He sighed as he sat against the tree, head tilted down towards the ground. He knew that he was waiting for someone, but he couldn't bring himself to actually admitting it. He continued to look down towards the ground, his knees held up to his chest by his strong arms. As he looked to his right at the little brick house just down the road, he thought of why he was there. He couldn't believe what he was going to do later. He was there because he just wanted to see her one more time, looking happy as she always does. Because he knew, that by tomorrow, that innocent, happy girl would never be the same.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a twig snap behind him. It was a few meters away in the distance, but it was too close for him to be comfortable. Damn it, he cursed to himself, I should have been paying attention! He quickly jumped up off his feet and hid himself behind the big oak tree. Did she see me? He glanced back towards that brick house that he knew to be hers. He would just keep looking in that direction until she walked past. He would be unable to see her face, but that was due to his own negligence. About a minute passed, and he started to get worried. She wasn't that far away when he hid. She should have passed this tree by now! He wanted to look over the other side of the tree, but he was afraid that she'd see him. Just as he started to panic, he noticed a figure slowly walking up the stairs to the door of the red brick house. Was he that involved in his thoughts that he completely missed her walking by? As he watched her enter the house and close the door behind her, he was struck with sadness. Now, he will never be able to see that angelic, innocent face of hers. He knew that the next time he sees her, her expression will be cold and filled with hate and anger. "Sakura…" he whispered. "I'm sorry."

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She yawned as she entered the house that she shared with her mom, dad, little brother, and little sister. She walked directly to her bedroom and opened the huge window that overlooked the outside forest. She then glanced at the big, old oak tree not far from her house. "Sasuke-kun." She said in a low voice. She had seen him there, waiting for her. At least, she thought he was waiting for her. She was almost positive he had been watching her walk down the path. But, why would he be waiting for her? She loved him, but she was pretty sure that the only one he loved was himself. She sighed as she walked over to her bed. All this thinking was making her brain hurt. She just wanted some sleep. To her surprise, her bed was already made-up beautifully. Her pillows were even arranged the way she liked them. She smiled as she thought of her mom, who was probably the one who did it. Without even putting her pyjamas on, she curled up in her bed and fell asleep before she could even finish her thoughts.

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Midnight. The exact time that he had been dreading since he first heard of his mission. He reached for his sheathed katana, and stuck it in the holder in his belt. He usually didn't carry a sword, but he decided to that night. He thought that it would make his job just a bit easier. Closing his eyes, he jumped out of his bedroom window and took off towards Sakura's house. He thought of how much this would change her life, and a single tear ran down his face. He didn't want her to be hurt, but it was unavoidable. It was that damn Hokage's fault. Tsunade-sama, betraying your student… It's low. Even for you…

Flashback

He was sitting on a rock, admiring one of Konoha's only waterfalls, when he was interrupted.

"Uchiha-san," he heard someone say. "Lady Hokage requests your presence in her office." Sasuke turned around to see two gaurds standing behind him.

"I will be there shortly." He said boredly. She probably just wanted to send him away on some long mission again.

The gaurds disappeared in a puff of smoke wile Sasuke was complaining to himself in his head. I guess I'd better go. He took one last look at the beautiful waterfall before he stood, and quickly made his way to the Hokage Tower.

He knocked loudly on the door, as he heard someone shout, "Come in." As he entered the office of the Fifth Hokage, he wasn't surprised to see her in the position she was in. She wasn't sitting at her desk doing paperwork like she should have been; she was staring out the window.

"Tsunade-sama." Sasuke said in a low voice. Tsunade turned around and greeted him, as she took a seat at her desk.

"I have a mission for you." She started. "Now, this mission is confidential. No one is to know about this. No one. Do you understand me, Uchiha?" She said in a dead-serious tone.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama…" Sasuke said apprehensively.

"I need you to kill the family of Sakura Haruno." She said calmly.

Sasuke's eyes opened wide at her words. He must have heard her wrong.

"E-excuse me?" Sasuke studdered.

"You are going to go to her house in exactly one week from now at midnight, and slaughter every living person in that house. Except for her, of course." Tsunade continued.

"Why? Who would hire a ninja to do such a horrible thing?!" Sasuke said, his voice rising in rage.

"The person who is hiring you… Is me." Tsunade said with a sadistic smile.

Sasuke froze. "She's only 13 years old, and you want her to loose her entire family?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Sasuke screamed at her.

"I want her to be my daughter. I need her to be my own kin. I love her more than a student. I need to be her guardian. SHE MUST BELONG TO ME!" Tsunade now spoke in a tone that Sasuke had never heard before. He could tell that she had finally gone over the deep-end, but there was nothing he could do. "If you refuse this mission, you will be kicked out of the village." Tsunade stated.

Sasuke was about to say that he would never betray Sakura, but then something dawned on him: If he was kicked out of the village, then he would have no home. He would loose contact with his friends and sensei. And with Sakura.

"Tsunade-sama, as much as I would like to deny this mission… I will do it."

End Flashback

As he shook himself out of his thoughts, he realized that he had just arrived at the Haruno family home. He shuddered as he studied the house for a way in. He ended his search after only a quick look, seeing that someone had left their bedroom window open. He jumped in, only to stop after seeing whos room it was. The still form of Sakura Harono lay asleep in the bed infront of him. He then felt regret in the pit of his stomache as he looked upon the face of that angel. In less than an hour, she would have no family. And in less than a day, she will most likely be in the care of Tsunade. And it would all be thanks to him and his selfishness. He walked out of her bedroom, closing the door behind him. As he wandered down the hallway, he kept thinking about how much he was going to regret this. Then, suddenly, he felt a pain in his back. A sharp, intense jabbing pain that took him by surprise. He quickly whipped around to see a young girl, about the age of 8. Fear was written all over her face as she stared at him.

"G… Go a-away!" She screamed as she closed her eyes. "I… I saw you. Y-you were w-watching my s-sister sleep. I don't know why you're here, but… That sword… Go away now!" She said, gaining more confidence as she spoke. The pain suddenly got the best of Sasuke. He had no clue what he was doing. He felt something warm on his face, and looked down, terrified. Blood. It was her blood. He had grabbed his katana, and slashed it right through her frail body. She now lay on the floor in two pieces, with a large pool of blood underneath her.

"SHIZUMI!" He heard someone scream. He abruptly turned around and saw a boy, around the age of 5, staring at his lifeless sister. Sasuke had started something, and he knew it. The worst part about this thing, is that he had to finish it. Taking a firm grip onto his katana, he lunged at the boy. As he felt the blood on his face and hands, he smiled. His smile was so cold, it was like it wasn't even Sasuke anymore. As he glance down to the new lifeless body on the floor, he realized that he was half finished. Both of the children were now lying dead in a pool of their own blood. 2 down, 2 to go. He started to lightly laugh to himself. He found it funny that he was enjoying this. Part of him wasn't, but the part that was had taken control of his body. As he stand there, katana raised triumphantly, he laughed. That was, he laughed until he got thrown into a wall. Hard. He looked up to see Sakura's father; the one who pushed him. And, huddled behind him, he saw Sakura's mother. She looked completely terrified, while the middle aged man seemed completely together. Let's have some fun. This is gonna be easy. Sasuke quickly did a few hand signs, and appeared behind Sakura's mother. With one quick movement of his wrist, he had pierced his katana through the woman, and then through the man standing infront of her. He smiled as he heard their screams echo throughout the house. He quickly pulled his katana out, and smiled when he saw all the blood pouring onto the floor. As they both fell to the ground, he slit their necks. And they were dead. They all were. The family that Sakura loved so much was gone. Her mother and sister had her beautiful pink hair, too. Shame. He froze as something caught his eye. Sakura was now awake, walking sleepily towards the scene. As she opened her eyes and saw the state of her family, her mouth dropped open in horror. And, as she saw Sasuke standing there, her mind was overloaded. She dropped to her knees, and let out the loudest scream that Sasuke had ever heard.