IZUNA

23

"A shadow..." she whispered to herself.

Zetsu.

It had to be.

She clenched her fists.

The one who manipulated her brother and discarded him like a broken tool.

Izuna hated him.

She didn't—-

She didn't like hating anyone. It wasn't a pleasant sensation. Hatred felt painful, the feeling of her heart twisting, the bitterness—everything. Hatred hurt. It led to nothing but pain.

Izuna hated him.

She had never hated someone, something, as much as Zetsu.

It almost terrified her how much she loathed him, almost.

She would never, ever, allow Zetsu to lay a hand on her brother.

He wouldn't go near him.

She wouldn't allow it.

::

The Moon was full when Izuna entered the temple of Tsukiyomi. The emblem of the moon was carved into the great gate. There were three temples built within the Uchiha compound, each dedicated to one of the three mihashira no uzu no sankishi, or Three Divine Children of Izanagi.

Three Divine Temples.

Three Great Gates.

The Uchiha worshipped the Sun and Moon, and revered the Sea.

Because they were a clan of fire, they held Amaterasu sacredly. In the same manner they were also a people of illusion and dream, and hallowed Tsukiyomi. Fearing the wrath of the God of Storms they also paid homage to Susanoo for protection.

Izuna was an Uchiha and understood the divinity of these things.

And yet...

She was more.

She knew more.

She would be no being's pawn in any game, even the game of gods.

She, like the others of her clan, purified herself before entering the temple. This night was a solemn one but perhaps divine favour would be on her side.

They said that the temple sang.

Izuna had never heard such songs.

But maybe this time she would.

She prayed.

Divine Moon, Silver Moon, Master of Illusions and Desire, Protector of Truth and Dream...

Is this your will? Is this your desire?

Or is it Kaguya's?

There was a stark dichotomy between the two.

They called Kaguya-hime a Goddess.

Was she?

~ Maware megure megure yo harukana toki yo ~

She froze.

Singing?

It stunned her. But she knew better than to break away from a prayer to the Gods. It was disrespectful. She had to finish now that she knew someone was listening.

But who?

Who was listening?

The Eternal Tsukiyomi is a terrible scheme to force all living things to bow, but to whose whim?