Sasuke stood and glared out over his troops. They were just about ready. It was almost dawn. At dawn they were going to advance on the Sand, and after every last person was dead, they would turn on the Leaf. And to top it all off, Sakura wasn't coming to him like he thought that she was going to. He had hoped to use her as bait for Gaara. But that isn't going to happen now.

But somehow that freak has gotten his hooks into her and she turned him down. He knew all about Gaara and that he was host to the one tail Shukaku. He still didn't get how she could have chosen someone like him to be her husband, over himself. Of course it didn't matter, he would have his way with her when it was all said and done then kill her. That would be the price she would pay for humiliating him like she has done.

He did have Naruto to look forward too though. After losing his wife and unborn child, he would be in such a rage after that and run blindly into a trap for him. He still didn't understand why the village named the host of the nine tailed fox the Hokage. 'That's alright because he won't get to hold that title for very long. He will die either way it went.'

Hikaru walked up behind Sasuke on the cliff with a emotionless face. Something he learned well from his Lord. "Lord Sasuke, the troops will be ready to march soon. All the preparations should be done just before dawn."

Sasuke nods, though he never takes his eyes off of his troops. Not one of them looked scared or like they were nervous about anything. Orochimaru hadn't done himself any favors treating them like crap. Sasuke didn't care if they liked what he had them doing or not, and once in a while would throw a good job at them. That made them the puppets that he had before him.

He remembered the note that Sakura sent back. It enraged him! "Hikaru. I want you to make sure that everyone knows that Sakura is not to die. I want her alive."

"Alive?"

"Hai. She will pay for refusing me. After I force her to watch as I kill her husband."

Hikaru nodded. "Lord Sasuke?"

"Nani?"

"What mission do you have for me? You told me that you had something that you wanted me to do. Can I ask what it is?"

Sasuke smiled as he looked back at him. "You will find that out soon enough. Make sure that they are all ready to go when the sun rises."

"Hai. Lord Sasuke."

x

Tsunade and Jiraiya stood back as they watched the Sixth Hokage in action. He was with Gaara and they were making plans to march to war with Sasuke. Even though Sasuke was an old Shinobi of the Leaf, he was an enemy now.

And even in light of all that he went through as a Genin to try to get Sasuke back from Orochimaru, Naruto has now proved just how grown he really was. Putting his village over his personal wants.

He stood next to Gaara, with Hinata at his side. Followed by Ibiki and Konohamaru. At Gaara's side was Sakura Baki, Temari and Kankuro. It seemed stoic that the two most powerful lands of all have the two most powerful Shinobi as their leaders.

She never takes her eyes off of Naruto as she leans over and says, "You know Jiraiya, after Sasuke is dealt with and gone, I think that I am going to retire and take it easy from now on."

Jiraiya smiles as he nods. "Hai. We are not as young as we use to be, and the village will be in very capable hands."

x

"Naruto, when I sent the note to you I also sent one to Sasuke. Declining his proposal to be his wife. I know that would have made him angry and I hoped that it would spur him into doing something stupid." She sighed as she stood next to her husband. His comforting arm around her keeping her sane.

Naruto nodded in agreement. He spent all his time as a Genin with Sasuke trying to get in his head and see how he worked. The rest of the time, before he left to go and train with Jiraiya, he spent trying to find him and bring him home.

He looks Gaara in the eyes with a steady gaze as he says, "Sasuke has an ego as big as the country it seems at times. Sakura, the one person he thought would run to him turning him down dealt a devastating blow to said ego. Your village is protected? I would not put it past him to march on the Sand in the morning."

"I feared that might be the case. Before we left all villagers and remaining Shinobi were vacated from the village. We have a hidden underground village that had been used once before in times such as this."

"Just like I am using this tower like the First Hokage did."

"Hai."

Hinata looked up at Naruto, "Demo, if no one is there then he will turn to the Leaf. If you are marching on the sound, no one will be here to defend the village?"

Naruto nodded. "I know koishii. That is why when we march, we march toward the Sand, not the Sound."

Sakura sighed as she worried about the others that were hidden. But it did make sense. "That way when we meet him it would be in the middle of the desert and no innocent lives would be at risk."

Hinata looked at Sakura and both only nodded.

Naruto and Gaara jerked their heads down at their wives and in perfect harmony said, "I don't think so you are going to stay right here."

Hinata starred up at her husband. "I will not leave your side, just like I promised when we first got together!"

"I won't risk you and the baby."

"I am going!"

Naruto sighed as he turned to face her. "We agreed, no battles, nothing to do with being a ninja until you have the baby."

"Demo…."

Naruto placed a finger to her lips. "I won't be able to fight him like I need to fight him because I will constantly be watching out for where you are to fight."

Hinata sighed as she knew defeat was coming. "I just worry about you Naruto. I'm scared you might not come home."

Naruto hugged her and smiled. "I will always come home to you and our child."

Sakura smiled as she watched her two friends. Ignoring the glare that was being set on her by her own husband. She turned and glared up at him. "Nani? I am going and that is final. I am not pregnant, and you know what I can do."

"You are not going."

"Why not?"

Gaara knew that he would loose the fight when it came to ability. In the years since she was a Genin that knew what to do, just couldn't do it, to the woman she is now that will kill to defend what is right. "You made a promise."

"Nani?"

Gaara looked over to where Naruto and Hinata were talking to Tsunade and Jiraiya. "You promised him that you would protect her and keep her safe."

Sakura sighed as she dropped her head. "I forgot about that, demo….."

"Just like Naruto told Hinata. I will always come home. I have been defeated only one time, and that was by Naruto. Together we will stop this and then come home."

Sakura nodded in defeat. She would stay and keep her promise to Naruto and keep Hinata safe. She slid into his arms as she buried her face in his chest. "Promise me that you will come home."

"Yakusoku suru."