Raine in the Desert

by Hack Interrupted

Gaara finds the love of his life

11. Chapter 11

11

Rhiannon was on the verge of turning twenty when she met the handsome Sasori. She had been in Ithaca for almost two years trying to make her way in the bustling tourist town. Almost right off she was hired on at Ryudos; one of the busiest family restaurants on the strip. Lucky for Rhiannon she was no stranger to hard work; she had come up the hard way under her uncles iron fist. Waitressing was different from farming, but not by much. At least at Ryudo's Rhiannon could make real money and support herself. She was waiting tables and having a miserable day of it when Sasori came in. The hostess was still angry at Rhiannon; they had a fight just before the lunch rush, so she seated the party of one at Rhiannon's station. A solitary diner never left a big tip.

His pretty waitress caught Sasori's eye. He watched her hustle from table to table trying to please one cranky customer after another. Sasori finished his meal and left her an overly generous tip. After he left the place he lingered in the area pretending to shop while he waited for her the pretty little Rhiannon to get off work. She recognized him at once as the man that had left her a hundred dollar tip for lunch for one. Rhiannon introduced herself and thanked him for the tip asking if it was really alright to throw money around like that. Sasori laughed and told her not to worry about it. He was a pretty wealthy guy. He invited the blushing woman out for a drink; after the day she had Rhiannon needed one and she accepted her handsome customers offer.

By the time she finished her second cup of sake, Rhiannon was falling in love. Sasori dazzled her with stories of far away places that she would never see. She listened intently to everything thinking that she had never met anyone as amazing as Lord Sasori. He was forthcoming with his thoughts and feelings and a few drinks later Sasori had another invitation for the infatuated blonde, to his bed. Her cheeks turned red as Rhiannon tried to think up a response to his bold offer when Sasori kissed her. It made her lips feel tingly and Rhiannon went back to Sasori's room with him.

They began a passionate relationship; Rhiannon lost her heart to the mysterious ninja. Sasori spent a lot of time in wind country visiting his lovely Rhiannon as frequently as he could. He showed her just what a talented puppeteer could do with his magic fingers. Sasori moved his mistress into a better place at the edge of Ithaca and for a time things seemed to be perfect between them. It ended the day Rhiannon told her sweetheart she was pregnant. Sasori had neither want nor need of a family. He liked things the way they were. Children only complicate an otherwise pleasing life.

A huge fight ensued between the not so happy couple; the lady next door heard it all. Sasori didn't want the baby but Rhiannon did and she argued against him. He lost his temper and slapped her in the face hard enough to knock Rhiannon to the floor. Furious he stormed out on the crying woman. He didn't return to Rhiannon for six months. His young mistress was filling out when Sasori came home. Rhiannon looked good enough to eat and Sasori took her to bed. Make up sex took care of all of their problems.

Over the next two years Sasori was an on and off again visitor as his involvement with Akatsuki deepened. He was partnered with Orochimaru and finally it just became too much of a hassle to completely hide his woman and child from his organization. Shortly after baby Raine started walking Sasori came to visit his little ladies and this time he brought his partner with him. It was a hassle to shake the snake and Sasori was sick of it.

The sannin was surprised to meet Sasori's young lover. The girl was half his age and raising his illegitimate child. Sasori confessed to his partner that Rhiannon and Raine were a bit of a fuck up on his part, his vice and dirty little secret. Orochimaru was taken with the young woman and the baby at once. Rhiannon was as friendly and accommodating as she was beautiful. She loved to mother her outgoing baby girl. Little Raine took to uncle Orochimaru right away. He entertained her with little tricks and slights of hand. The sound of mother and child laughing was like music to the sannin's ears.

Six months went by, Sasori and Orochimaru visiting now and again. In time Orochimaru noticed that Rhiannon rarely looked him in the eye; it didn't take long to figure out it was because Sasori didn't like it. The ninja had a jealous streak a mile wide. The couple argued sometimes. Sasori was critical and demanding. It appeared that Sasori liked to have total control; eventually he proved it.

The last weekend of a slow month Sasori had time to spend with his daughter. He and Orochimaru arrived to find Raine with a babysitter; a twit no more then seventeen. Angry by the blatant display of incompetence he went to find Rhiannon. There was something in Sasori's eyes that Orochimaru didn't like and he followed his partner out. When Sasori found Rhiannon she was standing outside of the flower shop talking to some young guy with a bouquet of flowers in her hand. Sasori made his own assumptions and tore back to Rhiannon's place.

Sasori screamed at the twit until she ran out of there in tears. Raine started to cry. Orochimaru picked her up and tried to calm her. Two minutes later Rhiannon came in and all hell broke lose. Sasori went right after her. He met her before she could even come all the way into the room. He smacked the flowers out of her hand and then slapped her in the face. He cursed at the whore in the old language and grabbed her by the throat. Rhiannon was in tears and the sannin called out for his partner to stop.

Sasori didn't. He wasn't satisfied yet. He would teach her what it meant to whore around behind his back. He would make it so she never even looked at another man. Sasori advanced on her backing her into a corner as he scolded and hit her. He bloodied her nose and her lip before Orochimaru could get Raine in her play pen and intercede.

Orochimaru shouted at Sasori to stop, that it was enough but he wouldn't listen. Finally the sannin grabbed him and pulled him away from the crying woman. Sasori turned on Orochimaru knocking his hands away. Sasori warned him only once; don't get involved. The ninja went to his crying tot and picked her up. He took Raine into the other room with him leaving her mother to cry in the corner.

For a moment he just stood where he was kind of stunned. Orochimaru understood Sasori thought little of the woman he kept but she didn't deserve to be treated like this; especially in front of the child. Raine had seen it all. Her sobs brought the sannin to her. He knelt beside her and tried to calm her so he could look at the damage to her face. It was then looking into her desperate and confused eyes that Orochimaru felt something inside of him stir. He helped Rhiannon to the bathroom and got her cleaned up.

She had to go into her room for a clean shirt and Orochimaru heard Sasori grumble something to her. There was a long span of quiet and then Sasori came out of the bedroom. He collected his partner and left. The ninja decided more frequent and unannounced visits were called for to make sure that his mistress wasn't making a fool of him behind his back. After another three visits to Rhiannon's place Orochimaru was sure of two things; eventually Sasori would kill his mistress and the sannin was falling for her.

The partners were visiting when Orochimaru first discovered what Rhiannon was feeling for him. She and Sasori had argued about her spending; he called her a cheap whore and went out for a drink to calm his aggravated nerves. Rhiannon put the baby to bed and sat with the sannin having their own sake. They talked for a little while about nothing important like they did so often when Sasori came to play daddy for the weekend. They were laughing about something and Orochimaru looked down into Rhiannon's eyes. She met his gaze and unable to resist her lips any longer he kissed her.

A bigger part of the reason Rhiannon hardly ever looked Orochimaru in the eye other then the jealous Sasori was that she had found herself wanting the sannin. He treated her with the respect and kindness Sasori did not. Orochimaru always had a kind word; he treated her like a lady. She had seen him look at her the way Sasori used to when he still wanted her. He made her feel like a woman. Orochimaru returned to Ithaca three days later without Sasori and took Rhiannon to bed. They were in love.

Both Orochimaru and Rhiannon did their best to hide their affair from Sasori and for a long time they succeeded in doing just that. Sasori was busy and visited less frequently for a while, until he caught her with his partner in the kitchen. They weren't doing anything, not really, but they were standing very close, smiling and gazing into each others eyes. He had a moment to listen to them before they noticed him. They were making plans to meet later.

The fight started with Sasori loudly asking how long Orochimaru had been fucking the little whore and escalated from there. Sasori made a move to attack Rhiannon and Orochimaru got in his way still proclaiming their innocence. Sasori knew bullshit when he smelled it. He ordered his partner out of the fucking way. Orochimaru couldn't. He wouldn't stand by and let Sasori hurt his lover. Instead of stepping aside Orochimaru brought his hands together ready to fly through the seals.

Sasori didn't want to fight Orochimaru over the slut so he didn't. He took the sannin and left. Three days later Sasori had Rhiannon and the baby moved to Lafayette. He didn't bother to tell his partner where she was, Orochimaru didn't ask. There was a line and the sannin had crossed it. Sasori didn't take Orochimaru to visit again. Their relationship turned cold, strictly business.

Orochimaru was resourceful enough to find Rhiannon on his own. He found her in a little farmhouse on a quiet street in a quiet village. Their reunion was a happy one. Orochimaru never let on that he knew Rhiannon's whereabouts and they continued their heated affair behind the ninja's back. Months went peacefully by and Orochimaru found happiness with Rhiannon. He gave her is heart; she and Raine were his family.

Sasori found out quite by accident that Rhiannon was still seeing Orochimaru. The sannin liked to use very expensive writing tools, just like the pen he found under Rhiannon's bed. He confronted her and she tried to deny it but her guilt was written all over her face. Orochimaru wasn't here to save her this time and furious Sasori beat the hell out of her. He left her bleeding and barely conscious on the bedroom floor and went to take care of some business.

Three hours later Sasori returned with Amiboshi. He informed Rhiannon that she had been an unwed mother long enough. She was going to marry Amiboshi at once so that he could watch over her and Raine. She tried to protest marrying the stranger. In her heart Rhiannon already knew who she wanted her husband to be. Sasori hit her again and didn't stop until she agreed to follow his orders. He left her with a warning; If I catch you fucking him again I'll kill you. It was the last time Sasori ever went to Rhiannon to sleep with her. He didn't want Orochimaru's dirty whore anymore. His relationship with the sannin got worse. The tension between them was almost palatable at times.

Amiboshi was a loyal follower of Sasori. He wed the pretty young woman and kept watch over his master's illegitimate family. Orochimaru met Rhiannon in the market in secret and she explained the situation to him. Amiboshi watched her ceaselessly. They even slept in the same room. Luckily he was no ninja and never heard her sneaking out at night. For a time they were able to hide their affair from Amiboshi. Orochimaru knew Sasori had forced Rhiannon into marriage for at least one other reason; so the lovers couldn't marry each other. Spiteful and petty, just like Sasori.

Living so closely with his wards Amiboshi inevitably became smitten with Rhiannon. He wasn't supposed to get close; no one was to touch his master's woman. Eventually Amiboshi caught her in a restaurant with the sannin. They tried to tell him it was just old friends having coffee but he didn't buy it. Rhiannon chased him back to the house pleading her case.

An agreement was reached; Rhiannon would give herself to Amiboshi as his wife and he would overlook her betrayal with the sannin. Sasori would be told none of it. Amiboshi's lust and foolish desire to be a real family motivated him to betray his master. Rhiannon took Orochimaru to her bed while her husband ran his various errands for Sasori. Amiboshi and Orochimaru's paths didn't cross again for years. Not until Rhiannon was dead.

It was a late spring afternoon shortly after Raine's fifth birthday when Sasori arrived to check in on Rhiannon and Raine. The house was quiet as Sasori made his way down to the bedrooms. He heard something coming from Rhiannon's room, a moaning. The bedroom door was closed, Sasori stood outside listening. A second later he realized she was fucking someone; a second after that Rhiannon cried out Oh Orochimaru! Sasori looked to his left. The door to Raine's room was open, Sasori went in.

Raine was asleep in bed oblivious to the fuck happening in the next room. The walls were thin and Sasori could hear everything. Orochimaru talked dirty to his little girl's mother as Sasori watched Raine sleep. You like it like that don't ya baby. Oh yeah.

When she was done betraying him Rhiannon got up and went to the kitchen; Sasori followed silently. Rhiannon stood at the sink in her robe getting a drink of water. She didn't see him come in, she didn't see Sasori take a butcher knife from the block and raise it behind her. She was in mid sip when Sasori plunged the knife into her back the first time.

Rhiannon screamed as Sasori stabbed her over and over again. Orochimaru was putting his pants on when he heard the screaming. He came running into the kitchen to find Sasori pulling the bloody knife from Rhiannon's gut and he screamed NO! Sasori stepped back and Rhiannon collapsed in a pool of her own blood. The screaming had woke Raine and she came in behind Orochimaru rubbing a tired eye just as mommy hit the floor. She screamed horrified and started to cry.

Sasori threw the knife away and moved toward the hall. He snatched up the frightened girl and glared at Orochimaru. You just couldn't leave her the fuck alone could you? She won't ever 'like it like that' with you again! Sasori took Raine and left the house. She screamed and cried for her mama all the way out.

Orochimaru hurried to Rhiannon. There was nothing he could do to save her, she was dieing. He held her in his arms he kissed her face and told her he loved her. Orochimaru promised her then that someday they would be together again and when that day finally came, they would never part. Rhiannon died in his arms with a smile on her face believing every word he said. The grief stricken sannin crumbled and wept over the body of his lost love.

Amiboshi never saw Rhiannon's body, but he did see the blood splattered kitchen. It was late when Sasori came back to the house. The boss told him there had been some changes. Sasori murdered Rhiannon and wiped away a good portion of his daughter's memories. It was up to Amiboshi to look after Raine now.

Orochimaru left Akatsuki. He continued his research. Someday he would have his Rhiannon back in his arms.

It felt like he had been waiting forever when Sasuke heard the door. He looked up and a second later Raine was in front of him. Raine… She was looking at him sort of funny, no doubt studying the strange seals Tsunade had painted on him. "Hello Raine."

Raine wasn't sure what she had been expecting. In all the scary stories crazy characters almost always had wires sticking out of their shaved head. Sasuke was painted, but he had his hair and nothing was hooked into his brain. He was strapped in to his wheelchair on the other side of the conference table between them. He can't hurt me. She braved another step forward and noticed him staring at her. "You said you know something about Saichi?"

It wasn't Gaara in the doorway behind his love, it was Naruto. She didn't bring Gaara. "Yes. Please, have a seat. I'll tell you everything Kabuto told me." He watched her trying not to look too excited as she came closer to the table to sit with him. Naruto took up post by the door behind her. She looks great. I can smell her perfume.

Cautiously she took the seat across from Sasuke. He wasn't dangerous, didn't even look dangerous sitting there in his hospital pajamas. He looked kind of pathetic. Raine saw a storm cloud of emotion behind Sasuke's eyes. "Is he alright?"

He could remember what a wonderful mother she was. "He's doing very well."

So Sasuke knew something after all. "Where is he?"

"With Orochimaru; learning already. Saichi is very special."

Something fluttered in her stomach. "What are you talking about Sasuke? What has Orochimaru done to Saichi?"

"He hasn't harmed him Raine I promise you." Her concern for their firstborn warmed his heart. "Saichi is walking, talking using his Sharingan to watch everything."

It seemed like so long ago Raine held her lost baby. He had passed many developmental milestones in the past two years, all without his mother. Sasuke was smiling a little, but it was a sad thing. It was hard to comprehend but Raine recognized what she was seeing in Sasuke's eyes; a fathers pride. "Where is he Sasuke?"

He had her attention now and took full advantage of it. For the first time since the battle at Sound Sasuke was able to look into Raine's eyes. "Yusuke is beautiful. He's so smart and so good. Thank you Raine for letting me see my son."

Gaara had told her he told Sasuke a few basic things about Yusuke. She got mad about that too, but sitting here listening to him maybe she could see how Gaara might feel some pity. "You have rights in Konoha."

"You mean criminals have rights?" his mood fell and Sasuke sighed. "I'm sorry you have to see me like this Raine. You must be angry with me for ending up here. We've both been away from Saichi for so long." Seeing Yusuke had made Sasuke regret losing to Gaara all the more. Saichi had lost both of his parents at once.

Part of her was angry Sasuke was here and not protecting Saichi from that damn snake but her more rational side told her that Sasuke was exactly where he belonged. "Where is he Sasuke? Tell me where Saichi is."

"He's traveling with Orochimaru, learning. Saichi is a genius, a protégée."

"I don't want him learning anything from that bastard. Tell me how to find him."

"It's alright Raine." Sasuke wanted to comfort her, to reach for her hands to kiss her cheeks and her lips. He couldn't keep it in, "I miss you so much."

Raine stilled herself and Naruto straightened behind her. She could remember Sasuke 'missed' her the whole time he stalked her. "I think you're confused."

Sasuke shook his head. "Everyone loves to tell me that, but I remember things Raine. I remember things about you, about us."

Tsunade had explained the Uchiha's condition to her. Sasuke had a dissociative disorder due in part to the radical healing Kabuto gave Sasuke's brain. His memory; his personal history and his identity were messed up. Sasuke believed what he wanted to believe. His mind was unaware of the traumatic truths. "There was no us Sasuke."

"Don't say that," he said softly, pained some by her denial. "I can take anything Gaara and Tsunade throw at me. I'll sit here and rot in this place to keep you safe just," Sasuke lowered his eyes. "You must be so angry with me."

She swallowed hard. It looked like Sasuke was struggling with something. He seemed remorseful, sad. "Angry with you," it was an understatement. "Do you know why?"

"I couldn't protect you from Gaara. I failed and because of that you and Saichi were torn away from each other. Gaara took you…" he had to stop for a minute. A wave of gloomy depression smacked into him nearly taking him down. He wasn't done apologizing to his love yet either. "I know my memories are messed up, some things are really clear others are foggy. I don't claim to know all of the reasons behind things, but I know we used to fight sometimes."

Raine was sort of transfixed on Sasuke. It was all so surreal, like she was watching a play. His mood was low, his voice soft and sad. Sasuke seemed to be having a hard time looking her in the eye. What is it he thinks he remembers? "Fight?"

He peeked up at her. "I know that at least once I yelled at you, I can kind of remember it. We were together in Sound; Saichi was a baby. I was on your case about Gaara."

She thought back to her confinement in Sound with Sasuke. He had said a few harsh things about her husband. "Sasuke you…"

Raine was frowning a little obviously still upset with him. Sasuke leaned forward and stared into her eyes. "I'm sorry Raine for anything I ever did that hurt you or upset you. It must have been hard enough for you without me bitching at you all the time too. I'll admit I have a jealous streak and sometimes my temper gets the better of me." Sasuke sighed. It felt pretty good to get some of this off his chest.

In his own fucked up way, Sasuke was apologizing. Raine blinked at him. What the hell is he thinking? "I don't…"

"Raine," he regained her attention. Clearly she was moved by his apology and Sasuke wanted to reassure her about something else. "I still love you. The time that has come between us means nothing. My heart hasn't changed. I love you more then anything."

It felt like some crazy mixture of panic and disgust decided to dance in her stomach. "You don't love me Sasuke," she said through chilly lips.

I must have been a real asshole to make her think so. "Maybe I wasn't so good at showing you in the past, but I do Raine. It's one of the few things that I am really sure about. I wake up in the morning and kick myself in the ass for losing to Gaara. I miss you every day, I dream of you every night. I love you Raine."

The cold feeling that started in her lips spread and Raine got chills down her back. He's still a crazy… "You…believe that!"

Naruto stepped forward. "Oi genie, you okay?"

No she wasn't. "After what you did to me!" Raine dove across the table and grabbed the Uchiha by the throat. "You bastard!"

"Holy shit!" Naruto made a grab for Raine's legs but she was already across the table.

Her choke didn't hurt him; Raine's hands were too soft and small to damage him but the sudden shift in weight the chair he was strapped to caused it to yaw to the right. Sasuke opened his mouth to tell her to watch out but it was too late; they tipped over and crashed sideways on the floor. "Raine!"

Her elbow hit the floor hard. Raine cried out as the bone cracked and tears sprung into her eyes. "Sasuke!"

Naruto hooked an arm around Raine's waist and pulled her away from Sasuke. "Oi oi!"

Sasuke noticed at once the way her hand grabbed for her injured elbow. "She's hurt Naruto, get a medic now!"

"Raine are you okay," Naruto turned her to face him. There were tears running down her face. Her teeth were barred against the pain she was feeling. Shit. He wasted no time; Naruto scooped Raine into his arms and hurried for the door.

"You'll be alright Raine," Sasuke struggled against his chair to look at her once more before she was gone from him again. Naruto threw the door open and Sasuke called out to her one last time, "I love you Raine!"

Gaara sat quietly staring down into his half drank cold coffee. As if it weren't enough that Uchiha Sasuke coveted Gaara's wife, Orochimaru did too. The evil sannin had intended to make Raine into Rhiannon all along. "Orochimaru in Sasuke, Rhiannon in Raine. That's why he told Naruto they would be together forever. He intends to use their bodies so he can have a life with Rhiannon." It was unbelievably twisted and Gaara shook his head. "And what happens to Raine if he puts her mother's soul or whatever the hell it is into her?"

"The consciousness of the host is absorbed and becomes a part of the possessor's subconscious. In essence, the host is lost." Tsunade explained. "Not dead, maybe never dieing but remaining a part of monster that stole their body for all time."

Jiraiya nodded Tsunade's way. "The Uchiha's body, is it?"

Tsunade frowned. "It's Sasuke that's messed up but his body is intact. Right now he's weak and there is still remaining damage that can be fixed."

"Orochimaru still wants him," Jiraiya frowned at his lady friend. "Sasuke and Raine both need to be protected from Orochimaru."

"I won't let him have Sasuke. Orochimaru isn't getting what he wants this time. I won't let him hurt that kid anymore."

Gaara set his coffee down on the table in front of him. "I won't let Orochimaru have Raine either. I'll turn Hidden Sand into a fortress if I have to."

"We have no real way of knowing when Orochimaru is going to make his move. It's likely he'll just try to take them when he's ready," Jiraiya huffed. He wanted a stiff drink. His mouth was dry from telling the tale.

There was a knock at the door and a medic poked his head in. "Sorry to disturb you hokage sama. Kazekage sama, your wife is being treated for a cracked elbow."

"What?" Gaara blinked at the news.

"She banged it off the floor when she attacked Uchiha Sasuke."

Gaara got to his feet. "She did what!"

Tsunade also got up. "What the hell happened?"

The medic cringed. "She went in to question Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto was with her. He found her a medic at once."

What the fuck did Sasuke say to my wife! "Take me to her at once."

Raine sat up in bed while the medical specialist tended to her elbow. Naruto stood to the other side scowling down at her. "What were you thinking?" he scolded.

She wouldn't look at her friend. Raine was still angry. "Did you not hear the shit he said to me? He's sorry, he loves me? It's insane!"

"That was dangerous. Look what you've done to yourself. Gaara's gonna kick my ass," Naruto fret. "I never should have let you go in there without him."

"You couldn't have stopped me."

"Wanna bet?" he frowned. "Nobody's title scares me."

She lifted her eyes to meet his. Naruto looked worried, frustrated. "Did you know how screwed up he is?"

Sasuke. It was sad to think that the Uchiha really cared for Raine. Sasuke was finally feeling something for someone other then himself; pride in his children and love for their mother. His heart can't be all dead. Not if he loves them. Naruto sighed. "His feelings for you, what his mind has created from his broken memories. I know its wrong, I know its crazy, but Sasuke really loves you."

"How is that possible?" Raine lowered her voice. "You know what he did to me Naruto. That wasn't love it was torment."

That was true, but Sasuke couldn't remember his cruelty. I don't claim to know all of the reasons behind things…"He doesn't remember it."

"Well I do." Two years had softened the memories, made them more bearable, but they were still there.

Naruto opened his mouth to respond when the door behind him burst open. Gaara's eyes found his wife. "Raine!" he hurried to her leaving the sannins at the door.

"We're almost done here kazekage sama," the medic assured.

Her wellbeing was his first priority. "Are you alright Raine?" Gaara asked looking down at her.

"It's nothing really." Her husband was frowning a little. Oh shit.

She was alright so it was alright to yell. "What the fuck were you two thinking?" Gaara cut his angry eyes over to Naruto. "She never should have gone in there without me."

Naruto squirmed a little. Raine defended him, "I pulled rank on him."

His angry eyes stayed on the ninja. "What did he say to my wife?"

"He said Saichi is traveling with Orochimaru," Raine saved Naruto again. "He said Orochimaru is teaching him."

Gaara whirled around and gave Raine his attention. "Does he know where Saichi is?"

Raine shook her head. "No."

It was unfortunate, but Gaara wasn't really surprised. If Sasuke did know where Saichi was he wasn't going to tell them. "Is Saichi alright?"

"Orochimaru hasn't hurt him," Naruto tried to settle things some. He noticed Jiraiya standing behind Tsunade and moved his way. He decided to pull the sannin into the hall to hear what news he had just shared with the kage's.

The medic finished with Raine and stepped back. "You're all set."

Gaara sighed. "Honestly Raine what were you thinking?"

"He was provoking me," she grumbled.

"What did Sasuke say to you?" Gaara folded his arms across his chest.

Yep, he's mad. Raine swung her feet to the floor. "He said Saichi is using his Sharingan." Raine stood and looked Gaara in the eye.

There was a miserable look in Raine's eyes. "Why did you attack Sasuke?"

Raine sighed. She would prefer to keep such unpleasant things from Gaara, but he was asking. "He apologized to me and said he loved me; and you know what Gaara? The crazy fuck believes it." Just thinking about it made her shake.

Shit. Gaara wrapped Raine into his arms and hugged her. "Raine," she hugged him back. "Why did you have to go in there without me damnit?"

Jiraiya cleared his throat. "Let's give them a moment shall we?" He hurried into the hall, Tsunade and Naruto followed. The medic moved on to the next patient. He waited for the door to swing shut and then, "Saichi could become a problem."

Naruto startled. "What? He's just a baby."

"I don't mean right now Naruto, but if he's watching Orochimaru with his Sharingan already he could be an even more monstrous child then Gaara was."

"Keh," Tsunade was getting angry again. "That damn Orochimaru."

"No doubt that Saichi will also become a container for Orochimaru." Jiraiya leaned back against the wall.

The sannins were agitated. "What's going on? What did you say to Gaara that you didn't want Raine to hear? Was it about Saichi?" Naruto questioned his sensei.

Jiraiya cast a glance at Tsunade. She nodded so he filled Naruto in. "Orochimaru is going to transfer himself into Sasuke; he's going to put Rhiannon into Raine."

"Put…" Orochimaru was going to steal Sasuke's body and live in it. He intended to do the same thing with Raine and her mother. "He said; 'Raine chan is also a very special container to me. She and Sasuke will be together forever.'" Naruto's face felt numb. Sasuke and genie…all because of him! Orochimaru! "Keh!"

"His selfishness knows no limits," Tsunade complained.

Naruto wondered something. "Does Sasuke know? Does he remember agreeing to give Orochimaru his body? Does he know the same thing was going to happen to Raine?"

"Sasuke wont say much about Orochimaru," the hokage reminded her ninja.

"Yeah? Well somebody should make him." Naruto turned and stormed back down the hall in the direction he had come from. Orochimaru I won't let you!

Tsunade took a step after him and Jiraiya stopped her. "Let him go. Naruto can deal with his generation; we have to deal with our own."

"I don't know what Sasuke remembers about Orochimaru. He won't say."

"Naruto can handle it. Let's at least give him a head start ne?"

She sighed tiredly. One of the first things Sasuke had remembered after waking up was Naruto no baka. Maybe his old team mate really could reach him. "Alright Jiraiya, we'll try it your way."

"About time," medicine and coddling could only go so far. Guys like Sasuke needed a good kick in the pants to make them more cooperative. Wake him up Naruto.

Gaara and Raine came out of the room; he had his arm around her. "I'm taking Raine back to our suite. We have to see to the boys."

The pained look in Raine's eyes dug at Tsunade. Poor little girl. "I'll check in with you later," she nodded at Gaara.

Gaara looked at Jiraiya once more and led his wife away. "He'll protect her Tsunade. Don't worry."

Gaara will protect Raine and I'll protect Sasuke. If he comes for either of them he better bring an army. "Who's worried?" Tsunade started off. "Let's go have a drink; I'm too thirsty to deal with Naruto right now."

The ANBU guarding the Uchiha weren't quite sure what to do with him. They sat him back up in the conference room and waited for orders. Soon enough Uzumaki Naruto came back to further interrogate the prisoner. ANBU stood aside and let the agitated looking young man go in to question his old team member.

Sasuke looked up to see Naruto coming in; he was alone. "How is Raine?"

"She cracked her elbow." Naruto took a step closer to the table.

He was sure that had to hurt and Sasuke longed to be at her side to ease her suffering. "Poor Raine, she can't tolerate pain like a ninja. She's far too small and delicate."

"You would know wouldn't you?" Naruto went to the table and kicked the visitors chair out of his way. "What else do you know Sasuke!" he grabbed the table and pushed forward fast and hard. He pinned Sasuke to the wall using the conference table. It crushed against Sasuke's ribs. "Did you know what Orochimaru wants to do to her you bastard?"

The attack was a surprise. Everyone was after him today. "Orochimaru would never hurt Raine! She's my woman!"

"And everything that you have is his!" Naruto hissed. "Right now Orochimaru is making Saichi into who he wants him to be. He is making him the perfect container. Someday Orochimaru will steal his body like he's gonna take yours!"

What the fuck are you… "You're speaking nonsense you idiot. The Uchiha will serve Sound. We will be Orochimaru's shinobi."

"You will be Orochimaru's body!" Naruto was about to break. Sasuke, I wont let Orochimaru…Naruto stepped back bringing the table with him. He threw it out of his way and advanced on his old friend in the wheelchair.

Naruto was pitching a total fit. Neither his shouts nor the sound of the table banging off the wall brought the guards in. "You're just jealous that I am Orochimaru's best ninja."

Naruto reached Sasuke and grabbed a handful of his shirt he tugged it down exposing the seals on the back of Sasuke's neck. "Do you know what this is you dumb motherfucker! Do you know what this seal means!"

Sasuke's lip curled in disgust. "Your bitch hokage sealed the power Orochimaru gave me." He wriggled his hand reaching for Naruto's jacket.

He took a chance and put his face close to Sasuke's. "Do you think Orochimaru gave you that power for free?"

"I am an excellent shinobi for Orochimaru," Sasuke grit his teeth.

"You're a container. Orochimaru is going to take your body. He's gonna live inside of you and you will cease to exist. That is what this fucking seal means!"

He had promised allegiance to the sannin, to move the Uchiha to Hidden Sound. "You're out of your mind."

As angry as he was Naruto couldn't help but laugh. The pot was calling the kettle black. "You bastard," He shook Sasuke a little. "Did you know he was going to do it to her too? Did you know Orochimaru was going to give Raine's body to her mother? Did you?"

Give Raine's body? As emotional as Naruto was it was possible he wasn't thinking clearly. "What about Raine? What are you saying!"

Naruto quit shaking Sasuke. No, he doesn't know. He let go of the Uchiha and stepped back. Naruto rubbed away the angry tears stinging his eyes. "Orochimaru took you to be his next container. He gave you power and convinced you that together you could defeat your brother Itachi. You agreed to it Sasuke. You agreed to let Orochimaru have your body, but in the end you didn't need him. Orochimaru still needs you though. He wants your eyes. He wants the Sharingan."

Something about what the dumb blonde was saying sounded almost right. No, don't fall for his tricks. Naruto is jealous and hateful and… "And what about Raine?"

"Orochimaru intends to use her as a container for Rhiannon."

Rhiannon…? A flood of broken images. Orochimaru looking at a woman's picture; the woman looked like Raine. The sannin said he loved her. Sasuke accused Raine of being a cheat just like her mother. Rhiannon was dead, murdered by Sasori. The dead, Orochimaru can summon them… "No, he wouldn't do that. Besides, Orochimaru is too old for Raine."

"But you're not. Inside of you two Orochimaru and Rhiannon will have a second chance at life together." Naruto shook his head. "A matching set of perfect containers. That's all either of you are to him."

Orochimaru was in his third body when I went to study under him. "Why should I believe you? Just because you throw a table I'm supposed to take your word as truth?"

"I don't care if you believe me or not." Naruto sniffled. "I wont let Orochimaru take you back Sasuke. I won't let him erase you; I won't let him have your body."

Sasuke was starting to get the creeps. It was true that the sannin did covet the Sharingan; he was a collector of jutsus. "Yeah, well neither will I. I have plans of my own if I ever get the hell out of here. I will be with my sons and I will win back the woman I love."

If it was true then there was hope for his friend. If he really cared for her then perhaps his feelings for Raine were enough to turn him away from Orochimaru. Naruto was still desperately clinging to the belief that Uchiha Sasuke could be saved. "Do you really love her Sasuke?"

He frowned at Naruto a little. There was a strange sort of pleading in his eyes. Sasuke wondered if maybe Naruto remembered something about him and Raine. He had a sketchy memory of finding Raine with the ninja in the woods. Sasuke met up with them and took Raine with him to Cardiff where their affair began. Was Naruto in on it? "Yes I do, but you know that don't you Naruto."

It was such a terrible thing to want to be true and Naruto swallowed the guilty lump in his throat. "I believe you Sasuke."

Such a simple thing for anyone to say but it felt incredible to hear. Finally someone was listening to him! "Is Raine alright?"

Naruto nodded trying to compose himself. "Yeah. They'll fix her right up and send her on home."

"With Gaara." Sasuke turned his frown away. "Raine is with Gaara."

"They're married."

"I know that."

"Gaara will protect Raine. He won't let Orochimaru take her."

There was a chance Naruto was telling the truth about the sannin's plans for Sasuke and his love. Orochimaru was capable of performing such forbidden jutsus. "Gaara thinks he can keep her from Orochimaru? Has he gone soft in the head too?"

Naruto frowned a little. "Gaara beat you."

"This is just a temporary setback," Sasuke snapped. "Besides, Orochimaru is on a whole different level. Gaara can't win against him."

"I'd kill the son of a bitch if he'd quit running away from me."

Sasuke rolled his eyes back to the blonde. He was sure they had quite the competitive relationship going on in their younger years but some part of Sasuke also knew Naruto and I were friends. Back when we were just kids, genin fresh out of the academy. "You can't kill him either Naruto."

Naruto wondered about that. "I'd sure give it my best shot." He sighed and studied the Uchiha studying him. "What are you thinking Sasuke? What do you think happened?"

"Why should I tell you anything?"

He went to the chair and righted it. He dragged it close to Sasuke and sat down. "Maybe if you tell me what you remember people will stop asking you so many questions all of the time ne?"

That was probably true. Naruto was a total loud mouth. Anything he told the dumbass he'd never have to repeat again. "Alright Naruto, where do you want me to start?"

"Earliest memories."

"I remember my parents, my brother. I remember the slaughter of my entire clan by the one I admired even more then my father. Do you mean those memories?"

There was a miserable angry look on Sasuke's face. "What about after that?"

"Working my ass off to become an excellent ninja, finishing at the academy, being a part of a group of pansies; team seven. You and Sakura were weak, pathetic. Kakashi treated us all like babies until Gaara came along. He started shit with me so Kakashi finally gave me some real training."

"Can you remember meeting Orochimaru in the forest of death during the survival exam? Do you remember him giving you the cursed seal?"

It was sketchy like many other things. "We were fighting and then he offered me power."

"Do you remember going to Orochimaru?"

"You're skipping ahead Naruto. I remember fighting Gaara, the attack on Konoha. Gaara nearly killed Sakura and maybe even me, but you saved us with your special power. You and Gaara, both of you are really monsters. You're the same. You both wanted to fight me."

Naruto swallowed hard. "We had our fight Sasuke. When you left to go to Orochimaru."

He sort of remembered fighting with Naruto at the waterfall. "I needed a competent sensei. I was done playing around; it was time to get serious about my training."

"So you could kill Itachi?"

"I was left alive to become the avenger of my clan. I needed a power that Konoha couldn't offer me."

Memories of Sasuke's defection came flooding back. We all fought so hard to keep Sasuke here. "Konoha made amends with Sand when you were taken by the Sound. Everyone tried to rescue you."

"You merely tried to detain my progress. Orochimaru was a way better sensei then Kakashi. I spent years learning from him."

"Kakashi sensei cared about you."

"Such emotional attachment only hinders proper training."

Naruto took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He wondered if a person could be just half crazy; it sounded like Sasuke was. He was clear and a lot of what he said was true. "Okay Sasuke, what about Raine? Do you remember meeting her?"

Sasuke had tried repeatedly to remember meeting Raine for the first time. He remembered seeing her dance at a party in the forest; he remembered meeting her in a crowded place somewhere in Konoha. "It was here in Konoha. Orochimaru must have pointed her out to me as someone he knew. I do remember finding her most enchanting." A little smile played at Sasuke's lips. "Desert princess."

"You used your Sharingan on her at the tournament Sasuke. Do you remember that?" Do you remember telling her to kill Gaara or herself?
"Don't be ridiculous Naruto. What reason could I possibly have to do that?"

"You told her to kill Gaara and instead she ended up stabbing a kunai in her chest under your orders. She could have died."

Sasuke lifted a brow. Naruto surely had the story all wrong. "Are you so sure that it wasn't Gaara who stabbed her? He's a jealous bastard you know."

"We chased you Sasuke, we fought. You got away and Gaara had to go back to Sand. Sound was planning an attack while the kazekage was away.

This was vaguely familiar. "And that's when you brought Raine to meet me. After Gaara had gone and left her behind."

His eye twitched. I what? "I fought you for Raine Sasuke."

"In Gaara's stead?"

"I guess," he thought it irrelevant. "She didn't want to go with you. You took her. You kidnapped her."

"I've already heard this line of shit from Gaara. After Raine and I left you we went to Cardiff, to my room. We had a pleasant evening together."

According to Raine's testimony on the night she spent with Sasuke in Cardiff he threatened to cut off her fingers and rape her but he didn't do either. They shared drugged food and went to sleep. "What the fuck are you thinking?"

Sasuke frowned as Naruto shook his head at him. "You're the one that doesn't know what the fuck you're talking about."

"Do you remember taking Raine into the desert?"

"We had to meet with Orochimaru. They had their little reunion and then Raine and I had a little time alone. We were interrupted by the battle."

Naruto could still picture Sasuke's bite mark on his pretty genie's face. "Thank god you were interrupted you were about to rape her. You… bit her lip. There were teeth marks," Naruto rubbed below his bottom lip.

It wasn't the first time Sasuke had heard this melody. "So she likes it a little rough, big deal." Sasuke sighed annoyed. He could remember being between her legs and sucking on her neck on his bunk below the desert. "I'm getting real sick of everyone calling me a rapist because I hooked up with Gaara's girlfriend. Every time she came back to me it was kidnapping. That's ridiculous."

Morbid horrible curiosity got the better of him. "Alright then Sasuke, tell me the truth about you and Raine."

Fine then I will. Naruto might even know some of it already. "Gaara stole Raine from me in the desert and for a long time he kept us apart. I had her picture. I remember looking at it. Finally I went to see her. She was with Gaara then, they were married but we talked and she kissed me. After that I started to come around when Gaara wasn't at home. We were in love; we spent months together before Saichi was born. Finally we met in Cardiff and I took Raine to Sound where we lived with Saichi for a time. Then Gaara and his shinobi and Konoha attacked us. My son and his mother were ripped away from each other while I lay there fucked up in a coma because Gaara almost killed me again."

Naruto stared at Sasuke with his mouth hanging open. His perception of things was defiantly unique; Sasuke didn't remember being the bad guy. It sounded like Sasuke thought he was being persecuted for loving Raine. "You really think that you love her?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I don't think, I know. Just looking at her," he smiled a little thinking of his beautiful Raine. "She has my heart."

Raine has… If Raine held Sasuke's heart Orochimaru did not. Sasuke can be saved. If he can love then he can understand…

"She won't see me again before Gaara takes her away will she." He sighed sadly.

"I…doubt it. She's upset." Naruto was getting all kinds of ideas. I can make Sasuke understand. I'll prove it to him; everything.

He frowned wondering how much of it was Gaara's doing. "He's turned her against me hasn't he Naruto? That damn Gaara."

"You did a pretty good job of making genie hate you all on your own." Naruto stood up. He wanted to talk to Tsunade.

"Genie?" Sasuke raised a brow. He could remember how Raine had been dressed when he saw her dancing at the party he wasn't invited to. Sasuke grinned. "I guess I see where you could get a stupid pet name like that."

Naruto had been very drunk the first time he called Raine genie. "Kiba laughed at me and everyone thought I was a pervert," he reflected.

Sasuke was a little jealous. "You've spent time with Raine?"

"I visit Sand when I can."

"You'll see her before she leaves Konoha?"

"I was going to drop by on them later."

Them; Raine and Gaara. The first family of Suna. "Tell her thank you for me Naruto. She let me see our son; she let me see her even though she's angry with me. That means a lot to me."

"Yusuke looks just like you Sasuke," it was a sad truth but Gaara and Raine didn't seem to mind. Yusuke was accepted as their child, Renji's twin.

I know he does. Sasuke smiled. "He saw me; looked right into my eyes. He's so smart and he's cute as hell. Raine can make a beautiful baby."

Naruto thought all of the rug rats were adorable. Chibi Gaara and Sasuke. He smiled some himself. "They're cute."

"Yusuke's part of a big family, he has brothers. The twins pick each others noses you know. They're close and they worship Gabriel." Sasuke sighed. Family consumed his dreams of his past and his future. "Raine is a wonderful mother."

"I think so too." Naruto stepped around the chair and headed for the door. "I'll tell her you said thanks. If it's alright I'll drop by tomorrow and let you know how it went."

"Yes, that would be good." It made Sasuke wonder about the blonde all the more. Would Naruto pass messages between Sasuke and Raine, had he done so in the past? He and Naruto were rivals of that he was sure, but there was something about him that made killing him unappealing. Friends? Can I trust Naruto?

He looked at Sasuke once more getting a plan together in his mind. "See you tomorrow then." He smiled a little and went out. He let ANBU know that they could take the Uchiha back to his room and then he went to find Tsunade.

Both Gaara and Raine had calmed down considerably before they arrived back at their suite. They were greeted with excited Daddy! Mama! Kankuro looked right at the couple, the suspense was killing him. "So, how did that fuckin thing go? Did the fucktard say anything useful?"

"Fucktard!" Gabe cheered for uncle Kankuro.

Raine gasped, Gaara and Shikamaru both dropped their jaw and Temari yelled, "Kankuro! I told you to stop cussing in front of him!"

His face felt hot and Kankuro took a step away from Gabe's cross looking mommy. Gaara and Shikamaru were trying not to laugh as they left him to swing on this one. Aww shit. "Sorry, my bad."

Raine bent over and pointed a finger in Gabe's face. "You don't say fucktard again Gabriel. Do you hear me," the finger shook.

Gabe shook his head. "No tard," he agreed.

Gaara cleared his throat. "Sasuke gave up no relevant information."

She straightened. "That's not true," Raine argued. "He said Saichi is traveling with Orochimaru. Saichi is using his Sharingan." She turned to Shikamaru. "Who knows about that here in Konoha? Hatake Kakashi right?"

Shikamaru supposed the guy with a Sharingan would know something about it. "He's mastered his Sharingan."

"I want to talk to him."

"Raine?" Gaara was a bit taken aback.

She looked at her husband. "Yusuke is using his eyes more often. Saichi is watching Orochimaru, learning. I want to know what that means."

It was true that Yusuke brought out his red eyes to study complicated and curious things a lot lately. Learning. "Kakashi wasn't born with the Sharingan."

"He has to know something."

Shikamaru headed for the door before he got tangled up in a family argument. "I'll see if I can find Kakashi."

"There has to be information about the Uchiha in this town," Temari put a hand on her hip and frowned at her baby brother. "The clan must have kept records."

"The old Uchiha district is mostly ghost town," Kankuro had seen it before. It was creepy. "Maybe you can find something there."

Raine still had three boys to feed bathe and settle for bed. There was no way she was going back to that murder house either. "I'm not leaving the boys again and I'm not taking them someplace scary."

"Wait for Kakashi," Temari suggested. "He can probably take you the right places in the Uchiha district."

It sounded like a good idea. "Is that alright with you Raine?" Gaara tried to be accommodating. He understood she was worried about what Orochimaru was showing Saichi's Sharingan eyes. She nodded. "I'll order room service, we'll get the boys settled and we'll talk to Kakashi."

She stepped closer to Gaara and he hooked an arm around her waist. He pulled her to him smiling apologetically. Raine couldn't stay mad at him. "Are you going to help me with these hooligans?"

"You bet." Gaara kissed his wife and their little spat was over.

By the time Naruto found the hokage and Ero sannin they were on their fourth round of drinks back at Tsunade's place. He pleaded Sasuke's case to them both. Sasuke could be made to understand, it wasn't too late to turn him away from Orochimaru. This was in fact the last chance he had before Orochimaru stole his body. Naruto insisted that he could save Sasuke and argued for the chance to try.

Reluctantly Tsunade agreed; mostly because he was killing her buzz. "If you really think you can do something Naruto then do it. Keep me posted if you make any progress."

Jiraiya thought it was a wise decision. Naruto still cared for his old friend; maybe it wasn't too late for the Uchiha to learn a thing or two from Naruto.

Shikamaru found Kakashi and explained the day's events to him. Kakashi agreed to drop by on Gaara a little later and he did. The jonin waited until he was pretty sure the children were settled for the evening before heading over. Raine and Gaara tucked their little ones in and then came to sit with the group assembled in the sitting room.

Kakashi told them everything he knew about the Uchiha and the Sharingan. He had studied them extensively himself since inheriting Obito's eye. A proud and talented clan, the founders of the police in Konoha. The Uchiha bloodline limit was powerful. Eyes that could see everything and copy everything they see. Kakashi had copied thousands of jutsus with his eye.

It was Temari that asked about the Mangekyo Sharingan. Kakashi explained how Itachi obtained his and went into a little more history. The Mangekyo was special appearing few times in the clan's history. The ultimate evolution of the Sharingan granted the user incredible power; genjutsu was only a part of it. Kakashi could bend space and time but it was exhausting work. He didn't have Uchiha blood. Itachi had been ridiculously powerful, Kakashi could only guess at Sasuke's strength.

They were letting it sink in when Naruto arrived. He blinked at the group sitting in a circle. "Am I missing something?"

"Just me rambling on," Kakashi lightened the mood. "Talking about the Sharingan."

Sasuke's sons already use their eyes. "I see."

Kakashi took advantage of the interruption and got to his feet. He had spilled what he knew and now it was up to the family to deal with it together. "Sorry but I promised to meet Gai. If you need anything please don't hesitate to call on me." He bowed a little, dodged Naruto and went out.

"What's up Naruto?" Shikamaru greeted.

Naruto smiled a little. "Just checkin in." he looked at Raine and Gaara. They sat close, he held her hand. "Everything okay?"

Gaara nodded. "Any news on Kabuto?"

"That guy's long gone."

Kankuro hated that guy. He hurt Kiba and Akamaru. "He needs to die."

Raine silently agreed. "He ran away after he saw Sasuke."

"Probably. All he cares about is fixing Orochimaru's container for him."

Container. Gaara got a sinking feeling in his stomach. "I'm sure Tsunade can keep Orochimaru from reacquiring Sasuke."

"Orochimaru won't have it his way," Gaara agreed staring down his friend.

Naruto was sure Gaara would protect his wife. "I spoke to Sasuke; he was actually decent to me. He wanted me to thank you for letting him see Yusuke and for talking to him about Saichi."

Gaara sighed and slipped an arm around his wife. He was done being mad about her reckless actions now he just wanted to comfort her. "It's too bad he didn't tell us where Saichi is."

"He's a fuckin nut job," Kankuro snarled. Sicko. Tell mouse he's sorry! He doesn't know what sorry is.

He wanted a change of subject and Naruto asked, "When are you guys heading home?"

The tournament was over and they were ready to return to the comforts of their own home. "Tomorrow afternoon. We'll wear the boys out on the playground tomorrow morning and head out after lunch." Gaara wanted to put Sasuke behind him.

As planned Gaara and his entourage left Konoha the following afternoon. Their friends saw them off and then went back to work. The trip back to Sand was pleasant enough. They stopped in the major towns along the way to let the boys run off some stored energy. Everyone was glad to finally get home and settled into their familiar rooms. Gaara and Raine put Sasuke out of their thoughts and went on with their life. They still thought a having a daughter was a great idea and decided to keep trying.

Naruto pestered Tsunade for the fat file she kept on Uchiha Sasuke for two months before she finally caved in. Naruto had been visiting Sasuke often, talking to him and trying to correct his memories. He was the only one the Uchiha would talk to; Sasuke snarled at everyone else that came near him. She warned Naruto she wanted the file back and let him walk out with it hoping the klutz wouldn't lose any of it.

Naruto showed up to Sasuke's room with the file and a hot cup of ramen. "I brought something for you Sasuke."

"I don't eat cup of noodles."

Naruto chuckled and set his lunch down on the tray table by the door. "That'd my ramen dork, this file is for you."

Sasuke watched as Naruto came over and slid a table to him. He set the large file on it and Sasuke looked down to see his own name on the tab. "This is…"

He unbuckled the strap holding Sasuke's right hand down. "Your file. Have a look." Naruto stepped back as Sasuke opened the folder. He went back to get his noodles and sat down with his lunch.

My file, my history. Sasuke started to read. The stuff up front was old news beginning with his basic statistics; birthday, parents, enrollment in the academy. Sasuke did well at the academy. His grades were always top of the class even after his clan was slaughtered by his older brother Itachi. There were pictures in with files, Sasuke's class coming up through school. There was a picture of him with team seven and a stack of their mission reports. Reading some of them stirred more memories.

The next section was all about the chunin exam and then his defection to Sound. Everyone on Shikamaru's team wrote a report about their pursuit of Sasuke and the Sound ninja. Neji and Choji both arrived back at Konoha near death. Kiba Shikamaru and Lee were rescued by the siblings from Sand. Naruto and Sasuke fought bitterly at the end each exploding with power. Naruto's report made Sasuke feel something, it was sad and hollow. Sasuke turned the page.

He finished his ramen and fished his juice box out of his pocket. Naruto sat back watching Sasuke. His old friend was frowning as he read on and on. You'll see the truth for yourself Sasuke.

Sasuke dropped off Konoha's radar for almost three years before he confronted Naruto again. The reports retold the argument the ninja had. Sasuke admitted he'd be giving his body to Orochimaru so together they could kill Itachi. It was unnerving, these reports dated so long ago. He knew Orochimaru wanted Itachi dead too. They were working together toward that goal.

Finally he got to something about Raine. It started off most miserably. Sasuke trapped her with his Sharingan at the tournament and used genjutsu on her. She woke in the middle of the night and when she could not kill Gaara Raine tried to kill herself. Sasuke read the official statement Raine had written for ANBU in her own unique script. How could I…

A party did indeed chase after Sasuke, but he escaped. Gaara and an army of ninja hurried off to Sand to stop the invasion. Naruto followed with Raine and Sasuke confronted them. There was a hell of a fight and even Jiraiya showed up. In Raine's reports she called Sasuke a vampire and the Uchiha started to sweat. Sasuke knew what jutsu she meant; it was just horrifying to think he had used it on her.

He kept her drained of her strength until they reached Cardiff. He kept her prisoner under threat of torture and rape. They shared a drugged meal and the next morning he took her into the desert. No that's not right. That wasn't how it was… Sasuke swallowed a sick little lump in his throat and continued.

Raine was dragged before Orochimaru and he told her things she hadn't known about her mother. Things her father Sasori had erased from her mind. After meeting the sannin Sasuke, can you take me someplace where we can be alone? Sasuke took her back to his room. What do you want Raine? Why did you want to be alone with me? They argued and Sasuke threw her down on his bunk. How about instead of hurting you I make you feel really good? I'll make you forget all about Gaara. He attacked her and bit her bottom lip.

How can this be right? There's no way that…the lump in his throat was back and twice the size. Sasuke started to feel queasy. He read more anyway. He had to know what these pages had to say, things that Raine wrote about him. He concentrated on reading again. He was nearly through it. That was good because it didn't get any better from there.

Sasuke let her cry for a while and then went after Raine again. He wiped the blood off her face and then he kissed her. Give it up to me once Raine then he attacked her again. He left a hicky on her neck and then tore her shirt open to leave another on her breast. I'll make it good for you too. He was molesting her when Gaara attacked and reclaimed his sweetie. Sasuke remembered the earthquake. No… his stomach rolled over.

He came to a photocopy of a letter he himself had written to Raine. Aside from the killing Tsume part it read like a love letter and Sasuke felt his heart ache. Behind the letter were copies of the reports from Sand about Sasuke's murder and infiltration in Sand. He killed Tsume and got into Gaara's house using the orphan boy's face. Once inside he went to Raine disguised as Gaara and acted the part of her husband. I have a little time. Sasuke kissed her and touched Raine intimately. I love you too.

This is wrong. She knew it was me. Raine and I… It was her handwriting he was staring at. Sasuke remembered kissing her in the sunny nursery. It was hot, passionate. A kiss that begged him to come back for more and so he did. We were in love. He flipped the page. There was no mention of the affair that he and Raine carried on in Sand.

The next documentation was the fight where Sasuke killed his brother when Akatsuki came after Naruto. He had stopped Itachi before Akatsuki could move saving Naruto's ass in the process.

After that was the incident in Cardiff. Sasuke single handedly killed six of the princesses ANBU guard and subdued Temari with his Sharingan. He abducted Raine from the marketplace and ran. Sasuke didn't stop until they were out of the desert. He could picture lying with Raine in the grass. Kissing her soft lips. I'm going to make you happy. They made haste through fire country and late one night they encountered a bear. Sasuke rescued Raine and dispatched the animal. It's a man's duty to protect his woman.

Raine woke up in Sound surrounded by her things Sasuke had bought her, everything she liked to have. The report attributed his extensive knowledge of Raine to stalking rather then their affair. Sasuke then presented her with Saichi, a child genetically engineered by the medical specialist Yakushi Kabuto. You're his mother Raine. Sasuke shook his head. No, Raine and I had Saichi together. We both wanted him!

Raine tended to Saichi during her stay in Sound. Sasuke could still picture their baby in her arms. He remembered kissing her while she held Saichi. That night Sasuke tried to get some from his baby's mama but she wanted to talk. Sasuke told Raine about Itachi and Orochimaru. Raine was in bed with him, they were talking and she said 'How am I supposed to protect myself from Orochimaru when he is in this body?' Orochimaru in my body. Again with the jutsu.

The next morning Raine woke to Sasuke touching her. She fended him off biting his lip in return. The report said that Sasuke got up to fetch the baby a bottle but he suspected if there was biting going on Are you sure you want me to stop? You're getting wet. They probably screwed six times before he got out of bed. The official reports continued to deny the affair Sasuke had with the kage's wife.

Sasuke brought Raine breakfast and the couple discussed leaving Sound for a while. Raine was afraid of Orochimaru and wanted Sasuke to take her and Saichi away from him. Orochimaru... I couldn't bare it if he took either of you away from me. She had made his heart happy and Sasuke wanted to please his love. I want you to be happy. Sasuke had decided on the beach. He went to tell Orochimaru he was taking a vacation.

Raine's testimony continued with Sasuke busting in on her a short time later. Sasuke put a hand on her and told her she carried Gaara's child. He threatened to kill the unborn. The report said Raine surrendered herself to Sasuke to keep her baby alive but what he remembered was his love as she sighed I want you to make love to me under the stars. He had responded by hugging her, smiling at her I will do anything to make you happy.

This is…it can't be… He was coming to the last of it. Kabuto came in and informed Raine he was going to impregnate her with Sasuke's child thusly creating the twins. She fainted and when she woke up Kabuto was taking a long needle out of her. Sasuke escorted her back to his room and they argued again. This time his beloved did use the word affair in her description of their argument. Of course, she denied it. Did you hope to end it between us quickly? Maybe beg Gaara to forgive your affair?

Sasuke left her with the baby and returned a short time later with a bottle for Saichi. He told her they were leaving Sound. Sasuke could recall being excited about their getaway. She was happy too. I'll take good care of you my princess. Anything you want, name it and it will be yours. They kissed in the nursery the way lovers do. Sasuke readied his family for their trip to tea country. I love you Raine. I have for so long. I love Saichi too. And then Gaara attacked.

His eyes skimmed over the next few pages as a deep rage and panic threatened to push his lunch out of his stomach. "No, this isn't right."

Naruto swallowed a mouth full of juice. "Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked over at his dim friend. "There isn't anything in here about the affair I had with Raine. I was seeing her for months in Sand!"

"You were watching her," Naruto stayed calm. "You weren't with her Sasuke."

"Lies!" his free hand pushed the file off the table and papers scattered all over his legs.

He got to his feet. "Take it easy Sasuke."

"I loved her!" Sasuke railed. The horrible things he read were eating away at his insides. "I know I loved her. I remember being with her!" She's all done with you Gaara; Raine wants to be with me. "I fought Gaara for her! We were going to the fucking beach!"

There were angry tears standing in the Uchiha's eyes. I'm sorry it has to be like this Sasuke. "Oi Sasuke," Naruto went to the edge of Sasuke's bed.

In her own handwriting Raine said… "No!" he shoved at the table and reached for the strap holding his other arm down. "I have to find her! I have to talk to her."

Naruto caught Sasuke's free hand and held his wrist. "You can't do that Sasuke."

Sasuke stared at Naruto. The blonde was regarding him sadly. "I love Raine. You believe me don't you Naruto?"

"I do." He kept them still until Sasuke seemed to settle some. He let go of Sasuke and gathered together the materials that slipped out of a hidden back pocket; pictures. There was one on top of Gaara standing between Tsunade and Raine. Naruto sighed and set it on the table. He gave it a shove Sasuke's way.

His eyes went to the picture; Sasuke saw Raine and immediately snatched it up. She looked like a desert princess. "The first time I saw her…"

"The tournament when Gaara announced their engagement."

According to the files in Sasuke's folder shortly after this picture was taken he kidnapped her. "The two of you were in the woods waiting for me. You brought Raine out of Konoha after Gaara left." He looked up at Naruto. He had picked up a small pile of pictures. Sasuke reached for them. "Let me see."

Naruto handed the pictures to Sasuke. "We didn't meet you in the woods. You surprised us. You tried to take Raine and I fought you for her."

The picture on top was genin that graduated along with Sasuke. A memorial photo. "And why was I trying to take her ne Naruto?"

Jiraiya had said; "Raine was a political prisoner. Sound was moving against Sand and you took the kazekage's bride hostage."

"What makes you so sure I wasn't trying to keep her from making the mistake of marrying Gaara? That report doesn't mention her showering in front of me or sharing my bed." Cut off her fingers? What the hell!

No it didn't. Raine's report said Sasuke slept in the room but she didn't say where. She was asleep before him. There was no mention of showering. "You watched her take a shower?" Naruto wondered if it made him a sicko to be jealous.

"She left the door open." Sasuke was one hundred percent sure of it. The next picture was taken around the chunin exam. Sasuke was in the ring with Gaara. Their fight was about to begin.

Naruto figured a kidnapper wouldn't let their hostage out of their site, thus the open door while genie showered. Man I'd fall in love if I saw that shit too. He shook his head to clear his slobbish thoughts. "It was a hostage situation."

"Whatever." A picture of him and Hatake Kakashi. "That crap about what happened in the desert, its bullshit. She wanted to be alone with me. Why do you think that was? Maybe because she wanted me to fuck her like I did the night before?"

"You've never slept with her Sasuke." Naruto resumed his calm corrective position.

Sasuke laughed a little. "Right; I was about to rape her and Gaara saved her."

"Yes."

"I'll bet Gaara was pretty pissed off; his rival and his fiancée. What a scandal."

Naruto sighed glancing at the pictures Sasuke was shuffling through. There was a gate photo of the team Shikamaru led to pursue Sasuke. "You went after Raine to torment Gaara. You shamed her and scared her to hurt him."

He flicked his eyes up to Naruto. "I could never hurt Raine. I was taken with her from the start. All I wanted was to be with her."

"If Orochimaru didn't want her alive you might have killed her."

Orochimaru. Sasuke narrowed his eyes. It was true that Raine feared and hated the sannin. She was also worried about Sasuke's body being taken by that jutsu. I am not my mother. I will not be Orochimaru's whore. I am not his Rhiannon! "Orochimaru wanted Raine to live; he wanted her to be his guest. She hated him."

"Orochimaru intends to put Raine's mother into her body just like he's going to do to you. The two of you will be gone, replaced by Orochimaru and Rhiannon." Naruto puffed out a frustrated sigh. "Are you understanding this Sasuke?"

"I'm not stupid asshole," Sasuke snapped back. "Maybe I just don't believe your shit."

Naruto picked up the hefty folder and set it on the table. "And what about all of this shit ne Sasuke? Am I making this up too?"

"Raine probably wrote what Gaara wanted her to."

He took the pictures out of Sasuke's hand and flipped to a copy of a picture they had obtained from Rhiannon's things. He shoved the picture under Sasuke's nose. Orochimaru Rhiannon and Raine as a tot. "Do you see this? Do you understand Sasuke?"

Raine's mother smiled beside the sannin. Orochimaru held Raine and directed her to the camera. It was a family moment captured on film and something about it turned Sasuke cold inside. You don't know do you? The deal that I made with Orochimaru. The ringing started in Sasuke's right ear.

He will take my body and reside in me. I will be his next container. His vision started to dim about the edges. I Uchiha Sasuke will be gone, but this body will still protect you and you have Saichi. Orochimaru has promised to take care of you. The room started to spin and Sasuke closed his eyes. He was in bed with Raine. She lay beneath him as he told her these things.

"Oi Sasuke?" the Uchiha looked pale, the hand holding the picture shook. "Sasuke?"

Must I first atone for what I have done to you before you will let yourself love me? Is that how it is? Blood running down his chin. Raine had bit him hard; she was furious with him. I'll leave it if you want me to.

Sasuke's nose started to bleed and one of the monitors beeped faster. "Oi Sasuke?" Naruto dropped everything and grabbed Sasuke's head in his hands. "Sasuke?"

And what about me? If I can make you happy, if I can take you and Saichi away from Orochimaru then would you forgive me? If we could be alone somewhere will you love me? Sasuke couldn't hear Naruto. He was in Sound with Raine; he was holding their baby. She said I think…I could.

His friend went completely limp and an alarm screamed scaring the hell out of Naruto. He jumped but kept a hold of Sasuke's face. His nose bleed was getting worse. After what felt like an eternity the medics came running in. Naruto stepped back to let them see to Sasuke and gathered up all of the stuff from Sasuke's file. One stayed with Sasuke while the other ran after drugs.

With the ninja out of the way Naruto noticed something sticking out from under Sasuke's pillow. He had snagged one of the pictures in the file while Naruto was looking elsewhere. It was Raine and Naruto her first trip to Konoha. Naruto lifted his hand to take it back, Tsunade would notice it missing. His finger tip touched the edge of the photograph. I could tell her I stole it. Naruto buried the picture under Sasuke's pillow. He sighed and stepped back. "Is he okay?"

"It's been a while since he's had a seizure. We thought Kabuto took care of it." The specialist stopped the bleeding in the Uchiha's nose.

Naruto watched the medic clean the blood off Sasuke's face. "Why didn't he?"

"Probably not enough time. He did a lot to Sasuke in one visit."

Sasuke was unconscious. "Will Sasuke be alright?"

"Sure. He'll sleep this off. He probably just remembered something clearly. That seems to be what sets it off, a sudden spike in neurotransmitter activity."

Shit it's my fault. Naruto quickly gathered up Sasuke's file. "Can I come back later and check on him?"

"Sure."

He turned and hurried out to get the file back to hokage's place. It's my fault. Shit! What did you remember Sasuke?

Just like trying to conceive Renji took time and patience so did trying to make a little girl. It was hard finding time to make babies with three active boys underfoot all the time. Raine was teaching Temari to cook. The women made dinner while the men folk corralled the boys to get them washed up for supper. It was a group effort. Gaara held Renji and Shikamaru held Yusuke while Kankuro scrubbed their faces clean. Gabe got up on his kiddie stool and washed his hands in the sink making a moderate mess.

Renji threw a fit having has face washed. He squealed and kicked at Gaara. "Renji," daddy warned. "Hurry up Kankuro, slow ass."

"Hurry up ass hole!" Gabe mimicked splashing water on the mirror over the sink.

Shikamaru tried to fight it but the laugh got out. Kankuro backed away from Gaara staring at his brother. "You're the one that said ass," Kankuro pointed out.

"Where did he get hole ne?" Gaara flat eyed his brother.

Gabe turned around and enlightened his daddy. "I got hole in my hiney. Fart come out." Gabe pushed a little and demonstrated. He ripped a loud one and smiled.

He was laughing so hard Shikamaru had to sit down. He collapsed on the toilet seat with Yusuke in his lap. The boy looked at him funny. Gaara was just sort of standing there stunned. Even Renji had stilled and was watching Gabe. Kankuro smelled doom along with Spagettio fart. Shit I'm busted.

"Fart game daddy," Gabe tattled. "Ka farts get on fire!"

Gaara cut his eyes back up to his brother as Shikamaru writhed in hysterics. Yusuke was patting his cheek. "You uh…set farts on fire in front of the boys ne?"

"Well, maybe once or twice. We were outside and everything. It's not like we were in the house or near anything flammable." Kankuro spoke quickly and cleared his throat. He turned to Gabe. "Okay pal, let's get your hands dry."

Shikamaru composed himself after Kankuro escorted Gabe out. His face was streaked with tears. "Come on Gaara, you played the fart game."

"No I did not."

"It's a guy thing," Shikamaru waved him off. "Who can make the loudest or longest or smelliest fart. The one cheek sneak, the silent but deadly. So many fart categories. Choji excelled at the game. He farted for over a minute straight once."

Gaara wasn't sure what he missed not having friends growing up but he thought maybe he could pass on the fart game. "I see. Well, Raine is going to be furious." He finished cleaning up Renji and set him down. He ran for his brother and Gaara turned the washcloth on Yusuke.

"Chicks think farting and burping is nasty. Don't go telling Raine about the fart game."

Perhaps it was for the best. "Yes let's not." He cleaned Yusuke up quick and Shikamaru let him go. The boys ran out of the bathroom hand in hand.

He watched his nephews make a run for it and Shikamaru grinned. "I've been trying to talk Temari into having a baby."

Gaara looked down at the flush ninja sitting on the toilet. Temari a mother? "Oh?"

He laughed and stood up. "Yeah. There's something so awesome about watching her with the boys. I think she'd be a great mom."

Watching his love tend to their little ones always blew Gaara away too. "I know what you mean. Raine and I are hoping for a daughter. Maybe you'll beat us to it ne?"

"Don't count on it. She's still playing the 'I'm not ready' card. Maybe it's a good thing for now. She can learn to control that temper of hers before the hormones go crazy ne?"

Gaara smiled and pat Shikamaru on the shoulder. "Good luck with that." They chuckled together and went after the twins.

It took Sasuke a long time to wake up. Naruto sat by his bed for hours. It was getting late when Sasuke finally stirred. "Sasuke?"

It was dim in here, dark outside. Only the desk lamp was on. Naruto sat in a chair to his right. The blonde was staring at him. "Naruto…"

"You okay what happened?" it all ran together. Naruto was worried.

"Raine…Orochimaru…" horrible memories came flooding back.

"What about them Sasuke? Did you remember something?"

He sunk miserably into his bed. "He said he'd protect her after he took my body."

A chill ran down Naruto's spine. "You remember…?"

"I agreed to let him have me, not her."

"Sasuke, do you understand what I've been telling you about Orochimaru?"

"I get it Naruto," Sasuke turned his head away. "I'm his next container."

There was a pained look on Sasuke's face. "What about Raine?"

I …hurt her. "Raine," his voice cracked. We were going to run away together. We were going to start over. "Orochimaru was obsessed with her mother."

Naruto figured Sasuke knew all about obsession. "You know Orochimaru will come after both of you then. Genie is Rhiannon's container."

I loved her so very much. Even now I "I won't let Orochimaru have her."

"Gaara will protect Raine."

Sasuke rolled his forlorn eyes back up to his friend. "Gaara isn't enough to stop Orochimaru. Not even in the desert."

"You better be wrong about that," Naruto frowned.

There was something Sasuke suspected. Orochimaru will come for me first. He will want to use my body, my Sharingan to fight Gaara. "I won't let him have me either. I'll protect Raine from that snake bastard whether anybody wants me to or not!"

"Don't get excited Sasuke," Naruto fret.

At night his writs were put into the longer restrains. He couldn't bring his hands together but he could reach around a bit. Sasuke shifted resting his cheek on the pillow trying to get his hand underneath it. His fingers found the picture and he sighed relieved to find it was still there. "I'll protect her even if she doesn't love me because I love her. I don't even give a fuck about what happened in the past. If Raine is in danger I will be there to help her."

He knew Sasuke was reaching for the picture he was hiding. "Did you remember something about her?"

Being in bed with her. Fighting, asking for forgiveness. "She didn't want Orochimaru to take my body. She was afraid of him." he sighed tiredly. Naruto waited and finally Sasuke confessed, "I remembered being with her in Sound; holding her and kissing her. She kissed me back. She said she could love me. I don't care how crazy I sound or even how crazy I am; I just know that I love her. I did then, I still do."

Raine's statement said she had surrendered herself to Sasuke. She had kissed him; about that Sasuke wasn't confused. Raine probably said many things under duress, she was a quick thinker. But Sasuke really loves her. "Sasuke…"

"I just wanted her to love me back." He snuggled against his pillow wishing Raine were beside him.

Naruto stared at Sasuke silently for a moment. "Yeah, well you sure fucked that up pretty good," Naruto teased. He stood up. It was late and he was ready for some TV and bed. "I'll come by tomorrow. You get some rest."

He waited until he heard Naruto's footsteps moving down the quiet hall before he brought out his secret picture. He studied Raine's beautiful smile in the dim lamp light. I love you Raine. Whatever I've done I'll make it up to you. I won't let Orochimaru have either one of us and I'll find a way to get Saichi away from him. I promise.

Intuition always served Sasuke well. He was sleeping lightly when Kabuto came into his room less then a month after Sasuke looked at his file. "It's about time Kabuto."

Kabuto went to Sasuke. "Sorry to have kept you waiting Sasuke. How are you feeling?"

"Get me out of here."

"The visitors log says Naruto drops by a lot."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Kabuto. "He pesters the hell out of me now get me out of here!" He grabbed at Kabuto's shirt.

"No need to be so rude." Kabuto pulled away and started unbuckling the straps around the Uchiha's ankles.

"Is Orochimaru here? Do you have a plan?"

"Orochimaru is with Saichi. He sent me to fetch you."

He was almost half way free. "What about Raine?"

Kabuto finished with his feet and went to Sasuke's wrist restraints. "Orochimaru will get your sweetie for you Sasuke don't worry."

"I want to see her," Sasuke pressed as Kabuto freed his left hand.

Kabuto let Sasuke free his other hand himself. "We're going back to Sound first Sasuke. Don't you want to see Saichi?"

Sasuke loosened the strap quickly. "Of course I do."

"You can relax in Sound with your son and leave bringing Raine home to Orochimaru. He'll go get her right after you get back to Sound. She'll nurse you back to health ne Sasuke?"

Sasuke was right, Orochimaru had come for him first which meant that Raine was next. "Kabuto, can you do something about these damn seals? I can't use my chakra or my eyes," he sounded displeased.

Sighing Kabuto looked him over. "I can't undo Tsunade's work for that you'll need Orochimaru but I think I can get some of these others." He went to work removing the henna from Sasuke's forehead. He could suck out the ink and dispel the seal. They may end up in a fight, it might be better if Sasuke could be useful.

Orochimaru's servant removed the seals on Sasuke and the Uchiha turned on him at once. He trapped Kabuto with his Sharingan. The ninja resisted his jutsu biting at his own lip and Sasuke switched up his plan. While Kabuto fought his genjutsu Sasuke made a few quick strikes and took Kabuto down. He had to move fast. Kabuto wouldn't be out for long, he was a master at healing himself. Sasuke grabbed the picture he kept under his pillow and went to the window.

His hand flew through the seals. He touched the bars and froze them solid. Sasuke snapped off two bars and threw the window open. He leapt to the sill and out into the night. He had to help Raine, but before that Sasuke needed some help of his own.

"Naruto you idiot wake the hell up!"

Naruto blinked awake. Sasuke was in his room shaking him. "What the…!" Naruto sat up staring at his friend. "Sasuke you…"

"Orochimaru has made his move. He sent Kabuto to come and get me. I just escaped."

Sasuke was going so fast. "Kabuto?"

"Get up and get dressed and give me some clothes. We're going to Sand.

His mouth fell open. "Are you crazy?"

The Uchiha twisted Naruto's pajama top in his fist. "He's going after Raine. Even if Orochimaru can't get my body he still wants hers. She's in danger Naruto, move your ass. We have to get to Sand."

Naruto understood enough to get up. He hurried to his dresser and dug out clean clothes for both of them. "We should tell Tsunade." Naruto donned his usual.

"Leave behind a summon for that. We have to go now." Sasuke ditched the hospital threads for black pants and a dark t shirt. He stuffed Raine's picture into his back pocket as Naruto summoned a frog.

Gamakichi appeared and Naruto gave him the warning to pass on to Tsunade at once. The frog went one way, the ninja another. They hurried to the gate. "Are you sure about this Sasuke?" If Sasuke was playing him, Naruto was dead meat.

"Kabuto will report my betrayal to Orochimaru. We don't have much time. We must get to Sand before Orochimaru."

Running away with Sasuke in the middle of the night. Going to Sand. Am I nuts! "Tsunade will…"

"She'll send Konoha's fastest falcon to warn Gaara. He can watch Raine until we get there and Gaara will know we're coming."

"Why me too Sasuke? Why didn't you just run?"

They were almost out of Konoha. "You have to talk to Gaara for me. He'll never believe that I'm no threat to Raine; that all I want is to protect her."

It made sense. "Is that all you want to do?"

"Of course not you idiot I love her. It would be great to be with Raine, but keeping her safe from Orochimaru is more important. I won't bother her but damnit I'll defend her."

Sasuke would fight Orochimaru for her… "Gaara won't be quick to accept your help."

"He wants to protect his wife. He has no choice." Sasuke remembered the day he saw Yusuke. Gaara kissed Raine in front of him. "Gaara loves Raine too."

Naruto wasn't sure who the hell was going to be fighting who in Sand. Sasuke, Gaara and Orochimaru all ready to kill each other. "You won't fight with Gaara?"

Sasuke sighed. Gaara had told him about his son that day. They had made a fathers promise about their twins. "No." He would leave the kazekage alone if he let Sasuke guard Raine and the boys from the sannin; at least until Orochimaru was dead. "Don't get me wrong Naruto; I haven't given up on Raine. I can't; I love her too much to even think for a moment that there isn't a chance we could be together someday. If and when the day comes that she is safe from Orochimaru then Gaara's going to have a little competition."

Naruto peeked at Sasuke. "A truce between you and Gaara?"

"Something like that." Sasuke already had a plan. "I'll fight on the side of Sand against Orochimaru and the Sound."

"You can't just join Sand Sasuke. You're a criminal."

"I will be the kazekage's prisoner. Gaara will grant me asylum because I'm defecting from an enemy village. My trial and execution can be stayed so long as he is kage."

The gate and one bored looking guard came into view. "You really think Gaara's going to do all that for you?"

"He won't do it for me; he'll do it for her. She'll probably curse him for keeping me around but he will. Gaara knows I can protect her. I just need to convince him that I will. You're going to help me do that."

It sounded like a tall order to Naruto. "Gaara's gonna kick my ass for showing up in Sand with you. Do you know how much trouble I'm in Sasuke? I mean seriously!"

Sasuke tuned out Naruto's complaining as they moved by the guard. He exercised his Sharingan and put the ninja to sleep at his post. The alarm would sound soon enough. They needed to hurry. "Let's go." Sasuke broke into a run and a second later Naruto was in the trees behind him.

When Kabuto could move again, Sasuke was gone. He got to his feet and went out the window trying to follow Sasuke's trail. Godamn you Sasuke you asshole! Kabuto was furious, Orochimaru was not going to be happy if Kabuto returned empty handed. He had an idea where the Uchiha would go. He wanted Raine almost as much as Orochimaru did.

He noticed the downed guard at the gate as Kabuto sped from Konoha. It wasn't easy to find Sasuke's trail. Luckily Naruto was a clod that left a blazing path for Kabuto to follow. Once away from the village Kabuto summoned a sparrow to carry a message to his master. He healed his cut finger and chased after Orochimaru's container.

Gamakichi hopped his way over to hokage's place and wriggled in through an open window. Fortunately for him the frog hermit was here. The young frog went to him and leapt onto his bare stomach. "Oi Jiraiya wake up!"

Jiraiya felt weight on his gut and heard a familiar voice. He peeled an eye open and looked down at the frog. "Gamakichi, don't tell me Naruto's in trouble now."

The sannin reeked of sake. "Yep, he just left Konoha with Uchiha Sasuke."

"He…" Jiraiya woke up quick. "WHAT?"

The shouting brought Tsunade to her bedroom door. She poked her head out and saw the source of the commotion. Jiraiya was still naked he was sitting up and shaking a frog. The hell? "What's going on out here?"

The frog turned to the hokage, the message was for her anyway. "Yakushi Kabuto came for Uchiha Sasuke tonight. Sasuke got away from Kabuto and went and got Naruto. The two of them are on their way to Suna to stop Orochimaru from abducting the kazekage's wife. You need to warn Gaara."

Tsunade never doubted a summon at two in the morning. She hurried back into her room to change out of her nightgown. "Get dressed Jiraiya. I want that frog in my office in five minutes!"

Jiraiya sighed and looked for his pants. Naruto… what are you thinking! He set Gamakichi down and hurried to get into his clothes. He still felt drunk and a bit unsteady. Damn these kids. So impetuous so impatient such a pain in my ass.

Tsunade summoned ANBU and special ninken forces to search Konoha and the surrounding countryside for Naruto Sasuke Kabuto or Orochimaru. They were ordered to look east, in the direction of Sand. She penned a brief letter to Gaara on a tiny scroll and affixed it to their fastest winged messenger. The falcon took off and flew toward the sunrise. In a few hours it was soaring through clear blue sky.