was so happy back then that it was me, not somebody else, but me. And yet…"
Mei lowers her head. She notices the tears flowing from Tsunade's eyes.
"Why does it pain my heart? Izuna and Tsunade had a unique bond, a bond I could not hope to reciprocate with him. Perhaps if Tsunade-san was a bit younger, then it wouldn't be me but her who would have married Izuna."
Mei grits her teeth.
"Why? Why does it pain my heart to see her like that and yet there is a feeling of hidden relief in my heart?… It's all that bastard's fault. Why couldn't he see the feelings of people around himself and… and…"
Mei bursts into tears.
"I don't want Tsunade-san to suffer like this and yet I don't have a way to help her. It's all that guy's fault. He is the one who is responsible for all of this. He should take responsibility for all his actions."
Mei raises her head and stares at the waning moon.
"Wherever you are, get your ass back here as soon as possible! How dare you play with a woman's feelings!"
---------------
Somewhere in an unknown space,
Achoo…
A cloaked figure sneezes.
"I should be immune to any sort of disease. What's going on?"
Roar…
A gigantic dragon roars in front of him.
"Hmm… this stench!" The cloaked figure frowns.
Roar… roar…
Multiple flood dragon roars in front of him.
"So annoying!"
The cloaked figure draws a sword and sheathes it immediately.
"Blade of Nandaka: Death of All Creation,"
Swirl… Fwoosh…
Suddenly, the flesh of all dragons rips away from their skins, revealing their bones. The bones slowly wither away into dust, wiping away the existence of all flood dragons.
Roar… roar…
More flood dragons surround them.
"There is no end to them!"
********************************
A/N:- My new Naruto fan-fic, 'The Rogue Demon of the Shinobi World' is out.
Also, check out my pat reon www.pa treon.com/ForgottenLife to support my work and get a sneak peak at the latest chapters of both series in advance. Read upto 60+ chapters from both series combined in advance.