The Ripple Effect

By: Sweet Bliss

………

Sasuke leaned against the wall as Itachi paced in front of him. "We need to double our armies and hold our defenses near our base. That way we will have the upper hand in the battle, no matter if our army is smaller than his." The younger Uchiha glanced toward Gaara and Anko. They were nodding in agreement with Itachi's plans.

The dark eyed boy glanced at his older brother. What was he rambling on about? Sasuke hadn't paid attention to what had been said. This wasn't his strong point. He was more of the act-on-impulse type of guy.

"Sasuke, what do you think?" The boy snapped his head up to the trio that was eyeing him. "I.. uh-" He was cut off as the door opened revealing Temari and Kankuro. "Gaara, sir. We have reports that Orochimaru might be in the base!" Itachi furrowed his brows.

How could Orochimaru be in their base? Guards were stationed everywhere. Security was tight and there wasn't any weak point in their building. Then he remembered that Orochimaru could take on the form of someone else. "Damn it," the king cursed and ran out of the door.

Sai and Choji entered afterwards to report, "Orochimaru is in the east wing!" Anko nodded to them and turned to Sasuke. "Stay on guard and keep away from Orochimaru. That is an order!" With that Gaara and Anko left with their subordinates.

Sasuke frowned as he slammed the door shut. Like he cared what they said. But then he remembered. "Sakura is in the east wing. Shit!" The boy opened the door quickly and ran off to where he was sure Sakura was.

Sasuke glanced around the area. Nothing seemed out of place, but he could feel something strange around him. "Sakura!" he called out but no answer came. The whole place was deserted. He walked a little farther and reached Sakura's room.

He opened the door to reveal the girl was no where to be seen. "Damn it." He turned around to see a tall figure in the middle of the hallway. "Why, hello, Sasuke.," the man said calmly. "Where the hell is Sakura, Oro-bastard?" The yellow eyed man tilted his head to the side. "Do you honestly think that I took your doll? She is of no use to me at the moment."

Sasuke clenched his fists and rushed forward. Orochimaru dodged the blow that was aimed for the side of his head and he caught Sasuke's right fist. He then grabbed hold of the left one that was still in the healing process. Squeezing the broken hand gained a cry of pain from the Uchiha.

Orochimaru let go of the throbbing left hand and grabbed hold of Sasuke at his neck. "I see that those nightmares you are having are taking a toll. Ready to have another?" The snake smirked when he heard the gasps escaping Sasuke's lips. He threw the boy down into the floor, knocking the heir out cold.

Sasuke opened his eyes slowly as he registered his surroundings. He sat up in the bed… Wait. Why was he in a bed? A knock on a door near him pulled his attention away from the cushiony mattress. An old lady entered the room with a big smile on her face. "Well, Lord Sasuke, you shouldn't be sleeping in. Your lady awaits."

Sasuke threw is legs off the side of the bed and was about to stand until… "And, sir, might I suggest putting on some clothes. You and the lady had quite a night." Sasuke looked at the lady confused until he understood. He blushed bright pink and fumbled for an outfit.

Sasuke was praying that it wouldn't be Hana. The Uchiha had decided a while back that she was aggravating him. He was hoping that it was someone he could put up with. Maybe the cherry blossom that he was lusting after.

He walked a little bit down the halls and stopped when he reached the balcony. Sitting on the railings edge was the pink haired neko that had been driving him crazy. She spotted him outside the glass doors and motioned for him to come near her. H opened the door and walked over to the girl.

She smiled when he was closer and placed a small kiss on his right cheek. "Sleep well?" she asked brushing some of his bangs out of his face. He nodded and smirked. "Just a little exhausted from last night," Sasuke said slyly. The girl turned a dark shade of crimson and punched his shoulder playfully.

She placed her forehead against his. "It's not my fault you have so much energy," she teased silently. Sasuke grabbed both of her hands and whispered in her ear, "Well, we can just try it again tonight." The cherry blossom stepped down from the railing with a teasing smile on her porcelain face.

She walked passed Sasuke slowly and tauntingly. She was near the door when she turned around and blew him a kiss. The Uchiha leaned against the railing watching her until he finally said, "Why wait till tonight?" With super speed that was bestowed upon him by his demon heritage, the raven haired male appeared before his wife. He lifted her up bridal style and was about to carry her off to do what he wanted to do for so long, when someone interrupted.

A guard stumbled into the area badly injured. "T-there's an… intruder in the western… w-wing. They've started a fire and… have k-killed many in the castle." With the words out of his mouth, the man collapsed. Sasuke gently placed Sakura back on the ground. He ordered more guards to where he was.

As he was about to see what was going on, he felt a tug on his sleeve. "Please, be careful. You don't know what strengths this person has, if they're even human. Come back to me safely," the female pleaded her eyes watering. Sasuke pulled her to him in an embrace. Even if this was another of those dreams and even if it turned out to be a nightmare in the end, he still had to comfort the girl in front of him. Chances are that this fairy tale ending wasn't ending after all and it would end up tragic. Letting go of Sakura, he left with his guards to where the trouble was.

Reaching the place of turmoil, Sasuke immediately recognized the person destroying everything. "Kabuto," he said coldly gaining the white haired man's attention. He smiled to him as the fire roared behind him. "Well, if it isn't the king. What honor I have in getting to speak to you again, Sasuke."

Sasuke felt something push him against the wall forcefully, gaining a sickening pop from his back. In a matter of seconds, Kabuto was before him with a tight grip on his throat. The raven haired male looked at the embers that danced around the room.

Kabuto took out a long blade and jammed it into Sasuke's stomach. "This is the most efficient way to kill you. Slowly so the blood will drain from every vein, then the fire will torch your lifeless body leaving you to crumble in ashes." Sasuke struggled to get the sword out of his abdomen but it wouldn't budge.

The white haired man smirked. Red liquid ran down the blade and dripped into the floor. Sasuke began to cough from the fumes of the flame, but blood oozed from his mouth and he began to choke. "Don't worry about your wife, Sasuke. She'll be perfectly fine with me, whether she wants it or not." As if on cue, a scream echoed in the castle.

"What are you doing to her?" Sasuke inquired giving up his struggle. The white haired vampire turned to the younger man. "It wouldn't really matter if I told you, seeming as though you're going to die soon anyways." Sasuke glared as he stated, "I'm a vampire. You can't kill me this easily."

Kabuto chuckled. He took his glasses off and pocketed them. "No, Sasuke. You're not… such a pity no one ever told you until it was too late." Another scream entered the room. Sasuke lifted his arms up and clamped his hands over his ears. "Stop it!" he ordered as more blood left his mouth. "She's quite beautiful. But you would already know that, wouldn't you? Too bad you never got around to tasting her…in your own reality. Oh, well, I'll do it for you."

Kabuto laughed again as Sasuke dropped his arms to the ground. He'd lost too much blood already. "I'm sorry, Sakura. I'm not strong enough," he whispered as his eyes shut for the last time, forever.

"Oh, my! Is he going to be okay?" "I don't really know, he's lost too much blood." "Is there anyway to stop it?" "He seems to be injured on the inside." "Well, fix it!"

Obsidian orbs blinked open to see almost everyone looking over him. He sat up but fell back down because a surging pain in his back. "What the hell happened?" he inquired his eyes trying to adjust to the bright lights overhead.

Gaara was the one to speak.. "Sakura found you in a puddle of blood outside her room. She brought you to us and then passed out herself. She's a little squeamish plus she had to drag you all over the castle to actually find us." Sasuke looked around the room for any signs of the pink haired neko.

"Where is she now? Did something happen to her?" he asked trying to cover the panic in his voice. "She's asleep next door. We couldn't leave her in here with all of the blood leaking from your body," Itachi said as he walked in from outside. Sasuke frowned. He really needed to see her right now. He needed to see if she was safe. Anko sensed this and she reassured him that she hadn't been hurt at all.

Why did the dreams only inflict pain upon him. Why didn't anyone else get hurt. Why wasn't the castle half burned? Sasuke sighed. This was all too confusing and the nightmares kept getting more intense. He could have actually bled to death if it weren't for Sakura.

Itachi eyed his younger brother. In a strict voice he said, "Sakura says that you seem to be hurt every time you fall asleep. What exactly is going on?" Everyone's attention shifted from the two Uchihas. Sasuke glared at his brother. "Nothing is happening. I just had a run-in with Orochimaru."

The older brother then said, "I need to speak with Sasuke alone." All of the people in the room nodded and went outside, throwing worried glances to each other about what they could do to each other when alone.

"Sakura said this started in the forest and that you wouldn't wake up when she called for you. Orochimaru was no where to be seen." Sasuke was going to talk to Sakura about this when they let him out of the infirmary. "I'm a heavy sleeper and there weren't any wounds other than the ones I had received earlier," Sasuke stated icily. His older brother pounded his fist on the bedside table cracking it. He then hissed, "But just now you were bleeding to death because you had a run-in with Orochimaru. But there were no cuts and Orochimaru doesn't have enough power to inflict internal bleeding like that!"

When no reply came from his brother, Itachi sighed. "We're worried about you, Sasuke. Sakura was completely scared that you were going to leave her." Sasuke looked down at his hands that sat atop the pure white sheets. Sasuke then whispered, "I don't know what's happening. I just…" Itachi placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Just rest, Sasuke."

Sakura tiptoed out of her room into the one next to hers. The body lay on the bed and his chest pumped up and down rhythmically. She shut the door quietly and walked towards her friend. "Sasuke," she whispered leaning towards him. Her mouth was inches away from his and she felt like closing the gap. And just as she was about to, obsidian orbs opened.

Her face grew warm and she moved away quickly. Sasuke propped himself up slowly, a painful look on his face. Sakura cleared her throat to calm herself down. "Did the doctor figure out what was wrong?" the neko asked fidgeting under his gaze. Sasuke nodded saying, "Tsunade managed to stop the blood flow slightly and healed the wound. I have my bottom two ribs slightly cracked. I've felt better."

Sakura smiled and pulled up a chair next to the bed. "That's good. You scared me completely." The raven haired boy blinked from her sincere face back to his shaking hands. "Sasuke, are you cold?" she asked worriedly jumping from her seat. The Uchiha shook his head no. Sakura sat at the edge of the bed and swung her feet back and forth.

"Sakura, if I were to leave, to betray our friends again, would you… hate me?" The emerald eyed girl was silent for a moment. Then she sighed. "I guess I wouldn't hate you, but I'm not sure that I could ever trust you again." The Uchiha heir drooped his head and queried, "If I asked you for a favor that would change your life forever, would you do it?" The neko furrowed her brows.

She was growing impatient and he could tell by the air surrounding him. "I just… You're the only one that could help me with this, but…" Sakura scooted closer to him as she asked slightly irritated, "What do you want, Sasuke? I'll try my best to help you." The Uchiha forced a smile on his face. "I need someone who can-" He was cut off as a lady entered the room.

"It's time for me to check up on…you…" the woman said eyeing the two on top of the bed. Sakura blushed crimson as Sasuke remained stoic. "Hey, Tsunade. I see that you aren't drinking as of yet," Sasuke said to the lady. Tsunade shrugged. "It's not time for the real good bars around to open."

The large busted woman walked over to the bed. "I was going to have to wash these sheets anyways," she mumbled overlooking the scene before her. The neko got what she meant as she embarrassedly stated, "It is nothing like that! W-we… nothing happened." The blonde raised her brow a smirk on her face. "If I hadn't interrupted something would have happened, am I right?"

Sakura looked from Sasuke back to Tsunade. "Uh, I'm going to find Ino," she said and hopped off the bed quickly. Tsunade turned and watched as the girl hurriedly escaped from the room. "Some girl you've got," the older woman said adjusting her top. The Uchiha leaned back into his pillows without responding. "Tsunade, can you help me get out of here?"

The female eyed her patient. "What do you mean by that?" The raven haired boy then said, "You're the only one that can say I've completely healed." The tan skinned female then sighed. "And what do you plan on doing?" The nurse waited for the stubborn male to answer. "I can't tell you, but it has to do with Orochimaru. I have to find him!"

Tsunade didn't say anything to what he said. Sasuke figured she wouldn't and would probably tell Itachi about what he'd said. "Give me one day. I can get all the things you'll be needing and your equipment. You're on your own from there and I won't take any responsibility in this." Sasuke nodded to what she said and thanked the older person. One day for him to finally tell Sakura how he felt.

Sasuke stealthily walked down the hallway avoiding all guards. Everyone thought that he was in his room resting like Tsunade had said. Tsunade wasn't happy to do this and he knew it, but he had no choice. He had to talk to the snake bastard about these dreams he was having. And he had to make sure Sakura was willing to fulfill this little request he had.

Reaching the wooden door that was slightly opened, Sasuke lifted his hand to knock on the door. It opened slightly to reveal the cherry blossom after the third knock. She turned to him with a smile and said, "Hey, Sasuke, are you feeling better?" He nodded and walked over to her. She was facing a mirror and was slightly disappointed to find only herself in the reflection.

She turned to look at him. He was looking around her room and made an observation that her room wasn't as big as his. Sakura stood from the small chair she sat in and went over to Sasuke. "Are you sure you're feeling okay? You seem a little… distracted." The obsidian orbed boy glanced downward towards her. What he was planning on doing couldn't be awkward. It had to be something between them and wouldn't affect their relationship.

"Sakura," he said silently bending forward to her face. She was used to it by now, but couldn't help not flushing bright pink. She filled in the gap between them with a brief kiss. She looked up at him. "Hmm? What is it, Sasuke?" He trailed his finger down from the side of her cheek to her neck. There he bumped over her collar bone towards the top of her shirt.

He then said, "I want you to be mine and only mine." The female in his hold blinked quite confused. "W-what!" Sasuke smirked, his eye lids covering his beautiful black orbs. "Simple. You will be mine by daybreak." Sakura wasn't quite getting what he was saying. "Remember the favor I asked? This is it…" The neko was pretty sure that if he hadn't been so hot or so intoxicating, then her sensible side would've objected. But that was the way Sasuke was. What he wanted… he got one way or the other.

Sai leaned back in the leather chair, holding the old book in his hands. Ancient text and prophecies of their clan. "Find anything interesting?" The raven haired vampire glanced up at the woman propped against the doorframe. He nodded to her and glanced back down to the old book.

"Cold shoulder. Ouch!" Anko walked nearer to him. She sat herself on the table and looked over the books on the desk. "The Vampire-Werewolf War that took place 1,500 years ago. The human rebellion, the elf-human treaty, and the human-werewolf peace treaty. What's with all of the history going on?"

The black haired male looked up. "I'm reading about the wars that occurred and the tactics that our generals used against them. I'm also reading into how we lost and how we won by determining their strategies. You didn't assign me as your tactician/strategist for me to just sit and do nothing." Anko laughed softly. "Well, I guess you're right. This is pretty smart."

Sai nodded not looking up. Anko sighed to herself. "Sai, in our next battle… do you really think we stand a chance? Our troops quickly dispersed in the sneak attack, then the battle with Orochimaru, and he can quickly make his army larger with his powers." Obsidian orbs glanced up to meet hers. He half-smiled, as much as he could offer, as he said, "We have Lord Itachi with us. And Gaara and you are our best two captains. With you three and the support of King Asuma, I don't think we have anything to fear."

"Let me out!" Sasuke cried, pounding his fists into the wall as he called for someone. "Damn it!" he cursed sitting down on the ground. "Another one of these fucking dreams. I'm on to you, Orochimaru! What do you want from me?" He screamed as it echoed in the small cell.

A chuckle reverberated from the walls somewhere distant. Then the voice said, "Only what is best for you. You've noticed that the pain in your dreams happens to you. You also know that I'm the only one who can stop this madness, right?" The Uchiha glanced around the dark cell. He nodded and as if Orochimaru could see him the voice stated, "Then we will have to make a deal."

The obsidian orbed vampire glanced around the dark room. All of a sudden the area turned to that of a field which resembled the one he'd been in with Hana. Except now it was a vast plane of dark green with a variety of flowers sticking up. The night sky was painted in the horizon with soft non-puffy clouds sailing by. A crescent moon finished off the picture alongside quite a few fireflies that danced to their own rhythm.

"Why do you make these scenes, Orochimaru? Is there any point as to why you do it?" Sasuke asked as he glanced around for any sign of the snake man. An outline approached him and he suspected it to be Orochimaru. "Do you not like it, Sasuke?" He was surprised to see a smiling neko before him. Orochimaru was playing games with him. Sakura wasn't really there.

The neko dropped to her knees and began to pick the pale blue flowers that were near her. Sasuke eyed her carefully until Orochimaru spoke. "This time, Sasuke, you won't suffer from any type of physical pain. I plan on crushing your hopes, dreams, and…love." With those words spoken, the snake-like man was gone.

His boots crushed the plants and weeds that stuck up as he made his way toward Sakura. She hummed to herself softly but he could clearly hear her. She held up a bouquet to him saying, "I wanted to see you one last time. I had to tell you goodbye and I thought this might be a good present. That one is called 'love-lies-bleeding'! Isn't it pretty?" So, Orochimaru knew the types of flowers and their names.

Orochimaru must have read his mind as he said, "I looked that one up just for you. It fits, don't you think?" Sasuke watched the next scene unfold with some sort of confusion. A man walked up behind Sakura. He couldn't make out his facial features or anything else because of the heavy cloak he wore.

The unknown man wrapped his arms around the neko pulling her to her feet. She giggled happily as he leaned in forwards to plant a soft kiss on her lips. The Uchiha felt a searing pain run throughout his chest. So much for no physical pain. Sakura smiled at the man and waved Sasuke goodbye as she vanished with her new lover. The vampire glanced down at the flowers, easily spotting the one Orochimaru had picked out for him.

"Alright, Orochimaru. I'll work for you… just make the pain stop." The scene dispersed leaving Orochimaru and Sasuke face-to-face. "I'm glad you decided to join me. You've suffered enough already," Orochimaru reassured with a sincere smile on his face. Sasuke looked down at the ground as Orochimaru placed a comforting hand on the younger male's shoulder. "You don't deserve that type of treatment."

Kabuto shifted his glasses up, a smirk gracing his features. He understood now as to what Orochimaru had planned. Sasuke was suffering from countless amounts of physical pain. That wasn't the thing that was going to kill him. If he hadn't agreed to help Orochimaru, Sasuke would've died from all the emotional and mental pain the snake had been placing in his head.

Orochimaru was clever. But he had been around for quite a while and had been experimenting with these kinds if things with countless test subjects. Some had survived like Yamato, but they were no doubt living in fear in case Orochimaru returned for his pawns.

This is why the white haired man was not surprised to see his master enter the building with the young Uchiha heir following close behind. "Lord, you have returned. Why hello, Sasuke." The younger vampire nodded to him but didn't utter anything. Orochimaru looked at his right hand man. "Get everything ready. I expect in around two months that you will have everything completed for the transformation. Now excuse us, I have to train Sasuke for the time to come." The white haired man bowed to his superior and bid Sasuke a farewell, earning a slight nod from him.

Sasuke looked out the window in his small room in Orochimaru's base,. He began to wonder about the events of the night before. He couldn't say he didn't enjoy it because that wasn't it at all. He had enjoyed it and liked how she squirmed underneath him.

Thinking about how she traced random designs across his chest drove him crazy. Remembering the way she had moaned out his name made him horny. Sasuke raked his shaking right hand threw his ebony locks. Even if he did agree with Orochimaru and those nightmares were gone, it didn't keep him from thinking about Sakura.

He shrugged away any thoughts of regret and sadness when he left with Orochimaru. It wasn't like anybody would care that he left. Itachi would give up the throne to Sai. Naruto would be happy to see him gone. And Sakura would leave all thoughts of him behind and head back to her own home. They wouldn't miss him… would they?

"Lord Itachi!" The said man looked up from his business matters toward the area the sound came from. Gaara and Anko also looked up just in time to see a frantic neko burst through the office doors. She paused to catch her breath giving Itachi the opportunity to ask what was going on.

The neko dropped to her knees in front of the three vampires. There she cried, "I can't find Sasuke!" Itachi frowned and walked over toward the cherry blossom. "What do you mean? When did you last see him?" The three watched her face glow bright pink as she answered, "L-last night."

Anko glanced at Gaara with a raised eyebrow while Gaara just smirked. The Uchiha helped the girl stand up and queried, "Do you remember his last words to you?" The neko shook her head no. But then she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Will you please help me find him!" Itachi turned to the other two.

Gaara then spoke. "Sakura, can you please try to remember what he last said to you?" The female nodded as she began to think. "I think he said something about stopping those nightmares, but I don't really know for sure…" She trialed off as Anko uttered the word, "Orochimaru."

Itachi cursed under his breath. "Orochimaru is planning on using his secret weapon to control Sasuke. If we don't find out where they are in just a few weeks then Sasuke is as good as dead." Sakura gasped.

She didn't want this to end. Sakura was completely in debt to him. He had saved her so many times, and she had trusted him. The neko was in love with him, and she wouldn't let that dumb snake take Sasuke away from her. Especially what happened the night before.

Sasuke was so sweet, so gentle. He had taken away her virginity and that was something special. He made her feel like she was something precious. That she wasn't a useless weakling like so many others had said. But she still wasn't sure if she could have competed with Hana. Then she remembered. She had never asked Sasuke what the markings on the wall meant. Maybe she should ask Itachi sometime soon while they're trying to find Sasuke.

"What the hell is that moron thinking! Damn it!" Naruto yelled punching the walls angrily. How come every time he thought things were going to be alright again, Sasuke goes and messes everything up? Hinata watched him silently from behind.

Naruto gripped hold of his staff. Then he threw it against the other wall, cracking the oak wood it had been made from. He sighed as he dropped to the ground. "Hinata, I bet you think I'm insane, huh?" The Hyuuga shook her head no and sat beside him. "You're a wonderful person, Naruto," she said fighting back the stammering she had once been accustomed to. The boy smiled as he stated, "Yeah, right. If I were so wonderful then why do I continuously let Sasuke hurt Sakura?"

Hinata hugged her friend shyly. She then whispered, "She knows what she is doing and she trusts that Sasuke has a reason for all of the pain." Naruto caved in to her hug as he buried his face into her shoulder. Hinata rubbed his back and said, "We will find Sasuke. And when Orochimaru is gone, then we can live happily again."

Ten-Ten dodged the oncoming blow by swiftly bringing her sword against his. He smirked at her antics and dodged her hit by moving aside. She looked frustrated and a little tired from all of their sparring. He, himself, was also quite worn out by their non-stop fighting, but it was all worth it.

She had grown used to sparring with him. It was like a routine now, except they didn't argue as much now. The Hyuuga was quite the warrior and he did live up to his name. He had helped her grow stronger as she helped him do the same.

Lost in her thoughts, Ten-Ten didn't see Neji's blade knock hers out her hands until it was already done. Surprised, the brunette tripped over her own feet and landed painfully on the ground. She flinched when she felt the tip of Neji's blade lightly brush her neck. She might be down but she had a trick up her sleeve.

She spun her legs around tripping the Hyuuga. He landed on his back much to the female's satisfaction. She pulled out the small kunai knife she'd "borrowed" from Kakashi. She straddled his waist and smirked triumphantly as she held the kunai against his peach colored throat. Brushing back some of her chocolate colored locks, the girl bent forward so that her face was inches away from her opponent.

Upon instinct Neji propped himself up on his elbows and closed the gap between himself and the female. She was a little surprised, but then relaxed in the kiss. It wasn't expected but it felt right to the both of them. They broke apart seconds later as Ten-Ten asked, "What was that for?" Neji just shrugged and said it was a "spur of the moment" kind of thing.

They heard a sigh escape somebody's lips and both jumped apart. Standing a few feet away was Kakashi shaking his head. "I really don't understand. One moment you want to bite off the other's head, then you're making out on the ground." Ten-Ten looked at Neji with a smile as the boy returned it. Maybe, Kakashi was better off not understanding.

"Shikamaru!" Ino called for her best friend. Where was he? She opened the door to his room and smiled. Covers wrapped around his small frame and his face snuggling against a pillow. She tiptoed over to his bed. Brushing her fingers against his cheek earned her a mutter of "troublesome pigs…"

She giggled to herself. Why was he dreaming about pigs? She leaned closer to his face but was surprised when he abruptly shot up, pinning her to his bed. A lazy smile made its way up his face and his eyes gleamed with mirth. The pixie pouted cutely to her elf friend, but he didn't let go. He leaned forward to her face, his breath tickling her face. "You're too troublesome for your own good," he mumbled out as he placed a light kiss on her lips. With a another smile he laid back down into the bed.

Ino sat up and glanced at her smiling friend. A blush adorned her peach colored skin as she playfully punched him. "Shika-maru!" she whined as she snuggled against him. The elf cracked one eye open and glanced at her. "What?" he asked sleepily. She leaned in closer to him until her face was buried into his neck. The dark haired boy glanced at his female friend. He then got his answer. "That was a sorry excuse for a kiss."

Shikamaru propped himself up in bed and watched as she surfaced from his covers. "Oh, really?" he asked wondering what she was planning on doing. She smirked as she said, "Yes, this is how it's done." She closed the gap and placed a gentle, semi-long kiss on his lips. They broke apart seconds later and the elf asked, "How exactly are you an expert on this type of thing?" She just shrugged with a smile.

Orochimaru watched from above as his vampire troops trained for the upcoming battle. He had already taught Sasuke a few moves and sparred with him. The boy was living up to his family name, which pleased the older male entirely.

Before long, Sasuke would be under his control and that woman wouldn't be able to do a thing. He would order Sasuke to destroy her, and the boy would follow without hesitation. Then Orochimaru could kill Itachi and dispose of Sai and Gaara, who would most likely take throne after their king's death.

And when everything was done, the snake would kill anyone who apposed him. He'd finally take back what was rightfully his. Sasuke would be his angel of death and destroy the whole world, while he molded the scarred earth into the way he saw fit. The people would have to obey his kind and acknowledge that they're a waste of flesh and blood. No one would dare destroy his dream. He, however, will destroy them…

………

A/N: Okay. Another chapter down, one or two to go! I'm glad you all have enjoyed reading this and have supported me since the beginning. This story has come a long way. Anyways, enough with all this sappy stuff. When I finish this story be sure to check out another story I'm in the midst of writing. It's entitled "Dare" and is a major love triangle between Neji, Sakura and Sasuke. It won't be posted until later and I'll tell you when in my profile! Love ya lots!

Sweet Bliss