I suck, i know. The worst semester of my life just ended thursday and then had a graduation ceremony yesterday. Today, though, i sat down with my seasons of Sons of Anarchy playing to inspire me, and got to writing.

This is for everyone who has been following this story and waiting for patiently. I thank you for sticking with me, and i apologize for the delay. Don't know when the next one will be up but i will try to get it up sooner rather than later.

As a side note before you read, i wonder if anyone would be interested in making a banner for the story. I thought about making one myself but i'm far too lazy and would rather write than draw or put something together. I'll give you credit and you'll have my undying love for what its worth.

Chapter 11

The Suna Way

A banging sound lifted Sakura from her sleep and she couldn't help the groan that escaped her. She was swathed in the warm feeling of Sasuke arms around her that was slowly becoming familiar to her. The same feeling of warmth and contentment filled her in her sleep induced haze and she turned her head to bury it in his chest. She didn't want to wake up, she never wanted to wake up, but the banging sound was not going away.

She felt Sasuke stir as the sound registered to him and she lifted her head enough to see him open his eyes and look at the door in a disgruntled manner. As she slowly started to wake up, she became more aware of her surroundings. She took a look at the small bedroom, the light coming in from the blinds and then everything flooded back to her slowly.

Her face flamed as she remembered the lust driven encounter last night followed by deep-seeded relief that they were able to contain themselves. She liked Sasuke, more than she ever imaged she would be able to feel so quickly, but she was not ready for that. A part of her was still struggling with how fast they were already moving that the idea of giving herself to him in that way so quickly terrified her more than she was willing to admit. After everything she had been through, she needed to take her time with him before she took that blind leap.

The banging continued and she become aware of a slightly familiar voice, though she couldn't quiet pick out who it was at the moment, calling out. "Wakey, wakey, lovebirds! Come down for breakfast!"

Sasuke groaned quietly and then ran a hand over his face in a tired manner. The yelling and banging continued before Sasuke seemed to get annoyed. "Alright, asshole! We get it! Quit before I come out and shove my foot up your annoying ass!" he yelled. The person on the other side chuckled loudly and then told them to come down soon before the sound of his retreating footsteps was heard.

Sasuke sighed tiredly and looked at her. His eyes seemed to light up after a moment before he ducked in to give her a chaste good morning kiss. He grinned back at her with that stupid lopsided grin and then wrinkled in nose cutely before relaxing again. "Morning, darlin'," he muttered.

"Good morning," she whispered back and then peppered his exposed chest with a few chaste kisses before she reluctantly pulled herself from his embrace. If they didn't get up soon they would send someone else up to get them and with their luck, it would be Naruto who didn't care for boundaries. He would barge in and she was not the least bit excited to be seen in such a state of undress in front of her boyfriend's brother.

She paused for a moment, trying to catch up. Were they boyfriend and girlfriend? Sasuke had called her his lady but denied that she was his old lady. She was still learning the entire biker lingo but she understood that an old lady was somehow a step up from a lady. Hinata was Naruto's old lady, and Neji and Shikamaru had their own old ladies back home. And obviously Tsunade was Minato's old lady, so Sakura assumed that to be an old lady meant you were in a serious, committed relationship or you were married. So as his lady does that mean she was his girlfriend? They had never said anything official but since she was staying with him, she assumed they were at least in some sort of relationship.

"We're together, right?" she asked suddenly and then instantly regretted it when he casted a strange look.

"Huh?" was all he was able to choke out as he rubbed sleep out of his eyes, still laying down.

She blushed and looked away from him. Nervously toying with her hair, she fumbled out an answer. "Are we together? We never said anything official and our relationship has been fast moving. I just don't know where we stand . . ." she trailed off.

"I've already said that you're my lady," he answered as if she was supposed to know what that meant.

She stared at him blankly for a moment and then shrugged to show her ignorance. "And in regular people speak that means what? I'm still new to the biker lingo."

He chuckled and then sat up and ghosted a hand up her arm. The hand trailed up her arm, to her shoulder, then to her neck before it settled in a fist of her hair. He leaned in for a gentle but telling kiss, making her head spin, before he leaned away and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"In regular people speak you are my girlfriend. When we get more serious, people will begin to recognize you as my old lady, the woman I have chosen to life my life with."

He said when, Sakura noted, not if. He was expecting them to go for the long run. Instantly she thought of her dream where she was a part of his world as his wife. As his old lady, as he would say. The thought oddly didn't scare her. Of all the ways she imaged her life panning out, this was not it. She never imagined she would be a victim of domestic abuse whose only way of healing would be to let a criminal into her heart and protect her from the world. But he was more than just a criminal. He was a loving father and brother, and an honorable and charming man. Even with everything he was involved in, he was the best man she has ever known.

She smiled and grabbed his stubbly chin between her hands and pressed an urgent kiss to his lips. He kissed her back with equal fervor. Their kiss did not get very far as almost as soon as it started they pulled away again by banging on the door once more. Sasuke sighed, resting his forehead against hers for a moment before he stood and crossed the little distance to the door.

He opened it just enough to look out but block the view of her still on the bed. "Al'ight, ya jackass, we're up. You knock in this door one more time and I'm seriously going to rip your throat out."

The door blocks her sight from whoever was on the other side but she is able to see a tanned hand with a tattooed wrist raise up as if in surrender. "'ey, don't blame me. I'm just the messenger. Your old man sent me up."

Sasuke sighed. "Yeah, yeah, well, we're up. Just let us get dressed and we'll be down in a minute."

"Alrighty, but let it be known that Naruto is being sent up next if you take too long."

"Yeah, duly noted. Give us a few minutes," he said.

The tanned hand reached out and pats Sasuke's bare shoulder. "Alright, brother." The hand disappeared and Sasuke shut the door.

He was shaking his head. "Damn that Kiba. He's a major kiss ass. My dad says jump and Kiba is the first one up. He thinks that by being Da's little servant he's gonna earn himself a better place in the club. Too bad for him Dad's gonna step down soon and he's been kissing the wrong ass for years."

"And you're going to take over?" Sakura asked as she remembered how they had briefly discussed how he would someday take over.

She spied her bags sitting in the corner. Someone must have brought them up yesterday before they got in. In her rush last night, she hadn't even noticed them sitting there next to Sasuke's. She stood and quickly hunted down an outfit. She chose a simple pair of tight blue jeans and a tight tank top. She spied one of Sasuke's flannel shirts peeking out of his bag and quickly scooped it up. Pulling that on, she quickly tied it around her waist so it wasn't too baggy and dwarf her frame.

Sasuke eyed her as she dressed but said nothing about the stolen shirt. He dressed too in his usual baggy clothes that he had gotten from his brothers. He nodded. "Yup, I'm next in line. Da's hands are messed up and he won't be able to ride in a few years. You can't ride, then you can't lead. He'll retire from president, though he may choose to stay in the club. It's up to the club to vote me in, but the position is unofficially mine. The old man had been grooming me for presidency since I was voted in as vice president."

Sakura nodded, surprised that "someday" was sooner than she expected. She didn't see how it would affect them much, but she still wondered. She saw the level of respect the other old ladies gave Tsunade at the club dinner. It was because she was the president's old lady that she got that amount of respect. Dimly Sakura was aware that this could very well be her own future. She would have to step in and fill the shoes of the club's mother hen, something she wasn't sure she knew how to do. Tsunade seemed very much in control of everything, something Sakura would eventually have to learn how to do. It was a scary thought, but Tsunade was leaving her mighty big shoes to fill just as Minato was going the same for Sasuke.

"You'll talk to your mother, right?" she asked suddenly as they were exiting the room. Sasuke paused in the hallway to stare at her as she stood in the doorway. His expression was questioning and she obligated him with more. "I don't want her to hate me. She's a big part of this club and your life. I want to be a part of it too and I'm not going to be able to if she hates me. How am I ever going to learn to live your way of life if I don't have someone to teach me how to be a lady or an old lady? Hinata can only do so much to help me."

He studies her for a moment before he nods, reaching up to fist her hair again. He held her close, his lips hovering over his for a moment before he sneaks in a quick kiss. Sakura hears the sounds of pounding feet on the stairs and knows that their moment is about to get interrupted again. She heaves a sigh and cups his cheek quickly before she lets him go. He smoothes her hair back into place and gives her another nod as Naruto reaches the top stair and yells out a greeting. Both ignore him for the moment.

"I'll talk to her and fix things. I'll make sure she gives you a chance. Once she sees how great you are, it will be hard for her to push you away anymore."

Sakura nods, unconvinced but unwilling to say more. He obviously has business he needs to attend to and she can't let her personal problems cloud his judgment. She turns now and greets Naruto with a wave.

"Geez, what's with you two this morning?" Naruto asks as they make their way down the stairs.

Sasuke glares at him. "Shut up," Sasuke deadpans as they reach the main floor where everyone is waiting for them. Hinata immediately makes her way over to them and hooks her arm with Sakura's.

"Come on, there is coffee and breakfast in the kitchen," she said and began pulling her in the direction of the kitchen. Sakura faltered a few steps, dumbly allowing herself to be dragged, before she planted her feet firmly and resists the petite raven.

She turns and reaches out for Sasuke. He goes to her wordlessly, pressing his lips to hers and toys with the hem of his shirt on her for a moment before he pulls back. "Church won't take long. Can you have some coffee waiting for me?"

"Sure," she whispered against his lips and ghosted a hand over his the stubbles on his face. Oddly, she liked to feel of his unshaven face. All of her past boyfriends made it a point to always be clean shaven. She liked that Sasuke didn't care. "I'll make you a plate too," she mumbled.

He smirked devilishly and kissed her passionately. "You're too sweet, darlin'," he said as soon as pulled away.

"You guys are sickening," Itachi said as he deposited his phone in a box outside a pair of double doors. Sasuke flipped him off before pressing a quick kiss to her lips once more and then released her. He followed as both Suna and Konoha boys filed into the room, dropping off their phones before they entered.

Pleased now that she had her goodbye kiss, Sakura hooked arms with Hinata once more who offered her a smile. They entered the kitchen where a few boys were filling around and other woman. Sakura noted that the men were prospects by their cuts and the women eyed her as she entered. She could tell that they were sizing her up, trying to determine what kind of person she was. Sakura ignored the looks, clutching Hinata's just a little but tighter. Hinata gave a comforting smile.

"I wish I could offer you advice," the raven haired woman whispered as they stepped up to the coffee machine, "but I've never dealt with this. I'm not the VP's lady. I'm not the future leader's lady. With me and Naruto, we got together so young that no one questioned me. But you're new and you are with a very important man and they can tell he's serious. People are going to be looking at you, wondering if our future is safe with you."

Sakura nodded, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her. In particular, she could feel the eyes of a certain blonde woman staring into her back. She nodded in acknowledgment to Hinata, tension making her back stiff.

"Then I guess I'll have to be careful," she whispered back.

Hinata nodded back in a regretful manner. Sakura liked Hinata more and more as the time past. She could see that the woman was truly interested in helping her but she could only offer so much help. Somehow Sakura knew that Tsunade would know what to do about this. She would know how to deal with this. But unless she can somehow bridge the gap between them, there will be no advice and tips. She will be on her own in this.

"So what's your name, pinky?" a voice said and Sakura looked over her shoulder to see it was the blonde woman who spoke. She standing across the room from her, her arms crossed beneath her bust.

Sakura turned leaned against the counter behind her, a mug of coffee in her hand. She took a calm sip, trying to appear strong in front of this woman. "Sakura Haruno," she said coolly, "And you are?"

"Temari Sabaku," she answered with an edge to her tone, as if she expected for her to already know this.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Temari," she said politely and then turned away again, hoping that Temari got the picture that she didn't want to talk. It's wishful thinking.

"So what do you do, Sakura? You know, besides whoring yourself out to Sasuke?"

Hinata gasped and shouted Temari's name in protest. Sakura turned slowly, keeping her calm front while on the inside she fumed. This woman was obviously jealous and Sakura recognized her as the woman she had seen her enter Sasuke's home when she first arrived in town. There was history between them, and Sakura was able to connect the dots to understand, or at least guess, exactly what kind of history they had.

"I'm a surgeon, a respected on at that," she replied evenly. "I specialize in pediatrics and neonatal care. I care for sick babies. What do you do, you know, now that you're not whoring yourself out to Sasuke?" she fired back, guessing at the last part.

The look Temari gave her told her that she hit the nail on the head. She suppressed her smugness at catching her by bringing the coffee cup up to cover her smirk.

"So he told you about us, then?" Temari asked, leaving no question as to who the "he" was in this question.

Sakura shook her head. "Nope, not a word. But I know a scorned lover when I see one," she said evenly.

Hinata chose this moment to speak up as well. "He didn't need to tell her anything. There was nothing to tell. It wasn't a serious relationship in the first place. Why speak of the trash he had already thrown away, especially when he found something way better."

Temari fumed but couldn't say more as the doors to the chapel opened and then boys filed out. A quick stop to recollect their phones and they were soon joining them in the kitchen. Sakura turned at the sound of the doors and quickly poured Sasuke a cup of coffee and busied herself with the plates of food. Within moments she felt familiar hands grip her waist and a warm body press against her.

"How was the meeting?" she asked sweetly, as if the argument hadn't occurred.

She felt him shrug against her before his head came to rest on her shoulder. "Same shit, different day. Just more people this time," he muttered.

She turned in his grasp and pressed the mug to his stomach, prompting him to remove one hand from her waist to take a hold of it. He smiled and gladly took a sip. "Thanks, darlin'."

"What's the plan today?" she asked as she directed him over to one of the tables, their plates in her hands. He took one of the plates off her hands for her they seated themselves next to Naruto and Hinata. Minato, Gaara, and Itachi sat across from them while Temari hovered behind her brother, if only to be close to the main group.

"Well, we are going down to the bike show again but we'll have to leave shortly after. I'll make sure you are taken care of, the prospects with you to make sure you don't get into trouble," Sasuke said while he started into his breakfast.

"And where will you be?" Sakura asked.

"You shouldn't ask questions, girl," Temari suddenly said before Sasuke could speak. Everyone immediately looked up at her, Sasuke staring at her in question.

Sakura glared. "I wasn't talking to you."

Sasuke looked back and forth between the two women, and then glanced at his father and Gaara. Minato gave him a look that told him he probably sleep around so much while Gaara stared at Sasuke wordlessly. He gave a helpless shrug, offering to help to the situation.

"We have club business to attend to," Sasuke suddenly said, grabbing Sakura's attention and breaking the glare off between the girls.

"So, guns?" Sakura whispered and the boys at the table quickly looked up in confusion.

"You told her?" Minato asked, his eyebrows raised in question.

Sasuke nodded easily. "Yeah. I trust her, and we have an agreement. We are going into this with both our eyes open, full disclosure on both ends," he told his father and brothers before he turned his attention back to Sakura. "The Suna charter is a new charter, but strong and trusted. They want a way to make extra cash so we came here for the bike show and to trade some guns. We are going to establish a link with a branch of our providers and then set them up with some customers."

Sakura nodded and then leaned towards Sasuke. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close. "Just be careful," she said quietly though still loud enough to be heard. She turned her head and eyed Gaara across the table. "You too. Keep each other safe and watch your backs," she told him.

He nodded. "You don't have to worry about us. You worry about your boy, he's the troublemaker," Gaara joked.

"Don't I know it," she muttered as Sasuke gave that wicked grin and leaned down for a kiss. Sakura was aware of Temari glaring at her before she stomped away, and she couldn't help but feel a little triumphant. Obviously she hadn't been trusted with club business like she was. She smiled, feeling more at ease in Sasuke's arms and a little more than smug.

X X

Sakura soon found herself back in the midst of bike show all over again, surrounded by the chatter of one MC after another and the roar of motorcycles. Hinata stood beside her as they waited in the designated area for the Akatsuki. Beside them was one of the Suna prospects, a burly man almost the size of Naruto with a tribal tattoo on his shaved head. A small distance from them was Temari and the other Suna old ladies, standing close to one another in a tight circle casting dirty looks at Sakura. She ignored it, feeling above them and their petty misgivings about her. She had won the little battle this morning and the rest could wait.

Sasuke and the other boys had left some time ago though Hinata kept reassuring her that they should be back any minute. Until then they kept close to the prospect so that he could protect them from anyone who wished them any harm (though they didn't think there was any here in Suna) or the unwanted sexual advancements of fellow bikers looking for an old lady.

Sakura had already noticed two men circling the area, eying her and the club. The first man she could tell was looking for some tail. Every time she felt a heated, lustful gaze upon her, she would turn and make eye contact with the same man. He wore a blank cut, affiliated with no MC. Every time he got caught he gave a devilishly smirk that didn't even come close to Sasuke's. She would turn away and he would disappear only to circle back on his bike a few minutes later, trying to impress her.

Honestly, Sakura almost wanted to get an Akatsuki tattoo just so people would back off. She had noticed that people back down when they noticed Hinata tattoo, a simple tattoo on her wrist that read REAPER and then a set of dates. When Sakura asked, Hinata told her the first date was when she and Naruto started dating and the second was when she became his old lady. She's going to add another when they get married, she told her, that is if Naruto ever gets his act together enough to give her a ring. They have been on the cusp of marriage for years now but Naruto's not ready yet. But Hinata knows him; he'll get it together soon enough.

The other man that Sakura noticed was watching her put her on edge more than some creep trying to impress her. She noticed that he didn't come around as often as the creep did, but he was definitely circling. The first time she noticed Fugaku watching her, she had turned away to ward off any indication that it was safe for him to approach. The second time she took notice of him, he was closer to her than last time. He looked as if he wished to approach but stopped when she took a few steps closer to the prospect. She had seen him twice more throughout the day, gradually getting closer with each circuit he made.

She didn't know why he would be watching her like he was. She couldn't think of what he possibly had to say to her. She had nothing to say to him that was for sure. She was siding with Sasuke on this one. That man had abandoned his son, his sick and scared son after the death of his little brother to a disease he didn't understand but knew he had, and that was inexcusable. Sasuke obviously had some issues now, and was pained by living in the shadow of and constantly being compared to a man that he grew up resenting. No matter what this man had to say to her, she wouldn't listen for the sole fact that she hated him for hurting Sasuke, even if it was before she even knew him.

"Give me a minute, ladies. I have to take a piss. You think you'll be good on your own for a minute?" the prospect said to them suddenly.

Hinata nodded. "Yeah, we'll be fine."

He nodded and then quickly assured them he would be right back. They nodded and waved him off. The girls went back to discussing what the boys were like back in high school, Hinata telling stories about some of Naruto's and Sasuke's misadventures and how Hinata got roped into quite a few. Sakura was laughed when she suddenly felt an unfamiliar, warm hand on his waist, drawing her in. She turned, and was unsurprised to see the creep was the one who had a grasp on her.

"You have a beautiful laugh, girly," he said.

"And you have a presumptuous attitude. I suggest you let me go," she deadpanned, trying to be braver than she felt. He was much bigger than her, and without the prospect here to protect her, she would be no match for this guy even if Hinata tried to help.

"Oh, yeah?" he questioned. "You have some fire in you. I respect that."

"Well, that's because she's part of my family. No daughter of mine is a submissive bitch," another voice joined in and everyone turned to see Fugaku Uchiha standing there.

He stepped forward and quickly pulled Sakura from the man's grasp, gently but firmly. He tucked her under his arm in a comfortable manner, as if he had done it a thousand times before. He smiled pleasantly at the man, but it was a mask on top of hostility.

"Daughter, huh? I don't see the resemblance," the man said.

"Daughter-in-law, to be precise. She married my son last year but was raised around the club. Her daddy was a member of the MC, too. She and my son grew up together. Been together for years and has been kicking ass the entire time," he said, lying expertly through his teeth.

The man eyed his blank cut disbelievingly. "MC, huh? Which one?"

The roar of motorcycles rolling in pulled all of their attention and the man suddenly paled at the sight of the Akatsuki rolling in. Sasuke's eyes zeroed in on the scene, as well as Gaara's. Within seconds both were off their bikes and running to get to them. Sakura freed herself from Fugaku and went straight into Sasuke's arms while Gaara grabbed a hold of the man as he attempted to run away.

"Not so fast, Fu. It's nice to see you again. How has desertion been treating you?" he asked calmly.

Sasuke gave Sakura an onceover and then glared at Fugaku for a moment before turning his gaze back to her. "What happened? Are you okay?"

Sakura gripped his cut loosely, looking up at him. "I'm fine. The creep over there snuck up and put his hands on me but Fugaku stepped in to get me away. Both had been circling all day. When Fugaku saw me in trouble he took it as his chance to get close. I'm fine."

Sasuke casted the creep, Fu, a dark glance as some of the other Suna boys now had him in their grasp. He glanced quickly at the eldest Uchiha before he turned away. "Where's the prospect?"

"Bathroom break. We thought we would be okay by ourselves for a few minutes."

Sasuke snorted humorlessly. "Obviously not," he muttered and then gently cradled her head between his hands. "How do you always get into trouble?" he asked before pressing his lips to hers.

"How do you?" she asked as soon as their lips parted.

He shook his head and then tucked her under his arm. He strolled over to Gaara and the creep. He looked over the man, finding him oddly familiar but he couldn't place where. He turned to Gaara. "You know him?"

Gaara nodded. "Yeah, he was part of our MC when you were here helping us get established. He stood in the back, kept to himself. When you left, the weight of being part of the Akatsuki got the better of him and he ran, deserted the club. He left one of our guys in the lurch when he did it and now he's doing time."

"I'm sorry," Fu said, his eyes no longer arrogant and lustful but instead terrified as he looked at the Suna charter president and the VP of the maiden charter. "I'm sorry, so very sorry. I didn't mean to leave things that way and I didn't know she was your old lady. I'm sorry," he babbled.

Sasuke's eyes studied the man, pausing when he noted that how the man's long sleeved shirt had ridden up slightly as the Suna men held me. He released Sakura wordlessly and stepped forward, grabbing his arm and wrenching the fabric up to expose the inked skin. On his forearm was an intricate reaper tattoo, the Akatsuki name proudly on printed on the bottom of it. Fu looked at his exposed arm and then glanced up with an even more frantic look.

"No, please. I was going to get it blacked out. I was going to do it soon. I have an appointment. Please, I have an appointment. Have mercy, please," he begged. Other MCs stood by and watched but did nothing to help this man or encourage the club rather. They were just observers, staring with knowing looks.

Sakura was suddenly pulled back, away from the scene unfolding. She found Hinata's hands pulling her way. "Come on, this isn't going to be pretty."

"I don't understand. What's going on?" she asked.

Hinata pulled her away. "Please, I don't know if I can tell you. It's club business. But trust me when I say it's not pretty."

Sakura shook her head. "Sasuke tells me everything."

Hinata tugged again. "Then let him tell you later. For now, let's just go and let them handle it."

Naruto was suddenly at their side, his face serious for once. He passed Hinata a pair of car keys and then gave a quick but urgent kiss. "Go; get her and the other ladies out of here. Go straight to the clubhouse and stay there. We'll be there as soon as we can." Hinata nodded and towed her away as Naruto walked at a fast pace in the other direction.

Sakura was pushed into a black car while Temari and two other women jumped into the back seat. The other old ladies went to another car and quickly exited the crowded area, Hinata pulling out of their parking spot and following closely behind. Sakura looked out the back window at the fading figures of the club. She noted that they were loading Fu into the back of the plain black van. Sasuke jerked his head and Fugaku reluctantly hopped in as well. Soon they were locked away and the boys mounted their bikes, making their exit quickly, moving in the opposite direction in which they were traveling.

Sakura was suddenly scared and very, very confused.

X X

Gaara led the way to an unmarked and deserted area. The club owned the land under a different name and account, paying under the table in order to get it. It was the perfect location to do the seedier club business, out in the middle of nowhere and completely off the map. It was a place no one would disturb them. And for this sort of business, they were going to need the assurance that they won't be disturbed.

They parked the van in front of the "warehouse" where they would be housing their guns soon. For now, thought, they were going to put it to a different use. With their bikes parked and opened the van to reveal a silent Fugaku sitting calmly on the small bench and a sobbing Fu. The men roughly pulled Fu out of the van while Fugaku came out willingly, walking on his own accord into the warehouse.

They dumped Fu on the concrete floor of the nearly empty room. There was a drain in the floor beside him and some chains hanging from the rafters. The chains had been there from the days that this building was a working factory. Now, it was just an abandoned building that the club was putting to their own use.

"Please, have mercy," Fu begged.

Gaara ignored his begging. "You deserted the club. You don't deserve to wear our emblem on your skin. You had your chance to black it out but you didn't. Now we have to remove it."

"Knife or fire, your choice," Sasuke said with no hint of mercy or even pity in his voice. Fu just sobbed more, unable to answer. Sasuke sighed impatiently. "You choose or we choose for you."

"Please," he choked out.

Naruto stepped up to his brother, idly flipping a coin into the air and then catching it. Minato stood back and let his sons, the future of the club, take point on his one. They offered the man another chance to choose and then looked to one another.

"Heads for fire, tails for knife," he said before tossing the coin into the air and catching it quickly, holding a hand over the coin for suspense.

"Anyone wanna take bets?" Sasuke asked the room, the men standing around in a circle around this man. Sasuke turned slowly, looking over them quickly. "No takers?" he asked.

"Don't know about you, but I'm hoping for fire. We have a nice welding torch hooked up and ready to go. I've been aching to test it out," Kankuro said beside his brother. Fu let out another chocked sob at the thought.

Naruto wordlessly lifted his hand and glanced at the now exposed coin. "Heads, you get your wish," he said and then showed Sasuke as proof. Sasuke nodded his head in approval and then gestured for Kankuro to take point.

"You can do the honors then," he said calmly, all business.

He was extremely aware of Fugaku watching him, watching as he sentenced a man to tortuous pain seemingly without a care. He was well aware that he grew up to be exactly what his biological father never thought he would be, the very thing the man thought him too weak to be. He was the embodiment of an Akatsuki member right now, strong, ruthless and willing to get dirty for the sake of the club. This will not be the first time has dirtied his hands or watched some gruesome act for the club. It certainly won't be the last either. When he wore this cut, this is what he will face until he retires and hangs it up. This is the life he has chosen. The very life he grew up in as the son of the president. The life his son may decide to join as well when the time comes.

Kankuro looked briefly to his brother for acceptance and received a quick nod. Kankuro nodded as well, stepping up. "Chain him up and fetch the torch," he told a few of his men. Two men stepped up and grabbed the sobbing man, pulling the chains down to string him up. Another man disappeared to fetch the torch.

"Check him for more ink," Sasuke said to the two men stringing him up. They nodded and ripped at his clothes to expose his flesh. Sasuke's trained eyes quickly narrowed in on the red cloud tattooed on the better part of the man's upper back. He shook his head in disapproval. "You should have covered that shit the moment you jumped ship, dumbass," he remarked. Fu answered with another sob.

Within moments the man returned with the torch and a pair of goggles. Kankuro pulled the goggles on and lit the torch before tugging on the cord and stepping forward. Wordlessly Sasuke reached out behind him for a bottle of alcohol Itachi had been holding. Once it was in his grasp he stepped up and splashed the tattooed skin, careful not to step too close to Kankuro and the flame. He stepped in front of Fu, making him look him directly in the eyes as he took a large sip from the bottle. Once the burning liquid was down his throat he gave a quick nod to the Suna VP.

Sasuke stared into Fu's eyes as the flame first met the skin of his back and the man screamed. He thrashed around, trying to squirm away from the pain but the chains held him in a tight, unforgiving grasp. Everything was silent besides the deafening screams erupting from the man in front of him, the clinking of chains as he twisted and the constant whoosh of the torch. Sasuke took another sip calmly, seemly unaffected by the display even as the smell of burnt flesh permeated the air and then man's screams quieted as he began to lose consciousness.

Kankuro finished with the man's back as quick as he could, the skin burnt and charred so that it completely obscured the tattoo. He moved quickly onto the man's arm, able to do that task easily as Fu as no longer struggling and was completely out cold.

He extinguished the flame as soon as the task was down and he lifted his goggles up to rest on his forehead. The men that had tied him up came forward to collect him, removing a brand new and sterile blanket from a wrapped package and throwing it over his body. They carried him away, dragging him out to the van again. They would drop him in the hospital parking lot and get out of there before they are seen. Fu knew how the club worked, he would heal, scarred but still alive, and never speak a word of the incident in fear that they would came after him again. They spared him this time. He won't be so lucky next time.

Sasuke then looked to his biological father. "I hope for your sake that you had the sense to get your tattooed covered."

Fugaku lifted his sleeve, the reaper tattoo that used to be on his arm was completely covered with black ink, now just an odd shape on his arm. He then opened his shirt to show his pectoral, his other tattoo now covered with an intricate design with several names in it. Sasuke read it quickly. Itachi, Sasuke, Obito, Rina, Kazuo, and Aiko. A lump formed in Sauske's throat as he realized that they were the names of all of his children. The two boys he abandoned, the son who passed, and then three more kids he probably raised while his other family was left in the lurch- a girl, a boy, and another girl.

Minato stepped forward. "You're smart then. You won't have to taste our blades or our torch like our idiot friend out there." Fugaku nodded emotionlessly.

Minato looked over his men. "Come on now. Let's get back to the clubhouse. We can send a prospect out here to clean this shit up."

The boys nodded in agreement and filed out of the room, going to their bikes. Sasuke stopped as he was about to pass Fugaku and stood in front of him. He stared at him evenly, took a large gulp of alcohol and then tilted his head back slightly to lift his chin arrogantly.

"I'm never going to forgive you for abandoning us, no tattoo is ever going to convince me that you care. But I'm an honorable man who gives his appreciation when it is deserved. You got my lady out of a sticky situation. Thank you. It doesn't change anything, but thank you."

And then he walked away without another word or a glance back. Itachi and Minato were waiting for him at the door. They gave him a pat on the back as he past, but he didn't acknowledge it as he quickly mounted his bike next to Naruto. He tossed the alcohol to his blonde brother, who took a large gulp and then tucked it away so he could drive.

Minato paused in the doorway to the warehouse for a moment. "Jump in the back of the van with the other boys. Tell them I order for you to be dropped off back at the bike show after the do the drop at the hospital," he told Fugaku, who nodded after a moment and then exited the building and slowly climbed back into the van.

Minato mounted his bike and then looked to Sauske once before he signaled for Gaara. Soon they were all rolling out, the four leaders- Minato, Sasuke, Gaara and Kankuro- leading the pack back to the clubhouse.

Hope you enjoyed and weren't too upset by the tattoo removal. I took it from the show, so it wasn't such a far fetched idea.

Well, review and tell me what you think.