Extermination

Chapter Two

-Travesty-

Uchiha Sasuke stood there in the Hokage's office, staring out the window and looking over the village. "Hurry up dobe, I'm hungry." He complained, looking over his shoulder at the blonde haired man.

"I'm trying to teme, but this paperwork is endless!" Naruto whined, sitting back in his chair. "If I don't finish it now, I'll just have more to do before going home tonight!"

The ebony haired man sighed, though to anyone else it would just look like he had exhaled. He and Naruto were scheduled to go and eat lunch today, as they usually did once a week. It was something his longtime friend insisted they do, so that they never grew apart and could catch up on things. As if they didn't see each other enough. It just so happened that his son was friends with the Uzumaki's daughter, and so the two played quite often. They even had dinner at one another's houses.

But, he didn't argue with the blonde, for he didn't feel like listening to him whine and complain about how important their bond of 'friendship and brotherhood' was. The thought alone caused him to roll his eyes. "Why can't you just get someone else to do the work for you the way Tsunade did?" he asked.

"Because Sakura-chan is all the way in Suna, so she can't do it for me." Naruto stated.

Sasuke gave his friend a hard look. "I know that idiot, I meant find someone else."

"Oh." The blue eyed man blinked. Then he waved it off. "Nah, I don't feel like looking for someone to teach how to do it."

"Idiot." He muttered, turning to look back out the window. Naruto would be done soon anyways, he just hated having to stand here and wait. Because if they were here much longer, someone would come rushing in needing Naruto's help, whether it was signing something, receiving a mission report, or going to a meeting that the elders had scheduled. And Sasuke refused to wait through any of that crap just so they could walk down the street to Ichiraku's and eat ramen.

He heard the sound of the office door opening, and cursed inwardly. Turning on his heels, he was about to yell at the person to get out so that he could eat, but the look on the messenger's face stopped him. "Hokage-sama, Uchiha-sama." The man panted, nodding to each of them. He sat a scroll on Naruto's desk then. "Urgent news from Kazekage-sama."

"Thanks." Naruto smiled, picking up the scroll and unrolling it. He began to read it, the smile slowly falling off his face to be replaced by a look of pure shock. Curious about his reaction, Sasuke walked over and read the scroll over the blonde's shoulders, his eyes widening at the news.

Sakura was dead. Murdered in the night by enemy ninjas, and two of her children stolen from their home. He couldn't believe this. His eyes went to the end of the letter, where Gaara was requesting that he and Naruto travel to Suna for the funeral, and to look after his youngest daughter. Seeing that Naruto had yet to even move, Sasuke spoke up.

"Naruto." He said, getting the blonde's attention. "We must go now."

"Yeah." Naruto nodded, setting down the scroll and standing. He looked at the messenger, who was waiting for a reply. "Tell them that we are on our way." He ordered, now every bit the Kage that he was meant to be. The man nodded and left, off to do his leader's bidding. His cerulean gaze turned to his longtime friend. "I must go tell Hinata-chan about this and gather a few things. Meet me at the gate in twenty minutes." He said before disappearing in a yellow flash.

Sasuke sighed, teleporting to his own home. He went straight to his room and threw together a bag, putting on his ninja gear. His clothing had changed since his return to the Leaf village. Now he wore the standard jounin attire, since he had taken and passed the Chuunin Exams years ago. Tightening his headband, he strapped on his sword and picked up his pack before walking through his house to the training room, where he found his five year old son.

"Akito."

Upon hearing his name, the young boy stopped what he was doing, turning and looking at his father. He had short, spiky black hair, and deep forest green eyes. Many people who saw him said that he was a mirror image of the eldest Uchiha, though Sasuke knew it to be false. For in his son's face, he could see the boy's mother. Especially in his eyes.

"You're leaving." Akito stated, taking in his father's appearance.

"Yes." Sasuke replied. "Sakura has been killed, and I must go to Suna with your uncle for the funeral."

"Is she the lady with the pretty pink hair that I meant that one time?"

A small smile came to Sasuke's face at the way his son remembered one of his best friends. "Yes. I want you to stay here, and follow the standard rules for when I am gone. I should be back by the end of the week, if not sooner."

The ebony haired child nodded. "Yes Father."

"Good." He glanced at the target that his son had been throwing plastic kunai at. "Try loosening up your wrist a bit more upon release. I expect them all to hit the center when I return." He instructed, before turning and walking away.

He left the Uchiha District then, making his way to the village gates. Naruto arrived shortly after he did, and without a word, the two left the village. As they travelled through the forest, both men were lost in their own thoughts about their friend's death. Neither could believe it, for they always thought that one of them would have been the first to go in their trio. Especially given how reckless they were, and the fact that Gaara was extremely protective of Sakura.

Sasuke could sense the anger and despair coming from Naruto the entire trip there. He could even see the small droplets of tears flying from the blonde's eyes when he thought Sasuke wasn't looking. But they didn't speak of it, both too focused on getting to Suna as quickly as possible so that they could be there for Gaara should he need them. For they knew that no matter how badly they were hurting, Gaara was completely broken at the loss of his love.

It only took them two days to reach the Village Hidden in the Sand, since they never stopped to make camp, and only took a few breaks. Entering the gates to the village, they were met by Kankuro, Gaara's older brother.

"Where's Gaara?" Naruto asked, skipping the pleasantries.

"He's not here." The puppet master said, looking grim. "He left about a day ago with Temari to go and track down the killers and try and get Toshiro and Satomi back, if they're even alive."

"What direction did they go in? I'm going to go help them." The blonde declared, looking back out the gates of the village.

Sasuke sighed. "Naruto-"

"No! Don't try and get me to stay! Sakura-chan was one of my best friends, and I'm going to go help track down her killers and get her kids back! So don't you try and stop me!" the Jinchuuriki shouted, tears beginning to leak from his eyes. Then he looked back at Kankuro. "What direction did they leave in?" he repeated.

He frowned but then let out a sigh. "The last thing I heard they were going north, maybe north-east." He said, pointing off in the direction that he'd seen his siblings take off in.

With a nod, Naruto disappeared in a yellow flash, heading in the direction that Kankuro had pointed him in. Sasuke didn't even look to see him leave, simply continuing to stare at the puppet master. "So what now?" he asked, not sounding interested.

"Uh well…I'm not sure. Before Gaara left he told me he had something to give you. So…we can either go to the tower or his house, whichever you're more comfortable with." Kankuro said, his skin pale from his obvious lack of sleep. "Though…I would prefer it not be the house."

"Why?"

"Well." The brunette sighed. "Cause' Sakura's still there…"

Shock actually came to Sasuke's face. They hadn't removed Sakura's body? That was just…wrong. And disgusting. "Take me to the house. Everything there needs to be cleaned up and taken care of, so that when Gaara returns he doesn't have to worry about it."

"Uh…okay. But-"

"Let's just go." Sasuke snapped, glaring at him.

Kankuro nodded and hurried back into the village, weaving through the streets before coming up to a large house that seemed to emanate death. They walked in and Sasuke glanced around the eerily silent abode. It felt even more menacing inside than it did outside. Slowly, the puppet master led him upstairs and to the master bedroom. "Just try not to yell at her." He warned, only making the Uchiha very confused.

Sasuke opened the door and froze at the sight that was before him. The room was cleaned and spotless, all but the bed, which was still a bloody mess with Sakura laying there as she had the night she was murdered. Natsumi was sitting beside her and attempting to brush her hair as if she was readying for the day.

He walked forward and stopped next to the bed. "What…are you doing." He asked, though it was more of a statement.

"I'm helping her get ready. Mommy doesn't like to be dirty." Natsumi said simply, continuing her actions. It was then that Sasuke noticed there was only blood on the clothing that Sakura was wearing, her skin was completely clean. The now bloody towels were even sitting on the edge of the bed.

"She's dead." The Uchiha pointed out, taking in the way Sakura's skin was already beginning to show signs of decay.

Natsumi stopped for a moment, before resuming her grooming. "No she's not. She's sleeping until my daddy gets home." She nodded, remaining eerily calm.

"You need to let us take care of her body." He said. "It's not good to just keep her here."

"She's not dead!" Natsumi screeched, finally looking up at Sasuke, crouching over her mother in a defensive position.

He just stared at her, feeling his old memories coming back to him of when his own family had been killed. "The longer you keep telling yourself that the more it's going to suck when Gaara gets back and tells you the same thing." Sasuke told her. "And Sakura wouldn't want you to keep torturing yourself with keeping her here."

"You don't know what my mommy wants!" Natsumi snapped, glaring at him now with a ferocity that matched her father's. "Just try and take her from me." She said darkly.

"She's already been taken from you by the people who killed her." He told the little girl. "All that you're guarding right now is the empty shell that held her life force."

Something slammed Sasuke against the wall and he could only assume, since he didn't see it with his sharingan, it was the birthright she had inherited. He looked down at the sand holding him like restraints. "Get out!" she yelled, now crying and gripping her mother's night gown in her tiny fists.

He stared at her, searching his mind for her name. He knew Sakura had told him once…but he didn't even know which one this was, since he'd heard that she was a twin. His eyes narrowed as he deactivated his sharingan and studied her. "Natsumi." He guessed, hoping that he was right. "Your mother is dead, and the sooner you accept it, the easier things will be."

The sand around him only constricted as she began to sob, burying her face into her mother's stomach. Kankuro walked in and gasped, he ran over to his niece and gave the Uchiha a scolding look. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded, sitting beside the small girl and rubbing her back in attempts to sooth her.

"Well I didn't yell at her." Sasuke said. "And I think out of all people, I'm the best person to give her advice when someone as important as a mother has been taken from her life. Don't you think?" he asked, giving the other man a hard look.

"Not really!" Kankuro said harshly, continuing his actions, which made the sand slowly fall and release the dark haired man. "She's just a little girl, and you kinda went the wrong way for a long while if you don't recall."

"Whatever." He said, walking over to the edge of the bed where Sakura was laying. "Natsumi."

She didn't respond to him this time and only continued to cry, keeping a tight hold on her mother. Kankuro sighed and looked up at Sasuke before pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it to him.

Sasuke's brow furrowed and he opened it up, looking over the contents.

Sasuke,

I've gone to track down the people who murdered Sakura. Although unlikely, if I do not come back I need you to watch over my daughter. You are one of the only people I trust with the most precious gift I was ever given and after this, I feel you are the only one who will be able to help her. Before I left, I found out she witnessed the entire ordeal. Please take care of my daughter in my absence and love her. For both Sakura and I.

Gaara

"You bastard." Sasuke cursed, glaring at the paper.

"What?" Kankuro asked.

He wordlessly handed the other man the letter, not wanting to say anything out loud in front of Natsumi.

The Suna shinobi choked a bit. "What? You!" he looked up accusingly.

"Told you I'm the best person." He said. "Though I'm not any happier about it than you are."

"Don't say that." Kankuro growled out, gesturing to Natsumi with his eyes.

He sighed, knowing that he would need to behave himself. She was a child, not to mention a girl. And girls were different than boys. Thank God he'd had a boy. He moved and got on the bed on the other side of Natsumi, who was still crying into Sakura's stomach. They really needed to move her, because she was beginning to smell, and it wasn't healthy for Natsumi to stay in here with the body for much longer. Somewhat mimicking Kankuro's actions, he placed his hand on her head, stroking her head a bit. "It will be okay." He said a bit awkwardly.

Natsumi sniffed and sat up slowly, nothing but misery showing on her façade. "Sh-she can't be dead." She whispered, beginning to sob once more. "Why'd my mommy have to die?"

"I don't know." He replied, continuing stroking her head, since it seemed to comfort her. "Sometimes…people die, and nobody really understands why that had to happen to them. But they aren't really gone."

"Yes she is!" Natsumi screamed, her hands forming to fists as she hit Sakura's lifeless body. "She won't wake up! She won't wake up!" the small girl cried loudly, collapsing once more, but this time into was on Sasuke. She cried into his stomach and wrapped her arms around his waist, her tears soaking through his shirt.

He blinked, looking down at her. Glancing up at Kankuro and giving him an almost helpless look, he placed one hand on her back, and the other on her head in an attempt to return her embrace. "Natsumi, when your mommy made you with your daddy, she put part of herself into you. So part of her will always be alive in you, in your memory, and in your heart."

She shook her head, trembling. "That makes no sense." She sniffed, keeping her face buried. Kankuro, noticing the moment, moved from the bed and slowly slid his arms under Sakura's body, lifting her from the bloodstained bed. At the movement, Natsumi attempted to peek out and went wide eyed. "No! Please don't take her!" she yelled, trying to grab for her mother, only to be stopped by Sasuke wrapping his arms around her waist and keeping her against him.

"Natsumi, he needs to take her so that she can be put to rest." The Uchiha explained.

She began to bawl. "No! You can't leave me alone! Mommy! Please!" Sasuke continued to hold her, beginning to rock in an attempt to make her feel better as Kankuro left the room with Sakura's body, off to get her cremated the way she wanted.

"It's okay Natsumi, you're not alone in the world." He told her.

She just continued to cry, curling into a ball once more, resting her forehead on her knees. "Yes I am…"

"No you're not." He repeated, rubbing her back. "I will always be here for you."

"But you don't live here." She sniffed.

"But whenever you need me, I will be there for you." He told her. "Konoha isn't that far away."

Natsumi just clung onto him then, remaining silent since she felt empty, and wanted nothing more but to wallow. They both sat there for a while, until Sasuke noticed that Natsumi smelled. She probably hadn't bathed since before Sakura had died, especially since nobody had been here to take care of her. "Come." He said, picking her up in his arms before standing. "You need to take a bath, and then eat something." He began to carry her out of the room then.

He took her down the hall and found the bathroom, setting her down before drawing her bath. She wasn't really very responsive, but he didn't care. After bathing her, he dressed her in some clean clothes. Then he put together a bag of her clothes, so that she could stay with him in his hotel room while Gaara was away. She didn't need to stay in this house any longer all by herself.

Once that was done he picked Natsumi back up, since she didn't look like she could walk, grabbed both of their bags, and took her out to eat. He would have cooked for her, but he wasn't very good, and didn't want to wind up feeding her crap. By the time they finished eating, it was getting late, and so they went to the hotel and Sasuke rented out the best suite they had. Setting her down, he put their things over on top of a dresser, before going into the bathroom and showering.

When he came out of the bathroom, Natsumi was still sitting on the bed where he had left her, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. She didn't acknowledge him, but he didn't really care. He walked over to his side of the bed and got in, turning off the lamp before lying down and closing his eyes. He stiffened when Natsumi got under the covers with him and lay against his side, but didn't make her move. Instead, he wrapped his arm around her and kept his eyes closed, and the two of them eventually drifted off to sleep.