The carrots were not properly chopped, as their cutter was absent minded, going upon instinct and hardly minding caution. Each slice was unevenly made, and the pot of water set to boil them all was overfilled. Tan ears having heard a brief shouting from the other room, and in his own bid to leave his husband in privacy Naruto did not know the reasoning. Though should he strain to listen he could he many sighs from the closed door, and it peeked at his curiosity heavily. Still he continued with his cooking, reminding himself through a mental slap that he had work that very day. Reluctance had him however, as his eyes kept flickering to the yet unopened envelope awaiting ever so patiently on the countertop, Madara's name in elegant scrawl siting almost blaring in the center- in contrast foreboding at the center lay Mito Uzumaki's name also so promident to Naruto's curious -and hesitant- gaze. In a glance towards the bedroom, he made certain that no reddened eyes watched his movements, the determined blond nodded unto his own plan, then grasped the awaiting letter and stuffed it in the back of his tight fit business pants covering it with his bright orange button-up shirt.

Hands ever so slightly tensed as they dropped the carrots into the pot, and with the small splatter they shook as he dried them on the kitchen towel. He grabbed the keys in the bowl, then stared at his plain leather shoes and instead of convention decided instead to slip on the beige high heels Ino had gifted him rather recently, gladdened for the previously missed feeling of confidence he once again had with his husband's return; simply the knowledge that the man was alive bolstered his joy, but having the man once again stand by his side had a grin brighten his face and dampen the crushing guilt and self-doubt pressing down on his mind for nearly a decade.

Flicking a glance to the bedroom door: "I'm heading out to work! The stove is on!" Then he left with a fresh breath of the comforting outdoors, gladdened for the break away from the stifling air that was the atmosphere in their apartment after Sakura's call. Naruto could only furrow his brow in thought for the sudden and brash action of his husband afterwards, unto him it was such a vision to see the stoic, controlled, man he knew fall into a flash of fury; worst was the fact, he could not find a rational reason for the action, Madara had made no explanation- he had simply gone to his phone and made a number of calls to names Naruto could not recognize, speaking in murmured tones with a crossed brow.

Shaking himself, he listened to the click of his heels on the laminate of his office building floor, entering the elevator with an unusually dour express. Interrupted only by the ring of his phone, the soft tones of his favourite singer dancing through the metal space. Lips coiled upwards as he pulled it from his deepened pocket, near certain that it was old-fashioned husband asking how to operate the stove. Flicking it open a laugh echoed in his tone as he giggled while speaking: "Did you have trouble turning off the burner? It-" Then there came another voice, one he could not recognize in any circumstance for an alternator covered the man's true tone.

"You have been targeted by the Akatsuki, and shall be killed within the week, do not leave town, do not contact law enforcement or the government; or else both your friends and family will additionally be killed." The call cut off with the sound of static remaining, and then filling the enclosed space came a brief, loud, scream and the clatter of plastic as Naruto's cell dropped to the floor. Shock spreading through his legs had him stumble, therein forcing himself to stand upright by pure will alone though his knees clashed together in a feignment of balance. In instinctive thought his hands clasped over his open mouth as his back clashed heavily with the wall, eyelids widened, blackened as they stared at the object he had kicked away in panic. Chest heaving in a struggle to breath through anxiety, and it took him many moments of shaking to comprehend that he was indeed hyperventilating in fear.

In an attempt to regain himself, his fingers coiled and his nails dug into the skin of his cheeks, spots of blood appearing with the pressure. Still, as he trembled he breathed in deep, and forced his legs to straighten from their weakened positioning as his eyes clenched shut for a moment. Until they sprung open with a flashing will of strength, chin lifted high as he bent and picked up his flip. The elevator dinged and the doors opened, with the sight of a smiling blond exiting and waving to his colleagues. He walked with heavy steps to his desk, and no one noticed, he fell into his chair instead of sitting, his fists were clenched tight against his desk and his legs shook beneath- but no one took any heed. In his distraction, once again a coffee was put upon his desk, Naruto stuttered out of his mind as he looked to Lee who -as usual- grinned at him and skipped off to deliver the other beverages. Stuck in his own fright, Naruto barely acknowledged that he hadn't returned to smile.

He booted up his computer, but his hand wondered to the envelope he had hidden, and opened it with an angered rip at the top. His cheek twitched as he pulled out a perfumed paper with a delicate scrawl. However, to his blinking surprise the letter appeared not to come from the reclusive red-head whom had once held Madara's ring, but instead the Prime Minister.

Madara-

You need to get in contact again with the clan, seriously. I know you left my friend, and the military was a good decision, but things are unraveling pretty fast underground. To be truthful, your family is falling out of position, and to the Hyuuga of all people; they're gaining more influence with dealers internationally. I know you love him but your son is too brash to charm the Italians and Mexians into selling, he keeps shaking away any plausible trade by forcing a strict conditional contract- his age doesn't help inspire confidence either. Its got your family falling down from stature, you need to get back in and get back that respect you worked so hard for.

Anyways, I suggest you also keep an eye on the Haruno, the head; Kizashi, seemed very angered the last I saw him, mumbling something about 'shitty in-laws and sluts.' I can't say I really understood what he meant, but still he's definitely planning something.

Call me when you can okay?

-Hashirama

With fingers still shaking, the blond near through the letter into the bin to be done with it, not having his husband glance at the information. Yet, he forced himself to maintain control and stuffed it, this time, into his pocket- afterall it seemed important at least. Though ire settled in his stomach at the thought of a woman whom his husband had spent an affair with sending letters under another name. All whilst the burn of fright sat in his abdomen in comprehension of the earlier threat he'd heard.