After the entire incident with the Niidashi Clan, Utau managed to escape unharmed. She had avoided the wrath of the Mizukage - who she recently heard had died - and escaped through the sea. She hadn't really left behind anything of importance. Then again, Utau had never really needed anything, or anyone for that matter. And that wasn't just some phrase she repeated to herself to compensate for the irrevocable feeling of loneliness that most people felt when they lived a life such as hers. No, Utau was the type of person that genuinely did not care for anything besides her own goal. She felt something akin to familial love for her adoptive daughter, but that was as far as her affections went. Utau had no true loyalties. She had never had anything. All she had ever known from other human beings was neglect, cruelty and wickedness. She had lost her faith in others long ago. So much so, that she no longer felt guilt after taking away a human life. She had slaughtered her husband only a few weeks ago and had yet to shed a single tear over his death. The only thing that she lamented - though briefly - was that she was now under the radar of Kirigakure. This, however, was shortly lived. After all, the village had burnt to the ground. The only people who knew of her crimes were likely dead.

Therefore, Utau had decided to head to Konoha. She had an old acquaintance that she planned to visit. She had sent word of her arrival beforehand, letting him know where to meet her and when. She was able to enter Konoha, claiming to be a spectator of the Chuunin Exams and showing the guard at the door her old paperwork with a forged signature of the deceased Mizukage. She had been staying at one of the local inns within the village since then. Utau headed towards the small forest near the edges of the village, the place where she had set the meeting. When she was finally alone and hidden within the trees, she let go of her almost permanent smile. Her face turned emotionless and cold. Only when her old friend arrived would she revert back to her usual facial expression. In the meantime, she would lean against a tree and stare off into the distance.

As Utua heard Hao approached, her smile automatically returned to her face. Her eyes, unlike his, were warm and kind. It was a look that she had perfected; a look of peaceful happiness that very few could see past. Only a handful could tell that behind the apparent warmth and kindness, there was nothing, no feeling, no love. It was an empty yet deceiving look. Utau heard her name being called and her smile widened slightly. However, she didn't turn around to look at the man that had approached her. She didn't need to; it was already clear who it was. The light shone brightly through the trees, casting his shadow in her direction and confirming that the man was, in fact, Hao Uchiha. But his posture was hostile, from what she could tell. Utau Suiren was quite gifted at readin people, their thoughts and their intentions. She could even tell a person's past from analyzing the way they stood and spoke. His shadow was enough for her to tell that he was possibly expecting a fight. "Uchiha, Hao," She greeted. "It's been much too long," She said. Her voice was melodic and soft, matching the air of gentleness around her. Who could really guess that she was as cold blooded and merciless as a mass murderer? "Do not worry, I do not intend to fight," She continued, still not looking at him but at the sky above her.

Utau finally turned towards Hao and let out a a laugh. Her laughter was melodic and beautiful - like a wind chime moving with the breeze. On the surface, it sounded innocent, but there was an underlying hint of cruelty to her laughter. "Ravenge?" She began, still laughing slightly. "Why would I want to avenge a fool?" She asked, rhetorically of course. "As for the village, you did me a favor, if anything," She stated, taking a step towards Hao now that his posture had eased up slightly. She felt slightly more confident now, knowing that she wasn't his target. She wouldn't reveal what had happened just yet. She would keep Hao guessing until he asked the right questions. She had gone back to Kirigakure momentarily, only to find it in ashes. As the ashes had rained over her, Utau had smiled. The smell of the place was rather odd, as if it hadn't been burned down by a natural fire. Near the borders of the village, she had found a strand of light pink hair, not unlike her own and rest assured knowing that her daughter had gotten away in time. Along with it, she found a barely traceable set of larger footsteps. It hadn't taken her long to put two and two together, really. Again, she was gifted at deduction. "I hear my child is travelling with you," She began, ignoring his second question. "Tell me, has she been of any used to you?" She asked, mostly out of curiosity.

Utau cocked her head to the side in curiosity. So he had plans for Konoha, did he? She thought for a moment. Konoha was the strongest shinobi village at the moment. It was heavily armed with some of the strongest shinobi. And Hao was no idiot. If he had a plan to take on the village, he must have been stronger than Utau had thought. "Konoha?" She asked, letting out a soft laugh. "That is a large risk, but I suppose you already know that. Tell me, how much danger will you put my child in?" She asked. There was a hint of curiosity in her voice. She would try to help Kei, of course, but she had the feeling that her daughter didn't quite want to see her. Well, after all, Utau had slaughtered her father and had left him nailed to the ceiling of the house. But Kei couldn't blame her, could she? Utau had only done what she had felt was right. The young woman always did what she felt, or rather knew, what was right. In her mind, her logic was indisputable

Utau crossed her arms over her chest and smiled, closing her eyes calmly. The matter of her daughter was... strange, to say the least. She didn't quite know how to define it herself. All she knew was that she sometimes felt the urge to protect her more innocent side. That was as close to love or affection than she would ever feel for anyone. But she was curious to see what Hao was planning. He was one of the strongest shinobi in existence, of that she was sure. Joining him in his quest would probably bring her many advantages. "I suppose I could stay with you for now, but it all depends on what you would have me do. I do not take well to being used as a mere sacrificial pawn, my old friend," She said. Her words were harsh, but her voice was still as pure and soft as always. She would wait for his answer before agreeing to anything, that was certain. She refused to simply hand over her loyalty to Hao without asking questions. But he probably already expected this. He knew the type of person that Utau was: cunning and deceiving. She was difficult to predict or understand.

Utau closed her eyes as she listened to Hao. His offer was... tempting, to say the least. He was offering to give her power, to have them both stand as equals as they led the world towards a new era. But Utau was naturally distrusting. She didn't quite believe that he would hand her power so easily. He needed her, that was clear enough. He wanted her skills. But would he really be willing to give her that much authority? Nevertheless, he had sparked Utau's curiosity. She wanted to see what he had up his sleeve. And even if she decided not to follow him after what he planned to do in Konoha, she would at least have enough information. She would learn his goals, his skills and of the people who followed him. This was enough for her to agree to his offer, at least for now. "The world's Queen, you say?" She said. She made herself sound as if she were completely mesmerized and seduced by his offer of power. "I cannot see how anyone would refuse such an offer," She said. "You have me, for now at least."

As Hao approached her, Utau didn't move. She simply looked at him from the corner of her eye. She had now officially agreed to join him. She could only wonder what would happen, what he would plan. But of course, she saw this as an excellent way to carry out her own plans. She wanted to drive the world towards what she called true harmony and balance. She wanted to witness a full scale war, one that would purge the world of the weak and undesirable, one where two separate forces would clash together and unite as their blood mixed together. She couldn't fathom a more perfect ending for the world. And being able to bring it about was a great honor.

Utau continued to stare at Hao as he approached her, trying to guess his intentions. But his face was blank and betrayed little to no emotion. It wasn't until he began to stretch his arms towards her that she knew he aimed to bring her into an embrace. That was strange of him. She had never seen him show any form of affection. In fact, she would have thought that he was incapable of it. her eyes narrowed ever so slightly and only for a millisecond. Ah. He was still the same person she knew. This embrace, strange as it was, did not mean to show affection or anything of the sort. Following his lead, Utau wrapped her arms around Hao. "It will burn and drown underneath us," She added to his statement.